Skimming continuous multimedia content

• US 7,506,356 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Francis C., Rui, Yong, He, Li-Wei, Gupta, Anoop
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US10/970,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20050086703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 725/110, 725/131, 725/139, 725/151, 725/134, 725114-117, 386/45, 348/553, 348/701
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23418 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics television picture signal circuitry for scene change detection H04N5/147; filtering for image enhancement G06T5/00; methods or arrangements for recognising scenes G06V20/00; arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing non-broadcast production data used in producing a broadcast television program transmitted via a broadcast network to one or more clients, wherein the non-broadcast production data is selected from a group consisting of;

a laugh track; and

computer-generated data used in producing the broadcast television program;

based on said analysis of non-broadcast production data, producing segmentation data identifying portions of the broadcast television program that are to be included during skimmed playback of said broadcast television program; and

maintaining the segmentation data accessible via a public network, wherein the segmentation data obtained via the public network is utilized by the one or more clients for skimmed playback of the broadcast television program received via the broadcast network.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-generated data used in producing the broadcast television program comprises active camera data.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer-generated data used in producing the broadcast television program comprises data used in creating graphics overlays for the broadcast television program.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-broadcast production data comprises ancillary data other than one or more continuous media streams which form the broadcast television program.

4. One or more computer-readable storage media containing a computer-executable program comprising:

analyzing non-broadcast production data used in producing a continuous media program, the continuous media program comprising one or more continuous media streams distributed via a broadcast network to one or more clients, wherein said non-broadcast production data is other than the one or more media streams and includes computer-generated data used in producing the broadcast television program; and

based on said analysis of non-broadcast production data, producing segmentation data identifying time portions of the continuous media program that are to be included during skimmed playback of said continuous media program, wherein the segmentation data produced based upon said analysis of non-broadcast production data includes data associating each said time portion to one or more skimming levels; and

outputting a user interface having selectable controls to initiate skimmed playback of said continuous media program including selecting a skimming level from among multiple different skimming levels thereby including in the skimmed playback multiple said time portions of the continuous media program that are associated with the selected skimming level based on the segmentation data.

5. One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 4, wherein said analyzing comprises analyzing a laugh track.

6. One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 4, wherein said analyzing comprises analyzing active camera data.

7. One or more computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 4, wherein said analyzing comprises analyzing data used in creating graphics overlays for the broadcast television program.

8. A method comprising:

analyzing non-broadcast production data used in producing a broadcast television program, wherein the non-broadcast production data comprises computer-generated data used in producing the broadcast television program; and

based on said analysis of non-broadcast production data, producing segmentation data identifying portions of the broadcast television program that are to be included during skimmed playback of said broadcast television program, wherein the segmentation data produced based upon said analysis of non-broadcast production data includes data associating each said time portion to one or more skimming levels; and

outputting a user interface having selectable controls to initiate skimmed playback of said continuous media program including selecting a skimming level from among different skimming levels thereby including in the skimmed playback multiple said time portions of the continuous media program that are associated with the selected skimming level based on the segmentation data.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the computer-generated data used in producing the broadcast television program comprises active camera data.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the computer-generated data used in producing the broadcast television program comprises data used in creating graphics overlays for the broadcast television program.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the non-broadcast production data further comprises a laugh track.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the non-broadcast production data comprises ancillary data other than one or more continuous media streams which form the broadcast television program.