Browsing continuous multimedia content
First Claim
1. One or more computer-readable media encoded with a computer-executable program for playing continuous media content, the computer-executable program being executed by a computer to implement a method comprising:
- displaying the continuous media content in a content area;
displaying a skimming control for specifying, by a user, a skimming level, wherein skimming enables continuous media content highlights to be viewed by utilizing segmentation data to identify portions of the continuous media content that should be included in a skimmed version of the continuous media content, wherein the segmentation data identifies actual content based upon previously-performed content analysis, and wherein the skimming control can be used to select different levels of skimming and, wherein segmentation data defines a user-selectable, displayable sequence of still frames that can be selected to index to a particular portion of the continuos media content, wherein at least some of previously-performed content analysis involves manually viewing the continuous media content and selecting portions that are to be represented in at least some of the still frames of the displayable sequence;
displaying a time scale modification control for specifying, by the user, a time scale modification level, wherein the time scale modification control is distinct from the skimming control, and wherein the skimming control and the time scale modification control are simultaneously displayed;
in response to operation of the skimming control and the time scale modification control, concurrently applying the specified skimming and time scale modification levels to the continuous media content;
displaying an increment pull-down menu for selecting, by the user, an index increment;
displaying an index control for indexing, by the user, through the continuous media content;
in response to operation of the index control by the user, indexing through the continuous media content by the selected index increment;
displaying a frame area containing the sequence of still frames from the continuous media content, wherein the still frames are selectable by the user, and wherein the frame area is displayed simultaneously with the skimming control and the time scale modification control;
in response to user selection of a particular still frame, indexing the displayed continuous media content to the selected still frame;
moving an indicator relative to a progress bar to indicate a current playback point within the continuous media content; and
delineating the progress bar to indicate portions of the continuous media content that are included in the specified skimming level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A program distribution system includes a plurality of set-top boxes that receive broadcast programming and segmentation data from content and information providers. The segmentation information indicates portions of programs that are to be included in skimmed or condensed versions of the received programming, and is produced using manual or automated methods. Automated methods include the use of ancillary production data to detect the most important parts of a program. A user interface allows a user to control time scale modification and skimming during playback, and also allows the user to easily browse to different points within the current program.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. One or more computer-readable media encoded with a computer-executable program for playing continuous media content, the computer-executable program being executed by a computer to implement a method comprising:
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displaying the continuous media content in a content area; displaying a skimming control for specifying, by a user, a skimming level, wherein skimming enables continuous media content highlights to be viewed by utilizing segmentation data to identify portions of the continuous media content that should be included in a skimmed version of the continuous media content, wherein the segmentation data identifies actual content based upon previously-performed content analysis, and wherein the skimming control can be used to select different levels of skimming and, wherein segmentation data defines a user-selectable, displayable sequence of still frames that can be selected to index to a particular portion of the continuos media content, wherein at least some of previously-performed content analysis involves manually viewing the continuous media content and selecting portions that are to be represented in at least some of the still frames of the displayable sequence; displaying a time scale modification control for specifying, by the user, a time scale modification level, wherein the time scale modification control is distinct from the skimming control, and wherein the skimming control and the time scale modification control are simultaneously displayed; in response to operation of the skimming control and the time scale modification control, concurrently applying the specified skimming and time scale modification levels to the continuous media content; displaying an increment pull-down menu for selecting, by the user, an index increment; displaying an index control for indexing, by the user, through the continuous media content; in response to operation of the index control by the user, indexing through the continuous media content by the selected index increment; displaying a frame area containing the sequence of still frames from the continuous media content, wherein the still frames are selectable by the user, and wherein the frame area is displayed simultaneously with the skimming control and the time scale modification control; in response to user selection of a particular still frame, indexing the displayed continuous media content to the selected still frame; moving an indicator relative to a progress bar to indicate a current playback point within the continuous media content; and delineating the progress bar to indicate portions of the continuous media content that are included in the specified skimming level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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a computing device; one or more computer-readable media on the computing device; a computer-executable program embodied on the one or more computer-readable media which, when executed, provide a user interface for displaying continuous video content, the user interface comprising; a video viewing area in which the continuous video content is displayed; a frame area containing a sequence of still frames from the continuous video content; and wherein the still frames are selectable to index the displayed continuous video content to the selected frames; an increment pull-down menu for selecting an index increment, the increment pull-down menu including a designation for the still frames; an index control for indexing through the continuous video content by the selected index increment; a skimming control, wherein skimming enables continuous video content highlights to be viewed by utilizing segmentation data to identify portions of the continuous video content that should be included in a skimmed version of the continuous video content, wherein the segmentation data identifies actual content based upon previously-performed content analysis, and wherein the segmentation data defines a user-selectable, displayable sequence of still frames that can be selected to index to a particular portion of the continuous video content, wherein at least some of previously-performed content analysis involves manually viewing the continuous video content and selecting portions that are to be represented in at least some of the still frames of the displayable sequence; a time scale modification control that is distinct from the skimming control; a progress bar and an indicator that moves relative to the progress bar to indicate a current playback point within the continuous video content; and the progress bar being delineated to indicate portions of the continuous video content that are included in a currently selected skimming level; wherein the skimming control and the time scale modification control are for specifying, by a user, skimming and time scale modification levels that are to be concurrently applied to the continuous video content when playing the continuous video content, and wherein the skimming control and the time scale modification control and the frame area containing the sequence of still images are simultaneously displayed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification