Method and apparatus for automatically displaying dynamic images as a sequence of still frames arranged in a predetermined order

• US 6,791,548 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Hamzy, Mark Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US09/736,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 345/781, 345/719, 345/721, 345/723, 348/719, 348/721, 348/723
• US Class Current: 345/473
• 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: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing

Abstract

A method for automatically displaying dynamic images as a sequence of still frames is disclosed. The method includes receiving dynamic image data, transforming the dynamic image data into static image data, and displaying, frame by frame, the static image data on a display device. The method may be employed in a computer, a computer network or a system which has a display information card having at least a port for receiving the dynamic image data, a processor for transforming the dynamic image data into static image data, an internal memory for storing the static image data, and a display device. In the preferred embodiment, the method is employed in a web browser.

Claims

1. A method for automatically displaying dynamic imagery as a sequence of still frames comprising:

receiving a plurality of dynamic image data;

transforming said dynamic image data into a plurality of static image data;

simultaneously displaying said plurality of static image data on a display devices;

wherein a number of static image data to be displayed is user-configurable; and

wherein said number of static image data to be displayed remains constant regardless of the size of the dynamic image data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request from a user for displaying said dynamic imagery as a sequence of still frames.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an indication of said static image data on a graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying said plurality of images on said display device further comprises placing multiple frames of said static image data in a predetermined configuration upon said display device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transforming said dynamic image data into said plurality of static image data further comprises:

determining values for N, T, NVF and Q;

creating a file for every Qth frame of said dynamic image data;

wherein N is the number of static image data to be displayed;

wherein T is a time interval for said dynamic image data;

wherein NVF is a number of frames in the dynamic image data for time interval T; and

wherein Q is the number of frames in the dynamic image data for the time interval T divided by the number of static image to be displayed.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an accessibility display option, wherein the accessibility display option allows a user to establish a default value for a time interval, and for a number of static pictures to be displayed on a page.

7. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for automatically displaying dynamic images as a sequence of still frames, said storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

receiving a dynamic image data;

transforming said dynamic image data into a plurality of static image data;

simultaneously displaying said static image data on a display device;

wherein a number of static image data to be displayed is user-configurable; and

wherein the number of static image data to be displayed remains constant regardless of the size of the dynamic image data.

8. The storage medium of claim 7 further comprising instructions far causing a computer to link a graphical user interface whereby said graphical user interface provides an indication of said static image data.

9. The storage medium of claim 7 further comprising instructions for:

determining values for N, T, NVF and Q;

displaying every Qth frames;

wherein N is the number of static image data to be displayed;

wherein T is a time interval for the dynamic image data;

wherein NVF is a number of frames in the dynamic image data for time interval T; and

wherein Q is the number of frames in the dynamic image data for the time interval T divided by the number of static image to be displayed.

10. The storage medium of claim 7 further comprising instructions for placing multiple frames of said static image in a predetermined configuration upon said display device.

11. The storage medium of claim 7 further comprising instructions for providing are accessibility display option, wherein the accessibility display option allows a user to establish a default values for a time interval, and for a number of static pictures to be displayed on a page.

12. A system for automatically displaying dynamic imagery as a sequence of still frames comprising:

means for receiving said dynamic image data;

means for transforming said dynamic image data into static image data;

means for storing said static image data;

means for simultaneously displaying said static image data;

wherein a number of static image data to be displayed is user-configurable; and

wherein said number of static image data to be displayed remains constant regardless of the size of the dynamic image data.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising means fur linking a graphical user interface with said system.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said network is the Internet.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said means for displaying said static image data is web browser.

16. A programmable apparatus for simultaneously displaying a sequence of still frames from dynamic image data received fl□

OM a network comprising;

a computer connected to said network;

a static display program installed on said computer;

a display device connected to said computer;

wherein, said computer is directed by said static display program to transform said dynamic image data into static image data;

wherein a number of static image data to be displayed is user-configurable; and

wherein said number of static image data to be displayed remains constant regardless of the size of the dynamic image data.

17. The programmable apparatus of claim 16 wherein

said computer is directed by said static display control program to determine values for N, T, NVF and Q and to display every Qth frame of said static image data;

wherein N is the number of static image data to be displayed;

wherein T is a time interval for the dynamic image data;

wherein NVF is a number of frames in the dynamic image data for time interval T; and

wherein Q is the number of frames in the dynamic image data for the time interval T divided by the number of static image to be displayed.

18. The programmable apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a display information card installed in said computer having a part for receiving said dynamic image data.

19. The programmable apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a processor for transforming said dynamic image data into static image data.

20. The programmable apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an internal memory for storing said static image data.

21. The programmable apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an external memory coupled to said display.

22. The programmable apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an information card for storing said static image data.

23. The programmable apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a web browser installed on said computer.

24. The programmable apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a graphical user interface linked with said display device.