US 6,166,735 AGranted

Video story board user interface for selective downloading and displaying of desired portions of remote-stored video data objects

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsByron Edward Dom, Dragutin Petkovic

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Abstract

A system and method are provided for supporting video browsing over a communication network such as the Internet/World Wide Web. A graphical user interface is provided through a client software tool such as a Web browser. A client/user selects a video data object stored at a remote server. A set of points within the object are displayed at the client's graphical user interface display, as representations, preferably thumbnail images, of the points within the object. The user selects an interval defined by the representations, preferably by using the graphical user interface to select two of the representations. The two selected representations delimit the beginning and end of a portion of the video object. Responsive to this selection, that portion of the video object is downloaded and displayed.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A system for facilitating user examination and browsing of video data object information pertaining to a stored video data object (herein denoted "Object"), the Object including a beginning point, an end point, and points therebetween, the system comprising:

an information processing apparatus having a user interface unit and a coupling unit for coupling to a video repository having video data objects, including the Object, stored therein;
a sending unit for sending, through the user interface unit and over the medium, a request to view the Object;
a receiving unit, responsive to receipt of a response to the request to view, for receiving a data file of reduced-size, thumbnail images of video stills and related audio portions from the respective points of the Object, each thumbnail image corresponding with one of the points in the Object;
a viewing unit for displaying the thumbnail images prior to a portion of said Object being downloaded;
an audio unit for playing said related audio portions with said display of said thumbnail images prior to said portion of said Object being downloaded;
a user-operable selecting unit for selecting an interval in terms of the points, the interval delimiting the beginning and end of said portion of the Object which the user desires to view;
and
a downloading unit, operable responsive to operation of said selecting unit for downloading and providing the portion of the Object within the selected interval;
said viewing unit for facilitating user viewing of the downloaded portion.

6 more elements

A method for facilitating user examination and browsing of video data object information pertaining to a stored video data object (herein denoted "Object"), the Object including a beginning point, an end point, and points therebetween, the method to be practiced by an information processing apparatus having a user interface unit and a coupling unit for coupling to a video repository, wherein said video repository has said video data objects, including the Object, stored therein, the method comprising:

sending, through the user interface unit and over a medium, a request to view the Object;
responsive to receipt of a response to the request to view, receiving a data file of reduced-size, thumbnail images of video stills and related audio portions from the respective points of the Object, each thumbnail image corresponding with one of the points in the Object;
playing said related audio portions while displaying said thumbnail images on said user interface unit prior to a portion of said Object being downloaded;
receiving, from a user, a selection of an interval in terms of the points, the interval delimiting the beginning and end of said portion of the Object which the user desires to view;
responsive to the selection of an interval, downloading and providing the portion of the Object within the selected interval;
and
facilitating user viewing of the downloaded portion.

4 more elements

A computer program product, for use with an information processing apparatus having a user interface unit and a coupling unit for coupling to a video repository having stored video data objects, including a stored video data object (herein denoted "Object"), stored therein, for facilitating user examination and browsing of video data object information pertaining to the Object, the Object including a beginning point, an end point, and points therebetween, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable medium;
a set of directions, provided on the medium, for directing the information processing apparatus to send, through the user interface unit, a request to view the Object;
said directions, operable responsive to receipt of a response to the request to view, are also for directing the information processing apparatus to receive a data file of reduced-size, thumbnail images of video stills and related audio portions from the respective points of the Object, each thumbnail image corresponding with one of the points in the Object, and to play said related audio portions while displaying said thumbnail images on said user interface unit prior to a portion of said Object being downloaded;
said directions, operable responsive to user command, are also for directing the information processing apparatus to select an interval in terms of the points, the interval delimiting the beginning and end of said portion of the Object which the user desires to view;
said directions, operable responsive to operation of the information processing apparatus selecting an interval, are also for downloading and providing the portion of the Object within the selected interval;
and
said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to facilitate user viewing of the downloaded portion.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.