Method and apparatus for retrieving multimedia data through spatio-temporal activity maps
First Claim
1. A method of performing data retrieval in accordance with a database storing media associated with an application and captured by one or more sensors monitoring an environment associated with the application, the method comprising the steps of:
- computing an activity function related to at least one activity associated with the monitored application;
computing at least one index to the media stored in the database that corresponds to the computed activity function;
generating at least one visual representation of the activity function, in response to an input event, wherein the visual representation is in the form of an activity map;
selecting, in response to the input event or another input event, a desired aspect of the activity map; and
retrieving via the computed index, for presentation, at least a portion of the media stored in the database that corresponds to the desired aspect of the activity map.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for retrieval of multimedia data through visual representations are provided. Such visual representations, preferably in the form of visual activity maps or spatio-temporal activity maps, serve as an efficient and intuitive graphical user interface for multimedia retrieval, particularly when the media streams are derived from multiple sensors observing a physical environment. An architecture for interactive media retrieval is also provided by combining such visual activity maps with domain specific event information. Visual activity maps are derived from the trajectories of motion of objects in the environment. The visual activity map based techniques significantly help users in quickly and effectively discovering interesting portions of the data, and randomly accessing and retrieving the corresponding portions of the media streams.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of performing data retrieval in accordance with a database storing media associated with an application and captured by one or more sensors monitoring an environment associated with the application, the method comprising the steps of:
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computing an activity function related to at least one activity associated with the monitored application; computing at least one index to the media stored in the database that corresponds to the computed activity function; generating at least one visual representation of the activity function, in response to an input event, wherein the visual representation is in the form of an activity map; selecting, in response to the input event or another input event, a desired aspect of the activity map; and retrieving via the computed index, for presentation, at least a portion of the media stored in the database that corresponds to the desired aspect of the activity map. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 26, 27, 28)
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10. Apparatus for performing data retrieval in accordance with a database storing media associated with an application and captured by one or more sensors monitoring an environment associated with the application, the apparatus comprising:
at least one processor operative to;
(i) compute an activity function related to at least one activity associated with the monitored application;
(ii) compute at least one index to the media stored in the database that corresponds to the computed activity function;
(iii) generate at least one visual representation of the activity function, in response to an input event, wherein the visual representation is in the form of an activity map;
(iv) enable selection, in response to the input event or another input event, of a desired aspect of the activity map; and
(v) retrieve via the computed index, for presentation, at least a portion of the media stored in the database that corresponds to the desired aspect of the activity map.- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An article of manufacture for performing data retrieval in accordance with a database storing media associated with an application and captured by one or more sensors monitoring an environment associated with the application, the article comprising a machine readable recording medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:
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computing an activity function related to at least one activity associated with the monitored application; computing at least one index to the media stored in the database that corresponds to the computed activity function; generating at least one visual representation of the activity function, in response to an input event, wherein the visual representation is in the form of an activity map; selecting, in response to the input event or another input event, a desired aspect of the activity map; and retrieving via the computed index, for presentation, at least a portion of the media stored in the database that corresponds to the desired aspect of the activity map.
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18. A system for providing an interface to a database storing media associated with an application and captured by one or more sensors monitoring an environment associated with the application, the system comprising:
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a visual representation generator, operatively coupled to the database; and a graphical user interface, operatively coupled to the visual representation generator and the database; wherein the visual representation generator generates at least one activity map associated with the monitored application, in response to an input event;
the graphical user interface presents the activity map;
a desired aspect associated with the activity map is selected via the graphical user interface; and
the graphical user interface retrieves, for presentation, at least a portion of the media stored in the database that corresponds to the desired aspect of the visual representation;further wherein the activity map corresponds to at least one activity function computed for at least one activity associated with the monitored application, and media is retrieved from the database via at least one corresponding index computed for the at least one activity function. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification