Patents

U.S. Patent 6,151,444 ("Duplicate")
Issued: Nov. 11, 2000
Title: Motion Picture Including Within A Duplication of Frames.

Abstract:
A video disc and a motion picture playing method comprising retrieving segment information of a motion picture, the motion picture including within a duplication of frames, at least one overlapping segment, and/or a segment that is congruent in at least one frame with at least one other segment, enabling a playing of a scene of the motion picture at a different level of explicitness; and playing, responsive to the segment information and from within the motion picture, a seamless version of the motion picture, the playing comprising selectively retrieving segments from within the motion picture, buffering at least a portion of a retrieved segment, and seamlessly skipping a retrieval of at least one segment, the skipped segment comprising frames that are duplicated, an overlapping segment, and/or one of the segments that are congruent in at least one frame. The additional segments enabling a playing of a scene of the motion picture at a different level of explicitness; and wherein the retrieved segments are automatically selected responsive to the segment information and a preference with respect to a level of explicitness such as a rating code.

Claims:

• 1. A video disc for use in conjunction with a player, said disc comprising:

  • a motion picture including within a duplication of a sequence of video frames;
  • a user interface, recorded on the disc and particular to the motion picture, for a user to establish a content preference after retrieval by the player of said interface; and
  • segment information recorded on the disc for playing, responsive to the content preference and utilizing a single playback head, a seamless version of, and from within the motion picture, the playing comprising buffering at least a portion of a retrieved video segment for seamlessly skipping over a retrieval of a sequence of video frames that are duplicated within the motion picture, whereby the playing of the seamless version of the motion picture does not require an alternative program source retrieved by a second playback head.

• 2. The video disc of claim 1 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of a plurality of video content categories.
  
  
• 3. The video disc of claim 1 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a rating system.
• 4. The video disc of claim 1 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference.
  
  
• 5. A video disc for use in conjunction with a player, said disc comprising:
  
  
  • a motion picture including within at least one parallel video segment, comprising a duplication of a sequence of video frames, for variably playing a scene of the motion picture;
  • a user interface, recorded on the disc particular to the motion picture, for a user to establish a content preference after retrieval by the player of said interface; and
  • segment information recorded on the disc for playing, responsive to the content preference and utilizing a single playback head, a seamless version of, and from within the motion picture, the playing comprising buffering at least a portion of a retrieved parallel video segment for seamlessly skipping over a retrieval of a sequence of video frames that are duplicated within the motion picture, whereby the playing of the seamless version of the motion picture does not require an alternative program source retrieved by a second playback head.

• 6. The video disc of claim 5 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of a plurality of video content categories.
  
  
• 7. The video disc of claim 5 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a rating system.
  
  
• 8. The video disc of claim 5 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference.
  
  
• 9. A method of playing a motion picture from a video disc for use in conjunction with a player, said method comprising the steps of:
  
  
  • retrieving a user interface, recorded on the disc and particular to a motion picture, for a user to establish a content preference after retrieval by the player of said interface, the motion picture including within a duplication of a sequence of video frames;
  • retrieving segment information that is recorded on the disc and responsive to the duplication of the sequence of video frames; and
  • playing by utilizing a single playback head, responsive to a user's content preference, and the segment information, a seamless version of, and from within the motion picture, the playing comprising buffering at least a portion of a retrieved video segment for seamlessly skipping over a retrieval of a sequence of video frames that are duplicated within the motion picture, whereby the playing of the seamless version of the motion picture does not require an alternative program source retrieved by a second playback head.

• 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of a plurality of video content categories.
  
  
• 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a rating system.
  
  
• 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a level of detail.
  
  
• 13. A method of playing a motion picture from a video disc for use in conjunction with a player including within at least one parallel video segment, comprising a duplication of a sequence of video frames, for variably playing a scene of the motion picture, the method comprising the steps of:
  
  
  • enabling a user of the motion picture to establish a content preference by utilizing a user interface, recorded on the disc and particular to the motion picture;
  • selecting, for the user, video segments recorded on the disc from within the motion picture by applying the content preference to segment information directly defining a plurality of segments within the motion picture; and
  • playing by utilizing a single playback head the selected video segments as a seamless version of, and from within the motion picture, the playing comprising buffering at least a portion of a retrieved parallel video segment for seamlessly skipping over a retrieval of a sequence of video frames that are duplicated within the motion picture, whereby the playing of the seamless version of the motion picture does not require an alternative program source or the user of the motion picture to create the segment information retrieved by a second playback head.

• 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of a plurality of video content categories.
  
  
• 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a rating system.
  
  
• 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference.
  
  
• 17. An apparatus capable of playing an optical disc storing (1) a motion picture including within a duplication of a sequence of video frames, (2) a user interface, recorded on the disc and particular to the motion picture, for a user to establish a content preference after a retrieval by the apparatus of said interface, and (3) segment information recorded on the disc and directly defining a plurality of segments within the motion picture, the apparatus comprising:
  
  
  • processing means for enabling the user of the motion picture to establish a content preference by utilizing the user interface, and for selecting, for the user, video segments from within the motion picture by applying the content preference to the segment information; and
  • random accessing and buffering means for playing by utilizing a single playback head the selected video segments as a seamless version of, and from within the motion picture, the playing comprising buffering at least a portion of a retrieved video segment for seamlessly skipping over a retrieval of a sequence of video frames that are duplicated within the motion picture, whereby the playing of the seamless version of the motion picture does not require an alternative program source retrieved by a second playback head or the user of the motion picture to create the segment information.

• 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of a plurality of video content categories.
  
  
• 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a rating system.
  
  
• 20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a level of detail.
  
  
• 21. An apparatus capable of playing an optical disc storing (1) a motion picture including within at least one parallel video segment, comprising a duplication of a sequence of video frames, for variably playing a scene of the motion picture (2) a user interface, recorded on the disc and particular to the motion picture, for a user to establish a content preference after a retrieval by the apparatus of said interface, and (3) segment information recorded on the disc and directly defining a plurality of segments within the motion picture, the apparatus comprising:
  
  
  • processing means for enabling the user of the motion picture to establish a content preference by utilizing the user interface, and for selecting, for the user, video segments from within the motion picture by applying the content preference to the segment information; and
  • random accessing and buffering means for playing by utilizing a single playback head the selected video segments as a seamless version of, and from within the motion picture, the playing comprising buffering at least a portion of a retrieved parallel video segment for seamlessly skipping over a retrieval of a sequence of video frames that are duplicated within the motion picture, whereby the playing of the seamless version of the motion picture does not require an alternative program source retrieved by a second playback head or the user of the motion picture to create the segment information.

• 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a level of explicitness in each of a plurality of video content categories.
  
  
• 23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference with respect to a rating system.
  
  
• 24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the duplication of a sequence of video frames enables a playing of a version of the motion picture that is responsive to a content preference.