Video story board user interface for selective downloading and displaying of desired portions of remote-stored video data objects

• US 6,166,735 A
• Filed: 12/03/1997
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Petkovic, Dragutin, Dom, Byron Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Amsbury, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, UYEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/984,460
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/6, 707/104, 707/10, 395/500, 345/339, 345/340, 345/341, 348/12
• US Class Current: 715/749
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/743 a collection of video files or sequences
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A system and method are provided for supporting video browsing over a communication network such as the Internet/World Wide Web. A graphical user interface is provided through a client software tool such as a Web browser. A client/user selects a video data object stored at a remote server. A set of points within the object are displayed at the client'"'"'s graphical user interface display, as representations, preferably thumbnail images, of the points within the object. The user selects an interval defined by the representations, preferably by using the graphical user interface to select two of the representations. The two selected representations delimit the beginning and end of a portion of the video object. Responsive to this selection, that portion of the video object is downloaded and displayed.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating user examination and browsing of video data object information pertaining to a stored video data object (herein denoted "Object"), the Object including a beginning point, an end point, and points therebetween, the system comprising:

an information processing apparatus having a user interface unit and a coupling unit for coupling to a video repository having video data objects, including the Object, stored therein;

a sending unit for sending, through the user interface unit and over the medium, a request to view the Object;

a receiving unit, responsive to receipt of a response to the request to view, for receiving a data file of reduced-size, thumbnail images of video stills and related audio portions from the respective points of the Object, each thumbnail image corresponding with one of the points in the Object;

a viewing unit for displaying the thumbnail images prior to a portion of said Object being downloaded;

an audio unit for playing said related audio portions with said display of said thumbnail images prior to said portion of said Object being downloaded;

a user-operable selecting unit for selecting an interval in terms of the points, the interval delimiting the beginning and end of said portion of the Object which the user desires to view; and

a downloading unit, operable responsive to operation of said selecting unit for downloading and providing the portion of the Object within the selected interval;

said viewing unit for facilitating user viewing of the downloaded portion.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the video repository is located locally to the system; and

said coupling unit includes a local coupling connection.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said coupling unit includes a communication interface for coupling with a network communication medium, the medium being coupled to the video repository, the video repository being located at a location remote from the information processing apparatus.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the user interface unit includes a computer having a World Wide Web browser; and

the communication interface includes an Internet interface.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said displaying unit is also for displaying the thumbnail images in an array, the thumbnail images being in positions in the array related to their respective positions within the Object.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein:

the number of thumbnail images from the data file exceeds a display capacity of the user interface unit;

the thumbnail images are scrollably displayed on the user interface unit; and

said displaying unit is also for displaying a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control scrolling of the displayed thumbnail images.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the sequence of representations includes representations of scene change points within the Object and representations of points within scenes of the Object; and

the system further comprises a setting unit for setting a parameter giving a number of representations within scenes to be displayed.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving unit is also for receiving a data file of images of video stills from the respective points of the Object;

and

said system further including a displaying unit for displaying the images on the user interface unit.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said displaying unit is also for displaying the images successively in time, whereby the user is able to perceive a flow of action in the Object.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said displaying unit is also for displaying the images one of:

at a fixed time interval;

at a time interval related to a real time interval, within the Object, between successive images; and

at a rate controlled by the user.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said displaying unit includes a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control a time interval between successively displayed images.

13. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said audio unit is also for playing an audio sound track along with successively displayed images.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said selecting unit is also for selecting desired ones of the representations by mouse clicks.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein said selecting unit is also for selecting first and second ones of the representations, which represent the beginning and end, respectively, of the desired portion of the Object.

16. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein said selecting unit is also for selecting one of the representations, the desired portion of the Object being specified in terms of one of:

(i) from the beginning of the Object to a selected representation,

(ii) from the selected representation to the end of the Object,

(iii) from the selected representation to an immediately succeeding one of the representations, and

(iv) from the selected representation forward for a specified amount of time.

17. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said viewing unit includes user-operable controls for at least one of (i) playback, (ii) fast-forwarding, (iii) reverse playback, (iv) fast reverse playback, and (v) pause.

5. A method for facilitating user examination and browsing of video data object information pertaining to a stored video data object (herein denoted "Object"), the Object including a beginning point, an end point, and points therebetween, the method to be practiced by an information processing apparatus having a user interface unit and a coupling unit for coupling to a video repository, wherein said video repository has said video data objects, including the Object, stored therein, the method comprising:

sending, through the user interface unit and over a medium, a request to view the Object;

responsive to receipt of a response to the request to view, receiving a data file of reduced-size, thumbnail images of video stills and related audio portions from the respective points of the Object, each thumbnail image corresponding with one of the points in the Object;

playing said related audio portions while displaying said thumbnail images on said user interface unit prior to a portion of said Object being downloaded;

receiving, from a user, a selection of an interval in terms of the points, the interval delimiting the beginning and end of said portion of the Object which the user desires to view;

responsive to the selection of an interval, downloading and providing the portion of the Object within the selected interval; and

facilitating user viewing of the downloaded portion.

19. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the video repository is located locally to the system; and

said coupling unit includes a local coupling connection.

20. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said coupling unit also includes a communication interface for coupling with said medium, the medium being coupled to the video repository, the video repository being located at a location remote from the information processing apparatus.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, wherein:

the user interface unit includes a computer having a World Wide Web browser; and

the communication interface includes an Internet interface.

23. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the displaying includes displaying the thumbnail images in an array, the thumbnail images being in positions in the array related to their respective positions within the Object.

24. A method as recited in claim 23, wherein:

the number of thumbnail images from the data file exceeds a display capacity of the user interface unit;

the thumbnail images are scrollably displayed on the user interface unit; and

the displaying further includes displaying a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control scrolling of the displayed thumbnail images.

25. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the sequence of representations includes representations of scene change points within the Object and representations of points within scenes of the Object; and

the method further comprises setting a parameter giving a number of representations within scenes to be displayed.

26. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the receiving and displaying of said sequence includes:

receiving a data file of images of video stills from respective points of the Object; and

displaying the images on the user interface unit.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the displaying includes displaying the images successively in time, whereby the user is able to perceive a flow of action in the Object.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the displaying includes displaying the images one of:

at a fixed time interval;

at a time interval related to a real time interval, within the Object, between successive images; and

at a rate controlled by the user.

29. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the displaying further includes displaying a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control a time interval between successively displayed images.

30. A method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the playing an audio sound track along with the successively displayed images.

34. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the facilitating of user viewing includes providing user-operable controls for at least one of (i) playback, (ii) fast-forwarding, (iii) reverse playback, (iv) fast reverse playback, and (v) pause.

18. A computer program product, for use with an information processing apparatus having a user interface unit and a coupling unit for coupling to a video repository having stored video data objects, including a stored video data object (herein denoted "Object"), stored therein, for facilitating user examination and browsing of video data object information pertaining to the Object, the Object including a beginning point, an end point, and points therebetween, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;

a set of directions, provided on the medium, for directing the information processing apparatus to send, through the user interface unit, a request to view the Object;

said directions, operable responsive to receipt of a response to the request to view, are also for directing the information processing apparatus to receive a data file of reduced-size, thumbnail images of video stills and related audio portions from the respective points of the Object, each thumbnail image corresponding with one of the points in the Object, and to play said related audio portions while displaying said thumbnail images on said user interface unit prior to a portion of said Object being downloaded;

said directions, operable responsive to user command, are also for directing the information processing apparatus to select an interval in terms of the points, the interval delimiting the beginning and end of said portion of the Object which the user desires to view;

said directions, operable responsive to operation of the information processing apparatus selecting an interval, are also for downloading and providing the portion of the Object within the selected interval; and

said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to facilitate user viewing of the downloaded portion.

22. A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to select desired ones of the representations by mouse clicks.

31. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the selecting of said interval includes selecting desired ones of the representations by mouse clicks.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the selecting includes selecting first and second ones of the representations, which represent the beginning and end, respectively, of the desired portion of the Object.

33. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the selecting includes selecting one of the representations, the desired portion of the Object being specified in terms of one of:

(i) from the beginning of the Object to a selected representation,

(ii) from the selected representation to the end of the Object,

(iii) from the selected representation to an immediately succeeding one of the representations, and

(iv) from the selected representation forward for a specified amount of time.

35. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to select first and second ones of the representations, which represent the beginning and end, respectively, of the desired portion of the Object.

36. A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein:

the video repository is located locally to the system; and

said coupling unit includes a local coupling connection.

37. A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said coupling unit includes a communication interface for coupling with a network communication medium, the network communication medium being coupled to the video repository, the video repository being located at a location remote from the information processing apparatus.

38. A computer program product as recited in claim 37, wherein:

the user interface unit includes a computer having a World Wide Web browser; and

the communication interface includes an Internet interface.

39. A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to select one of the representations, the desired portion of the Object being specified in terms of one of:

(i) from the beginning of the Object to a selected representation,

(ii) from the selected representation to the end of the Object,

(iii) from the selected representation to an immediately succeeding one of the representations, and

(iv) from the selected representation forward for a specified amount of time.

40. A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display the thumbnail images in an array, the thumbnail images being in positions in the array related to their respective positions within the Object.

41. A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein:

the number of thumbnail images from the data file exceeds a display capacity of the user interface unit;

the thumbnail images are scrollably displayed on the user interface unit; and

said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control scrolling of the displayed thumbnail images.

42. A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the sequence of representations includes representations of scene change points within the Object and representations of points within scenes of the Object; and

said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to set a parameter giving a number of representations within scenes to be displayed.

43. A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to receive a data file of images of video stills from the respective points of the Object;

and

for directing the information processing apparatus to display the images on the user interface unit.

44. A computer program product as recited in claim 43, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display the images successively in time, whereby the user is able to perceive a flow of action in the Object.

45. A computer program product as recited in claim 44, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display the images one of:

at a fixed time interval;

at a time interval related to a real time interval, within the Object, between successive images; and

at a rate controlled by the user.

46. A computer program product as recited in claim 44, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control a time interval between successively displayed images.

47. A computer program product as recited in claim 44, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to play an audio sound track along with successively displayed images.

48. A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to provide, at the user interface unit, user-operable controls for at least one of (i) playback, (ii) fast-forwarding, (iii) reverse playback, (iv) fast reverse playback, and (v) pause.