System and method enabling sampling and preview of a digital multimedia presentation

Abstract

There is presented a system and method enabling sampling and preview of a digital multimedia presentation. The system comprises a presentation server and a presentation content database configured to store a plurality of digital content including the digital multimedia presentation, accessible through the presentation server. The system also comprises a presentation sampling and preview application configured to determine a time duration of the digital multimedia presentation, designate sampling intervals of the digital multimedia presentation according to the time duration, associate a digital content sample with each designated sampling interval, and assign the digital content samples to respective locations on a presentation timeline. The system is configured to provide the digital content sample assigned to a selected location on the presentation timeline, thereby enabling sampling and preview of the digital multimedia presentation. In one embodiment, the system further comprises a client computer.

1 . A system enabling sampling and preview of a digital multimedia presentation, the system comprising:
 a presentation server;   a presentation content database accessible through the presentation server, the presentation content database configured to store a plurality of content including the digital multimedia presentation;   a presentation sampling and preview application configured to:
 determine a time duration of the digital multimedia presentation; 
 designate sampling intervals of the digital multimedia presentation according to the time duration; 
 associate a digital content sample with each designated sampling interval; and 
 assign the digital content samples to respective locations on a presentation timeline; 
   the system configured to provide the digital content sample assigned to a selected location on the presentation timeline to enable sampling and preview of the digital multimedia presentation.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the presentation sampling and preview application is further configured to be utilized in combination with a media player suitable for playback of the digital multimedia presentation. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the presentation sampling and preview application is further configured to enable sampling and preview of the digital multimedia presentation during a playback of the digital multimedia presentation by the media player, without interrupting the playback. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the designated sampling intervals correspond to presentation time increments of less than or substantially equal to 1.0 second. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital content samples comprise still images representative of the corresponding sampling intervals with which each is respectively associated. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital content samples comprise substantially continuous video segments of the digital multimedia presentation, the substantially continuous video segments comprising the sampling interval corresponding to the selected location on the presentation timeline and at least one adjacent sampling interval. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the presentation sampling and preview application executes as a server based application. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a client computer. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the presentation sampling and preview application executes as a desktop application on the client computer. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the client computer comprises a client-side system selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), gaming console, and a home entertainment system. 
   
   
       11 . A method enabling sampling and preview of a digital multimedia presentation, the method comprising:
 determining a time duration of the digital multimedia presentation;   designating a plurality of sampling intervals according to the time duration of the digital multimedia presentation;   associating a digital content sample from the digital multimedia presentation with each of the plurality of designated sampling intervals to produce a plurality of digital content samples;   assigning each of the digital content samples to a respective location on a presentation timeline;   identifying a selected location on the presentation timeline; and   providing the digital content sample assigned to the selected location to enable sampling and preview of the digital multimedia presentation.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising sending the digital content sample assigned to the selected location to a client computer. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising enabling sampling and preview of the digital multimedia presentation during a playback of the digital multimedia presentation by a media player, without interrupting the playback. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the designated sampling intervals correspond to presentation time increments of less than or substantially equal to 1.0 second. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the digital content samples comprise still images representative of the corresponding sampling intervals with which each is respectively associated. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the digital content samples comprise substantially continuous video segments of the digital multimedia presentation, the substantially continuous video segments comprising the sampling interval corresponding to the selected location on the presentation timeline and at least one adjacent sampling interval. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the substantially continuous video segments comprise an adjacent sampling interval preceding the sampling interval corresponding to the selected location on the presentation timeline, and an adjacent sampling interval following the sampling interval corresponding to the selected location on the presentation timeline. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method is executed by a presentation sampling and preview application running as a server based application. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method is executed by a presentation sampling and preview application running as a desktop application on a client computer. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the client computer comprises a client-side system selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a mobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), gaming console, and a home entertainment system.