Method and apparatus for managing multimedia files

Abstract

A system for locating, segmenting, annotating and retrieving multimedia files, provides a database of metadata (68) relating to multimedia files (70), a database manager (64), and a database client (66) for accessing the data contained within the database. The database client (66), together with the metadata database (68) and database manager (64) provide a variety of different functionalities, namely a deep linking functionality, a segmentation functionality, a metadata annotation functionality, a retrieval functionality, and an access functionality. The user, through database client (68) annotates the multimedia file or segment of multimedia file with metadata which is saved in the database (68). When the user desires to locate a multimedia file, the metadata is searched or browsed to locate the database entry associated with the multimedia file in question. The system further provides the ability for the user to load, open and start the playing of a multimedia file from a point intermediate to its start and end point, and without the user having to experience the portion between the start point and the intermediate point, break down larger files into shorter segments or individual frames (or still images) or regions within frames (or still images) without creating additional copies of the selected segments of the multimedia files of interest, thereby avoiding copyright issues from arising.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for annotating and indexing electronic files with metadata, and navigating said metadata for retrieval and use by the user. More particularly the electronic files described in this embodiment of the invention are multimedia files, such as digital audio and video files, and the metadata applied to the files consists of both keywords and hierarchies of classification terms. Further, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for navigating large volumes of structured information including hierarchies of classification terms. The present invention also provides for a collaborative online environment where communities and groups can gather and exchange ideas through mash ups and the collaborative use of personal dictionaries.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]The desire for personal control, possession and ownership drove the evolution of computing from the handful of mainframe computers in larg...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]deep linking functionality where the user can load, open and start the playing of a multimedia file from a point intermediate to its start and end point, and without the user having to experience the portion between the start point and the intermediate point;

[0073]the database manager accepting the bidder or bidders that maximise the overall revenue raising capacity of the network;

Problems solved by technology

But the widespread availability and ownership of personal computers in developed countries did nothing to quell consumers' thirst for personal ‘computing’ devices per se.

One problem associated with accessing multimedia material on the internet is that more often than not, the segment of interest is often found within a larger multimedia file.

Another problem associated with accessing multimedia material on the internet is that metadata associated with the multimedia file, which could be useful to determine relevancy, is often ambiguous and of little real help in determining what the multimedia file contains.

Another problem with prior art annotation and retrieval systems is that they provide little scope for using natural language and / or classification terms unique to the user.

Ultimately there is little scope for personalisation of the process.

Further problems associated with prior art systems is that they are rigid with respect to users.

Further problems associated with prior art systems is that they lack the ability to treat segments of multimedia files as entries in their own right in a metadata database without first physically creating segments for re-entry into the database.

The creation of further copies of portions of multimedia files is therefore subject to copyright laws and the problems that are associated with them.

Further, some prior art systems lack the ability to associate database entries with logically segmented multimedia files.

Further problems with automated tools for extracting metadata from content (such as voice to text, voice recognition and pattern recognition tools) are that they are limited in that they cannot capture the range and depth of human interpretation.

Context is important because keyword searches and searches involving combinations of keywords return massive numbers of hits, making it extremely difficult for users to identify the relevant file / s, and even more difficult to identify the relevant segment or point within a file.

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