Method and system for addressing audio-visual content fragments

• US 7,461,168 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wan, Ernest Yiu Cheong
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swearingen; Jeffrey R
• Application Number:
  US09/662,705
• Time in Patent Office: 3,000 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/213 Read-only discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2512 Floppy disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier

Abstract

A process is disclosed for applying an audio-visual addressing scheme to locate fragments of audio-visual content. The process comprises a definition sub-process, an encoding sub-process, and a decoding sub-process. The definition sub-process defines a logical model for a class of audio-visual media. The logical model is used in the encoding sub-process for encoding an address for an audio-visual resource fragment belonging to the class of audio-visual media. The logical model is also used for locating the audio-visual resource fragment that is associated with the address.

Claims

1. A method for forming an address for locating an electronically accessible Audio/Video (AV) fragment of AV content, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a network address for locating the AV content, said AV content having a logical model which describes a hierarchical representation comprising two or more levels of detail for said AV content, wherein the logical model is based on at least one of time blocks and spatial regions at a lowest level of the levels of detail, and wherein the logical model is adapted to address the fragment of said AV content;

generating a fragment identifier for at least one fragment corresponding to at least one of said levels of detail of said AV content, using the logical model; and

combining the network address and the fragment identifier to form a URI reference, being an address for locating the AV fragment, thereby rendering the AV fragment addressable.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the fragment identifier comprises providing an addressing scheme for addressing said at least one fragment in terms of at least one of said time blocks and said spatial regions.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the addressing scheme for addressing said at least one fragment includes at least one of a time axis, a time function, a region axis, and a region function.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the AV content is a single file in a file system supporting Audio/Video content.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the AV content is one from the group consisting of a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD ROM), Audio Compact Disk (CD), Video Tape and Audio Tape.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the addressing scheme provides a syntax for addressing one or more AV fragments in the fragment identifier.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said addressing scheme is Xpath based.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fragment of AV content is not addressable by only the network address.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein AV content comprises monolithic blocks of information represented by said two or more levels of detail.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said fragment identifier uses a level of detail that is neither visible nor addressable.

11. An apparatus for forming an address for locating an electronically accessible Audio/Video (AV) fragment of AV content, said apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing a program; and

a processor for executing the program, said program comprising;

code for determining a network address for locating the AV content, said AV content having a logical model which describes a hierarchical representation comprising two or more levels of detail for said AV content, wherein the logical model is based on at least one of time blocks and spatial regions at a lowest level of the levels of detail, and wherein the logical model is adapted to address the fragment of said AV content;

code for generating a fragment identifier for at least one fragment corresponding to at least one of said levels of detail of said AV content, using the logical model; and

code for combining the network address and the fragment identifier to form a URI reference, being an address for locating the AV fragment, thereby rendering the AV fragment addressable.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the code for generating the fragment identifier comprises code for providing an addressing scheme for addressing said at least one fragment in terms of at least one of said time blocks and said spatial regions.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the addressing scheme for addressing said at least one fragment includes at least one of a time axis, a time function, a region axis, and a region function.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the AV content is a single file in a file system supporting Audio/Video content.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the AV content is one from the group consisting of a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD ROM), Audio Compact Disk (CD), Video Tape and Audio Tape.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the addressing scheme provides a syntax for addressing one or more AV fragments in the fragment identifier.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said addressing scheme is Xpath based.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein AV content comprises monolithic blocks of information represented by said two or more levels of detail.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said fragment identifier uses a level of detail that is neither visible nor addressable.

20. A computer program product including a computer readable storage medium having recorded thereon a computer program for directing a processor to execute a method for forming an address for locating an electronically accessible Audio/Video (AV) fragment of AV content, said program comprising:

code for determining a network address for locating the AV content, said AV content having a logical model which describes a hierarchical representation comprising two or more levels of detail for said AV content, wherein the logical model is based on at least one of time blocks and spatial regions at a lowest level of the levels of detail, and wherein the logical model is adapted to address the fragment of said AV content;

code for generating a fragment identifier for at least one fragment corresponding to at least one of said levels of detail of said AV content, using the logical model; and

code for combining the network address and the fragment identifier to form a URI reference, being an address for locating the AV fragment, thereby rendering the AV fragment addressable.

21. The computer program product according to claim 20, wherein the code for generating the fragment identifier comprises code for providing an addressing scheme for addressing said at least one fragment in terms of at least one of said time blocks and said spatial regions.

22. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein the addressing scheme for addressing said at least one fragment includes at least one of a time axis, a time function, a region axis, and a region function.

23. The computer program product according to claim 22, wherein the AV content is a single file in a file system supporting Audio/Video content.

24. The computer program product according to claim 22, wherein the AV content is one from the group consisting of a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD ROM), Audio Compact Disk (CD), Video Tape and Audio Tape.

25. The computer program product according to claim 22, wherein the addressing scheme provides a syntax for addressing one or more AV fragments in the fragment identifier.

26. The computer program product according to claim 21, wherein said addressing scheme is Xpath based.

27. The computer program product according to claim 20, wherein AV content comprises monolithic blocks of information represented by said two or more levels of detail.

28. The computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said fragment identifier uses a level of detail that is neither visible nor addressable.

29. A method for forming an address for locating an electronically accessible audio fragment of audio content, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a network address for locating the audio content, said audio content having a logical model which describes a hierarchical representation comprising two or more levels of detail for said audio content, wherein the logical model is based upon time blocks at a lowest level of the levels of detail, and wherein the logical model is adapted to address the fragment of said audio content;

generating a fragment identifier for at least one fragment corresponding to at least one of said levels of detail of said audio content, using the logical model; and

combining the network address and the fragment identifier to form a URI reference, being an address for locating the audio fragment, thereby rendering the audio fragment addressable.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein audio content comprises monolithic blocks of information represented by said two or more levels of detail.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein said fragment identifier uses a level of detail that is neither visible nor addressable.

32. A method for forming an address for locating an electronically accessible image fragment of image content, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a network address for locating the image content said image content having a logical model which describes a hierarchical representation comprising two or more levels of detail for said image content, wherein the logical model is based upon spatial regions at a lowest level of the levels of detail, and wherein the logical model is adapted to address the fragment of said image content;

generating a fragment identifier for at least one fragment corresponding to at least one of said levels of detail of said image content, using the logical model; and

combining the network address and the fragment identifier to form a URI reference, being an address for locating the image fragment, thereby rendering the image fragment addressable.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein image content comprises monolithic blocks of information represented by said two or more levels of detail.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said fragment identifier uses a level of detail that is neither visible nor addressable.

35. A method for forming an address for locating an electronically accessible video fragment of video content, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a network address for locating the video content, said video content having a logical model which describes a hierarchical representation comprising two or more levels of detail for said video content, wherein the logical model is based upon at least one of time blocks and spatial regions at a lowest level of the levels of detail, and wherein the logical model is adapted to address the fragment of said video content;

generating a fragment identifier for at least one fragment corresponding to at least one of said levels of detail of said video content, using the logical model; and

combining the network address and the fragment identifier to form a URI reference, being an address for locating the video fragment, thereby rendering the video fragment addressable.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein video content comprises monolithic blocks of information represented by said two or more levels of detail.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein said fragment identifier uses a level of detail that is neither visible nor addressable.