Seamless transmission of non-sequential video segments
DC CAFC
First Claim
1. A system for playing a selected one of at least two versions of, and from within, the same video program stored in a laser readable disc comprising at least one spiral track, the video program including within at least three segments containing respectively (1) content unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) content unique to another of said at least two versions, and (3) content common to said at least two versions, comprising processing means for selecting, responsive to which of said versions is to be played, and by means of information defining and linking segments, only the segments containing content unique to the version being played and segments containing content common to at least the version being played, and random access and buffering means for playing the selected segments as a seamless version of, and from within, the video program, and for seamlessly skipping segments, within the video program, containing content not included in the version being played.
1 Assignment
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for, and a method of, playing a selected one of at least two versions of, and from within, the same variable content video program stored in a laser readable disc comprising at least one spiral track, the video program including within at least three segments containing respectively (1) content unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) content unique to another of said at least two versions, and (3) content common to said at least two versions, comprising the means for, or the steps of, selecting, responsive to, for example, a motion picture rating, which of said versions is to be played, and by means of information combining (e.g. defining and linking) segments, only the segments containing content unique to the version being played and segments containing content common to at least the version being played; and, by a random accessing and buffering, playing the selected segments as a seamless version of, and from within, the video program, and seamlessly skipping segments, within the video program containing content not included in the version being played; wherein a segment (e.g. a parallel, transitional, or overlapping segment) containing content unique to the one of the at least two versions provides, for example, for a scene at a different level of detail and/or explicitness than that provided by a segment containing content unique to the another of the at least two versions; and wherein, the playing is responsive to a user control interface supporting a voice recognition unit.
170 Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A system for playing a selected one of at least two versions of, and from within, the same video program stored in a laser readable disc comprising at least one spiral track, the video program including within at least three segments containing respectively (1) content unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) content unique to another of said at least two versions, and (3) content common to said at least two versions, comprising processing means for selecting, responsive to which of said versions is to be played, and by means of information defining and linking segments, only the segments containing content unique to the version being played and segments containing content common to at least the version being played, and random access and buffering means for playing the selected segments as a seamless version of, and from within, the video program, and for seamlessly skipping segments, within the video program, containing content not included in the version being played.
- 7. A method of playing a selected one of at least two versions of, and from within, the same video program stored in a laser readable disc comprising at least one spiral track, the video program including within at least three segments containing respectively (1) content unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) content unique to another of said at least two versions, and (3) content common to said at least two versions, comprising the steps of selecting, responsive to which of said versions of the video program is to be played, and by means of information defining and linking segments, only the segments containing content unique to the version being played and segments containing content common to at least the version being played, and, by utilizing random access and buffering means, playing the selected segments as a seamless version of, and from within, the video program, and seamlessly skipping segments, within the video program, containing content not included in the version being played.
- 13. A system for playing a selected one of at least two versions of, and from within, the same video program stored in a laser readable disc comprising at least one spiral track, the video program including within at least three segments containing respectively (1) content unique to one of said at least two versions, (2) content unique to another of said at least two versions, and (3) content common to said at least two versions, comprising processing means for selecting, responsive to which of said versions is to be played, and by means of segment information, only the segments containing content unique to the version being played and segments containing content common to at least the version being played, and random access and buffering means for playing the selected segments as a seamless version of, and from within, the video program, and for seamlessly skipping segments, within the video program, containing content not included in the version being played.
-
21. An apparatus capable of playing a laser readable disc having recorded thereon a video program including a plurality of video program segments, each having an address, at least one of said video program segments comprising part of and being unique to one version of said video program, at least another one of said video program segments comprising part of and being unique to another version of said video program, and at least another one of said video program segments comprising part of both of the versions of the video program, said laser readable disc further having thereon the addresses of the video program segments to be played for each of the versions of said video program, said apparatus comprising:
-
a laser reading unit for retrieving video program segments and video program segment addresses from said laser readable disc; a memory for storing video program segment addresses retrieved by said laser reading unit; a controller for allowing a selection of one of the versions of said video program, for causing video program segment addresses to be retrieved by said laser reading unit from said laser readable disc and stored in said memory, and for causing said laser reading unit to retrieve video program segments from said laser readable disc responsive to said video program segment addresses stored in said memory; and a buffer for buffering at least a portion of a retrieved video program segment to seamlessly play, from the video program, the selected version of said video program, notwithstanding at least a portion of at least one non-selected video program segment being skipped over by said laser reading unit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneeNissim Corp.
-
Original AssigneeNissim Corp.
-
InventorsAbecassis, Max
-
Primary Examiner(s)Chevalier, Robert
-
Application NumberUS08/982,801Time in Patent Office547 DaysField of Search386/46, 386/125, 386/83, 386/92, 386/126, 386/52, 386/105, 386/106, 348/5, 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 360/32US Class Current386/261CPC Class CodesA63F 13/10 Control of the course of th...A63F 13/12 involving interaction betwe...A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangement...A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of...A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authori...A63F 13/95 Storage media specially ada...A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via televisio...A63F 2300/63 for controlling the executi...A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing...A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy gamesG06F 16/735 Filtering based on addition...G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by ...G11B 19/02 Control of operating functi...G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriersG11B 2220/2587 Laser Discs; Optical disc u...G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27...G11B 27/105 of operating discsG11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements in...G11B 7/14 specially adapted to record...H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects...View All
