Media map for capture of content from random access devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for storing and displaying information about the capture and/or transfer of digital media is provided, wherein data is stored such that a visual representation indicating characteristics of video data, such as whether portions of the video data have been transferred to another device or captured to a storage device, may be generated and displayed.

1 . A method for managing digital media, comprising:
 storing, on a random access device, (a) a video clip, (b) metadata describing the storage state of the video clip, and (c) data that uniquely associates the metadata with the video clip; and   in response to an operation that results in capture of a portion of the video clip to a device other than said random access device, automatically modifying said metadata on said random access device to indicate that said portion has been captured to a device other than said random access device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said metadata is in XML format. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data that uniquely associates the metadata with the video clip comprises data uniquely identifying said video clip. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said operation is a first operation that results in capture of a first portion of the video clip to a first device, further comprising:
 in response to a second operation that results in capture of a second portion of the video clip to a second device, automatically modifying said metadata on said random access device to indicate that said second portion has been captured to a device other than said random access device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the video clip is one of a plurality of video clips stored on said random access device, further comprising:
 storing, on said random access device, separate sets of metadata for each video clip of said plurality of video clips; and   wherein the set of metadata associated with each video clip indicates which portions of the video clip have been captured to devices other than said random access device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 associating a unique identifier with each said set of metadata, wherein said unique identifier is associated with one said video clip.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 deleting said video clip from said storage medium; and   automatically modifying said metadata associated with said video clip and stored on said storage medium to reflect said deletion.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to an operation that results in the deletion of a portion of the video clip stored on a random access device, automatically modifying said metadata associated with said video clip and stored on said storage medium to reflect said deletion   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to an operation that results in capture of a portion of the video clip to a device other than said random access device, automatically prompting a user for input; and   in response to user input, storing data associating the user input with the random access device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user input and the data associating the user input with the random access device is stored on a device other than said random access device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for managing digital media, comprising:
 storing, on a random access device, (a) a first video clip, (b) a first set of metadata describing the storage state of the first video clip, (c) a second video clip; and (d) a second set of metadata describing the storage state of the second video clip;   storing, in said first set of metadata a unique identifier, wherein said unique identifier is associated with said first video clip and uniquely identifies said first video clip;   storing, in said second set of metadata a unique identifier, wherein said unique identifier is associated with said second video clip and uniquely identifies said second video clip;   in response to an operation that results in capture of a portion of the first video clip to a device other than said random access device, automatically modifying said first set of metadata on said random access device to indicate that said portion of the first video clip has been captured to a device other than said random access device.   
     
     
         12 . A method comprising performing a machine-executed operation involving instructions, wherein the machine-executed operation is at least one of:
 A) sending said instructions over transmission media;   B) receiving said instructions over transmission media;   C) storing said instructions onto a machine-readable storage medium; and   D) executing the instructions;   wherein said instructions are instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:   storing, on a random access device, (a) a video clip, (b) metadata describing the storage state of the video clip, and (c) data that uniquely associates the metadata with the video clip; and   wherein the set of metadata associated with the video clip indicates which portions of the video clip have been captured to devices other than said random access device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions include instructions for:
 storing, in said set of metadata a unique identifier, wherein said unique identifier is associated with said first video clip and uniquely identifies said first video clip;   in response to a request to capture video data comprising at least a portion of the video clip, comparing the unique identifier associated with the video clip to a value provided concurrently with the request; and   if the unique identifier matches the value provided, causing the requested capture of video data.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions include instructions for:
 in response to an operation that results in capture of video data from the random access device, receiving user input;   storing data associating the user input with the random access device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions include instructions for:
 in response to an operation that results in the editing-in-place of at least one portion of the video clip, automatically modifying the set of metadata on the random access device associated with the video clip to indicate that the at least one portion of the first video clip has been edited-in-place.   
     
     
         16 . A method for managing digital media, comprising:
 storing, on a particular device, (a) media, (b) metadata describing the transfer state of the media, and (c) data that associates the metadata with the media; and   in response to an operation that results in creation of a copy of a portion of the media on a device other than the particular device, automatically modifying the metadata on the particular device to indicate that the portion has been copied to a device other than the particular device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the operation comprises downloading the media from the particular device to a device other than the particular device over a network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the media comprises audio data. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 2 . 
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 3 . 
     
     
         22 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 4 . 
     
     
         23 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 5 . 
     
     
         24 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 6 . 
     
     
         25 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 7 . 
     
     
         26 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 8 . 
     
     
         27 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 9 . 
     
     
         28 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 10 . 
     
     
         29 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 11 . 
     
     
         30 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 12 . 
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 13 . 
     
     
         32 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 14 . 
     
     
         33 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 15 . 
     
     
         34 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 16 . 
     
     
         35 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 17 . 
     
     
         36 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in  claim 18 .