Method and system for playing video

• US 20050010955A1
• Filed: 05/17/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Retuta, Salve, Landis, Jeremy C., Kelly, Leslie A., Elia, Eric J., Langdon, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,176,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/743 a collection of video files or sequences
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739

Abstract

A method and system for playing video on a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides a singular user interface for searching, retrieving, and playing video available over a network from a server.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface (GUI) for playing video available from a server comprising:

a window configured to display video; and

a plurality of thumbnails displayed proximate the window, each thumbnail associated with video available from the server and being selectable for playing the associated video in the window.

2. The GUI of claim 1 wherein at least one of the thumbnails includes a video frame selected from the associated video.

3. The GUI of claim 1 wherein at least one of the thumbnails includes a static image that is representative of the associated video.

4. The GUI of claim 1 wherein at least one of the thumbnails includes a textual description that is representative of the associated video.

5. The GUI of claim 4 wherein the textual description includes an indicator of a provider for the associated video.

6. The GUI of claim 4 wherein the textual description includes a title of the associated video.

7. The GUI of claim 1 wherein at least one of the thumbnails includes an animated video clip that is representative of the associated video.

8. The GUI of claim 7 wherein the thumbnail having the animated video clip includes a selectable play button for playing the animated video clip in the thumbnail as opposed to playing the animated video clip in the window.

9. The GUI of claim 1 further comprising a rollover feature which displays a source designation when a pointer rolls-over one of the thumbnails to indicate a source for the video associated with the thumbnail.

10. The GUI of claim 1 wherein the video automatically begins playing in the window with selection of one of the thumbnails.

11. The GUI of claim 1 further comprising a video control menu displayed proximate the window, the video control menu having at least one selectable button for controlling playing of the video clip in the window.

12. The GUI of claim 11 wherein the video control menu includes a selectable enlarge button for enlarging the window playing the video

14. The GUI of claim 1 wherein the thumbnails are displayed in a circular fashion around a periphery of the window.

15. The GUI of claim 1 further comprising a thumbnail control menu having at least one selectable button for controlling which thumbnails are displayed.

16. The GUI of claim 15 wherein the thumbnail control menu includes a selectable “

spin”

button for randomly changing the displayed thumbnails.

17. The GUI of claim 15 wherein the thumbnail control menu includes a selectable “

today'"'"'s best”

button for displaying thumbnails which are defined by a video provider to be associated with a determined best video of the day.

18. The GUI of claim 15 wherein the thumbnail control menu includes a selectable “

my videos”

button for displaying thumbnails which are associated with a user'"'"'s profile.

19. The GUI of claim 15 wherein the thumbnail control menu includes a selectable “

all videos”

button for displaying thumbnails associated with the video playing in the window.

20. The GUI of claim 15 wherein the thumbnail control menu includes a selectable “

most popular”

button for displaying thumbnails which are defined by a video provider to be associated with a determined most popular video.

21. The GUI of claim 15 wherein the thumbnail control menu includes a selectable “

search”

button for calling up a search menu for receiving search criteria for displaying thumbnails which match the search criteria.

22. The GUI of claim 21 wherein the search menu includes a “

more like this”

button for displaying thumbnails which match additional search criteria related to the entered search criteria.

23. The GUI of claim 15 wherein the thumbnails are displayed in a plurality of thumbnail cells and wherein the control menu includes a selectable “

left”

arrow and a selectable “

right”

arrow for shifting the thumbnails displayed in the thumbnail cells in a left and right direction respectively such that a new thumbnail is display with each shifting thumbnail.

24. The GUI of claim 1 further comprising an operation menu displayed proximate the window for inputting a user command relating to the video playing in the window.

25. The GUI of claim 24 wherein the operation menu includes a selectable “

save this clip”

button for saving the video playing in the window.

26. The GUI of claim 25 wherein the operation menu includes a selectable “

add to my favorites”

button for saving a description of the video playing in the window to a user profile.

27. The GUI of claim 25 wherein the “

add to my favorites”

button includes a drop-down menu for selecting the description.

28. The GUI of claim 25 wherein the “

add to my favorites”

button includes an input field for inputting the description.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising continuously streaming the associated video, the continuous streaming characterized by buffering less than about 10 seconds of video.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising progressively streaming the associated video, the progressive streaming characterized by buffering greater than about 10 seconds of video and less than a running length of video.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising downloading an entire running length of the associated video.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising configuring the GUI for playing video on a computer.

34. The method of claim 28 further comprising configuring the GUI for playing video on a television.

35. The method of claim 28 further comprising configuring the GUI to play video received over an internet.

36. The method of claim 28 further comprising configuring the GUI to play video received over a cable network.

37. The method of claim 28 wherein the video automatically begins playing in the window with selection of at least one of the thumbnails.

38. The method of claim 28 further comprising searching and retrieving video by controlling the displayed thumbnails.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the displayed thumbnails are controlled by the server determining which thumbnails are delivered to the GUI based on an authentication of a user.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the displayed thumbnails are controlled by a thumbnails contorl menu being displayed on the GUI and having at least one selectable button for controlling the displayed thumbnails.

41. The method of claim 28 further comprising displaying a video control menu in the GUI having at least on selectable button for controlling playing of the video.

42. The method of claim 28 wherein the thumbnails are displayed with at least one image that is repesentative of the associated video.

13. The GUI of claim 13 wherein the window is selectively operable to enlarge and to at least partially cover a portion of the GUI having the thumbnails such that the thumbnails are no longer visible.

29. A method for playing video available from a server, the method comprising:

displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) having a window and a plurality of thumbnails proximate the window, each thumbnail associated with video available from the server;

receiving a signal indicating selection of a particular thumbnail; and

playing a video associated with the selected thumbnail in the window.

43. A system for plaing video comprising:

a server having video;

a computer;

a network in communication with the server and the computer for transferring signals therebetween, including signals associated with the video available from the server; and

a graphical user interface (GUI) configured for operation on the computer, the GUI including a window configured to display video and a plurality of thumbnaisl proximate the window, each thumbnail associated with video available from the server and being selectable for playing the associated video in the window.

44. A server for providing video over a network to a computer for playing of the video on the computer, the server configured to:

record a plurality of videos for electronic delivery over the network;

associate each video with a thumbnail having a thumbnail image;

deliver the thumbnail images to a graphical user interface (GUI) of the comptuer;

receive a signal from the GUI indicating selection of one of the thumbnail images; and

transfer the video associated with the selected thumbnail to the GUI for playing the associated video on the computer.