US6282549B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indexing of media content on a network
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
•
Filing: 1999-03-29
•
Granted: 2001-08-28
•
Expires: 2019-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for searching for multimedia files in a distributed database and for displaying results of the search based on the context and content of the multimedia files.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric M. Hoffert
- 👤 Karl Cremin
- 👤 Adnan Ali
- 👤 Stephen R. Smoot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:21
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0033; G10H1/0041; G10H1/0058; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/40; G06F16/48; G06F16/60; G06F16/68; G06F16/683; G06F16/685; G06F16/70; G06F16/78; G06F16/783; G06F16/7834; G06F16/7844; G06F16/7847; G06F16/785; G06F16/786; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/951; G06F16/953; G06F16/9538; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/031; G10H2210/046; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/011; G10H2240/046; G10H2240/056; G10H2240/066; G10H2240/121; G10H2240/131; G10H2240/135; G10H2240/171; G10H2240/281; G10H2240/295; G10H2240/305; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method comprising: a computer examining Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) to locate media, by locating an HTML page and scanning the page for predetermined HTML tags; for each HTML object, determining if there is a media Uniform Resource Locator (URL); the computer locating lexical information near the media Uniform Resource Locator (URL) in the HTML, by identifying relevant text from the HTML; examining the media object for lexical information; the computer generating a media index for later use in retrieval of the media, by categorizing the content of the media based on both video motion activity the media index based upon the lexical information near the media and the content of the media; and the computer weighting the media index based on a set of predetermined weighting values.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method comprising: a computer examining Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) to locate media, by locating an HTML page and scanning the page for predetermined HTML tags; for each HTML object, determining if there is a media Uniform Resource Locator (URL); the computer locating lexical information near the media Uniform Resource Locator (URL) in the HTML, by identifying relevant text from the HTML; examining the media object for lexical information; the computer generating a media index for later use in retrieval of the media, by categorizing the content of the media based on both video motion activity the media index based upon the lexical information near the media and the content of the media; and the computer weighting the media index based on a set of predetermined weighting values.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying relevant text from the HTML comprises: using text from the associated table element, if the media URL is in a table; using text from the associated list element, if the media URL is in a list; and using text from headings associated with the media.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said examining the media object comprises examining the media file header for textual information and examining the media file content for media information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said examining the media file content for media information comprises examining for closed captioning text.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said examining the media object for text further comprises streaming the media file and examining the streaming media for text.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein predetermined values are set for: text in the URL of the media file; text embedded in the media file; text annotations in the media file; and script dialogue, lyrics, and closed captioning in the media file.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: decompressing frames of the media object at N points wherein N is determined based on the size of the preview and the size of images to be displayed in the preview; analyzing each of the frames to determine if the frames meet a predetermined value and if the frames do meet the predetermined value, selecting the frame for display; and selecting a substitute frame, if one of the frames do not meet the predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising: scaling each of the selected frames; determining a predetermined value for the frames.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
95 words
A method comprising: searching a network for media content; by examining HyperText Markup Language (HTML lexical information surrounding media objects; examining the media objects for lexical information and non-lexical information; indexing the media content based upon the context and content of media objects; using lexical and non-lexical information associated with the media objects and building previews of the media content for retrieval by indexing media content based upon categorization of the media content according to video motion activity and audio amplitude activity, the previews including information allowing display feedback of the information at predetermined locations.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
95 words
A method comprising: searching a network for media content; by examining HyperText Markup Language (HTML lexical information surrounding media objects; examining the media objects for lexical information and non-lexical information; indexing the media content based upon the context and content of media objects; using lexical and non-lexical information associated with the media objects and building previews of the media content for retrieval by indexing media content based upon categorization of the media content according to video motion activity and audio amplitude activity, the previews including information allowing display feedback of the information at predetermined locations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising: computing an aspect ratio A; determining a target height IH of the preview image as the preview height FH less the height of any top and bottom border; determining a target IW of the preview image as a function of the target height IH and the aspect ratio A.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising computing the number of images for display as the preview width divided by the sum of the target width IW and any spacing between images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 9 , comprising using text from an associated table element, if the media URL is in a table; using text from an associated list element; if the media URL is in a list; and using text from headings associated with the media objects.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising examining a media file header for textual information and examining the media file content for media information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the examining the media file content further comprises examining for closed captioning text.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 , comprising streaming a media file and examining the streaming media for text.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-lexical information comprises brightness, contrast, and color.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the non-lexical information comprises motion and chrominance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the preview comprises snippets of audio information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
75 words
A method comprising: searching a network for media files, by examining HyperText Markup Language (HTML) lexical information surrounding references to media files; analyzing the content of the media files for lexical information and non-lexical information; and indexing the media files based on the content of the media files and the context surrounding references to the media files by categorizing the content of the media files based on both video motion activity and audio amplitude activity.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
75 words
A method comprising: searching a network for media files, by examining HyperText Markup Language (HTML) lexical information surrounding references to media files; analyzing the content of the media files for lexical information and non-lexical information; and indexing the media files based on the content of the media files and the context surrounding references to the media files by categorizing the content of the media files based on both video motion activity and audio amplitude activity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the context indexing is based on weighted values associated with the location of the lexical information relative to the reference to the media file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the media file comprises viewable media, and the media file indexing is based on brightness, contrast, and color.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the media file comprises viewable media, and the media indexing is based on chrominance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the relative motion is determined by examining differences between frames in the video.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the video motion activity is determined by a motion metric and a brightness metric.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the motion metric is an estimate of the type of content found in a video file.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the video file may contain a low, medium, or high degree of motion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the low degree of motion is indicative of a talk show.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the medium degree of motion is indicative of newscasts or commercials.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the high degree of motion is indicative of action films and sports.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the brightness metric is an estimate of the brightness content found in the video file.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the video file may contain a dark, moderate or bright intensity of brightness.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the motion metric and brightness metric, combined, may enhance a user ability to search a video.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the audio amplitude activity is determined by a music-speech metric.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the music-speech metric is an estimate of the type of content found in an audio file.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the audio file may contain a low, moderate, or high rate of change in amplitude activity.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the low rate of change in amplitude activity is indicative of music signals.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the moderate rate of change in amplitude activity is indicative of music and speech signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the high rate of change in amplitude activity is indicative of speech signals.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the audio file may contain a continuous or discontinuous signal.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 39 , wherein the continuous signal is indicative of music signals.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the discontinuous signal is indicative of speech signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-08-27 | 2005-02-26 | 2005-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-27 | 2009-02-26 | 2009-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-27 | 2013-02-26 | 2013-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |