Digest generation method and apparatus for image and sound content

• US 7,277,859 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Watanabe, Tomoki, Kishida, Katsumi, Uegaki, Shinya, Matsukawa, Hisashi, Inoue, Wataru, Hosobuchi, Takashi, Yamamoto, Koichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner; Martin
• Application Number:
  US10/323,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/278, 704/503, 704/504, 725/9, 725/46, 725/61, 725/44, 725/45, 725/50
• US Class Current: 704/278
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• 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 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method for a digest generating apparatus to generate a digest of image content or sound content is provided. The digest generating apparatus obtains an audience rating or an audience count of image content or sound content at established time intervals, and extracts images from the image content or extracts sounds from the sound content. The extracted images or the extracted sounds correspond to a time when the audience rating or the audience count exceeds a threshold. Then, the digest generating apparatus generates a digest by using the extracted images or the extracted sounds. The audience rating or the audience count can be obtained by using audience data corresponding to an audience group having a specific user profile.

Claims

1. A method for a digest generating apparatus to generate a new digest of image content or sound content based on a digest generated before, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining audience data of audiences of image content or sound content that is a target for generating said new digest, and obtaining information indicating whether said audiences have watched or have listened to said digest generated before;

obtaining, based on said audience data and said information, differences between first audience ratings or first audience counts for said image content or said sound content, and, second audience ratings or second audience counts for said image content or said sound content, wherein said first audience ratings or said first audience counts are data corresponding to audiences who have watched or listened to said digest generated before, and said second audience ratings or said second audience counts are data corresponding to audiences who have not watched or listened to said digest generated before; and

adding first specific images or sounds in said image content or said sound content to said digest generated before, wherein said first specific images or sounds fall within a time interval where said differences exceed a predetermined threshold, and deleting second specific images or sounds in said image content or said sound content from said digest generated before, wherein said second specific images or sounds fall within a time interval where said differences are less than a predetermined threshold, so as to generate said new digest.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving designation of a specific genre; and

generating said digest of image content or sound content that belongs to said specific genre.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first audience rating or said first audience count and said second audience rating or second audience count are obtained by using audience data corresponding to an audience group having a specific user profile at established time intervals.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, said method comprising the step of:

excluding predetermined images or sounds in said image content or said sound content from candidate images or sounds to be included in said digest, or, including predetermined images or sounds in said digest.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said predetermined images or sounds can be changed over time.

6. A digest generating apparatus used for generating a new digest of image content or sound content based on a digest generated before, said digest generating apparatus comprising:

a first obtaining part for obtaining audience data of audiences of image content or sound content that is a target for generating said new digest, and obtaining information indicating whether said audiences have watched or have listened to said digest generated before;

a second obtaining part for obtaining, based on said audience data and said information, differences between first audience ratings or first audience counts for said image content or said sound content, and, second audience ratings or second audience counts for said image content or said sound content, wherein said first audience ratings or said first audience counts are data corresponding to audiences who have watched or listened to said digest generated before, and said second audience ratings or said second audience counts are data corresponding to audiences who have not watched or listened to said digest generated before; and

an adding part for adding first specific images or sounds in said image content or said sound content to said digest generated before, wherein said first specific images or sounds fall within a time interval where said differences exceed a predetermined threshold, and deleting second specific images or sounds in said image content or said sound content from said digest generated before, wherein said second specific images or sounds fall within a time interval where said differences are less than a predetermined threshold, so as to generate said new digest.

7. The digest generating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said digest generating apparatus comprising:

a part for receiving designation of a specific genre; and

a part for generating said digest of image content or sound content that belongs to said specific genre.

8. The digest generating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first audience rating or said first audience count and second audience rating or said second audience count are obtained by using audience data corresponding to an audience group having a specific user profile at established time intervals.

9. The digest generating apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said digest generating apparatus comprising:

a part for excluding predetermined images or sounds in said image content or said sound content from candidate images or sounds to be included in said digest, or, including predetermined images or sounds in said digest.

10. The digest generating apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said predetermined images or sounds can be changed over time.

11. A computer program for causing a computer to generate a new digest of image content or sound content based on a digest generated before, said computer program comprising:

first obtaining code means for obtaining audience data of audiences of image content or sound content that is a target for generating said new digest, and obtaining information indicating whether said audiences have watched or have listened to said digest generated before;

second obtaining code means for obtaining, based on said audience data and said information, differences between first audience ratings or first audience counts for said image content or said sound content, and, second audience ratings or second audience counts for said image content or said sound content, wherein said first audience ratings or said first audience counts are data corresponding to audiences who have watched or listened to said digest generated before, and said second audience ratings or said second audience counts are data corresponding to audiences who have not watched or listened to said digest generated before; and

adding code means for adding first specific images or sounds in said image content or said sound content to said digest generated before, wherein said first specific images or sounds fall within a time interval where said differences exceed a predetermined threshold, and deleting second specific images or sounds in said image content or said sound content from said digest generated before, wherein said second specific images or sounds fall within a time interval where said differences are less than a predetermined threshold, so as to generate said new digest.

12. The computer program as claimed in claim 11, said computer program comprising:

program code means for receiving designation of a specific genre; and

program code means for generating said digest of image content or sound content that belongs to said specific genre.

13. The computer program as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first audience rating or said first audience count and said second audience rating or said second audience count are obtained by using audience data corresponding to an audience group having a specific user profile at established time interval.

14. The computer program as claimed in claim 11, said computer program comprising:

program code means for excluding predetermined images or sounds in said image content or said sound content from candidate images or sounds to be included in said digest, or, including predetermined images or sounds in said digest.

15. The computer program as claimed in claim 14, wherein said predetermined images or sounds can be changed over time.

16. A computer readable medium storing program code for causing a computer to generate a new digest of image content or sound content based on a digest generated before, said computer readable medium comprising:

first obtaining code means for obtaining audience data of audiences of image content or sound content that is a target for generating said new digest, and obtaining information indicating whether said audiences have watched or have listened to said digest generated before;

second obtaining code means for obtaining, based on said audience data and said information, differences between first audience ratings or first audience counts for said image content or said sound content, and, second audience ratings or second audience counts for said image content or said sound content, wherein said first audience ratings or said first audience counts are data corresponding to audiences who have watched or listened to said digest generated before, and said second audience ratings or said second audience counts are data corresponding to audiences who have not watched or listened to said digest generated before; and

adding code means for adding first specific images or sounds in said image content or said sound content to said digest generated before, wherein said first specific images or sounds fall within a time interval where said differences exceed a predetermined threshold, and deleting second specific images or sounds in said image content or said sound content from said digest generated before, wherein said second specific images or sounds fall within a time interval where said differences are less than a predetermined threshold, so as to generate said new digest.

17. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 16, said computer readable medium comprising:

program code means for receiving designation of a specific genre; and

program code means for generating said digest of image content or sound content that belongs to said specific genre.

18. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first audience rating or said first audience count and said second audience rating or said second audience count and obtained by using audience data corresponding to an audience group having a specific user profile at established time intervals.

19. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 16, said computer readable medium comprising:

program code means for excluding predetermined images or sounds in said image content or said sound content from candidate images or sounds to be included in said digest, or, including predetermined images or sounds in said digest.

20. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 19, wherein said predetermined images or sounds can be changed over time.