Video Assets Having Associated Graphical Descriptor Data

Abstract

Graphical descriptor data associated with a particular video asset may include data for one or more graphical descriptor images and graphical descriptor metadata related to each graphical descriptor image. The graphical descriptor images can be simultaneously presented on a display screen with the video asset content and used to navigate to different content in that video asset. The graphical descriptors can also be used to navigate to content of one or more different assets.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first data stream that includes first video content data corresponding to a first video asset and that also includes separate graphical descriptor data associated with the first video asset, the graphical descriptor data including, for each of multiple graphical descriptors, graphical descriptor image data corresponding to a graphical descriptor image and related graphical descriptor metadata; and   generating display signals, based on the received first video content data and graphical descriptor image data, permitting simultaneous presentation on a display screen of a portion of the first video asset and one or more of the graphical descriptor images.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving selection data indicative of a user selection of one of the presented graphical descriptor images; and   requesting, in response to the received selection data, a second data stream, wherein said requesting includes requesting a second data stream that includes content data for the first video asset beginning at a point in a runtime of the first video asset that is different from a point in the first video asset runtime at which the user selected the one of the presented graphical descriptor images.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first data stream is a multicast stream and further comprising:
 receiving selection data indicative of a user selection of one of the presented graphical descriptor images;   requesting, in response to the received selection data, a second data stream; and   receiving a unicast second asset data stream in response to the requesting.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first data stream is a unicast stream and further comprising:
 receiving selection data indicative of a user selection of one of the presented graphical descriptor images;   requesting, in response to the received selection data, a second data stream; and   receiving a multicast second asset data stream in response to the requesting.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said requesting includes requesting a second data stream that includes content data for a second video asset that is different from the first video asset. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the graphical descriptor images describes a portion of the first video asset but is not a frame of the first video asset. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transferring the first video content data and graphical descriptor data received in the first data stream to a transferee device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 simultaneously presenting, on a display screen of the transferee device and based on the transferred first video content data and graphical descriptor data, a portion of the first video asset and graphical descriptor images;   receiving transferee device selection data indicative of a device user selection of one of the graphical descriptor images presented on the transferee device display screen; and   responsive to the received transferee device selection data, presenting a different portion of the first video asset on the transferee device display screen.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transferring the graphical descriptor data received in the first data stream to an auxiliary device; and   presenting only the graphical descriptor images on a display screen of the auxiliary device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving selection data indicative of a user selection of one of the presented graphical descriptor images; and   requesting, in response to the received selection data, a second data stream, wherein said requesting includes requesting a second data stream that includes content data for a second video asset that is different from the first video asset.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one memory; and   at least one processor, the at least one memory and the at least one processor configured to perform operations that include:
 receiving a first data stream that includes first video content data corresponding to a first video asset and that also includes separate graphical descriptor data associated with the first video asset, the graphical descriptor data including, for each of multiple graphical descriptors, graphical descriptor image data corresponding to a graphical descriptor image and related graphical descriptor metadata, and 
 generating display signals, based on the received first video content data and graphical descriptor image data, permitting simultaneous presentation on a display screen of a portion of the first video asset and one or more of the graphical descriptor images. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor are configured to perform operations that include
 receiving selection data indicative of a user selection of one of the presented graphical descriptor images; and   requesting, in response to the received selection data, a second data stream, wherein said requesting includes requesting a second data stream that includes content data for the first video asset beginning at a point in a runtime of the first video asset that is different from a point in the first video asset runtime at which the user selected the one of the presented graphical descriptor images.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first data stream is a multicast stream, and wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor are further configured to perform operations that comprise
 receiving selection data indicative of a user selection of one of the presented graphical descriptor images,   requesting, in response to the received selection data, a second data stream, and   receiving a unicast second asset data stream in response to the requesting.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said requesting includes requesting a second data stream that includes content data for a second video asset that is different from the first video asset. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor are further configured to perform operations that comprise
 transferring the first video content data and graphical descriptor data received in the first data stream to a transferee device.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is part of a system that includes a transferee apparatus comprising at least one memory, at least one processor, and a display screen, and wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor of the transferee device are configured to perform operations that comprise
 simultaneously presenting, on the display screen and based on the transferred first video content data and graphical descriptor data, a portion of the first video asset and graphical descriptor images,   receiving transferee device selection data indicative of a device user selection of one of the graphical descriptor images presented on the transferee device display screen, and   responsive to the received transferee device selection data, presenting a different portion of the first video asset on the transferee device display screen.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 receiving a multicast first data stream that includes first video content data corresponding to a first video asset;   receiving separate graphical descriptor data associated with the first video asset, the graphical descriptor data including, for each of multiple graphical descriptors, graphical descriptor image data corresponding to a graphical descriptor image and related graphical descriptor metadata;   generating display signals, based on the received first video content data and the received graphical descriptor image data, permitting simultaneous presentation on a display screen of a portion of the first video asset and one or more of the graphical descriptor images;   receiving selection data indicative of a user selection of one of the presented graphical descriptor images;   requesting, in response to the received selection data, a unicast second video asset data stream; and   receiving the unicast second asset data stream in response to the request.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the unicast second video asset data stream includes content data for a second video asset that is different from the first video asset. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the unicast second video asset data stream includes content data for the first video asset beginning at a point in a runtime of the first video asset that is different from a point in the first video asset runtime at which the user selected the one of the presented graphical descriptor images. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 transferring the first video content data and the graphical descriptor data associated with the first video asset to a transferee device;   simultaneously presenting, on a display screen of the transferee device and based on the transferred first video content data and graphical descriptor data, a portion of the first video asset and graphical descriptor images;   receiving transferee device selection data indicative of a device user selection of one of the graphical descriptor images presented on the transferee device display screen; and   responsive to the received transferee device selection data, presenting a different portion of the first video asset on the transferee device display screen.