Video clip selection via interaction with a hierarchic video segmentation

A method for selecting a segment of a media clip, the method comprising:

• determining a set of segment boundaries in the media clip;
• determining a segment boundary tree from the set of segment boundaries;
• presenting a timeline that shows a plurality of segment boundaries from a first level of the segment boundary tree;
• updating an interval in the timeline to show a plurality of segment boundaries from a second level of the segment boundary tree;
• and
• selecting the segment of the media clip such that a beginning of the segment of the media clip corresponds with a first segment boundary and an end of the segment of the media clip corresponds with a second segment boundary.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a method for selecting a segment of a video, the method comprising:

• determining a set of segment boundaries in the video;
• determining a segment boundary tree from the set of segment boundaries;
• presenting a video timeline that shows a plurality of segment boundaries from a first level of the segment boundary tree;
• receiving a first selection point and a first request to change a zoom factor for an interval of the video timeline around the first selection point;
• and
• in response to the first request to change the zoom factor for the interval of the video timeline around the first selection point, updating the video timeline in the interval around the first selection point to show a plurality of segment boundaries from a second level of the segment boundary tree corresponding to the changed zoom factor.

A system for selecting a segment of a video, the system comprising:

• a segment boundary determining unit, comprising a processor, that determines a set of segment boundaries in the video;
• a segment boundary tree determining unit that determines a segment boundary tree from the set of segment boundaries determined by the segment boundary determining unit;
• a video timeline presenting unit that presents a video timeline that shows a plurality of segment boundaries from a first level of the segment boundary tree determined by the segment boundary tree determining unit;
• and
• a selection point receiving unit that receives a first selection point and a first request to change a zoom factor for an interval of the video timeline around the first selection point,
• wherein the video timeline presenting unit, in response to the first request to change the zoom factor for the interval of the video timeline around the first selection point, updates the video timeline in the interval around the first selection point to show a plurality of segment boundaries from a second level of the segment boundary tree corresponding to the changed zoom factor.