Summary frames in video

• US 6,219,837 B1
• Filed: 10/23/1997
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chisso Corporation, Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yeo, Boon-Lock, Yeung, Minerva Ming-Yee
• Primary Examiner(s): FLYNN, NATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/956,417
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.544, H04/N.5445, 348/564, 348/565, 348/566, 348/567, 348/568, 348/563, 345/327, 700/217-219
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/739 in form of a video summary, e.g. the video summary being a video sequence, a composite still image or having synthesized frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

According to the invention, channel surfers are aided by summary frames appearing on the screen along with the regular program. These summary frames are embedded in the broadcast and appear in a small window on the screen at some point in the future as the video is broadcast. The summary frames depict key scenes from the past which aid the viewer in quickly ascertaining the current plot or theme of the video program. In an interactive television environment, a short video segment may be associated with each shot such that when the shot is selected, the past video segment is played in a larger window on the screen complete with sound. Once the segment is viewed, the video program is rejoined in progress with the viewer having a better sense of what is going on in the video. Hence, a when a channel surfer arrives at a new channel, rather than only having what is currently playing to catch the eye, summary frames are also available to catch the surfer'"'"'s attention and aid in understanding the programming.

Claims

1. A video viewing system, comprising:

a display screen for viewing a video program in progress; and

at least one summary frame superimposed on said display screen along with said video program in progress, said at least one summary frame comprising a past frame from said video program in progress,

wherein selecting said at least one summary frame hyperlinks the video program in progress to begin playing from said selected summary frame.

2. A video viewing system comprising;

a display screen for viewing a video program in progress;

at least one summary frame superimposed on said display screen along with said video program in progress, said at least one summary frame comprising a past frame from said video program in progress; and

at least one preview frame comprising a future frame from said video program in process,

wherein selecting one of said summary fame and said preview frame hyperlinks the video program in progress to begin playing from said selected one of said summary frame and said preview frame.

3. A user interactive video viewing system comprising;

a display screen for viewing a video program;

at least one summary frame superimposed on said display screen said at least one summary fame comprising one of a past or future frame from said program; and

a control means for allowing a user to change said video program and for allowing said user to select said at least one summary frame to play at least a segment of said video program corresponding to said selected summary frame,

wherein said viewing system comprises client connected to a server, and

wherein selecting said at least one said summary frame hyperlinks said server to start playing said video from said summary frame.

4. A method for informing a viewer of the content of a video program in progress, comprising the steps of:

selecting a plurality of summary frames depicting selected events from a video program;

embedding said summary frames in said video program;

transmitting said video program comprising said summary frames over a media;

displaying said video program comprising said summary frames on a screen;

hyperlinking to a corresponding portion in said video program when a particular summary frame is selected by a viewer; and

playing said video program from said corresponding portion in said video program.

5. A method for informing a viewer of the content of a video program in progress, comprising the steps of:

selecting a plurality of summary frames depicting selected events from a video program;

embedding said summary frames in said video program;

transmitting said video program comprising said summary frames over a media; and

displaying said video program comprising said summary frames on a screen,

wherein said selecting step comprises the steps of;

scanning a first frame of said video and designating said first frame as a key frame;

scanning next frame in said video;

comparing said next frame to said keyframe with a difference function,

if a result of said difference function is negative scanning another frame in said video,

if said result of said difference function is true, then designating said next frame as said key frame;

comparing said key frame with summary frames currently being displayed to find one with a smallest difference; and

replacing said one with a smallest difference with said key frame.