Method and apparatus for providing seamless resumption of video playback

• US 8,683,197 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bull, William, Hicks, Kourtny Minh, Lindahl, Aram
• Primary Examiner(s): Colin, Carl
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELMORE, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US12/075,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20090060472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,206 Days
• Field of Search: 386/124
• US Class Current: 713/158
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

Video data files are provided to a user for playback. Once playback begins, the methods and apparatus of the present invention enable a user to interrupt the video playback function and quickly resume playback prior to reloading the selected video file. The techniques of the present invention can store video data in a cache memory and, upon interruption, capture a frame of video data at approximately the time of the interruption. The captured frame and cache data can be used to provide the user with a unique menu option for resumption of the video playback at the moment of interruption.

Claims

1. A method of providing rapid resumption of a video file, comprising:

receiving a first user instruction to initiate the video playback of the video file;

in response to the received first user instruction, loading the video file into a main memory component;

after the loading, initiating the video playback of the video file by initially playing back the video file from the main memory component;

during the initially playing back the video file, loading a cache memory component with video frame data of the video file;

during the initially playing back the video file, receiving a second user instruction to interrupt the video playback of the video file and to access a non-video playback function;

subsequent to the received second user instruction, unloading at least a portion of the video file from the main memory component;

subsequent to receiving the second user instruction, providing access to the non-video playback function while preserving at least a portion of the video frame data loaded in the cache memory component;

after the providing, receiving a third user instruction to resume the video playback of the video file;

in response to the received third user instruction, initiating the resumption of the video playback of the video file by initially playing back the video frame data of the video file from the cache memory component;

during the initially playing back the video frame data, reloading the at least a portion of the video file into the main memory component; and

after the reloading, playing back the video file from the main memory component.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the received first user instruction, loading a video playback program into the main memory component along with the video file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the initially playing back the video file from the main memory component comprises initially playing back the video file from the main memory component using the video playback program.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, during the initially playing back the video frame data, reloading the at least a portion of the video playback program into the main memory component.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the playing back the video file from the main memory component comprises playing back the at least a portion of the video file using the video playback program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the playing back the video file from the main memory component comprises playing back the at least a portion of the video file.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising seamlessly transitioning between the initially playing back the video frame data from the cache memory component and the playing back the video file from the main memory component.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing the frame of the video file being played back during the receiving the second user instruction.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the providing access to the non-video playback function comprises displaying a menu that comprises at least a first menu option associated with the nonvideo playback function and a second menu option, wherein the second menu option comprises at least a portion of the captured frame.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising, during the displaying the menu, receiving a fourth user instruction to pan the video file from the captured frame.

11. The method of claim 10, in response to the received fourth user instruction, altering the second menu option, wherein the altered second menu option comprises at least a portion of the video frame data from the cache memory component.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least a portion of the video frame data comprises a frame of the video file that is one of forward and backward from the captured frame.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the third user instruction comprises a user selection of the second menu option.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the second menu option further comprises a textual message that indicates that the video playback may resume.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the video frame data from the cache memory component comprises the captured frame.

16. An electronic device comprising:

a display;

an input mechanism;

a main memory component;

a cache memory component; and

a processor configured to;

receive from the input mechanism a first user instruction to initiate video playback of a video file;

in response to the received first user instruction, load the video file into the main memory component;

after the video file is loaded, initiate the video playback of the video file by initially playing back the video file from the main memory component on the display;

when the video file is being initially played back, load video frame data of the video file into the cache memory component;

when the video file is being initially played back, receive from the input mechanism a second user instruction to interrupt the video playback of the video file and to access a non-video playback function of the electronic device;

subsequent to the received second user instruction, unload at least a portion of the video file from the main memory component;

subsequent to receiving the second user instruction, provide access to the non-video playback function while preserving at least a portion of the video frame data loaded in the cache memory component;

once the access is provided, receive with the input mechanism a third user instruction to resume the video playback of the video file;

in response to the received third user instruction, initiate the resumption of the video playback of the video file by initially playing back the video frame data of the video file from the cache memory component on the display;

when the video frame data is being initially played back, reload the at least a portion of the video file into the main memory component; and

after the at least a portion of the video file is reloaded, play back the video file from the main memory component on the display.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to the received first user instruction, load a video playback program into the main memory component along with the video file; and

initiate the video playback of the video file by initially playing back the video file from the main memory component on the display using the video playback program.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to seamlessly transition between initially playing back the video frame data from the cache memory component and playing back the video file from the main memory component.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to capture the frame of the video file being played back when the second user instruction is received.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to provide access to the non-video playback function by displaying on the display a menu that comprises at least a first menu option associated with the non-video playback function and a second menu option, wherein the second menu option comprises at least a portion of the captured frame.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the processor is further configured to, while the menu is being displayed, receive from the input mechanism a fourth user instruction to pan the video file from the captured frame.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to the received fourth user instruction, alter the second menu option, wherein the altered second menu option comprises at least a portion of the video frame data from the cache memory component.

23. The electronic device of claim 22, wherein the at least a portion of the video frame data comprises a frame of the video file that is one of forward and backward from the captured frame.

24. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the third user instruction comprises a user selection of the second menu option.

25. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the second menu option further comprises a textual message that indicates that the video playback may resume.

26. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the video frame data from the cache memory component comprises the captured frame.