Method of retrieving information associated with an object present in a media stream
First Claim
1. A method of retrieving information (10) associated with an object (12) present in a media stream (14), said method comprising the steps of:
- defining a user-selectable region (18) in a layer (20) separate from the media stream (14) and without accessing individual frames of the media stream (14), the user-selectable region (18) tracking a position of the object (12) present in the media stream (14);
defining a link (34) to the information (10) associated with the object (12);
linking the user-selectable region (18) in the layer (20) to the link (34) for the information (10) associated with the object (12);
positioning the user-selectable region (18) in the layer (20) over the object (12) such that the user-selectable region (18) tracks the position of the object (12) during playback of the media stream (14);
disposing the layer (20) adjacent the media stream (14) without interfering with playback of the media stream (14);
playing the media stream (14) in a player;
selecting the user-selectable region (18) from within the layer (20) during playback of the media stream (14); and
accessing the information (10) associated with the object (12) in response to selecting the user-selectable region (18) from within the layer (20).
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Abstract
The subject invention provides a method of retrieving information (10) associated with an object (12) present in a media stream (14). The method includes the steps of accessing the information (10) during playback of the media stream (14) on any device and defining user-selectable regions (18) in a layer (20) separate from the media stream (14). The layer (20) is preferably a clear applet for receiving and storing the user-selectable regions (18). The defining of the user-selectable region (18) is performed without editing individual frames of the media stream (14). A link (34) is associated between the user-selectable region (18) and the information (10) associated with the object (12) to identify the location where information (10) associated with the object (12) is stored. In operation, the layer (20) is disposed adjacent the media stream (14) without interfering with playback of the media stream (14) in the player. During playback of the media stream (14), the user-selectable regions (18) are capable of being selected. Once the user-selectable region (18) is selected, the information (10) associated with the object (12) is then displayed.
117 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of retrieving information (10) associated with an object (12) present in a media stream (14), said method comprising the steps of:
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defining a user-selectable region (18) in a layer (20) separate from the media stream (14) and without accessing individual frames of the media stream (14), the user-selectable region (18) tracking a position of the object (12) present in the media stream (14); defining a link (34) to the information (10) associated with the object (12); linking the user-selectable region (18) in the layer (20) to the link (34) for the information (10) associated with the object (12); positioning the user-selectable region (18) in the layer (20) over the object (12) such that the user-selectable region (18) tracks the position of the object (12) during playback of the media stream (14); disposing the layer (20) adjacent the media stream (14) without interfering with playback of the media stream (14); playing the media stream (14) in a player; selecting the user-selectable region (18) from within the layer (20) during playback of the media stream (14); and accessing the information (10) associated with the object (12) in response to selecting the user-selectable region (18) from within the layer (20). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of providing a video signal (40) from a provider to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a first component of the video signal (40) having a media stream (14) therein; transmitting a second component of the video signal (40) having a layer (20) with user-selectable regions (18) tracking a position of objects (12) present in the media stream (14) and linked to information (10) associated with the object (12); receiving the video signal (40) with a player; disposing the layer (20) adjacent the media stream (14) without interfering with playback of the media stream (14); playing the media stream (14) in the player; synchronizing the user-selectable region (18) within the layer (20) to a position of the object (12) in the media stream (14) without accessing individual frames of the media stream (14); and enabling the user-selectable region (18) to allow the user to select the user-selectable regions (18) and access the information (10) associated with the object (12). - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for storing information (10) associated with an object (12) present in a media stream (14), said device comprising:
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a media stream (14) with an object (12) therein; information (10) associated with said object (12); a layer (20) for disposition adjacent said media stream (14) during playback and having a user-selectable region (18) tracking a position of said object (12) in said media stream (14) to synchronize said user-selectable region (18) within said layer (20) to the position of the object (12) in the media stream (14) without accessing individual frames of the media stream (14) during playback; and a link (34) between said user-selectable region (18) and said information (10) associated with said object (12) for accessing said information (10) associated with said object (12) in response to said user-selectable region (18) being selected. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A system capable of storing and retrieving information (10) associated with an object (12) present in a media stream (14) provided with a video signal (40) from a provider, said system comprising:
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an editor (22) defining a user-selectable region (18) tracking a position of the object (12) in the media stream (14) without accessing individual frames of the media stream (14) and defining a link (34) between said user-selectable region (18) and information (10) associated with said object (12); a player device (16) for playing the media stream (14) with the object (12) therein; and a layer (20) disposed adjacent the media stream (14) during playback and presenting the user-selectable region (18) for selection by the user to access the information (10) such that said user-selectable region (18) is synchronized within said layer (20) to the position of the object (12) in the media stream (14) without accessing individual frames of the media stream (14). - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification