Techniques for generating a static representation for time-based media information

• US 20050216838A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1268 Job submission, e.g. submitting print job order or request not the print data itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text
• 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Techniques for generating a static representation of time-based media information. A static representation is generated that comprises a timeline representing the duration of the time-based media information. Occurrences of one or more events that occur in the time-based representation are indicated along the timeline in the static representation. The static representation may be printed on a paper medium.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating a representation of time-based media information, the method comprising:

receiving time-based media information;

determining a set of events occurring in the time-based media information between a first time and a second time;

determining, for each event in the set of events, a time when the event occurs in the time-based media information;

generating a static representation for the time-based media information, wherein the static representation comprises;

a timeline having a start point corresponding to the first time and an end point corresponding to the second time;

an indication, for each event in the set of events, of when the event occurred along the timeline;

a tag for each event in the set of events, each tag for an event corresponding to a time determined for the event, wherein each tag enables access to the time-based media information from a time corresponding to the tag; and

printing the static representation on a paper medium.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a visual representation for each event in the set of events, and wherein:

the static representation for the time-based media information comprises the visual representation for each event in the set of events; and

the indication, for each an event in the set of events, of when the event occurred along the timeline comprises a mark on the timeline corresponding to the time determined for the event and information correlating the mark on the timeline to the visual representation generated for the event.

2. The method of claim I further comprising receiving criteria identifying a type of event, and wherein determining the set of events comprises determining one or more events occurring in the time-based media information that satisfy the criteria.

4. The method of claim I further comprising:

receiving information indicating selection of a first tag printed on the paper medium;

determining a first time corresponding to the first tag; and

initiating playback of time-based media information from the first time.

5. The method of claim I wherein the time-based media information comprises audio information or video information.

6. A computer-implemented method of generating a representation of time-based media information, the method comprising:

receiving time-based media information;

determining a set of events to be included in a static representation of the time-based media information, the set of events comprising one or more events occurring in the time-based media information between a first time and a second time;

determining, for each event in the set of events, a time when the event occurs in the time-based media information;

generating a static representation for the time-based media information, wherein the static representation comprises;

a timeline having a start point corresponding to the first time and an end point corresponding to the second time, the timeline comprising a plurality of sections, each timeline section corresponding to a segment of time between the first time and the second time, each timeline section having an associated start time and an end time;

an indication, for each event in the set of events, of when the event occurs along the timeline;

a tag for each event in the set of events, each tag for an event corresponding to a time determined for the event, wherein each tag enables access to the time-based media information from a time corresponding to the tag; and

printing the static representation on a paper medium.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

determining the set of events comprises;

determining a plurality of events occurring in the time-based media information;

determining, for each timeline section, one or more events from the plurality of events that occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section; and

selecting, for each timeline section, at most a threshold number of events from the one or more events determined for the timeline section; and

the set of events determined to be included in the static representation comprises events selected for the plurality of timeline sections.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein selecting at most a threshold number of events for each timeline section comprises:

determining if the number of events in the one or more events determined to occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section exceeds the threshold number; and

selecting, upon determining that the number of events in the one or more events exceeds the threshold number, at most the threshold number of events from the one or more events that are determined to occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section.

9. A system for generating a representation of time-based media information, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a printer;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive time-based media information;

determine a set of events occurring in the time-based media information between a first time and a second time;

determine, for each event in the set of events, a time when the event occurs in the time-based media information;

generate a static representation for the time-based media information, wherein the static representation comprises;

a timeline having a start point corresponding to the first time and an end point corresponding to the second time;

an indication, for each event in the set of events, of when the event occurred along the timeline;

a tag for each event in the set of events, each tag for an event corresponding to a time determined for the event, wherein each tag enables access to the time-based media information from a time corresponding to the tag; and

wherein the printer is configured to print the static representation on a paper medium.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the processor is configured to receive criteria identifying a type of event;

the processor is configured to determine the set of events by determining one or more events occurring in the time-based media information that satisfy the criteria.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the processor is configured to generate a visual representation for each event in the set of events;

the static representation for the time-based media information comprises the visual representation for each event in the set of events; and

the indication, for each an event in the set of events, of when the event occurred along the timeline comprises a mark on the timeline corresponding to the time determined for the event and information correlating the mark on the timeline to the visual representation generated for the event.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the processor is configured to:

receive information indicating selection of a first tag printed on the paper medium;

determine a first time corresponding to the first tag; and

initiate playback of time-based media information from the first time.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the time-based media information comprises audio information or video information.

14. A system for generating a representation of time-based media information, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a printer;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive time-based media information;

determine a set of events to be included in a static representation of the time-based media information, the set of events comprising one or more events occurring in the time-based media information between a first time and a second time;

determine, for each event in the set of events, a time when the event occurs in the time-based media information;

generate a static representation for the time-based media information, wherein the static representation comprises;

a timeline having a start point corresponding to the first time and an end point corresponding to the second time, the timeline comprising a plurality of sections, each timeline section corresponding to a segment of time between the first time and the second time, each timeline section having an associated start time and an end time;

an indication, for each event in the set of events, of when the event occurs along the timeline;

a tag for each event in the set of events, each tag for an event corresponding to a time determined for the event, wherein each tag enables access to the time-based media information from a time corresponding to the tag; and

wherein the printer is configured to print the static representation on a paper medium.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the processor is configured to determine the set of events by;

determining a plurality of events occurring in the time-based media information;

determining, for each timeline section, one or more events from the plurality of events that occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section; and

selecting, for each timeline section, at most a threshold number of events from the one or more events determined for the timeline section; and

the set of events determined to be included in the static representation comprises events selected for the plurality of timeline sections.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to select at most a threshold number of events for each timeline section by:

determining if the number of events in the one or more events determined to occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section exceeds the threshold number; and

selecting, upon determining that the number of events in the one or more events exceeds the threshold number, at most the threshold number of events from the one or more events that are determined to occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section.

17. A computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a data processor to generate a representation of time-based media information, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions that cause the data processor to receive time-based media information;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a set of events occurring in the time-based media information between a first time and a second time;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine, for each event in the set of events, a time when the event occurs in the time-based media information;

instructions that cause the data processor to generate a static representation for the time-based media information, wherein the static representation comprises;

a timeline having a start point corresponding to the first time and an end point corresponding to the second time;

an indication, for each event in the set of events, of when the event occurred along the timeline;

a tag for each event in the set of events, each tag for an event corresponding to a time determined for the event, wherein each tag enables access to the time-based media information from a time corresponding to the tag; and

instructions that cause the data processor to initiate printing of the static representation on a paper medium.

18. A computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a data processor to generate a representation of time-based media information, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions that cause the data processor to receive time-based media information;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a set of events to be included in a static representation of the time-based media information, the set of events comprising one or more events occurring in the time-based media information between a first time and a second time;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine, for each event in the set of events, a time when the event occurs in the time-based media information;

instructions that cause the data processor to generate a static representation for the time-based media information, wherein the static representation comprises;

a timeline having a start point corresponding to the first time and an end point corresponding to the second time, the timeline comprising a plurality of sections, each timeline section corresponding to a segment of time between the first time and the second time, each timeline section having an associated start time and an end time;

an indication, for each event in the set of events, of when the event occurs along the timeline;

a tag for each event in the set of events, each tag for an event corresponding to a time determined for the event, wherein each tag enables access to the time-based media information from a time corresponding to the tag; and

instructions that cause the data processor to initiate printing of the static representation on a paper medium.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein:

the instructions that cause the data processor to determine the set of events comprise;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a plurality of events occurring in the time-based media information;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine, for each timeline section, one or more events from the plurality of events that occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section; and

instructions that cause the data processor to select, for each timeline section, at most a threshold number of events from the one or more events determined for the timeline section; and

the set of events determined to be included in the static representation comprises events selected for the plurality of timeline sections.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the instructions that cause the data processor to select at most a threshold number of events for each timeline section comprise:

instructions that cause the data processor to determine if the number of events in the one or more events determined to occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section exceeds the threshold number; and

instructions that cause the data processor to select, upon determining that the number of events in the one or more events exceeds the threshold number, at most the threshold number of events from the one or more events that are determined to occur during the time segment corresponding to the timeline section.