Abstract:
A method of processing dynamic pictures for searching purposes allows a user using a web server or PC to extract multiple still pictures from a dynamic picture. A user can input text information for at least one still picture. The text information can be used as search information so that a specific section of the dynamic picture can be found during a search for the dynamic picture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method of processing a dynamic picture for searching purposes. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Dynamic pictures, such as movies, short films, music videos, animated films, etc., are very popular in modern life. The high traffic volume on YouTube.com shows how much people enjoy dynamic pictures; however, the dynamic picture can only be searched for by its filename, or a special keyword added by a user. 
         [0005]    Dynamic pictures can contain various content and are not as easy to describe as still pictures; therefore, search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN can only do searches for picture (such as “picture” or “photo”) when provided a the keyword. 
         [0006]    In order to search for dynamic pictures, some keywords need to be added to the dynamic picture. However, this method is not very helpful. Taking the famous movie “Arctic Tale” (http: //www.arctictalemovie.com) as an example; some keywords can be added, such as polar bear, iceberg, seal, whale, white fox, Nanu (the name of the little polar bear), environmental protection, sad, pitiful, tear, global warming, etc.; wherein the keywords polar bear, iceberg, seal, whale, white fox, Nanu describe the objects that appear in the movie, and the keywords environmental protection, and global warming describe the subject of the movie. Furthermore, the most touching portion of this movie is the scene in which Nanu is standing all alone on a little iceberg (due to global warming) alone, despairing”. Therefore, some viewers may want to input the keywords sad, touching, pitiful, and tear to describe the special feeling. 
         [0007]    If the user wants to find the dynamic pictures for “white fox,” the user needs to type in the keywords “white fox” to find the movie “Arctic Tale.” The user needs to spend additional time to find scenes with a white fox in the movie “Arctic Tale.” Therefore, it is not convenient to apply that method in searching for dynamic pictures. 
         [0008]    In order to improve this problem, U.S. patent publication No. 20040047589, entitled “Method for creating caption-based search information of moving picture data, searching and repeating playback of moving picture data based on said search information, and reproduction apparatus using said method”, discloses a method for performing a caption-based search to find the corresponding images. For example, when the user is watching “Arctic Tale”, the user can type “white fox” to search for “white fox” dynamic pictures, because the “Arctic Tale” movie has the words “white fox” in its caption. 
         [0009]    However, the method disclosed in the patent publication requires caption data to be provided separate from the dynamic picture, such as a typical DVD format. But normal short videos that people usually upload to a web server (such as YouTube.com) do not have separate caption data. Therefore, this patent publication is not executable for internet video search. 
         [0010]    Patent publication No. 20040047589 can only search for the text contained in the caption; for example, it is difficult to find the scene in which Nanu is standing all alone on the iceberg because that part has no special captions. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, many contents of a dynamic picture cannot be described by captions. The emotional feeling evoked in the viewers is often very important, such as when Nanu is standing all alone on a little iceberg or Nanu is crawling out of the snow cave in the spring. In general, people may find one or three or five most memorable scenes or images in a dynamic picture; however, so far, there is no technology that can provide a fast search method for the users. 
         [0012]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system and method to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    A main objective of the present invention is to provide a method of processing a dynamic picture that enables searching. 
         [0014]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a friendly operating interface so that the user can process the dynamic pictures. Taking “Arctic Tale” as an example, the method of the present invention can help the user to find the picture of Nanu standing all alone on the iceberg. 
         [0015]    Another objective of the present invention is to establish a web server so that the user can use the web server to process the dynamic picture and searching for the dynamic picture, and so that each user can share the processed dynamic picture with other users. 
         [0016]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a method of processing a dynamic picture enabling a user to use a web server or computer to perform a process with a dynamic picture to allow searches for it, the method comprising:
       receiving an extraction command for the dynamic picture;   generating a plurality of still pictures according to the extraction command, wherein the plurality of still pictures are extracted from the dynamic picture;   receiving text information input by the user; wherein the text information corresponds to one of the plurality of still pictures; and   establishing a dynamic picture database, wherein the dynamic picture database corresponds to the dynamic picture, the dynamic picture database comprising records for:
           the plurality of still pictures;   time stamps of each still picture appearing in the dynamic picture; and   the text information;   
           whereby the user is able to input a keyword for a matching still picture by comparing the keyword with the still pictures stored in the dynamic picture database.       
 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, in order to provide greater convenience for the user, an operating interface is provided, and the operating interface comprises a dynamic picture playing region, a still picture displaying region, and a text information input region. 
         [0026]    Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of processing a dynamic picture according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is an embodiment of an operation interface according to the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is an embodiment of the operation interface showing a plurality of still pictures extracted according to the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is an embodiment of the operation interface showing text information input according to the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is an embodiment of the operation interface showing a screen displaying the plurality of still pictures according to the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is an embodiment of a dynamic pictures database according to the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a search for a dynamic picture according to the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of a search interface according to the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 10  shows the search interface embodiment displaying the matched dynamic pictures according to the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 11  shows the operating interface after the search is performed and the keywords are displayed according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0038]    Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing of the present invention. A web server  10  is used for enabling a plurality of users to connect to a network  90  via a personal computer (PC)  91  to perform processing of and searching for dynamic pictures. The web server  10  comprises a processor  11  and a memory  12  which stores a software program  13 . The processor  11  executes the software program  13  to process and search for the dynamic picture. Alternatively, the software program  13  can also be installed in the memory  12   a  of the PC  91   a , and the processor  11   a  executes the software program  13  to enable the user to use the PC  91   a  to process and search for the dynamic picture. 
         [0039]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart of processing a dynamic picture according to the present invention. Please also refer to  FIGS. 3-7 . 
       Step  201 : 
       [0040]    Receiving an upload of a dynamic picture  20  to store the dynamic picture  20  in the memory  12 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the operating interface  60  first displays the left half. The operating interface  60  comprises a dynamic picture playing region  62  and a play control button  621 , an extracting command input region  622 , and a dynamic picture upload operation region  623 . 
         [0042]    The user uses the dynamic picture upload operation region  623  to upload the dynamic picture  20  stored in the PC  91  onto the web server  10  (usually with a file path and a filename). The web server  10  receives the dynamic picture  20 , stores the dynamic picture  20  in the memory  12 , and displays it in the dynamic picture playing region  62 . The dynamic picture playing region  62  includes the play control button  621  in its lower section, and the user uses the play control button  621  to control the playback of the dynamic picture  20 . 
       Step  202 : 
       [0043]    Receiving an extraction command for the dynamic picture. 
         [0044]    The dynamic picture playing region  62  includes the extracting command input region  622  in its lower section, and the extracting command input region  622  is used for enabling the user to select the method for extracting still pictures from the dynamic picture  20 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 3˜5 , there are three different extraction methods. The first method  622   a  is to perform the extraction with a predetermined time interval; for example, for a 10-minute video, if the predetermined time interval is 30 seconds for extracting each still picture, 20still pictures will be extracted. The second method  622   b  is to extract the pictures according to a number of images set by the user; for example, the software program  13  automatically calculates the time intervals for extraction or performs random extractions. The third method is to extract images at times chosen by the user with a capturing function  622   c ; when the dynamic picture  20  is playing, the user can click the capturing function  622   c  anytime. Since the extraction methods are well known technologies, there will be no further description. 
       Step  203 : 
       [0046]    Generating a plurality of still pictures  30  according to the extraction command, wherein the plurality of still pictures  30  are extracted from the dynamic picture  20 . 
         [0047]    Please refer to  FIG. 4 . If step  202  is the performance of the extraction every 30 seconds, then every 30 seconds, a still picture  30  is generated in a still picture displaying region  63  at the right side of the operating interface  60 . The still picture displaying region  63  comprises a plurality of first rectangular regions  631 ; each first rectangular region  631  is used for displaying one corresponding still picture  30 , and the plurality of still pictures  30  is arranged in chronological order. 
         [0048]    Furthermore, the operating interface  60  has a text information displaying region  64  in the right section. The text information displaying region  64  comprises a plurality of second rectangular regions  641 ; each second rectangular region  641  is arranged in pair with each corresponding first rectangular region  631 . In addition, the rectangular regions  631 , 641  can be defined with or without a frame. 
       Step  204 : 
       [0049]    Receiving text information  40  input by the user, wherein the text information  40  corresponds to one of the plurality of still pictures  30 . 
         [0050]    When the user sees the plurality of still pictures  30 , he or she can input text information  40  (such as comments, keywords, or thoughts) in the second rectangular region  641  for the corresponding still pictures  30 ; for example, in  FIG. 5 , two corresponding second rectangular regions  641  for two still pictures  30  are inputted with texts “Bird Flying” and “River”. 
         [0051]    If the user wants to see only still picture  30 , he or she can click on the “Review All” button  632 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and more still pictures  30  can be viewed. If the user wants to return to the previous picture, he or she can click the “Back” button  633 . 
       Step  205 : 
       [0052]    Establishing and storing a dynamic picture database  70  in the memory  12 , wherein the dynamic picture database  70  corresponds to the dynamic picture  20 . 
         [0053]    Each processed dynamic picture  20  (after still pictures are extracted or the text information  40  is input) establishes a dynamic picture database  70 . Please refer to  FIG. 7 . The dynamic picture database  70  comprises a still picture column  71 , a playing time stamp column  72 , and a text information column  73 . The still picture column  71  records the filename or index for each still picture. The playing time stamp column  72  records the time stamp at which the still picture  30  appears in the dynamic picture  20 , and the text information column  73  records the text information  40  inputted for each still picture  30  in step  204 . 
         [0054]    The appearance times of each still picture  30  in the dynamic picture  20  are generated in step  203 . The operating interface  60  can be designed to enable the user to select one of the still pictures  30 , and the dynamic picture  20  is played from the time the still picture  30  appears such that each still picture  30  can be used as a bookmark. Moreover, the plurality of still pictures  30  can be used as bookmarks, which is one of the effects of the present invention. 
         [0055]    The plurality of users can establish a large number of dynamic pictures  20  and the dynamic picture database  70  corresponding to each dynamic picture  20  via the web server  10 . Since the dynamic picture database  70  records the text information  40  inputted by the user, the search process can be performed to locate the dynamic picture  20 . Please refer to  FIGS. 8˜10  for the search process. 
       Step  801 : 
       [0056]    Receiving a keyword inputted by the user on the search interface  80 , such as a keyword “Bird”. 
         [0057]    The search interface  80 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , is a typical search interface having a text entry field  81 . In  FIG. 9 , different databases such as typical “web pages”, “news”, “pictures” and “knowledge”, are provided above the text entry field  81 ; the search for dynamic pictures can be added onto the search interface, and a “video” option can be added above the text entry field  81 . 
       Step  802 : 
       [0058]    Searching the dynamic picture database  70 ; for example, searching for the keyword “Bird” in the dynamic picture database  70 . 
       Step  803 : 
       [0059]    A search result interface  85  displays the result. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the text information in three dynamic picture databases  70  corresponding to the dynamic picture contains the keyword “Bird”. 
         [0060]    For example, the user selects the dynamic picture  20   a  and enters the operating interface  60 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , and the keyword “Bird” can be highlighted (such as with different colors, or in a bold or italic font) to attract attention. 
         [0061]    Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.