System and Method of Playback and User Interface for Video Players

Abstract

A method and a system of displaying a user interface to control playback and features that may be associated with a prerecorded media. A media player, such as a DVD player, a personal computer, a home media server, a high definition video player, an optical player, a hard drive based player, or a software DVD-ROM player receives streams of video from different media and displays its content. Simultaneously, and without interrupting the video playback, a user interface is overlaid on the video image. The user interface may include menu selections to control the playback of the video including scene selection, settings, and viewing rights. The user interface may include menu selections to control features associated with the video such as Documentaries, Games, Purchases, Activities, Commentaries, Outtakes, Karaoke, Trailers, Songs, Wishlists, and Events.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of displaying scenes in a video navigation system, comprising:
 playing a main video stream on a display connected to a media player;   displaying a user interface to navigate available scenes by displaying selectable thumbnails on the display connected to the media player;   receiving a first user selection of a first one of the selectable thumbnails;   starting to play a thumbnail video stream of a scene portrayed in the first one of the selectable thumbnails while playing the main video stream on the display, in response to the first user selection.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 receiving a second user selection of the first one of the selectable thumbnails; 
 replacing the playing of the main video stream on the display with playing the first one of the selectable thumbnails, in response to the second user selection. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the main video stream and the thumbnail video stream are from the same video source. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the main video stream and the thumbnail video stream are from different video sources. 
     
     
         25 . A media player for displaying scenes in a video navigation system having a display, the media player comprising:
 a memory including a software;   a CPU configured to execute the software to:
 play a main video stream on the display connected to the media player; 
 display a user interface to navigate available scenes by displaying selectable thumbnails on the display connected to the media player; 
 receive a first user selection of a first one of the selectable thumbnails; 
 starting to play a thumbnail video stream of a scene portrayed in the first one of the selectable thumbnails while playing the main video stream on the display, in response to the first user selection. 
   
     
     
         26 . The media player of  claim 25 , wherein the CPU is configured to execute the software to further receive a second user selection of the first one of the selectable thumbnails, and replace the playing of the main video stream on the display with playing the first one of the selectable thumbnails, in response to the second user selection. 
     
     
         27 . The media player of  claim 25 , wherein the main video stream and the thumbnail video stream are from the same video source. 
     
     
         28 . The media player of  claim 25 , wherein the main video stream and the thumbnail video stream are from different video sources. 
     
     
         29 . A method for use by a video navigation system, comprising:
 playing a main video stream on a display connected to a media player;   determining an item for sale in the main video stream being played;   highlighting the item for sale on the display connected to the media player;   automatically displaying a menu on the display for providing information about the item for sale;   receiving a user selection of the menu;   providing the information about the item for viewing on the display by the user.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the item is a cell phone. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the main video stream shows a person carrying the cell phone being highlighted for sale. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the information about the item includes purchasing information for the item. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the information about the item includes specifications for the item.