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.

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.

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.

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.

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.