Technique for processing data in a network

Abstract

A technique for processing data in a network is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for processing data in a network having a plurality of network stations. The method comprises receiving a first representation of data at a first of the plurality of network stations, processing the first representation so as to generate a second representation of the data, and transmitting the second representation from the first network station to a second of the plurality of network stations for storage therein, wherein the second representation is stored at an address within the second network station. The method also comprises receiving the address at the first network station, and transmitting the address from the first network station to a third of the plurality of network stations for storage therein.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining a query for at least a portion of a media stream from a user, wherein
 the media stream is associated with one or more annotation sequences, and 
 each annotation sequence comprises a plurality of annotations each of which is associated with a probability denoting an accuracy of at least some of the plurality of the annotations; 
   identifying at least one annotation within the annotation sequences associated with the media stream, based at least in part on the query and the associated probability, wherein the at least one annotation corresponds to one or more portions of the media stream;   retrieving the one or more portions of the media stream; and   providing the one or more portions of the media stream to the user in response to the query.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media stream comprises at least one of a video and audio. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media stream comprises a plurality of video scenes, the at least one annotation corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scenes, and the at least one annotation comprises information about the at least one scene. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information about the at least one scene comprises words that occur in the scene. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information about the at least one scene comprises an indication of a person in the at least one scene. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more portions of the media stream comprise at least one of video, audio, and text. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more portions of the media stream comprise at least one of a plurality of video scenes within the media stream and the at least one annotation comprises information about the at least one video scene. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more portions of the media stream comprise at least one of an image and a video and the at least one annotation has a URL associated therewith that references the at least one of an image and a video. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each annotation sequence comprises a plurality of time marks corresponding to the annotations, and a plurality of arcs each of which defining a period between two adjacent time marks; and   the two adjacent time marks indicate a start time corresponding to a location in the media stream where the corresponding annotation begins and an end time corresponding to a location in the media stream where the corresponding annotation ends.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each annotation sequence represents a different type of annotation. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising at least one processing device having software associated therewith that when executed causes the at least one processing device to perform a method comprising:
 obtaining a query for at least a portion of a media stream from a user, wherein
 the media stream is associated with one or more annotation sequences, and 
 each annotation sequence comprises a plurality of annotations each of which is associated with a probability denoting an accuracy of at least some of the plurality of the annotations; 
   identifying at least one annotation within the annotation sequences associated with the media stream, based at least in part on the query and the associated probability, wherein the at least one annotation corresponds to one or more portions of the media stream;   retrieving the one or more portions of the media stream; and   providing the one or more portions of the media stream to the user in response to the query.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the media stream comprises at least one of a video and audio. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the media stream comprises a plurality of video scenes, the at least one annotation corresponds to at least one of the plurality of scenes, and the at least one annotation comprises information about the at least one scene. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the information about the at least one scene comprises words that occur in the scene. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the information about the at least one scene comprises an indication of a person in the at least one scene. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more portions of the media stream comprise at least one of video, audio, and text. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more portions of the media stream comprise at least one of a plurality of video scenes within the media stream and the at least one annotation comprises information about the at least one video scene. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more portions of the media stream comprise at least one of an image and a video and the at least one annotation has a URL associated therewith that references the at least one of an image and a video. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 each annotation sequence comprises a plurality of time marks corresponding to the annotations, and a plurality of arcs each of which defining a period between two adjacent time marks; and   the two adjacent time marks indicate a start time corresponding to a location in the media stream where the corresponding annotation begins and an end time corresponding to a location in the media stream where the corresponding annotation ends.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each annotation sequence represents a different type of annotation.