Patent US5813014A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5813014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for management of multimedia assets
Assignee: University of Southern California
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Filing: 1996-07-10
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Granted: 1998-09-22
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Expires: 2016-07-10
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a generalized solution for management of multimedia assets. Generalized interfaces are used between a browser component, indexing server, archive server, tertiary storage manager, and method player components. The generalized interface defines a communication protocol that can be used by any browser, indexing server, archive server, tertiary storage manager, or method player component. Thus, system components supplied by multiple vendors can be interconnected to form a multimedia system that communicates using the generalized interfaces of the invention. A browser component can accept input such as search requests and display multimedia data. An indexing server component includes a data catalogue that catalogues multimedia data. The catalogue can be used to identify catalogue elements associated with data that can satisfy a search request. A search mechanism is used to identify the desired multimedia data. A search mechanism can create additional catalogues that are a subset of the catalogue provided on the indexing server. An archive server identifies a tertiary storage manager that manages the store containing the multimedia data. The tertiary storage manager retrieves the corresponding multimedia data from its store and sends it to a method play which plays it in a display region of the browser. The invention retains the content and results of a search such that it is only necessary to perform a search once. Search elements are used to store the content of a search, i.e., search criteria. A segment element is used to store the results of a search.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Gustman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/40; G06F16/48; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of accessing multimedia data comprising the steps of: defining a catalogue for said multimedia data having a plurality of catalogue elements each of which is associated with a portion of said multimedia data, said plurality of catalogue elements associated with a plurality of keywords of said catalogue, said plurality of keywords identifying said multimedia data, said plurality of keywords being interrelated by one or more of associative, whole-part and inheritance relationships; specifying a search request; identifying a result of said search request that satisfies said search request, said result containing one or more of said plurality of catalogue elements; retrieving said portion of said multimedia data associated with said one or more of said plurality of catalogue elements; storing in said catalogue said search request; and storing in said catalogue said search result.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of accessing multimedia data comprising the steps of: defining a catalogue for said multimedia data having a plurality of catalogue elements each of which is associated with a portion of said multimedia data, said plurality of catalogue elements associated with a plurality of keywords of said catalogue, said plurality of keywords identifying said multimedia data, said plurality of keywords being interrelated by one or more of associative, whole-part and inheritance relationships; specifying a search request; identifying a result of said search request that satisfies said search request, said result containing one or more of said plurality of catalogue elements; retrieving said portion of said multimedia data associated with said one or more of said plurality of catalogue elements; storing in said catalogue said search request; and storing in said catalogue said search result.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: specifying a second search request; comparing said second search request with said search request; retrieving said search result when said second search request is the same as said search request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said search request is comprised of one or more elements, the step of storing said search request further comprises the steps of: storing said one or more elements; and storing cardinality information for said one or more elements; and storing conjunctivity information for said one or more elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of storing said search result further comprises the steps of: creating a container element; and creating a relationship between said container element and said one or more of said catalogue elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said catalogue has a plurality of attribute and attribute elements, said step of identifying further comprises the step of performing one or more query operations on said plurality of attribute and attribute elements to identify said one or more of said catalogue elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying further comprises the steps of: identifying a plurality of type instances using said search request; identifying a plurality of keyword instances related to said plurality of type instances; and identifying said one or more of said catalogue elements related to said keyword instances.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of identifying a plurality of type instances further comprises the steps of: identifying a set of type instances that meet a set of criteria in said search request; identifying a second set of type instances that includes said set of type instances and type instances that are subtypes of said set of type instances.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said step of identifying a plurality of keyword instances further comprises the steps of: identifying a set of keyword instances that are related to said second set of type instances; identifying a second set of keyword instances that include said set of keyword instances and child keyword instances of said set of keyword instances.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of: identifying a plurality of keyword instances based on said search request; identifying said one or more of said catalogue elements related to said keyword instances.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying further comprises the steps of: identifying a plurality of person instances using said search request; identifying a plurality of container elements related to said plurality of person instances; and identifying a plurality of catalogue elements related to said plurality of container element instances.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: identifying a plurality of keywords associated with one of said plurality of catalogue elements; examining said plurality of keywords to determine whether said one of said plurality of catalogue elements satisfies content criteria specified in said search request; and including said one of said plurality of catalogue elements in a set of catalogue elements when said content criteria is satisfied.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of identifying a plurality of person instances further comprises the steps of: identifying a plurality of person information instances using said search request; and identifying a plurality of person instances related to said plurality of person information instances.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving further comprises the steps of: associating a plurality of identifiers (IDs) to said portion of said multimedia data; creating a pointers for each of said plurality of IDs, said physical storage pointer pointing to a location in which said portion of said multimedia data is stored; retrieving said plurality of IDs; retrieving said portion of said multimedia data from storage using said pointers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving further comprises the steps of: searching cache for said portion of said multimedia data; retrieving said portion of multimedia data into said cache from permanent storage, if said portion of multimedia data is resident on permanent storage and is not found in said cache.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
A multimedia system comprising: a browser; a text interface coupled to said browser, said text interface comprising at least one class of methods configured to specify a request for multimedia data; an indexing server coupled to said text interface, said indexing server configured to maintain a catalogue comprising a plurality of catalogue elements associated with a plurality of keywords of said catalogue, said plurality of keywords identifying said multimedia data, said plurality of keywords being interrelated by one or more of associative, whole-part and inheritance relationships; a first media interface coupled to said browser, said interface configured to transmit a set of identifiers (IDs) associated with said multimedia data; an archive server coupled to said media interface, said archive server configured to locate and retrieve said multimedia data using said set of IDs; a second media interface coupled to said browser, said interface configured to transmit said multimedia data associated with said set of IDs; a method player coupled to said second media interface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
164 words
A multimedia system comprising: a browser; a text interface coupled to said browser, said text interface comprising at least one class of methods configured to specify a request for multimedia data; an indexing server coupled to said text interface, said indexing server configured to maintain a catalogue comprising a plurality of catalogue elements associated with a plurality of keywords of said catalogue, said plurality of keywords identifying said multimedia data, said plurality of keywords being interrelated by one or more of associative, whole-part and inheritance relationships; a first media interface coupled to said browser, said interface configured to transmit a set of identifiers (IDs) associated with said multimedia data; an archive server coupled to said media interface, said archive server configured to locate and retrieve said multimedia data using said set of IDs; a second media interface coupled to said browser, said interface configured to transmit said multimedia data associated with said set of IDs; a method player coupled to said second media interface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said indexing server comprises: a database management system (DBMS); said plurality of catalogue elements coupled to said DBMS; a plurality of attributes and attribute elements coupled to said plurality of catalogue elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said text interface is an application programming interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said text interface contains operations for querying said plurality of catalogue elements and said plurality of attributes and attribute elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 15 further comprising a tertiary storage manager coupled to said archive server.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said tertiary storage manager is a cache manager.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
216 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for accessing multimedia data, the computer readable program code in said article of manufacture comprising: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to define a catalogue for said multimedia data having a plurality of catalogue elements each of which is associated with a portion of said multimedia data, said plurality of catalogue elements associated with a plurality of keywords of said catalogue, said plurality of keywords identifying said multimedia data, said plurality of keywords being interrelated by one or more of associative, whole-part and inheritance relationships: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to specify a search request; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a result of said search request that satisfies said search request, said result containing one or more of said plurality of catalogue elements; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve said portion of said multimedia data associated with said one or more of said plurality of catalogue elements; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store in said catalogue said search request; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store in said catalogue said search result.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
216 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for accessing multimedia data, the computer readable program code in said article of manufacture comprising: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to define a catalogue for said multimedia data having a plurality of catalogue elements each of which is associated with a portion of said multimedia data, said plurality of catalogue elements associated with a plurality of keywords of said catalogue, said plurality of keywords identifying said multimedia data, said plurality of keywords being interrelated by one or more of associative, whole-part and inheritance relationships: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to specify a search request; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a result of said search request that satisfies said search request, said result containing one or more of said plurality of catalogue elements; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve said portion of said multimedia data associated with said one or more of said plurality of catalogue elements; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store in said catalogue said search request; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store in said catalogue said search result.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
The article of manufacture of claim 21 further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to specify a second search request; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to compare said second search request with said search request; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve said search result when said second search request is the same as said search request.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
91 words
The article of manufacture of claim 21 wherein said search request is comprised of one or more elements, said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store said search request further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store said one or more elements; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store cardinality information for said one or more elements; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store conjunctivity information for said one or more elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
The article of manufacture of claim 21 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store said search result further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create a container element; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create a relationship between said container element and said one or more of said catalogue elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
The article of manufacture of claim 21 wherein said catalogue has a plurality of attribute and attribute elements, said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify further comprises computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to perform one or more query operations on said plurality of attribute and attribute elements to identify said one or more of said catalogue elements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
90 words
The article of manufacture of claim 21 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of type instances using said search request; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of keyword instances related to said plurality of type instances; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify said one or more of said catalogue elements related to said keyword instances.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
89 words
The article of manufacture of claim 26 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of type instances further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a set of type instances that meet a set of criteria in said search request; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a second set of type instances that includes said set of type instances and type instances that are subtypes of said set of type instances.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
87 words
The article of manufacture of claim 27 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of keyword instances further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a set of keyword instances that are related to said second set of type instances; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a second set of keyword instances that include said set of keyword instances and child keyword instances of said set of keyword instances.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
The article of manufacture of claim 25 further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of keyword instances based on said search request; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify said one or more of said catalogue elements related to said keyword instances.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
90 words
The article of manufacture of claim 21 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of person instances using said search request; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of container elements related to said plurality of person instances; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of catalogue elements related to said plurality of container element instances.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
99 words
The article of manufacture of claim 30 further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of keywords associated with one of said plurality of catalogue elements; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to examine said plurality of keywords to determine whether said one of said plurality of catalogue elements satisfies content criteria specified in said search request; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to include said one of said plurality of catalogue elements in a set of catalogue elements when said content criteria is satisfied.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
73 words
The article of manufacture of claim 30 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of person instances further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of person information instances using said search request; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to identify a plurality of person instances related to said plurality of person information instances.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
119 words
The article of manufacture of claim 21 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve further comprises: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to associate a plurality of IDs to said portion of said multimedia data; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to create a pointers for each of said plurality of IDs, said physical storage pointer pointing to a location in which said portion of said multimedia data is stored; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve said plurality of IDs; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve said portion of said multimedia data from storage using said pointers.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
81 words
The article of manufacture of claim 33 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve further comprise: computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to search cache for said portion of said multimedia data; computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve said portion of multimedia data into said cache from permanent storage, if said portion of multimedia data is resident on permanent storage and is not found in said cache.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-21 | 2002-03-23 | 2002-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-21 | 2006-03-23 | 2006-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-21 | 2010-03-23 | 2010-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |