System and method for effectively presenting multimedia information materials

• US 8,856,826 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Benschoter, Brian N., Callahan, Todd P.
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, HANH B
• Application Number:
  US12/589,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 707/708, 707/722, 707/736, 725 37- 61
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/435 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and systems for presenting multimedia information materials from a database, preferably as a video broadcast. In one example, a plurality of information segments, such as video clips, are stored in the database, information segments are selected from the database, and a user can organize a subset of the selected information segments to affect a presentation of those information segments in desired order. The selected information segments may be loaded into a memory. The selected information segments may also be represented using indicators. The subset of selected information segments may be presented in the same order as the corresponding indicators. The presentation may be realized on a computer, a media player, or a television, the latter of which may interface with a set-top box and/or a personal video recorder.

Claims

1. A method for presenting multimedia information segments to a user via a display device, the display device displaying first, second, and third, different regions, the method comprising:

displaying in the first region a plurality of first indicators, each first indicator corresponding to a respective multimedia information segment, wherein the multimedia information segments comprise content;

receiving at least two first selections of displayed first indicators, from the user, in an order of selection;

simultaneously displaying in the second region a first list of second indicators representing the at least two of the selected first indicators, in a first sequence;

receiving from the user second selections from the first list of second indicators in the second region, in a second sequence;

simultaneously displaying in the third region a second list of third indicators representing the selected second indicators in the second sequence; and

playing the content of the multimedia information segments represented by the third indicators in an order of the second list of third indicators.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

allowing the user to rearrange the second sequence of third indicators in the third region; and

playing the multimedia information segments in the third region in the rearranged order of the third indicators.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a first plurality of multimedia information segments in a database; and

searching the stored multimedia information segments in the database based on at least one parameter;

wherein displaying in the first region the plurality of first indicators comprises displaying first indicators representative of multimedia information segments responsive to the search.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising loading the multimedia information segments corresponding to the third indicators into a memory.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising loading the multimedia information segments corresponding to the third indicators into a memory associated with a personal computer, a set-top box, or a personal video recorder.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the playing of multimedia information segments, by the user.

7. The method claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of multimedia information segments comprise video clips.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising playing the user selected multimedia information segments on a computer display or on a television.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

displaying in the second region the first list of selected information segments in the first sequence, in the order the information segments are selected.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the first and second regions on a first page;

displaying the third region on a second page different from the first page;

after receiving the selections of the at least two second indicators, displaying the selected second indicators in the second sequence in a fourth region different from the third region, on the second page;

receiving the selections of the at least two second indicators for presentation in the second sequence, from the user, from the fourth region on the second page; and

displaying in the third region on the second page the selected third indicators, in the second sequence.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying in a fourth region of the display device different from the first, second, and third regions, one or more graphical markers representing respective topics of multimedia information segments;

receiving from a user a selection of a graphical marker corresponding to a respective topic; and

displaying in the first region first indicators corresponding to respective stored multimedia information segments associated with the selected graphical marker, for selection by the user.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising displaying in the fourth region one or more graphical markers representing respective topics, based, at least in part, on predefined user preferences.

26. The method of claim 10, wherein the first page and the second page comprise respective web pages.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the multimedia information segments corresponding to the third indicators in the second list, from a source separate from the display device, via a network.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the indicators in memory, prior to playing the content.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps is performed by a processing device coupled to the display device via a network.

13. A method for presenting multimedia information segments to a user via a display device, the display device displaying first and second different regions on a first page, third and fourth different regions on a second page different from the first page, and fourth and fifth regions on a third page different from the first, second, and third pages, the method comprising:

searching a database for multimedia information segments stored in the database, in response to a request from a user, wherein multimedia information segments comprise content;

displaying in the first region of the first page a first list comprising a plurality of first indicators, each first indicator corresponding to a respective multimedia information segment found in response to the request;

simultaneously displaying in the second region of the first page, in a second list different from the first list, at least two second indicators representative of respective multimedia information segments selected by the user from the first list in the first region, in a first sequence;

displaying in the third region on a second page of the display device different from the first page a third list of third indicators representative of respective second indicators, in the first sequence;

displaying in the fourth region on the second page, a fourth list comprising one or more additional first indicators representative of additional respective multimedia information segments found in response to the request, at least some of the one or more additional first indicators not being displayed on the first page;

adding to the third list in the third region at least one additional first indicator selected by the user from the one or more additional first indicators, to form a second sequence;

displaying on the third page, in a fifth region, a fourth list of fourth indicators representative of the third indicators in the third list in the third region, in the second sequence;

displaying on the third page, in a sixth region different from the fifth region, a sixth list of fifth indicators representative of respective fourth indicators, in a third sequence selected by the user, the third sequence of fifth indicators being different from the second sequence; and

playing the content of the multimedia information segments corresponding to the fifth indicators in the third sequence, in the order of the third sequence in the fifth list.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the request comprises one or more search terms received from the user.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising:

receiving the request via a network.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the multimedia information segments in the database comprise video clips.

17. A system for presenting multimedia information segments to a user, the system comprising:

a database containing a plurality of multimedia information segments comprising content; and

at least one processing unit associated with the database and coupled to a network, the at least one processing unit being configured to;

generate a graphical user interface on a display device, via the network, the graphical user interface comprising a first page defining first and second, different regions;

the graphical user interface being configured to;

display first indicators corresponding to at least certain of the plurality of multimedia information segments in the first region;

allow a user to select first indicators from the first region; and

simultaneously display second indicators in a first list in the second region representative of the selected first indicators, in a first sequence;

the graphical user interface comprising a second page different from the first page, the second page defining a third region;

the graphical user interface being further configured to;

display third indicators representing respective second indicators, in a second list in the third region, in the first sequence;

define a fourth region on the second page different from the third region;

display fourth indicators representing respective third indicators selected by the user from the second list, in the fourth region in a third list in a third sequence of fourth indicators different from the second sequence; and

cause playback of the content of the multimedia information segments represented by the fourth indicators in an order of the third sequence in the third list, on the display device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to load the multimedia information segments corresponding to the third indicators in memory associated with the display device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the memory and the display are associated with a personal computer, a set-top box, or a personal video recorder.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein at least some of the multimedia information segments comprise video clips.

21. A system for presenting multimedia information segments to a user, the system comprising:

a database containing a plurality of multimedia information segments containing content; and

at least one processing unit associated with the database and coupled to a network, the at least one processing unit being configured to;

generate a graphical user interface on a display device, via the network, the graphical user interface comprising a first page defining first and second, different regions;

conduct a search of the database in response to a user request;

the graphical user interface being configured to;

display first indicators corresponding to at least certain of the respective information segments found in the search, in a first list in the first region;

allow a user to select first indicators from the first region;

display second indicators in the second region representative of the first indicators, respectively, in a second list in a first sequence;

define a second page different than the first page, the second page comprising third and fourth regions;

display in a third list in the third region additional first indicators representative of respective multimedia information segments found in the search and where at least some of the additional first indicators are not displayed in the first region;

display in a fourth list in the fourth region the third indicators representative of respective second indicators in the second region, in the first sequence, and fourth indicators representative of respective additional first indicators selected by the user from the third region, the third and fourth indicators being in a second sequence;

the graphical user interface further comprising fifth and sixth regions;

the graphical user interface being further configured to;

display in a fifth list fifth indicators representing respective third and fourth indicators, in the third region, in a third sequence;

display in a sixth list in the sixth region sixth indicators representing respective fifth indicators selected by the user from the fifth list in a fourth sequence of sixth indicators different from the third sequence; and

the graphical user interface being further configured to cause playback of the content of the information segments represented by the sixth indicators in the sixth list in the fourth sequence.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to load the multimedia information segments corresponding to the third indicators in memory associated with the display device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the memory and the display are associated with a personal computer, a set-top box, or a personal video recorder.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein at least some of the multimedia information segments comprise video clips.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to allow the user to rearrange the third sequence of fifth indicators to form the fourth sequence of fifth indicators.