Multi-level skimming of multimedia content using playlists
First Claim
1. A method for providing a skimmed version of multimedia content, the method comprising:
- accessing first skimming information corresponding to a first skimming level of a plurality of previously generated skimming levels of the multimedia content;
using the first skimming information to generate a playlist that identifies a first plurality of segments of the multimedia content that correspond to the first skimming level; and
forwarding the first plurality of segments identified by the playlist to a client computer.
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Abstract
A skimmed or preview version of multimedia content is provided to a client computer by a server computer using playlists. The skimmed version of multimedia content can be presented to a user of a client computer in less time than presenting the entire multimedia content would require. The server computer maintains skimming information that identifies particular segments of the multimedia content corresponding to the skimmed version. The server computer uses the skimming information to generate a playlist, which in turn is used by the server computer to access the appropriate segments of the multimedia content and provide the segments to the client computer.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for providing a skimmed version of multimedia content, the method comprising:
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accessing first skimming information corresponding to a first skimming level of a plurality of previously generated skimming levels of the multimedia content; using the first skimming information to generate a playlist that identifies a first plurality of segments of the multimedia content that correspond to the first skimming level; and forwarding the first plurality of segments identified by the playlist to a client computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for storing a plurality of playlists of skimmed versions of multimedia content, the method comprising:
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identifying, for each of a plurality of skimming levels, a playlist that identifies a plurality of segments of the multimedia content that correspond to the identified skimming level of a plurality of previously generated skimming levels of the multimedia content; storing, for each of the plurality of skimming levels, the playlist; and using the playlist for a selected one of the plurality of skimming levels to identify which segments of the multimedia content are to be provided to a client computer for the selected one of the plurality of skimming levels. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform functions including:
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receiving an identifier of a skimming level selected from a plurality of previously generated skimming levels of multimedia content; accessing a playlist corresponding to the identified skimming level; using the playlist to access corresponding segments of the multimedia content; and forwarding the accessed segments to a client computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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skimming logic to maintain a plurality of playlists corresponding to multimedia content, each of the plurality of playlists identifying a different plurality of segments of the multimedia content that correspond to an identified skimming level of a plurality of previously generated skimming levels of the multimedia content, and to use the playlist corresponding to a selected skimming level to identify which segments of the multimedia content are to be provided to a client computer for the selected skimming level; and a storage device, coupled to the skimming logic, to store the plurality of playlists. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a data structure, comprising:
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a first data field containing data representing a first playlist for a first skimming level corresponding to segments of multimedia content; a second data field containing data representing a second playlist for a second skimming level corresponding to segments of the multimedia content; and a third data field, correlated through the data structure to the first and second data fields, containing data representing the multimedia content, wherein the segments of the multimedia content identified by the first playlist are provided in response to user selection of the first skimming level, and wherein the segments of the multimedia content identified by the second playlist are provided in response to user selection of the second skimming level.
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Specification