Systems and methods for dynamic video bookmarking

• US 10,692,540 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JBF Interlude 2009 Ltd.
• Original Assignee: JBF Interlude 2009 Ltd.
• Inventors: Bloch, Jonathan, Feldman, Barak, Zubalsky, Tal, Hofshy, Yuval, Shapiro, Amiel
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Toan H
• Application Number:
  US15/703,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20180130501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

Methods and systems for dynamic bookmarking in branched video are described. An application provides a video tree having a plurality of video segments, with each video segment including a predefined portion of one or more paths in the video tree, and each path being associated with a different video presentation. One of the paths in the video tree is traversed based on one or more decisions made by a user during playback of the video presentation associated with the path being traversed. A selection of a particular location in the path being traversed is received by the application, which stores a bookmark of the location for subsequent retrieval. The bookmark identifies a sequence of video segments in the video tree having been traversed to reach the location. The structure of the video tree is modified, and the bookmark is automatically updated, if necessary. At a later time, the application receives a selection of the stored bookmark and seeks to the bookmarked location. The application further restores the decisions made by the user during the previous playback of the presentation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a branching video structure comprising a plurality of video segments, each video segment comprising a predefined portion of one or more paths in the branching video structure, each path associated with a different video presentation;

during playback of a first one of the video presentations, receiving a plurality of decisions made by a user and traversing one of the paths in the branching video structure based on one or more of the decisions;

storing a bookmark associated with the user for subsequent retrieval, wherein the bookmark defines a state arising from one or more of the decisions made by the user during playback of the first video presentation;

receiving from the user a selection of the stored bookmark; and

in response to the selection of the stored bookmark, upon commencing playback of a second one of the video presentations, restoring the state within the second video presentation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video presentation and the second video presentation comprise a same path in the branching video structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video presentation and the second video presentation comprise a different path in the branching video structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bookmark further comprises a location in a first video segment of one of the video presentations.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bookmark further comprises an offset of the location from the beginning of the first video segment.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first video segment comprises a decision period during which the user can choose from a plurality of options during playback of the first video segment, and wherein a second video segment to be played after the first video segment is determined based on a choice made by the user during the decision period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the bookmark further comprises an offset of the location from the decision period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein restoring the state comprises providing a visual representation of one or more of the decisions.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically providing a second bookmark defining a different state based on at least one of historical data, user data, and content information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the historical data is selected from the group consisting of previous decisions made by the user in traversing the branching video structure, and previous decisions made by a group of users in traversing the branching video structure.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user data is selected from the group consisting of demographics, geography, and social media information.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the content information is selected from the group consisting of video presentation length, segment length, path length, and content subject matter.

13. A system comprising:

at least one memory for storing computer-executable instructions; and

at least one processor for executing the instructions stored on the at least one memory, wherein execution of the instructions programs the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

providing a branching video structure comprising a plurality of video segments, each video segment comprising a predefined portion of one or more paths in the branching video structure, each path associated with a different video presentation;

during playback of a first one of the video presentations, receiving a plurality of decisions made by a user and traversing one of the paths in the branching video structure based on one or more of the decisions;

storing a bookmark associated with the user for subsequent retrieval, wherein the bookmark defines a state arising from one or more of the decisions made by the user during playback of the first video presentation;

receiving from the user a selection of the stored bookmark; and

in response to the selection of the stored bookmark, upon commencing playback of a second one of the video presentations, restoring the state within the second video presentation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first video presentation and the second video presentation comprise a same path in the branching video structure.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first video presentation and the second video presentation comprise a different path in the branching video structure.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the bookmark further comprises a location in a first video segment of one of the video presentations.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the bookmark further comprises an offset of the location from the beginning of the first video segment.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first video segment comprises a decision period during which the user can choose from a plurality of options during playback of the first video segment, and wherein a second video segment to be played after the first video segment is determined based on a choice made by the user during the decision period.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the bookmark further comprises an offset of the location from the decision period.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein restoring the state comprises providing a visual representation of one or more of the decisions.