System and method for computer-assisted manual and automatic logging of time-based media

• US 7,756,876 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles Smith Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles Smith Enterprises LLC
• Inventors: Smith-Semedo, Charles, Blackman, Rolando, Jacobs, Stephen, Lupetin, Guerrino, Cortina, Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): LEROUX, ETIENNE PIERRE
• Application Number:
  US11/050,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/9, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/741, 700/91, 725/90, 348/169
• US Class Current: 707/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/14 Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/41 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/102 Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816
• 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: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 21/854 Content authoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A customizable logging and content management system for indexing multimedia, including a synchronized timer object that provides a time reference upon request in connection with the media, and a logger object that logs predefined events that occur in the media by associating the events with respective time references from the timer object. A video server is provided that captures and digitally stores events logged by the logging application as media segments, and a search and retrieval engine is provided that enables the media segments to be located, retrieved and viewed based on the indexes. The system includes a graphical user interface generator that enables customized user interfaces and logging databases to be created from database tables for use in the logging application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented media logging system for indexing media, comprising:

events administrator programmed logic circuitry configured to define a custom event captured in the media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom event;

a timer object configured to provide a time reference upon request in connection with the media; and

a logger object configured to log events defined by the events administrator programmed logic circuitry that occur in the media by associating the events with respective time reference from the timer object, the events being logged in accordance with the custom terminology defined by the events administrator programmed logic circuitry,

wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is customizable by a user based in part on the type of media being indexed.

2. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the logger object includes a graphical user interface having a plurality of interface objects that can be selected by a user of the logging system in order to log events that occur in the media.

3. The logging system of claim 2, wherein the interface objects include labels thereon corresponding to predetermined events that may typically occur in the particular media being logged.

4. The logging system of claim 2, wherein the logging system is configured for use in logging a sporting event and the interface objects correspond to events that occur during the sporting event.

5. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface is customizable to correspond to types of events that occur in the particular media being logged.

6. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the system includes an arrangement that automatically logs predefined events in the media being logged based on video analysis.

7. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the system includes an arrangement that automatically logs predefined events based on text analysis.

8. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the system includes an arrangement that automatically logs predefined events based on audio analysis.

9. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the system includes a video server that captures logged events and digitally stored the captured events as media segments.

10. The logging system of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a feature that enables the media segments to be selectively retrieved and viewed.

11. The logging system of claim 10, wherein the feature includes a search engine that enables logged events to be searched using various search parameters.

12. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the logging system is configured for use by multiple users in a networked environment.

13. The logging system of claim 1, further comprising a GUI generator configured to generate a custom display for a user based on the defined custom event captured in the media and the defined custom.

14. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the logging system is configured for use with a plurality of different events.

15. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to define a plurality of different custom events captured in the media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom events.

16. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the logging system is configured to index a plurality of different types of media.

17. The logging system of claim 16, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to define a plurality of different custom events captured for each said type of media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom events.

18. The logging system of claim 16, wherein the different types of media correspond to different industries and/or events within a single industry.

19. The logging system of claim 1, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to redefine custom events captured in the media and further configured to redefine custom terminology applicable to the redefined custom event.

20. A media asset management system for managing media assets, comprising:

a logging application configured to create indexes of events that occur in the media;

a video server configured to capture and digitally store events logged by the logging application as media segments; and

a search and retrieval engine configured to enable the media segments to be located and retrieved based on the indexes,

wherein the logging application includes events administrator programmed logic circuitry configured to define a custom event captured in the media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom event, and a logger object configured to log events defined by the events administrator programmed logic circuitry that occur in the media by associating the events with respective indexes, the events being logged in accordance with the custom terminology defined by the events administrator programmed logic circuitry, and

wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is customizable by a user based in part on the type of media being indexed.

21. The media asset management system of claim 20, wherein the logging application includes a graphical user interface that enables a user to select predefined events that occur in the media to be indexed.

22. The media asset management system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface includes interface objects having labels thereon corresponding to predefined events that typically occur in the particular media being logged by the logging application.

23. The media asset management system of claim 22, wherein the logging application is configured for use in logging a sporting event and the interface objects correspond to events that occur during the sporting event.

24. The media asset management system of claim 21, wherein the user interface includes a feature that enables the media segments to be viewed.

25. The media asset management system of claim 20, wherein the video server includes an arrangement that automatically logs predefined events based on video analysis.

26. The media asset management system of claim 20, herein the video server includes an arrangement that automatically logs predefined events based on text analysis.

27. The media asset management system of claim 20, wherein the video server includes an arrangement that automatically logs predefined events based on audio analysis.

28. The media asset management system of claim 20, wherein the media asset management system is configured for use with a plurality of different events.

29. The media asset management system of claim 20, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to define a plurality of different custom events captured in the media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom events.

30. The media asset management system of claim 20, wherein the media asset management system is configured to index a plurality of different types of media.

31. The media asset management system of claim 30, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to define a plurality of different custom events captured for each said type of media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom events.

32. The media asset management system of claim 30, wherein the different types of media correspond to different industries and/or events within a single industry.

33. The media asset management system of claim 20, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to redefine custom events captured in the media and further configured to redefine custom terminology applicable to the redefined custom event.

34. A customizable media asset management system for managing media assets, comprising:

a logging application configured to create indexes of events that occur in the media;

a video server configured to capture and digitally store events logged by the logging application as media segments; and

a graphical user interface generator configured to create customized user interfaces for the logging application based on information entered in a database,

wherein the logging application includes events administrator programmed logic circuitry configured to define a custom event captured in the media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom event, and a logger object configured to log events defined by the events administrator programmed logic circuitry that occur in the media by associating the events with respective indexes, the events being logged in accordance with the custom terminology defined by the events administrator programmed logic circuitry, and

wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is customizable by a user based in part on the type of media being indexed.

35. The customizable media asset management system of claim 34, wherein the graphical user interface generator generates user interface objects for a logging screen for use by a user when using the logging application.

36. The customizable media asset management system of claim 34, wherein the creation of the customized user interface is database driven.

37. The customizable media asset management system of claim 34, wherein the user interface generator is further operable to dynamically generate a logging database for use by said logging application.

38. The customizable media asset management system of claim 34, wherein the media asset management system is configured for use with a plurality of different events.

39. The customizable media asset management system of claim 34, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to define a plurality of different custom events captured in the media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom events.

40. The customizable media asset management system of claim 34, wherein the media asset management system is configured to index a plurality of different types of media.

41. The customizable media asset management system of claim 40, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to define a plurality of different custom events captured for each said type of media and further configured to define custom terminology applicable to the defined custom events.

42. The customizable media asset management system of claim 40, wherein the different types of media correspond to different industries and/or events within a single industry.

43. The customizable media asset management system of claim 34, wherein the events administrator programmed logic circuitry is configured to redefine custom events captured in the media and further configured to redefine custom terminology applicable to the redefined custom event.