Method and system for indexing, sorting, and displaying a video database

• US 6,631,522 B1
• Filed: 01/20/1998
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Erdelyi
• Original Assignee: David Erdelyi
• Inventors: Erdelyi, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US09/009,566
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.300, H04/N 1.300, H04/N.5445, H04/N.7173, G06/F 1.730, G06/F.700, G06/F.300, G06/F 1.300, G09/G.500, 725/53, 725/52, 725/115, 725/133, 725/131, 725/141, 725/139, 348/157, 345/719, 345/720, 345/784, 707/7, 707/102, 463/1, 463/40, 463/43
• US Class Current: 725/53
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7335 Graphical querying, e.g. query-by-region, query-by-sketch, query-by-trajectory, GUIs for designating a person/face/object as a query predicate end-user interface involving hot spots associated with the video H04N21/4725; end-user interface for selecting a Region of Interest H04N21/4728
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/784 the detected or recognised objects being people
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26603 for automatically generating descriptors from content, e.g. when it is not made available by its provider, using content analysis techniques
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A method and system is provided for indexing, sorting, and displaying a video database. Hardware and software components, and a novel encoding process are used to provide a searchable video and informational database. Each encoder and the User use specially configured graphical user interfaces to access the system. In the preferred embodiment, component clips of different videotape views of a sporting event are batch encoded and synchronized. Data which remains constant for at least a part of a game is automatically reused. A MasterPlayerId assigned to each player is used to index all video clips and information relating to that player. A rating service provides ratings of individual plays or players. The present invention includes powerful search features that permit a User to search the informational and video database according to numerous predefined and customized criteria. A novel encoding scheme permit the viewing of MPEG format video clips in a form. of slow motion. A dedicated console permits the User to view selected information using a first display screen while simultaneously displaying some or all of this information to at least one other person using a second display screen. The present invention also permits the User to select and save custom view sets of video clips, and to control the video display. The User can switch this camera view during play or can replay a clip from a different camera view.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for indexing, sorting, searching and displaying a database, comprising the steps of:

a. creating a searchable computer database structure for storing video and informational data;

b. determining the discrete component clips of at least one video record such that each clip represents a predetermined event;

c. assigning an identification number to each clip such that all clips showing the same event have same clip identification number;

d. determining the beginning and ending points of each clip;

e. storing to the database structure the determination of the discrete component clips, the identification number, and the beginning and ending points of steps b through d;

f. identifying at least one person appearing in at least one of the discrete component clips;

g. storing the identification information of step f to the database structure;

h. assigning a personal identification number to each person identified in step f;

i. storing the personal identification number to the database structure;

j. storing selected information to the database structure about at least the identified person such that the selected information is indexed to the identified person'"'"'s personal identification number wherein the stored selected information includes a rating of the identified person'"'"'s performance as shown in at least one of the clips, and includes an editorial view priority;

k. using the personal identification number and the clip identification numbers to index the informational database to the component video clips;

I. displaying a view time control box, said view time control box comprising a first sliding bar with a minimum-maximum time range for selecting the total number of minutes of video clip footage which the user desires to view, as determined by the editorial view priority, a second sliding bar with a range of best to worst for selecting the quality of plays of a person in a video clip which the viewer desires to view, a separate window for displaying the total number of minutes selected by the first sliding bar, searching for video clips based on the positions of the first sliding bar, and the second sliding bar.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a plurality of video clips having the same clip identification number; and

synchronizing the beginning and ending points of the identified video clips;

wherein a display of an identified video clip can be switched in real time to a display of any other identified video clip having the same identification number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the informational database includes any information to be indexed to any discrete component clip in at least one video record.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information in the informational database includes audio, graphical, and textual information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a predefined rating structure; and

using the predefined rating structure to assign a rating to any of a video record, video clip, performance of at least one person appearing in a video clips, or overall performance of at least one person appearing in a plurality of video clips.

6. The method of claim 1, further including the step of displaying any video clip and associated indexed information retrieved from the database structure in response to a input user-defined search criteria on a dedicated console.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing at least one computer graphical user interface for performing any or all of steps a through I.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling the display of the video clip at a selected frame interval to permit a slow motion display of the video clip.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the view time control box further includes a plurality of search selection boxes, wherein a user can select and deselect videotape clips to be searched.