Video management systems

Abstract: A videostream broadcast or recording includes a relevance level indicator. When a user is unable to view a portion of a videostream, the user may record a highlight videostream. The highlight video is assembled by selecting portions of the videostream for recordation based on the relevance indicator transmitted in conjunction with the basic videostream. The user may hen replay highlights of the basic videostream at a later time, without the need for manual editing of the videostream, or for reviewing the entire video stream.

Description: The present invention relates to video management systems, and in particular, but not exclusively to a system and method for selective replay of a videostream. Videostreams are often viewed by a video system user in real time. That is, the user views the videostream as it is broadcast, or even as the event actually occurs. Typical videostreams include those broadcast over mass media television. These videostreams include sporting events (e.g. a baseball game), political debates (e.g. a Senate or committee hearing), news coverage (natural disasters, and broadcasts about other events of interest). Other video applications are beginning to emerge. As computers become more prolific and as data transmission systems become more sophisticated, it is expected that the line between conventional television and computers will become more blurred. For example, systems already exist for playing video on a computer screen, and transmitting videostreams over a computer network for video conferencing. Conversely, television systems already exist that can display video on demand, provide sophisticated schedule data sorting, and other traditionally computer-related functions. In any of these video applications, a user may not desire to view the videostream continuously. As a simple example, viewers of a video event such as a sporting event are often drawn away from the event to answer, for example, telephone calls or to cook dinner. Often a user wishes to be brought "up-to-date" on the events that take place in the user's absence without the need to review, for example, a video tape covering the entire user's absence. Video replay and editing systems are well known to those of skill in the art. It is well known that manual editing can be performed sometime after the event, and a manually edited tape replayed at a later time. Such systems have in fact become quite sophisticated. Typical examples are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,109,482 and 5,029,013. Such systems suffer from a variety of limitations, however. These limitations include the time delay required for the manual editing to take place. Further, such editing systems are often directed to masses of users, and may not be responsive to the desires of a particular user. Document EP 0 618 726 upon which the preamble of the independent claims is based discloses a method for receiving publicity inserts from a television program based on an identifying signal broadcasted according to the Video Programming System. From the above it is seen that an improved videostream management system is desirable. An improved videostream management system is provided by embodiments of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. According to a specific embodiment, a videostream broadcast or recording includes a relevance level indicator. Such level indicators often will take the form of an "excitement" level in the most immediate applications. When a user is unable to view a portion of a videostream the system may record a highlight video. The highlight video may be assembled by selecting portions of the videostream for recordation based on the relevance indicator transmitted in conjunction with the basic videostream. The user may then replay highlights of the basic videostream at a later time. Thus, one can create a highlight video without the need for manual editing of the videostream, or for reviewing the entire video stream. For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is an overall block diagram of a video system according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates selection of a portion of a videostream for recordation and playback; and Fig. 3 illustrates the playback process in greater detail. Embodiments of the present invention can provide improved videostream management systems, and are applicable to computer systems, television systems, or combinations of such systems. Suppose a user is watching a particular videostream such as a sporting event. In embodiments of the present invention, the user indicates to the system that he/she wishes to stop watching an ongoing event, but wishes to return to the event later to review highlights of the videostream which will be missed during the user's absence. The system records selected portions of the videostream during the user's absence based on a relevance level transmitted with the videostream. When the user returns, a portion of the videostream has been recorded, and may be reviewed at the user's leisure. The system desirably presents the user with a menu showing, among other things, the number of events that exceed a set relevance level, the number of minutes of video exceeding a set relevance level, and how many minutes the user desires to use to review the missed video. In the simplest embodiments, the system may simply play back all video above a threshold relevance level. In other embodiments the system may adjust the relevance level of the video to be played to "fit" it into a fixed playback time. Suppose, for example, that the user has missed x minutes of video. Suppose the user will use y minutes to review the missed video while the next portion of the videostream is received. The system will, in a preferred embodiment, select highlights of x+y minutes of video. That is, the system will continue recording while the highlights are displayed. This will allow the user to "catch up" on the missed portion of the video as well as highlights of the extra time used for review. In one embodiment, the system will assume that the y minutes of new video will, on the average, have the same relevance level as the x minutes of missed video. Therefore, the highlight video would initially be assumed to include x/(x+y) percent of the x minutes of missed video and y/(x+y) percent of the video transmitted during review of the highlights. In a preferred embodiment, the system will continuously adjust this ratio such that if, for example, little of relevance is happening during the y minutes of review, the system may display more of the x minutes of missed video. On the other hand, if the system becomes aware that a greater than expected amount of relevant material is being transmitted, the system may transmit less of the x minutes of video. The threshold relevance level for video to be displayed may also be adjusted to fit the highlights into the allotted time. The relevance level is preferably transmitted with the videostream, but may be broadcast over a separate medium. For example, in one embodiment the videostream is a conventional NTSC video stream, and the relevance level is broadcast in the vertical blanking interval. Such technology is available using, for example, the Intel "Intercast" standard. In other embodiments, the videostream is broadcast over a digital medium or over a computer network. In such embodiments the relevance level may be broadcast in control or overhead bits in the digital videostream, over a cellular network, paging network, FM broadcast, or the like. Also, the relevance level may be generated within a receiver automatically based on an evaluation of the programming content. Alternatively the PAL or SECAM video systems can be utilised. The relevance level may take any of a number of forms. In one example, the relevance level is added by the broadcaster. The added relevance level is added by the broadcast network manually. In some cases, such as in the case of a sporting event, the relevance level may be added automatically either at the transmitter or receiver end. In the case of a sporting event, the crowd noise level will often be one indication of the excitement level of the sporting event and will be used as a relevance level (adding, preferably a time before and/or after a set noise level for display in addition to the time for which a noise level is exceeded). Accordingly, the relevance level will automatically increase as the noise level of the crowd at the sporting event increases. A buffer period may be added both before and after any such increases in noise level to allow context to be added to a particular event of interest. In still other cases, the relevance level may take the form of a rating guide with, for example, material unsuitable for viewing by children carrying a low relevance level while suitable material carries a high relevance level. In this way, a recording system can automatically excise scenes including mature content. The service provided herein may be provided as an optional service to a subscriber of a particular video service. In the case of conventional television signals, the user may subscribe to the highlight service through a cable service provider. Subscription-based services for optional services are known in the art and include television guide services such as disclosed in Young et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,353,121. See also, U.S. Patent No. 5,335,277. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a videostream management system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. A videostream source 101 transmits a videostream 103 and a relevance level 105. The relevance level may be a measure of "excitement" in the videostream, the level of "interest" in, for example, an educational program, or any other measure of interest to a particular user or group of users. Multiple measures of relevance may be transmitted, in which case the user may select the desired measure of relevance, or level of relevance. In some cases, "default high" or "default low" measures may be applied by the broadcaster, such as in advertising such that a user is forced to view at least a portion of the advertising in a particular video broadcast. The transmission of the broadcast stream may be from a remote site, or from the user site. For example, the broadcast station may be a cable head end, a satellite broadcast site, a hotel videotape machine, or a video source on a computer network. The user site may be an individual viewer or a group of viewers. The user site receives the videostream and the relevance level at a system 107. A selection system 109 (using, for example, a microprocessor programmable logic device) determines if the user has set the system into a mode for recordation of highlights. If not, the videostream is passed directly to the display 111 which may be adapted, for example, to display an NTSC videostream. If the user has set the system into a mode for recordation of highlights, the videostream or parts of the videostream are passed to a recording device 113. Recording device 113 is, in some embodiments, a videotape recorder or optical disk system. In other embodiments, particularly those related to the distribution of a videostream in a computer network, the recording device is a computer hard disk or optical disk. Software for performing the operations herein is stored on memory 110 such as a ROM, RAM, EPROM, or magnetic or optical disk. The selection system may select all of the video for recordation, and select among the recorded elements for playback at a later time, or it may select only elements having an interest level above a determined level for recordation. In the latter case, further filtering of the recorded material may take place when the recorded material is played back. Fig. 2 illustrates the process of recording and playing back selected elements of a videostream according to relevance level in one embodiment of the invention. At step 201 the system determines if the user desires the record/playback features. For example, the user may plan to be absent. If the features are desired, the currently received portions of the videostream become eligible for recording if their relevance level is high enough- If not, the system waits until there is an indication that the features are desired. The system may obtain input that the record/playback features would be desired from a variety of sources such as from a computer mouse, keyboard, a remote control device, or by visually observing the user depart the viewing area through an attached video camera. At step 203 the system reads the relevance level of the videostream at a given time, and if the relevance level exceeds a preset value, records the videostream at step 205. In most embodiments the recording will take place for a fixed period of time (e.g. 1 minute) and the system will again determine if recording is still desired at step 201. When recording is no longer desired, for example, the user is no longer absent, and a check at step 207 determines that material has been recorded the system begins a playback process at step 209. After the playback is complete, the system again begins the process as previously discussed at step 201. Fig. 3 illustrates the playback process at step 207 in greater detail. At step 301 the system inputs the length of the recording process of step 205, e.g. the number of minutes of video that have been missed. At step 303 the system determines the number of minutes available for playback based on user input or a default value. At step 305 the system calculates the number of minutes available to playback the missed video according to the formula y*(x/(x+y)). At step 307 the system adjusts the relevance level of the material to be played back downwards if necessary so that the already recorded material will fit into the calculated number of minutes available. At step 309 the system begins playback, playing back only the material exceeding the relevance level set at step 307 such that the video will fit in the allotted percentage of the y minutes available. If the relevance level of the y minutes of video is the same as the x minutes of video, the highlights should fit directly into the y minutes available. However, at step 311 the system monitors the new material and, at step 313 the relevance level of material to be played back is adjusted if necessary. For example, if the relevance level goes up during playback, the system will gradually bring the necessary level for playback of material up such that less of the early material is played. In some embodiments a high threshold level is set above which the system will switch to "real time" if the current incoming video exceeds a selected value. In this way, events of very high interest are seen immediately despite the playback process. The above description is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this disclosure. Merely by way of example the invention is illustrated primarily with respect to television signals, but the invention is not so limited and may be applied to computer systems and others.

Claims: A method of recording and replaying to a user a programme videostream, comprising the steps of: receiving at a user site an incoming programme videostream comprising a plurality of portions; obtaining at the user site, relevance levels of the incoming programme videostream, each relevance level being indicative of user interest in a respective portion of said programme videostream; and recording at least some of the portions of said programme videostream and said relevance levels as a highlight videostream; characterized by the further steps of: identifying a time duration of said highlight videostream and a time period available for the user to review said highlight videostream; and selecting portions of said highlight videostream for playback, in dependence upon their relevance level, said time duration of said highlight videostream and said time period available for review. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of recording is performed while the user is not viewing said incoming programme videostream. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said relevance level is an excitement level of content of each portion of the programme videostream. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said selecting step employs a relationship of the form x/(x+y) where x is the time duration of said highlight videostream time, and y is the time period available for review. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising, in said selecting step, comparing the relevance level of each portion of said highlight videostream with a threshold relevance level. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said obtaining step comprises obtaining, as said relevance level, a crowd noise level of an event depicted in said programme videostream. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting for playback those portions of the highlight videostream for which the crowd noise level exceeds a specific value. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said specific value is preset. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said specific value is user defined. A method as claimed in claimed in any preceding claim wherein said incoming programme videostream depicts a sporting event. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said programme videostream is made up of frames separated by a vertical blanking interval, and wherein said relevance level is included within a plurality of vertical blanking intervals in the incoming programme videostream. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said incoming programme videostream is a broadcast videostream. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said incoming programme videostream is an NTSC videostream. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said step of selecting further comprises adjusting said threshold relevance level for playback in accordance with variations in the relevance level of the incoming programme videostream received during playback. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein portions of said incoming programme videostream having a relevance level above a high threshold level are displayed in real time during said playback. A system for recording and replaying to a user a programme videostream, comprising: a video display (111); a receiver (107) for receiving an incoming programme videostream comprising a plurality of portions; means (109) for obtaining, relevance levels of the incoming programme videostream, each relevance level being indicative of user interest in a respective portion of said programme videostream; and a recorder (113) for recording at least some of the portions of said programme videostream and said relevance levels as a highlight videostream; characterized in that : said means (109) for obtaining is a processor (109) for identifying a time duration of said highlight videostream and a time period available for the user to review said highlight videostream, and for selecting portions of said highlight videostream for playback, in dependence upon their relevance level, said time duration of said highlight videostream and said time period available for review. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of: receiving an incoming programme videostream comprising a plurality of portions; obtaining relevance levels of the incoming programme videostream, each relevance level being indicative of user interest in a respective portion of said programme videostream; and recording at least some of the portions of said programme videostream and said relevence levels as a highlight videostream; characterized by the further steps of: identifying a time duration of said highlight videostream and a time period available for a user to review said highlight videostream; and selecting portions of said highlight videostream for playback, in dependence upon their relevance level, said time duration of said highlight videostream and said time period available for review. A computer program product as claimed in claim 17, wherein the computer readable program code causes the computer to perform the method of any of claims 2 to 15.

Inventors: NIELSEN JAKOB, TOGNAZZINI BRUCE, NIELSEN, JAKOB, TOGNAZZINI, BRUCE
Applicants: SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC, SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G11B27
IPC codes: H04N5, G11B27, H04N7, G06F17