Audiovisual information management system

• US 20040267805A1
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sezan, Muhammed Ibrahim, Beek, Petrus Van, Yoshikawa, Kohei, Tomioka, Yoshiaki, Shibao, Tadahide
• Application Number:
  US10/895,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267805A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system, may include, at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames. A usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of at least one of the audio, image, and video, where the description normally includes multiple preferences. In one aspect, a protection attribute with respect to at least one of the preferences indicates whether one of the preferences is considered public or private. Other aspects of the user preferences description include other attributes, alone or in combination.

Claims

1. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said at least one of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a protection attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating whether said one of said preferences is considered public or private.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said audio, image, and video is video.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of limiting access to preferences associated with said protection attribute based upon said protection attribute.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said access is limited to a remotely located service provider of said video.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said protection attribute is a binary value.

6. A method of using a system with at least one of audio and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said at least one of said audio, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences;

(b) providing a summary preference attribute indicating at least one of, (1) a minimum duration of a summary, (2) a maximum duration of a summary, (3) a duration of a summary, and (4) a fidelity descriptor, of said at least one of said audio and video to be provided to the user, where said summary of said audio and video has less duration than the respective audio and video prior to being summarized.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said at least one of said audio and video is video.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said summary preference attribute includes said fidelity descriptor.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said summary preference attribute includes said minimum duration.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said summary preference attribute includes said maximum duration.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said summary preference attribute includes said duration.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising multiple summary preference attributes wherein said summary preference attributes include said minimum duration and said maximum duration.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said multiple summary preference attributes includes said duration.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said multiple summary preference attributes includes said fidelity descriptor.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein a service provider of said video provides said video based upon said summary preference attribute.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said summary preference attribute includes said fidelity descriptor.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said summary preference attribute includes said minimum duration.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said summary preference attribute includes said maximum duration.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said summary preference attribute includes said duration.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising multiple summary preference attributes wherein said summary preference attributes include said minimum duration and said maximum duration.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said multiple summary preference attributes includes said duration.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said multiple summary preference attributes includes said fidelity descriptor.

23. A method of using a system with a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said video, where said description includes multiple preferences;

(b) providing a key frame summary preference attribute indicating at least one of, (1) a minimum number of keyframes of a summary, (2) a maximum number of keyframes of a summary, and (3) a total number of keyframes of a summary, of said video to be provided to the user, where said keyframes is a subset of said video having greater representativeness of said video than a random selection of frames of said video.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said key frame summary preference attribute includes said minimum number of keyframes.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said key frame summary preference attribute includes said maximum number of keyframes duration.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said key frame summary preference attribute includes said total number of keyframes.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising multiple key frame summary preference attributes wherein said key frame summary preference attributes include said minimum and maximum number of keyframes.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said multiple key frame summary preference attributes includes said total number of keyframes.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein a service provider of said video provides said video based upon said key frame summary preference attribute.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said key frame summary preference attribute includes said minimum number of keyframes.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said key frame summary preference attribute includes said maximum number of keyframes duration.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein said key frame summary preference attribute includes said total number of keyframes.

33. The method of claim 29 further comprising multiple key frame summary preference attributes wherein said key frame summary preference attributes include said minimum and maximum number of keyframes.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said multiple key frame summary preference attributes includes said total number of keyframes.

35. A method of using a system with at least one of audio and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a theme preference attribute for said at least one of said audio and video indicating a desirable theme of said at least one of said audio and video.

36. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a time attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences differentiating said preferences based on the time of day.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said at least one of said audio, image, and video is video.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said time of day including morning and afternoon.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising providing a location attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences differentiating said preferences based on the location of the user.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising providing a source attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences differentiating said preferences based upon the source of said video.

41. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a location attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based on the location of the user.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said at least one of said audio, image, and video is video.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said location includes work and home.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising providing a time attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based on the time of day.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising providing a source attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based upon the source of said video.

46. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a temporal attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based upon a temporal reference at least as long as one day.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said at least one of said audio, image, and video is video.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said temporal reference is a season.

49. The method of claim 47 further comprising providing a location attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based on the location of the user.

50. The method of claim 47 further comprising providing a source attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based upon the source of said video.

51. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a source attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based on the source of said audio, image and video.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said at least one of said audio, image, and video is video.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein said source includes at least two of broadcast, satellite, cable, and tape.

54. The method of claim 52 further comprising providing a location attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based on the location of the user.

55. The method of claim 52 further comprising providing a source attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based upon the source of said video.

56. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a relevance attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating non-preference of said at least one of said preferences.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein said at least one of said audio, image, and video is video.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said relevance attribute includes negative values.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said negative values indicates a non-preferences.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein said relevance attribute includes positive values indicative of positive preferences.

61. A method of using a system with a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a filtering and search preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said video, where said description includes multiple preferences, where said filtering and search preferences description includes at least one of a descriptor indicating a program title, genre, language, actor, and creator of said video; and

(b) using said video based at least in part upon at least one of said descriptors.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein said preferences description includes said program title.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein said preferences description includes said genre.

64. The method of claim 61 wherein said preferences description includes said language.

65. The method of claim 61 wherein said preferences description includes said actor.

66. The method of claim 61 wherein said preferences description includes said creator of said video.

67. The method of claim 61 wherein said filtering and search preferences further includes a descriptor indicating a user'"'"'s preference for said video that is reviewed by particular individuals

68. A method of using a system with a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a filtering and search preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said video, where said description includes multiple preferences, where said filtering and search preferences description includes at least one of a descriptor indicating a user'"'"'s preference for said video that is reviewed by particular individuals; and

(b) using said video based at least in part upon at least one of said descriptors.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein said preferences description further includes a program title.

70. The method of claim 68 wherein said preferences description further includes a genre.

71. The method of claim 68 wherein said preferences description further includes a language.

72. The method of claim 68 wherein said preferences description further includes an actor.

73. The method of claim 68 wherein said preferences description further includes a creator of said video.

74. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing an emotional attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating the use of said preferences based on the emotional state of the user.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein said at least one of audio, image, and video is video.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein said emotional state includes sad and happy.

77. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a persistence attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating the duration of which said preferences are maintained.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein said at least one of audio, image, and video is video.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein said persistence includes temporary and permanent.

80. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a granularity attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating the amount of detail of information desired within said usage preferences description.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein said at least one of audio, image, and video is video.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein said granularity may be varied by said user.

83. The method of claim 81 wherein the scheme of said usage preferences description does not vary based upon changing said granularity.

84. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a media type attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a difference in the use of said preferences based on the type of media of said audio, image and video.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein said at least one of said audio, image and video is video.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein said media is at least one of digital video disc, and tape.

87. A method of using a system with a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said video, where said description includes multiple preferences; and

(b) providing a frequency attribute with respect to at least one of said preferences indicating a preference for frame frequency of said video.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein said frame frequency is provided to a service provider.

89. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences;

(b) providing a usage history preferences description, and

(b) modifying said usage preference description based on the content of said usage history preferences description with a different amount of detail of information based upon a granularity attribute.

90. The method of claim 89 wherein said at least one of audio, image, and video is video.

91. The method of claim 90 wherein said granularity may be varied by said user.

92. The method of claim 90 wherein the scheme of said usage preferences description does not vary based upon changing said granularity.

93. A method of using a system with at least one of audio, image, and a video comprising a plurality of frames comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a usage preferences description, describing preferences of a user with respect to the use of said audio, image, and video, where said description includes multiple preferences;

(b) providing a usage history preferences description, and

(b) selectively modifying said usage preference description based on an update attribute that is selectively set by the user to permit updating the content of said usage preferences description based upon the content of said usage history prefrences description.

94. The method of claim 93 wherein said at least one of audio, image, and video is video.