Search engine for video and graphics with access authorization

• US 7,769,775 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean Bolte
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly; Anh
• Application Number:
  US11/894,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 707 2- 6, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707999002-99906, 707/999.107
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• 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 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving graphic or video content, comprising:

automatically acquiring, without user input, searchable file information related to graphic and video files, the searchable file information comprising a field indicating whether each graphic or video file requires authorization to access;

creating one or more identifiers from the searchable file information;

storing the one or more identifiers in a database;

receiving search criteria;

searching the searchable file information for matching searchable file information, wherein the matching searchable file information matches the search criteria;

identifying matching identifiers associated with the matching searchable file information;

providing access to graphic and video files associated with the matching identifiers that do not require authorization to access;

receiving a user selection of a particular graphic or video file, wherein the particular graphic or video file is associated with an identifier that does not require authorization to access;

receiving a user instruction to perform a file function on the particular graphic or video file, wherein the file function comprises one or more of viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending; and

performing the file function in response to receiving the user instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a listing of the graphic and video files associated with the matching identifiers.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a particular graphic or video file from the listing of graphic and video files, wherein the particular graphic or video file is associated with an identifier that does require authorization to access; and

prompting a user to provide authorization information in response to receiving the user selection.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving authorization information from the user;

determining whether the authorization information received is proper; and

allowing the user to access the particular video or graphic file in response to determining that the authorization information received is proper.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a user instruction to perform a file function on the particular graphic or video file, wherein the file function comprises one or more of viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending; and

performing the file function in response to receiving the user instruction.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a particular graphic or video file from the listing of graphic and video files, wherein the particular graphic or video file is associated with an identifier that does require authorization to access; and

prompting a user to provide payment information in response to receiving the user selection.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving payment information from the user;

determining whether the payment information received is proper; and

allowing the user to access the particular video or graphic file in response to determining that the payment information received is proper.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a user instruction to perform a file function on the particular graphic or video file, wherein the file function comprises one or more of viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending; and

performing the file function in response to receiving the user instruction.

9. A system that retrieves content comprising:

an input device configured to;

receive search criteria;

receive a user selection of a particular graphic or video file, wherein the particular graphic or video file is associated with an identifier that does not require authorization to access; and

receive a user instruction to perform a file function on the particular graphic or video file, wherein the file function comprises one or more of viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending;

a first processor configured to;

automatically acquire, without user input, searchable file information related to graphic and video files, the searchable file information comprising a field indicating whether each graphic or video file requires authorization to access; and

create one or more identifiers from the searchable file information;

a database that stores the one or more identifiers;

a search engine that identifies the matching identifiers in the database that are created from searchable file information that matches the received search criteria; and

a second processor configured to provide access to the graphic and video files associated with the identified identifiers that do not require authorization to access and perform the file function in response to the input device receiving the user instruction.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second processor are the same.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second processor are different.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a display component that displays a listing of the graphic and video files associated with the matching identifiers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the input device is further configured to receive a user selection of a particular graphic or video file from the listing of graphic and video files, wherein the particular graphic or video file is associated with an identifier that does require authorization to access; and

the second processor is further configured to prompt a user to provide authorization information in response to receiving of the user instruction.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the input device is further configured to receive authorization information from the user; and

the second processor is further configured to;

determine whether the authorization information received is proper; and

allow the user to access the particular video or graphic file in response to determining that the authorization information received is proper.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the input device is further configured to receive a user instruction to perform a file function on the particular graphic or video file, wherein the file function comprises one more of viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending; and

the processor is further configured to perform the file function in response to receiving the user instruction.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the input device is further configured to receive a user selection of a particular graphic or video file from the listing of graphic and video files, wherein the particular graphic or video file is associated with an identifier that does require authorization to access; and

the processor is further configured to prompt a user to provide payment information in response to receiving the user selection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the input device is further configured to receive payment information from the user; and

the processor is further configured to;

determine whether the payment information received is proper; and

allow the user to access the particular video or graphic file in response to determining that the payment information received is proper.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the input device is further configured to receive a user instruction to perform a file function on the particular graphic or video file, wherein the file function comprises one more of viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending; and

the processor is further configured to perform the file function in response to receiving the user instruction.