Annotating and sharing content

• US 8,140,973 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Parthasarathy, Sanjay, Sandquist, Jeff D, Francisco, Grace G, Shadle, David D
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US12/018,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 715200-177, 715700-867, 715/512, 700701-866, 709201-229, 705 50- 79, 345 30-111, 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 707/769, 726/7, 704/270, 370/260, 725/146
• US Class Current: 715/719
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/70 of video data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes

Abstract

Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to annotating and sharing content. In aspects, an annotation tool presents a user interface that allows a user to enter and view annotations associated with content such as a video. The annotation tool allows the user to associate each annotation with a particular time segment of the video such that when that time segment is played in a video player, its associated annotation is presented. The annotation tool also presents a user interface that allows the user to share the video as annotated with other users as desired. Other users receiving the annotated video may further annotate the video and share it with others.

Claims

1. A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising:

displaying a first user interface element that is capable of providing a view of a video;

displaying a second user interface element that is associated with annotating the video;

receiving an indication of a selection of the second user interface element;

in response to receiving the indication, receiving an annotation to the video, the annotation comprising a user name associated with the annotation and a user image associated with the annotation;

storing the annotation outside of data that represents the video;

embedding in a web page a tag that identifies the annotation;

embedding in the web page a tag that identifies the video;

retrieving video data that corresponds to the video based on the tag embedded in the web page that identifies the video data;

retrieving annotation data that includes the annotation to the video based on a tag embedded in the web page that identifies the annotation data, the annotations stored outside of the video data;

displaying a view of the video in a first portion of a user interface;

presenting an annotation at an annotated time while the video is being played, wherein presenting an annotation at an annotated time while the video is being played comprises displaying the annotation overlaid over the view of the video in the first portion of the user interface, and

displaying an annotation user interface element that provides a capability of navigating to a retrieved annotation associated with the video, the retrieved annotation comprising a user name associated with the annotation and a user image associated with the annotation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an annotation to the video comprises displaying a third user interface element that indicates annotation options, receiving a selection of the third user interface element that indicates a selected annotation option, receiving annotation according to the selected annotation option.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the annotation option comprises one or more of a graphical annotation, a textual annotation, and a voice annotation.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the annotation option comprises an option to apply a skin to a video player that displays the video as annotated, the skin comprises a custom graphical appearance associated with the video player.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the annotation option comprises an option to enable additional navigation in presenting the video.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the annotation comprises an audio annotation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the annotation is associated with a time segment of the video, the time segment having a start time and a stop time, the annotation being presented during playback of the video between the start time and the stop time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the video comprises pre-existing content comprising one or more of a presentation that includes one or more slides, a podcast, an animation sequence, a video display of a game, and two or more displayable screens arranged in a time-sequenced manner.

9. The method of claim 1, receiving a second annotation to the video from a user other than a user that provided the annotation;

storing the second annotation outside of data that represents the video.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an annotation already associated with the second user interface element in response to receiving the indication.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a third user interface element;

receiving an indication of selection of the third user interface element; and

in response to receiving an indication of selection of the third user interface element, presenting a fourth user interface element that receives input for sharing the video as annotated with other users.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fourth user interface element comprises a text box for receiving contact information associated with the other users.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fourth user interface element comprises a button that, when activated, embeds information into a Web page, the information indicating a location of the video and a location of the annotation, the information formatted for use by a video player for playing the video together with the annotation.

14. A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising:

retrieving video data that corresponds to a video based on a tag embedded in a web page that identifies the video data;

retrieving annotation data that includes one or more annotations to the video based on a tag embedded in the web page that identifies the annotation data, the annotations stored outside of the video data;

displaying a view of the video in a first portion of a user interface;

presenting an annotation at an annotated time while the video is being played, wherein presenting an annotation at an annotated time while the video is being played comprises displaying the annotation overlaid over the view of the video in the first portion of the user interface, and

displaying an annotation user interface element that provides a capability of navigating to a retrieved annotation associated with the video, the retrieved annotation comprising a user name associated with the annotation and a user image associated with the annotation.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising applying a skin to elements of the user interface, the skin being dictated by the annotation data, the skin comprises a custom graphical appearance associated with the video player.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein presenting an annotation at an annotated time while the video is being played comprises presenting the annotation in a second portion of the user interface separate from the view of the video in the first portion of the user interface.