Patents

U.S. Patent 5,696,869 ("Server")
Issued: Dec. 9, 1997
Title: Variable-Content-Video Provider System.

Abstract:
A video delivery system and methodology for storing a plurality of videos and video segment maps, each of the video segment maps defining a plurality of video segments of a corresponding video, the plurality of video segments comprising non-sequential parallel, transitional, and overlapping video segments; receiving from a remote video retriever a request for a video, the request providing for a keyword; establishing video content preferences of the remote video retriever; selecting video segments responsive to an application of the video content preferences to a video segment map of the requested video; retrieving the selected video segments; and providing the retrieved video segments to the remote video retriever.

Claims:

• 1. A method of providing videos comprising the steps of:

  • storing a plurality of previously edited videos and content maps defining a plurality of video segments of a corresponding video;
  • receiving from a remote video retriever a request for a video;
  • retrieving video segments responsive to content preferences of a viewer and a content map of the requested video without requiring editing by said viewer; and
  • providing, said video retriever, the retrieved video segments as a continuous version of the requested video, said continuous version being different in length than the length of the requested video.

• 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said content maps define video segments responsive to a content-category relating to violence.
  
  
• 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.
  
  
• 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said content maps define video segments responsive to a content-category relating to violence, and wherein the requested video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.
  
  
• 5. A method of providing videos comprising the steps of:
  
  
  • storing a plurality of previously edited videos each having a content map defining a plurality of video segments;
  • receiving from a remote video retriever a request for a video; and
  • transmitting the requested video to said remote video retriever enabling said remote video retriever to play, responsive to content preferences of a viewer and the content map and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of the requested video that is different in length than the length of the requested video.

• 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the requested video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.
  
  
• 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the content map defines video segments responsive to a content-category relating to violence.
  
  
• 8. A video provider system comprising:
  
  
  • memory means for storing a plurality of previously edited videos each having a content map defining a plurality of video segments;
  • receiving means for receiving from a remote video retriever a request for a video;
  • retrieving means for retrieving video segments responsive to content preferences of a viewer and a content map of the requested video without requiring editing by said viewer; and
  • providing means for providing, said video retriever, the retrieved video segments as a continuous version of the requested video, said continuous version being different in length than the length of the requested video.

• 9. The video provider system of claim 8, wherein a content map defines segments responsive to a content-category relating to violence.
  
  
• 10. The video provider system of claim 8, wherein the requested video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.
  
  
• 11. The video provider system of claim 8, wherein a content map defines segments responsive to a content-category relating to violence, and wherein the requested video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.
  
  
• 12. A video provider system comprising:
  
  
  • memory means for storing a plurality of previously edited videos each having a content map defining a plurality of video segments;
  • receiving means for receiving from a remote video retriever a request for a video; and
  • providing means for providing the requested video to said remote video retriever enabling said remote video retriever to play, responsive to content preferences of a viewer and the content map and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of the requested video that is different in length than the length of the requested video.

• 13. The video provider system of claim 12, wherein the requested video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.
  
  
• 14. The video provider system of claim 12, wherein the content map defines video segments responsive to a content-category relating to violence.
  
  
• 15. A video provider system comprising:
  
  
  • memory means for storing a plurality of previously edited videos and content maps, each of said content maps defining a plurality of video segments of a corresponding video;
  • receiving means for receiving from a remote video retriever a request for a video; and
  • providing means for providing the requested video and a content map to said remote video retriever enabling said video retriever to play, responsive to content preferences of a viewer and the content map and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of the requested video that is different in length than the length of the requested video.
    
    
• 16. The video provider system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the videos includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.
  
  
• 17. The video provider system of claim 15, wherein the content map defines video segments responsive to a content-category relating to violence.