Methods and Systems for Providing and Playing Videos Having Multiple Tracks of Timed Text Over A Network

Abstract

The present invention relates to video provided over one or more networks. Methods and systems for providing, playing, and/or editing video having multiple tracks of timed text are provided in different embodiments of the present invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, from a video player, a first request for a video associated with multiple tracks of timed text;   in response to the first request, providing a track list associated with the video to the video player, the track list identifying the multiple tracks of timed text associated with the video;   receiving a second request identifying an initial track of timed text associated with the video, the initial track selected by the video player based on at least one preference value;   obtaining a time-coded text file including timed text for the initial track; and   sending the time-coded text file over the network to the video player for presenting the timed text of the initial track with the video.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a third request for a particular track from the track list, the particular track being different from the initial track and selected by a user of the video player;   retrieving timed text associated with the particular track; and   sending the timed text associated with the particular track over the network to the video player for display to the user with the video.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the particular track is in a language different from the initial track. 
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 receiving a first selection from a user, the first selection identifying a video on a video server to play, the video being associated with multiple tracks of timed text;   in response to receipt of the first selection, sending, to the video server, a first request for the video;   in response to the first request, receiving a track list associated with the video;   selecting an initial track of timed text associated with the video from the track list based on at least one preference value;   sending a second request for the initial track of timed text;   receiving a time-coded text file including timed text for the initial track; and   displaying the timed text for the initial track with the video.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving a second selection from the user, the second selection identifying a particular track from the track list, the particular track being different from the initial track;   sending a third request for the particular track; and   displaying timed text for the particular track with the video.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the particular track is in a language different from the initial track. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor, coupled to the memory, to:   receive, from a video player, a first request for a video associated with multiple tracks of timed text,   in response to the first request, provide a track list associated with the video to the video player, the track list identifying the multiple tracks of timed text associated with the video,   receive a second request identifying an initial track of timed text associated with the video, the initial track selected by the video player based on at least one preference value,   obtain a time-coded text file including timed text for the initial track; and   send the time-coded text file for the initial track over the network to the video player for presenting the timed text of the initial track with the video.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further to:
 receive a third request for a particular track from the track list, the particular track being different from the initial track and selected by a user of the video player,   retrieve timed text associated with the particular track, and   send the timed text associated with the particular track over the network to the video player for display to the user with the video.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the particular track is in a language different from the initial track. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a memory;   a processor, coupled to the memory; and   a video player, coupled to the memory and the processor, to:
 receive a first selection from a user, the first selection identifying a video on a video server to play, the video being associated with multiple tracks of timed text, 
 in response to receipt of the first selection, send, to the video server, a first request for the video, 
 in response to the first request, receive a track list associated with the video, 
 select an initial track of timed text associated with the video from the track list based on at least one preference value, 
 send a second request for the initial track of timed text, 
 receive a time-coded text file including timed text for the initial track, and display the timed text for the initial track with the video. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the video player is further to:
 receive a second selection from the user, the second selection identifying a particular track from the track list, the particular track being different from the initial track;   send a third request for the particular track; and   display timed text for the particular track with the video.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the particular track is in a language different from the initial track. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a browser coupled to the video player.