Bookmark for multi-media content

• US 6,064,380 A
• Filed: 11/17/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Troche, Edmund, Swenson, Michelle Denise
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/971,778
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/328, 345/302, 348/7
• US Class Current: 715/273
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually

Abstract

A method and implementing network computer system is provided in which completion point file positions of multimedia file presentations may be saved in persistent memory devices when a user desires to terminate a multimedia file being presented on a display device. In subsequent network and multimedia file accesses, a user is selectively able to begin play at the previously saved completion point in the multimedia file presentation, i.e. the file position at which the user had previously terminated play. The saved position in one example may include a refresh rewind of a predetermined length from the saved position to refresh a user with the content of the multimedia file being continued. In an exemplary embodiment, a user is also presented with a selection device by which the user may create a title for one or more saved files and corresponding completion points within each saved file. A default file designation may be automatically entered by the program. A plurality of partially presented multimedia files may be saved and listed for subsequent continuation from the point of previous termination.

Claims

1. A method for processing multimedia file presentations in a network, said method comprising:

transmitting a first multimedia file from a server to a user terminal;

playing said first multimedia file at said user terminal as said first multimedia file is received from said server;

receiving a terminate command input from said user terminal for terminating said transmitting of said first multimedia file;

determining a terminate position within said first multimedia file at which said terminate command input is received;

presenting an input display at said user terminal to enable a user to provide input indicia to be associated with said first multimedia file and said terminate position within said first multimedia file;

associating said input indicia with said terminate position and said first multimedia file; and

saving first multimedia file indicia, said first multimedia file indicia including a first multimedia file identification along with said input indicia and said terminate position, said first multimedia file indicia being saved in a persistent memory device connected within said network.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

receiving a multimedia presentation request command from a user; and

presenting a listing of multimedia file designations on a user display, said multimedia file designations including said first multimedia file indicia.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 and further including:

enabling the user to choose a selected one of said multimedia files to be played at the user display; and

transferring said selected one of said multimedia files to the user display, said transferring being accomplished beginning at a position in said first multimedia file relatively close to said terminate position if said selected one of said multimedia files comprises said first multimedia file indicia.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said transferring is accomplished beginning at said terminate position in said first multimedia file.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said transferring is accomplished beginning at a point which is located at a predetermined increment prior to said terminate position in said first multimedia file.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said terminate position is representative of a relative byte position within said first multimedia file.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said terminate position is representative of a relative time position within said first multimedia file.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said network includes at least one server device and a user terminal, and said persistent memory device is connected to said user terminal.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said persistent memory device comprises a disk drive device.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said disk drive device is a magnetic disk drive device.

11. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said disk drive device is an optical disk drive device.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said network includes at least one server device and a user terminal, and said persistent memory device is connected to said server device.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein said persistent memory device comprises a disk drive device.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said disk drive device is a magnetic disk drive device.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said disk drive device is an optical disk drive device.

16. A network server comprising:

means for transmitting a first multimedia file from said network server to a user terminal, said user terminal being operable to receive said first multimedia file, said user terminal being further effective for playing said first multimedia file at said user terminal as said multimedia file is being received from said network server;

said network server being arranged for receiving a terminate command input from a user for terminating said transmitting of said first multimedia file;

means for determining a terminate position within said first multimedia file at which said terminate command input is received;

means for presenting an input display at said user terminal to enable a user to provide input indicia to be associated with said first multimedia file and said terminate position within said first multimedia file;

associating said input indicia with said terminate position and said first multimedia file; and

persistent memory means connected to said network server, said server being effective for saving first multimedia file indicia in said persistent memory means, said first multimedia file indicia including a first multimedia file identification along with said input indicia and said terminate position.

17. The network server as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first multimedia file indicia is stored in a first terminated position file created by said server, said user terminal being selectively operable in response to a subsequent request from the user for enabling the user to input a selection of said first multimedia file indicia, said server being responsive to said selection for initiating a playing of said first multimedia file beginning in close proximity to said terminate position.

18. A network user terminal device comprising:

receiving means for receiving a transmission of a first multimedia file from a network server;

display means operable for playing said first multimedia file on said display means as said multimedia file is being received from said network server;

said network user terminal device being arranged for transferring a terminate command input signal from a user to said network server, said terminate command input signal being operable for terminating said transmission of said first multimedia file;

means for determining a terminate position within said first multimedia file at which said terminate command input is generated;

means for presenting an input display at said display means to enable a user to provide input indicia to be associated with said first multimedia file and said terminate position within said first multimedia file;

associating said input indicia with said terminate position and said first multimedia file; and

persistent memory means connected to said network user terminal device for saving first multimedia file indicia in said persistent memory means, said first multimedia file indicia including a first multimedia file identification along with said input indicia and said terminate position.

19. The network user terminal device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first multimedia file indicia is stored in a first terminated position file designated by said user, said user terminal being selectively operable in response to a subsequent request from the user for enabling the user to input a selection of said first multimedia file indicia, said user terminal device being selectively operable in response to said file selection for initiating a playing of said first multimedia file beginning in close proximity to said terminate position.