Method and apparatus for managing multimedia files

Abstract

A system for locating, segmenting, annotating and retrieving multimedia files, provides a database of metadata ( 68 ) relating to multimedia files ( 70 ), a database manager ( 64 ), and a database client ( 66 ) for accessing the data contained within the database. The database client ( 66 ), together with the metadata database ( 68 ) and database manager ( 64 ) provide a variety of different functionalities, namely a deep linking functionality, a segmentation functionality, a metadata annotation functionality, a retrieval functionality, and an access functionality. The user, through database client ( 68 ) annotates the multimedia file or segment of multimedia file with metadata which is saved in the database ( 68 ). When the user desires to locate a multimedia file, the metadata is searched or browsed to locate the database entry associated with the multimedia file in question. The system further provides the ability for the user to load, open and start the playing of a multimedia file from a point intermediate to its start and end point, and without the user having to experience the portion between the start point and the intermediate point, break down larger files into shorter segments or individual frames (or still images) or regions within frames (or still images) without creating additional copies of the selected segments of the multimedia files of interest, thereby avoiding copyright issues from arising.

1 . An indexing and retrieval system for multimedia comprising:
 a multimedia apparatus for receiving and playback of at least one multimedia file;   a data container for storing the at least one multimedia file;   a database of metadata that describes at least the location of the at least one multimedia file;   a database manager accessible through the multimedia apparatus that further comprises:
 an annotation module for defining and recording multimedia clip metadata in the metadata database that further describes the at least one multimedia file wherein the further metadata includes at least:
 classification term hierarchies that comprise branches of a knowledge tree and; 
 segment information including start and end timepoints which define a clip of the at least one multimedia file; 
 
 a search and retrieval module for identifying multimedia clips and at least one multimedia file of interest to a user of the system through the provision of a search interface to the metadata database whereby the module provides the ability to search the metadata database by reference to keywords and hierarchies of classification terms constituting branches of the knowledge tree and wherein the user of the system is only presented with the segment of the at least one multimedia file defined by the segment information without having the user first experience the playback of the beginning of the multimedia file. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  where there are a plurality of multimedia apparatuses connected to the Internet, there are one or more data containers accessed by the plurality of multimedia apparatuses over the Internet and the database manager is accessed by the users of the plurality of multimedia apparatuses through the Internet. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the database manager, through its search and retrieval module, presents the clip of the at least one multimedia file defined by the segment information by means of directing the multimedia apparatus to the data container that stores the at least one multimedia file and specifically, to the point in the at least one multimedia file defined by the clips information's start timepoint and not to a separate, additional multimedia file which comprises only the clip of interest. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein users of the plurality of multimedia apparatuses connected to the metadata database via the Internet are provided with the ability to create custom classification terms and information branches of the knowledge tree for their use in further defining the at least one multimedia file and clips. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  which further comprises an advertising hub database which features a web based interface, said advertising hub being connected via a network to the metadata database, wherein the advertising hub database queries the metadata database for hierarchies of classification terms and keywords contained therein, and wherein the advertising hub database is accessed by advertisers who select metadata taken from the list of hierarchies of classification terms and keywords and purchase the right to display advertisements in relation to the selected metadata. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the advertisements are displayed alongside multimedia files when the relevant metadata is being used to find and display the at least one multimedia file and clips. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the advertisements themselves comprise the at least one multimedia file and wherein the database of metadata is used to deliver contextually specific advertisements to a potential purchaser through identification of relevant information that is specific to the purchaser and which corresponds to classification terms that form part of a hierarchy of classification terms. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the information that is specific to the purchaser are the particular nodes of specific information branches that are traversed by a purchaser looking for particular multimedia content. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the information that is specific to the purchaser is locational information. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  where the locational information is comprised of the GPS co-ordinates of the purchaser.