# US 2019/0379713 A1 · Media seek mechanisms

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- Number: US 2019/0379713 A1
- Document ID: US20190379713A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/550,421
- Filed: 2019-08-26
- Published: 2019-12-12
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-10
- Assignees: MobiTV, Inc.
- Applicants: MobiTV, Inc.
- Inventors: DAVID CASEY; Tommy Isaksson; Kelvin Komensen; Fidel Zawde; Bob Carlson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190379713A1

## CPC

- H04L 65/61: for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G11B 27/102: {Programmed access in sequence to addressed parts of tracks of operating record carriers (access by moving the head G11B3/08, G11B5/54, G11B7/085, G11B21/022; by moving the record carrier G11B15/005, G11B17/005, by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816)}
- H04N 21/40: Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N 21/4333: {Processing operations in response to a pause request}
- H04N 21/47217: {for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks (specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312)}
- H04N 21/8455: {involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream}
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Mechanisms are provided for presenting a media location browsing interface to facilitate a media search and/or seek. A client device receives a media stream from a streaming server. This client device provides a media location browsing interface after receiving the media stream. This media location browsing interface includes a plurality of key frames representing locations along the media stream that are selectable at the client device. A seek request to play the media stream from a seek location corresponding to one of the plurality of key frames is captured. The client device begins playback of the media stream at the seek location.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for an improved seek mechanism in a media location browsing interface, comprising:
receiving a request to play a media stream from a client device;
identifying a plurality of key frames of the media stream using a processor at a streaming server, wherein the plurality of key frames are transmitted from the streaming server for presentation in a key frame display in the media location browsing interface of the client device, the plurality of key frames corresponding to locations along the media stream for display as a plurality of thumbnails at the client device, the plurality of key frames being transmitted before a seek request is received from the client device;
transmitting the media stream from the streaming server to the client device, wherein the client device presents key frames in the key frame display, wherein the key frame display is configured to transition freely based on user input at the client device;
wherein the client device receives a seek request to play the media stream from a seek location, wherein the seek location corresponds to one of the plurality of key frames, wherein playback of the media stream begins at the seek location.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the seek request includes receiving user input.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising pausing playback of the media stream at a paused playback location and displaying a paused image corresponding the paused playback location when the media location browsing interface is displayed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the media location browsing interface includes a key frame display navigable by user action, and a progress indicator displaying a relative location of the key frame display along the media stream.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the media location browsing interface includes a smart seek feature, wherein selection of the smart seek feature initiates navigation to a prior viewing location in the media stream.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the smart seek feature includes a button that can be selected by a user at the client device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the smart seek feature is activated by user action, wherein the user action includes swiping across a display associated with the client device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the media stream is playing at an initial location at the time of the seek request; and further comprising:
identifying intermediate key frames between the initial location and the seek location; and
displaying the intermediate key frames at the client device before beginning playback of the media stream at the seek location.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the key frames are I-frames.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the media stream is a video stream.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is a mobile device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the mobile device communicates with the streaming server over a wireless network.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the key frames are downloaded to the client device prior to the seek request.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the key frames representing locations along the media stream are lower resolution images of reference key frames associated with regular playback of the media stream.

### Claim 15

A system, comprising:
an interface configured to receive to play a media stream from a client device;
a processor configured to identify a plurality of key frames of the media stream using a processor at a streaming server, wherein the plurality of key frames are transmitted from the streaming server for presentation in a key frame display in the media location browsing interface of the client device, the plurality of key frames corresponding to locations along the media stream for display as a plurality of thumbnails at the client device, the plurality of key frames being transmitted before a seek request is received from the client device;
wherein the interface is further configured to transmit the media stream from the streaming server to the client device, wherein the client device presents key frames in the key frame display, wherein the key frame display is configured to transition freely based on user input at the client device;
wherein the client device receives a seek request to play the media stream from a seek location, wherein the seek location corresponds to one of the plurality of key frames, wherein playback of the media stream begins at the seek location.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein capturing a seek request includes receiving user input.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the client device is further configured to pause playback of the media stream at a paused playback location and display a paused image corresponding the paused playback location when the media location browsing interface is displayed.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the media location browsing interface includes a key frame display navigable by user action, and a progress indicator displaying a relative location of the key frame display along the media stream.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the media location browsing interface includes a smart seek feature, wherein selection of the smart seek feature initiates navigation to a prior viewing location in the media stream.

### Claim 20

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions to operate a processor, the computer readable medium comprising:
computer code for receiving a request to play a media stream from a client device;
computer code for identifying a plurality of key frames of the media stream using a processor at a streaming server, wherein the plurality of key frames are transmitted from the streaming server for presentation in a key frame display in the media location browsing interface of the client device, the plurality of key frames corresponding to locations along the media stream for display as a plurality of thumbnails at the client device, the plurality of key frames being transmitted before a seek request is received from the client device;
computer code for transmitting the media stream from the streaming server to the client device, wherein the client device presents key frames in the key frame display, wherein the key frame display is configured to transition freely based on user input at the client device;
wherein the client device receives a seek request to play the media stream from a seek location, wherein the seek location corresponds to one of the plurality of key frames, wherein playback of the media stream begins at the seek location.