Method for semantics based trick mode play in video system

• US 9,438,876 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Li, Jun, Ma, Xiaojun, Xu, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, NIEN
• Application Number:
  US13/824,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 386343-348, 386/205, 386/218, 386/314, 386/319, 386/350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• 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: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/80 Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback

Abstract

Trick mode play for controlling video content playback can be realized using a semantic based criterion in order to achieve a more uniform playback experience for the viewer, when that viewer wishes to observe the video content presented according to a selected semantic. In one embodiment of the method, semantics associated with shorter time intervals in the video content are replayed in trick mode play proportionally slower than semantics associated with longer time intervals, wherein the proportionally is determined, at least in part, to the time interval associated with each semantic. In various embodiments, semantics can include scenes, audio, metadata, tags, and the like. The semantics based trick mode play approach allows for a more uniform viewing experience, on a time duration basis, from one semantic to the next.

Claims

1. A method for controlling replay for video content in a trick mode of operation, the method comprising:

receiving a trick mode command;

determining a trick mode frame rate as a function of a time interval between consecutive semantics in the video content, a time duration of the video content, a number of occurrences for the semantics in the video content and a frame rate in a normal play mode of the video content; and

wherein the video content related to the time interval in the trick mode defined by the received trick mode command is displayed at the trick mode frame rate,

said trick mode frame rate, V_i, is determined as V_i=[T_i/T]×

(N×

L×

M), where T_i is a time interval between an i^th and an (i+1)^th consecutive semantics in the video content, T is a time duration of the video content, N is a number of occurrences for the semantics in the video content, and M is a frame rate in a normal play mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said trick mode command identifies a frame rate multiplier and an indication of a direction of replay of said video content, wherein the frame rate is not equal to 1.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the consecutive semantics are selected from a group including at least one of scenes changes in the video content, selected metadata associated with the video content, selected tags associated with the video content, and selected audio associated with the video content, and selected statistic values of the video content.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

comparing the magnitude of said trick mode frame rate V_i to said frame rate M; and

said displaying further includes displaying the video content corresponding to the i^th semantic occurrence at said frame rate M for the time interval T_i when said comparing determines that the magnitude of said trick play mode frame rate V_i is less than said frame rate M.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting a difference between the trick mode frame rate as calculated and a current trick mode frame rate V<sub>i−

1</sub> related to a semantic occurrence in time interval T<sub>i−

1</sub>; and

when a magnitude of said difference exceeds a determined threshold, varying a trick mode frame rate for the i^th semantic occurrence from said current trick mode frame rate V<sub>i−

1</sub> to the trick mode frame rate V_i as calculated during display of the i^th semantic occurrence.

6. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein said changing is performed in a manner selected from the group consisting of stepwise, stepwise linear, stepwise nonlinear, and uniformly equal stepwise increments.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the number of occurrences for the semantics in the video content, is represented as a statistical average number of occurrences for said semantics over the video content, wherein the statistical average is based upon one or more associated characteristics of the video content.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein said one or more associated characteristics of the video content are selected from a group consisting of at least the duration for the video content and a genre characteristic for the video content.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising analyzing the video content to determine the number of occurrences for the semantics in said video content.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein said analyzing further comprises indexing each semantic occurrence to produce a value indicative of a time of said occurrence for each said semantic occurrence.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the method further comprises storing each semantic occurrence with said value indicative of the time of said occurrence for each said semantic occurrence.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving the semantic identified in said video content.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising muting audio during trick mode replay of the video content corresponding to the semantic occurrence for said time interval.