System and method of processing MPEG streams for storyboard and rights metadata insertion

A system for storyboard thumbnail and video rights metadata insertion, for preventing unauthorized use of restricted video frames of a previously encoded MPEG video file, wherein each video frame header of the MPEG video file including a compressed timecode packet having an identifying signature, an absolute and a relative SMPTE timecode of the frame, and a picture type and reference, comprising:

• a computer coupled to an electronic storage device for storing the MPEG video file;
• programming means, performed by the computer, for inserting video rights metadata flags in predetermined fields of the timecode packet of the affected video frame of the MPEG video file;
• programming means, performed by the computer, for inserting thumbnail status metadata flags in predetermined fields of the timecode packet of the selected video storyboard thumbnail frame of the MPEG video file, allowing automatic recreation of a storyboard file from the MPEG video file;
• programming means, performed by the computer, for updating accordingly the video rights metadata in a video catalog record corresponding to the MPEG video file, and updating accordingly the video rights metadata flags in the predetermined fields of the timecode packet of the affected video frame of the MPEG video file;
• and
• programming means, performed by the computer, for updating accordingly the thumbnail status metadata in a video catalog record corresponding to the MPEG video file, and updating accordingly the thumbnail status metadata flags in the predetermined fields of the timecode packet of the selected video storyboard thumbnail frame of the MPEG video file,
• thereby preserving the MPEG compliance and compressed audio/video data of the MPEG video file, while maintaining the MPEG video file's original frame presentation timing.

A program storage device readable by a computer tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for storyboard thumbnail and video rights metadata insertion, for preventing unauthorized use of restricted video frames of a previously encoded MPEG video file, wherein each video frame header of the MPEG video file including a compressed timecode packet having an identifying signature, an absolute and a relative SMPTE timecode of the frame, and a picture type and reference, and the MPEG video file stored in an electronic storage device coupled to the computer, the method comprising the following steps:

• (a) if an incorporation of video rights metadata of an MPEG video file frame requested, inserting video rights metadata flags in predetermined fields of the timecode packet of the affected video frame of the MPEG video file;
• (b) if an incorporation of thumbnail status metadata requested for a selected video storyboard thumbnail, inserting thumbnail status metadata flags in predetermined fields of the timecode packet of the selected video storyboard thumbnail frame of the MPEG video file, allowing automatic recreation of a storyboard file from the MPEG video file;
• (c) if a modification of a selected video rights metadata requested, updating accordingly the video rights metadata in a video catalog record corresponding to the MPEG video file, and updating accordingly the video rights metadata flags in the predetermined fields of the timecode packet of the affected video frame of the MPEG video file;
• and
• (d) if a modification of a selected video storyboard thumbnail status metadata requested, updating accordingly the thumbnail status metadata in a video catalog record corresponding to the MPEG video file, and updating accordingly the thumbnail status metadata flags in the predetermined fields of the timecode packet of the selected video storyboard thumbnail frame of the MPEG video file,
• thereby preserving the MPEG compliance and compressed audio/video data of the MPEG video file, while maintaining the MPEG video file's original frame presentation timing.