System and Method for Real-Time Media Presentation Using Metadata Clips

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for real-time media presentation using metadata clips. There is provided a media device for providing one or more media files for a display, the media device including a memory and a processor. The memory includes a plurality of metadata clips, wherein each of the plurality of metadata clips references a referenced source media from the media files, a referenced start position, and a referenced end position. The processor can determine a playlist including some of the plurality of metadata clips for streaming segments of media files as defined by their referenced start and end positions. Flexible behaviors can also be added to enhance playback logic or to enforce access restrictions, and metadata clips and playlists may also be user generated.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A media device comprising:
 a memory storing a database including a playlist having a plurality of metadata clips, wherein each of the plurality of metadata clips references a network location of a source media file, a referenced start position in the referenced source media, and a referenced end position in the referenced source media, wherein the plurality of metadata clips includes a first metadata clip and a second metadata clip, and wherein the first media clip references a first network location of a first media file, a first start position and a first end position, and the second media clip references a second network location of a second media file, a second start position and a second end position, and wherein the first network location is different from the second network location, and the first media file is different from the second media file; and   a processor configured to access the database to play the playlist using the plurality of metadata clips by:
 retrieving from the first metadata clip, the first network location of the first media file, the first start position and the first end position; 
 playing the first media file located at the first network location from the first start position to the first end position; 
 retrieving from the second metadata clip, the second network location of the second media file, the second start position and the second end position; and 
 playing the second media file located at the second network location from the second start position to the second end position. 
   
     
     
         22 . The media device of  claim 21 , wherein the database includes attributes for each of the plurality of metadata clips. 
     
     
         23 . The media device of  claim 21 , wherein the first network location is a first web address for a first media server, and the second network location is a second web address for a second media server. 
     
     
         24 . The media device of  claim 21 , wherein the first media file is a video clip and the second media file is an audio clip. 
     
     
         25 . The media device of  claim 21 , wherein the first media file is a first video clip and the second media file is second video clip. 
     
     
         26 . The media device of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of metadata clips includes a third metadata clip referencing a third media file, wherein the first media file is a first video clip, the second media file is second video clip and the third media file is an audio file. 
     
     
         27 . The media device of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is configured to retrieve and play the first media file, the second media file and the third media file contemporaneously. 
     
     
         28 . The media device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to retrieve and play the first media file and the second media file contemporaneously. 
     
     
         29 . A method for use by a media device having a processor and a memory, the method comprising:
 accessing a database in the memory, by the processor, for playing a playlist using a plurality of metadata clips of the playlist stored in the database, wherein each of the plurality of metadata clips references a network location of a source media file, a referenced start position in the referenced source media, and a referenced end position in the referenced source media, wherein the plurality of metadata clips includes a first metadata clip and a second metadata clip, and wherein the first media clip references a first network location of a first media file, a first start position and a first end position, and the second media clip references a second network location of a second media file, a second start position and a second end position, and wherein the first network location is different from the second network location, and the first media file is different from the second media file;   wherein the playing of the playlist includes:
 retrieving from the first metadata clip, the first network location of the first media file, the first start position and the first end position; 
 playing the first media file located at the first network location from the first start position to the first end position; 
 retrieving from the second metadata clip, the second network location of the second media file, the second start position and the second end position; and 
 playing the second media file located at the second network location from the second start position to the second end position. 
   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the database includes attributes for each of the plurality of metadata clips. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first network location is a first web address for a first media server, and the second network location is a second web address for a second media server. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first media file is a video clip and the second media file is an audio clip. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first media file is a first video clip and the second media file is second video clip. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of metadata clips includes a third metadata clip referencing a third media file, wherein the first media file is a first video clip, the second media file is second video clip and the third media file is an audio file. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the retrieving and playing the first media file, the second media file and the third media file occur contemporaneously. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the retrieving and playing the first media file and the second media file occur contemporaneously.