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

Claim 3

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the video repository is located locally to the system; and said coupling unit includes a local coupling connection.

Claim 4

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said coupling unit includes a communication interface for coupling with a network communication medium, the medium being coupled to the video repository, the video repository being located at a location remote from the information processing apparatus.

Claim 5

A system as recited in claim 3, wherein: the user interface unit includes a computer having a World Wide Web browser; and the communication interface includes an Internet interface.

Claim 8

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said displaying unit is also for displaying the thumbnail images in an array, the thumbnail images being in positions in the array related to their respective positions within the Object.

Claim 9

A system as recited in claim 6, wherein: the number of thumbnail images from the data file exceeds a display capacity of the user interface unit; the thumbnail images are scrollably displayed on the user interface unit; and said displaying unit is also for displaying a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control scrolling of the displayed thumbnail images.

Claim 10

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the sequence of representations includes representations of scene change points within the Object and representations of points within scenes of the Object; and the system further comprises a setting unit for setting a parameter giving a number of representations within scenes to be displayed.

Claim 11

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving unit is also for receiving a data file of images of video stills from the respective points of the Object; and said system further including a displaying unit for displaying the images on the user interface unit.

Claim 12

A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said displaying unit is also for displaying the images successively in time, whereby the user is able to perceive a flow of action in the Object.

Claim 13

A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said displaying unit is also for displaying the images one of: at a fixed time interval; at a time interval related to a real time interval, within the Object, between successive images; and at a rate controlled by the user.

Claim 14

A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said displaying unit includes a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control a time interval between successively displayed images.

Claim 15

A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said audio unit is also for playing an audio sound track along with successively displayed images.

Claim 16

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said selecting unit is also for selecting desired ones of the representations by mouse clicks.

Claim 17

A system as recited in claim 14, wherein said selecting unit is also for selecting first and second ones of the representations, which represent the beginning and end, respectively, of the desired portion of the Object.

Claim 18

A system as recited in claim 14, wherein said selecting unit is also for selecting one of the representations, the desired portion of the Object being specified in terms of one of: (i) from the beginning of the Object to a selected representation, (ii) from the selected representation to the end of the Object, (iii) from the selected representation to an immediately succeeding one of the representations, and (iv) from the selected representation forward for a specified amount of time.

Claim 19

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said viewing unit includes user-operable controls for at least one of (i) playback, (ii) fast-forwarding, (iii) reverse playback, (iv) fast reverse playback, and (v) pause.

Claim 20

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.

Claim 21

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.

Claim 22

A method as recited in claim 5, wherein: the video repository is located locally to the system; and said coupling unit includes a local coupling connection.

Claim 23

A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said coupling unit also includes a communication interface for coupling with said medium, the medium being coupled to the video repository, the video repository being located at a location remote from the information processing apparatus.

Claim 24

A method as recited in claim 20, wherein: the user interface unit includes a computer having a World Wide Web browser; and the communication interface includes an Internet interface.

Claim 25

A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to select desired ones of the representations by mouse clicks.

Claim 26

A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the displaying includes displaying the thumbnail images in an array, the thumbnail images being in positions in the array related to their respective positions within the Object.

Claim 27

A method as recited in claim 23, wherein: the number of thumbnail images from the data file exceeds a display capacity of the user interface unit; the thumbnail images are scrollably displayed on the user interface unit; and the displaying further includes displaying a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control scrolling of the displayed thumbnail images.

Claim 28

A method as recited in claim 5, wherein: the sequence of representations includes representations of scene change points within the Object and representations of points within scenes of the Object; and the method further comprises setting a parameter giving a number of representations within scenes to be displayed.

Claim 29

A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the receiving and displaying of said sequence includes: receiving a data file of images of video stills from respective points of the Object; and displaying the images on the user interface unit.

Claim 30

A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the displaying includes displaying the images successively in time, whereby the user is able to perceive a flow of action in the Object.

Claim 31

A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the displaying includes displaying the images one of: at a fixed time interval; at a time interval related to a real time interval, within the Object, between successive images; and at a rate controlled by the user.

Claim 32

A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the displaying further includes displaying a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control a time interval between successively displayed images.

Claim 33

A method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the playing an audio sound track along with the successively displayed images.

Claim 34

A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the selecting of said interval includes selecting desired ones of the representations by mouse clicks.

Claim 35

A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the selecting includes selecting first and second ones of the representations, which represent the beginning and end, respectively, of the desired portion of the Object.

Claim 36

A method as recited in claim 31, wherein the selecting includes selecting one of the representations, the desired portion of the Object being specified in terms of one of: (i) from the beginning of the Object to a selected representation, (ii) from the selected representation to the end of the Object, (iii) from the selected representation to an immediately succeeding one of the representations, and (iv) from the selected representation forward for a specified amount of time.

Claim 37

A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the facilitating of user viewing includes providing user-operable controls for at least one of (i) playback, (ii) fast-forwarding, (iii) reverse playback, (iv) fast reverse playback, and (v) pause.

Claim 38

A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to select first and second ones of the representations, which represent the beginning and end, respectively, of the desired portion of the Object.

Claim 39

A computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein: the video repository is located locally to the system; and said coupling unit includes a local coupling connection.

Claim 40

A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said coupling unit includes a communication interface for coupling with a network communication medium, the network communication medium being coupled to the video repository, the video repository being located at a location remote from the information processing apparatus.

Claim 41

A computer program product as recited in claim 37, wherein: the user interface unit includes a computer having a World Wide Web browser; and the communication interface includes an Internet interface.

Claim 42

A computer program product as recited in claim 22, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to select one of the representations, the desired portion of the Object being specified in terms of one of: (i) from the beginning of the Object to a selected representation, (ii) from the selected representation to the end of the Object, (iii) from the selected representation to an immediately succeeding one of the representations, and (iv) from the selected representation forward for a specified amount of time.

Claim 43

A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display the thumbnail images in an array, the thumbnail images being in positions in the array related to their respective positions within the Object.

Claim 44

A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein: the number of thumbnail images from the data file exceeds a display capacity of the user interface unit; the thumbnail images are scrollably displayed on the user interface unit; and said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control scrolling of the displayed thumbnail images.

Claim 45

A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein: the sequence of representations includes representations of scene change points within the Object and representations of points within scenes of the Object; and said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to set a parameter giving a number of representations within scenes to be displayed.

Claim 46

A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to receive a data file of images of video stills from the respective points of the Object; and for directing the information processing apparatus to display the images on the user interface unit.

Claim 47

A computer program product as recited in claim 43, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display the images successively in time, whereby the user is able to perceive a flow of action in the Object.

Claim 48

A computer program product as recited in claim 44, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display the images one of: at a fixed time interval; at a time interval related to a real time interval, within the Object, between successive images; and at a rate controlled by the user.

Claim 49

A computer program product as recited in claim 44, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to display a user-manipulable user interface tool for allowing the user to control a time interval between successively displayed images.

Claim 50

A computer program product as recited in claim 44, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to play an audio sound track along with successively displayed images.

Claim 51

A computer program product as recited in claim 18, wherein said directions are also for directing the information processing apparatus to provide, at the user interface unit, user-operable controls for at least one of (i) playback, (ii) fast-forwarding, (iii) reverse playback, (iv) fast reverse playback, and (v) pause.