System and method for effectively presenting multimedia information materials

• US 20030101230A1
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Callahan, Todd P., Benschoter, Brian N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• 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

The invention is directed to presenting multimedia information materials from a database, preferably as a video broadcast. The invention includes storing a plurality of information segments in the database, providing an option to review the content of at least part of an information segment, selecting information segments from the database, and allowing a user to organize a subset of the selected information segments to affect a presentation of those information segments. The selected information segments may be loaded into a memory, including memory associated with a personal computer, a set-top box, or a personal video recorder. The selected information segments may also be represented using indicators, and the subset of selected information segments may be organized in a selected order where the indicators correspond to the subset. The subset of selected information segments may be presented in the same order as the corresponding indicators. The indicators may be stored in a buffer, such as a virtual “shopping cart.” The presentation may include playing, pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding the corresponding information segments. The information segments in the database can include video clips, and can contain visual, audio, and/or text information. The presentation may include skipping forward or backward at least one video clip. 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 providing information from a database, comprising:

storing a plurality of information segments in the database;

providing an option to review content of at least part of an information segment;

selecting information segments from the database; and

allowing a user to manipulate an organization of a subset of the selected information segments to affect a presentation thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising loading the subset of the selected information segments into a memory.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the memory is associated with a personal computer.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the memory is associated with a set-top box.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the memory is associated with a personal video recorder.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing indicators representing the selected information segments, wherein the organization of the subset of the selected information segments is allowed to be manipulated by arranging in a selected order the indicators corresponding to the subset of the selected information segments.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising presenting the subset of the selected information segments in the same order as the corresponding indicators.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the indicators are stored in a buffer.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the presenting includes playing, pausing, rewinding, or fast forwarding the corresponding information segments.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the corresponding information segments include video clips, and the presenting includes skipping forward or backward at least one video clip.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database includes a video clip.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains visual information.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains audio information.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains text information.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising realizing the presentation on a computer.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising realizing the presentation on a television.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the television interfaces with a set-top box.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the television interfaces with a personal video recorder.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising realizing the presentation on a media player.

20. A method for presenting information segments from a database, comprising:

providing a buffer;

receiving selections of information segments in the database, the selected information segments being represented by respective indicators in the buffer;

arranging a subset of the indicators in a selected order; and

presenting particular information segments represented by the subset of the indicators corresponding thereto, the particular information segments being presented in the same order as the corresponding indicators arranged in the subset.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising loading the particular information segments into a memory.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the memory is associated with a personal computer.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the memory is associated with a set-top box.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the memory is associated with a personal video recorder.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the buffer includes a virtual cart.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database includes a video clip.

27. The method according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains visual information.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains audio information.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains text information.

30. The method according to claim 20, further comprising selecting the indicator subset.

31. The method according to claim 20, wherein the indicator subset is arranged in response to input commands.

32. A method for presenting information segments from a database, comprising:

receiving a request including one or more preferences concerning desired information segments;

searching the database in response to the request;

providing an indicator representative of at least one information segment selected from the database which satisfies the preferences;

placing the indicator in a buffer;

arranging the indicator with at least a second indicator in the buffer in a selected order, the second indicator being representative of a second information segment; and

presenting the selected information segment and the second information segment in the selected order.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the request is formulated in accordance with a predetermined search template.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the preferences are derived from a user preference file.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the request is received through a network.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the network includes at least part of an Internet.

37. The method according to claim 32, wherein the buffer includes a virtual cart.

38. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database includes a video clip.

39. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains visual information.

40. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains audio information.

41. The method according to claim 32, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains text information.

42. A method for presenting information segments from a database, comprising:

generating preferences for selecting information segments from the database;

providing a buffer for retaining indicators of information segments selected according to the preferences;

arranging a subset of the indicators in a selected order; and

presenting particular information segments represented by the subset of the indicators corresponding thereto, the particular information segments being presented in the same order as the corresponding indicators arranged in the subset.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the generating step comprises:

receiving information regarding a user'"'"'s identity;

using the information to verify the user'"'"'s identity; and

retrieving a user preference file based on the verified identity.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the user preference file includes the preferences for selecting information segments from the database.

45. The method according to claim 43, further comprising generating a customized interface based on the preferences in the user preference file.

46. A system for serving information segments for presentation thereof, comprising:

a database containing a plurality of information segments;

a processing unit for providing an option to review content of at least part of an information segment;

an interface for selecting information segments from the database; and

a controller for allowing a user to manipulate an organization of a subset of the selected information segments to affect a presentation thereof.

47. The system according to claim 46, further comprising a memory into which the subset of the selected information segments is loaded.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein the memory is associated with a personal computer.

49. The system according to claim 47, wherein the memory is associated with a set-top box.

50. The system according to claim 47, wherein the memory is associated with a personal video recorder.

51. The system according to claim 46, wherein indicators representing the selected information segments are provided, and the organization of the subset of the selected information segments is allowed to be manipulated by arranging in a selected order the indicators corresponding to the subset of the selected information segments.

52. The system according to claim 46, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database includes a video clip.

53. The system according to claim 46, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains visual information.

54. The system according to claim 46, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains audio information.

55. The system according to claim 46, wherein at least one of the information segments in the database contains text information.

56. The system according to claim 46, further comprising a computer for realizing the presentation.

57. The system according to claim 46, further comprising a television for realizing the presentation.

58. The system according to claim 57, wherein the television interfaces with a set-top box.

59. The system according to claim 57, wherein the television interfaces with a personal video recorder.

60. The system according to claim 46, further comprising a media player for realizing the presentation.