Patent ID: 7392467

Claim:
A method implemented by an apparatus for processing multimedia contents, the method comprising: receiving an audio-visual content stream; receiving digest segment group information having a multilevel hierarchical structure and describing alternative digest segment groups from the audio-visual content stream, each of the alternative digest segment groups including two or more digest segments for a single stream of highlights concatenating non-contiguous portions from the audio-visual content stream, wherein the digest group information is separate from the audio-visual content stream and specifies (i) a level information indicating a top level in the multilevel hierarchical structure, and (ii) a respective highlight duration information for each of the alternative digest segment groups based on a sum of durations of the digest segments in that digest segment group; storing the digest segment group information in the apparatus; receiving user input indicating a desired digest of the audio-visual content stream to highlight a common object or event depicted in the audio-visual content stream, wherein the desired digest has a desired duration; and based on the desired duration and the common object or event indicated in the user input and based on the digest segment group information, generating a digest stream by concatenating non-contiguous and time ordered portions from the audio-visual content stream, wherein the digest stream highlights the common object or event in accordance with at least a portion of the digest segment group information.