Picture-based video indexing system

Abstract

A video indexing system uses pictures representative of a recorded video program to assist a user in determining the contents of a recorded medium without having to view the program itself. The pictures preferably represent segments of the program which are spaced apart in time, enabling a relatively small number of such pictures to characterize a lengthy program, and are presented in separate windows on the screen of the same device used to display the video program. The pictures may include still or moving imagery. A viewer optionally may select a particular picture with a pointing device, to commence replay of the recorded program from that period in the program, or to recall stored audio information so as to assist in identifying the selection. The picture information may be stored on the same medium as that used to record the video program, or a different medium may be used.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a memory;   a processor;   instructions stored in the memory that, if executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 reading picture information including a subset of images of a plurality of images of program material, the image subset representing segments of program material separated in time, the subset of images being stored separately from the program material on a same random-access physical media; 
 generating an output based on the subset of images, the output configured to display images of the separately stored subset of images in a plurality of respective windows on a display device; 
 receiving a selection associated with an image of the subset of images; and 
 outputting the program material to the display device beginning with the section of the program material associated with the selected image and continuing with subsequent sections. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising generating the output as a plurality of pages to accommodate the plurality of respective windows. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising directly accessing the program material in accordance with an association of the selection of one the subset of images and an index. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the index is stored on the random-access physical media. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein audio information is stored in conjunction with an image of the subset; user-selecting a displayed image from the subset, and wherein the stored audio information is replayed corresponding to the selected image. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote control, wherein the selection is received from the remote control associated with the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of window includes motion imagery. 
     
     
         8 . A video indexing method, comprising the steps of:
 storing a video program having time-sequential frames representative of motion imagery on a random-access computer readable medium; and   separately storing a subset of the frames associated with segments of the video program that are spaced apart in time,   wherein separately stored frames of the subset are suitable for display in a plurality of windows on a display device,   wherein the subset of the frames associated with segments of the video program is stored separately from the video program and on the random-access computer readable media, and   wherein at least one window is selectable by a user, and upon selection of a window, the video program is output for display on the display device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the video program is output for display on the display device beginning with a segment of the video program associated with a frame displayed in the selected window and continuing with subsequent segments of the video program. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the subset of frames is derived by periodically sampling images of video program. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 accessing the random-access computer readable medium to initiate a replay of the video program from a point in the video program corresponding to a selected window.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 storing audio information in conjunction with an image of the subset;   enabling a user-selectable image from the subset; and   replaying the stored audio information corresponding to the user-selectable image.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 analyzing the video program to determine the subset of the frames associated with the segments of the video program; and   creating an index of the frames to the segments of the video program.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one window includes motion imagery. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a video program having time-sequential frames representative of motion imagery, and a separately stored thereon, a subset of frames associated with segments of the video program which are spaced apart in time, the computer readable medium having software code stored thereon for causing a processor to carry out a method, comprising:
 outputting separately stored frames of the subset for display in a plurality of separate windows on a display device,   wherein the tangible non-transitory computer readable medium is a random-access media enabling direct access to the subset of frames associated with segments of the video program are randomly accessible by a computing device.   
     
     
         16 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein a user-selection of a displayed image from the subset initiates a replay of the video program from a point in the video program corresponding to the selected image. 
     
     
         17 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the replay is initiated by directly accessing the video program corresponding to the selected image. 
     
     
         18 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein audio information is stored in conjunction with an image of the subset, wherein a user-selection of a displayed image from the subset causes a replay of the stored audio information corresponding to the selected image. 
     
     
         19 . The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein an index of the subset of frames to the segments of the video program is stored on the tangible non-transitory computer readable medium. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one window includes motion imagery.