Linking to video information

• US 7,325,245 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Clapper, Edward O.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/409,128
• Time in Patent Office: 3,043 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/553, 348/564, 348/569, 345/327, 345/328, 345/357, 707/501, 707/513, 725/37, 725/109, 725/112
• US Class Current: 725/54
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/748 Hypervideo linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object in the context of video distribution systems H04N21/858
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot

Abstract

A system enables dynamic linking between a variety of video formats including television broadcasts, web pages, and video displays which are stored on magnetic or optical media. Each frame of the video information is identified together with a plurality of locations within that frame. The locations selected by the user for example using a pointing device is then used to access associated information either within the system itself or on an external system. Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, any item on a given frame may be linked initially or thereafter to other information within or without the particular system containing that information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selecting other information by accessing a particular location on a frame of video being played back;

automatically pausing the video playback when the other information is accessed by selecting a location on the frame;

providing the other information while said video playback is paused; and

automatically resuming the playback of said video when the other information is no longer being accessed.

2. The method of claim 1 including defining a display grid system and specifying at least one location in said grid system using coordinates.

3. The method of claim 2 including developing a frame identifier using a time code.

4. The method of claim 1 including linking to other information without encoding a hyperlink into the video information.

5. The method of claim 1 including linking to other information on the same medium that stores said video information.

6. The method of claim 1 including linking video information on one processor-based system to other information on a separate processor-based system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein accessing said other information includes using a pointing device to select a location on a frame.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein using a pointing device includes using a remote control unit.

9. An article storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to:

select other information by accessing a particular location on a frame of video being played back;

automatically pause the video playback when the other information is accessed by selecting a location on the frame;

provide the other information while said video playback is paused; and

resume the playback of said video when the other information is no longer being accessed.

10. The article of claim 9 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to define a grid system on each frame and specify at least one location in said frame using a coordinate system.

11. The article of claim 10 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to develop a frame identifier using a time code.

12. The article of claim 9 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to link to other information without an encoded hyperlink in the video.

13. The article of claim 9 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to link to other information on the same medium that stores said video.

14. The article of claim 9 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to link video information on one processor-based system to other information on a separate processor-based system.

15. The article of claim 9 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to receive signals from a pointing device to select a location on a frame.