Dynamic timeline for branched video

• US 9,792,026 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2014
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JBF Interlude 2009 Ltd., JBF Interlude 2009 Ltd - Israel
• Original Assignee: JBF Interlude 2009 Ltd.
• Inventors: Bloch, Jonathan, Feldman, Barak, Zubalsky, Tal, Hofshy, Yuval
• Primary Examiner(s): TILLERY, RASHAWN N
• Application Number:
  US14/249,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20150293675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

Systems and methods for editing and controlling video playback using a dynamic timeline. The dynamic timeline allows a user to edit a video content structure that includes a plurality of video content paths, each video content path including a plurality of video content segments. The video content segments in a first video content path are visually represented on the dynamic timeline. A selection in the dynamic timeline is received that changes a first video content segment from the first video content path to a second video content segment in an alternative video content path in the video content structure. Subsequently, the dynamic timeline is updated to display visual representations of at least some of the video content segments in the alternative video content path.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a video content structure comprising a plurality of video content paths, each video content path comprising a plurality of video content segments, wherein a first one of the video content paths comprises first, second, and third video content segments, and wherein a second one of the video content paths comprises the first video content segment and fourth and fifth video content segments;

providing, for display on a device screen, a visual representation of a dynamic timeline for editing the video content structure, the dynamic timeline comprising visual representations of the first, second, and third video content segments in the first video content path;

receiving an interaction with the visual representation of the dynamic timeline, wherein the interaction is associated with the first video content segment in the first video content path;

in response to the interaction, displaying a user interface element identifying a plurality of alternative video content paths in the video content structure branching from the first video content segment, the alternative video content paths including the second video content path;

receiving a selection in the user interface element identifying the second video content path; and

in response to receiving the selection, updating the visual representation of the dynamic timeline to display visual representations of at least some of the video content segments in the second video content path, wherein updating the visual representation comprises continuing to display the visual representation of the first video content segment while replacing the visual representations of the second and third video content segments with visual representations of the fourth and fifth video content segments.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic timeline further comprises at least one visual indicator disposed at a branching point of a video content path.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual indicator identifies a number of alternative video content segments following the branching point.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic timeline further comprises at least one visual indicator delineating a decision period in a video content segment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating editing of properties associated with a video content segment displayed in the dynamic timeline.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a preview of an interactive video based on the video content structure in response to a user interaction with the dynamic timeline.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising updating the dynamic timeline based on a user interaction with the interactive video preview.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at a later time, receiving a second selection in the user interface element identifying the first video content path; and

in response to receiving the second selection, continuing to display the visual representation of the first video content segment while replacing the visual representations of the fourth and fifth video content segments with visual representations of the second and third video content segments.

8. A system comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving a video content structure comprising a plurality of video content paths, each video content path comprising a plurality of video content segments, wherein a first one of the video content paths comprises first, second, and third video content segments, and wherein a second one of the video content paths comprises the first video content segment and fourth and fifth video content segments;

providing, for display on a device screen, a visual representation of a dynamic timeline for editing the video content structure, the dynamic timeline comprising visual representations of the first, second, and third video content segments in the first video content path;

receiving an interaction with the visual representation of the dynamic timeline, wherein the interaction is associated with the first video content segment in the first video content path;

in response to the interaction, displaying a user interface element identifying a plurality of alternative video content paths in the video content structure branching from the first video content segment, the alternative video content paths including the second video content path;

receiving a selection in the user interface element identifying the second video content path; and

in response to receiving the selection, updating the visual representation of the dynamic timeline to display visual representations of at least some of the video content segments in the second video content path, wherein updating the visual representation comprises continuing to display the visual representation of the first video content segment while replacing the visual representations of the second and third video content segments with visual representations of the fourth and fifth video content segments.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the dynamic timeline further comprises at least one visual indicator disposed at a branching point of a video content path.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the visual indicator identifies a number of alternative video content segments following the branching point.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the dynamic timeline further comprises at least one visual indicator delineating a decision period in a video content segment.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise facilitating editing of properties associated with a video content segment displayed in the dynamic timeline.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise providing a preview of an interactive video based on the video content structure in response to a user interaction with the dynamic timeline.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise updating the dynamic timeline based on a user interaction with the interactive video preview.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

at a later time, receiving a second selection in the user interface element identifying the first video content path; and

in response to receiving the second selection, continuing to display the visual representation of the first video content segment while replacing the visual representations of the fourth and fifth video content segments with visual representations of the second and third video content segments.