Patents

U.S. Patent 5,717,814 ("Set-Top")
Issued: Feb. 10, 1998
Title: Variable-Content Video Retriever.

Abstract:
A video retrieving method/system that permits a viewer to establish video content preferences, request a video from a remote video provider, and receive a version of the requested video that is responsive to an application of the content preferences to a content map that provides for a variable arrangement of a plurality of video segments of the requested video. Alternatively, the viewer receives the requested video and a content map of the requested video, enabling the viewer to produce a version of the received video responsive to an application of the content preferences to the content map.

Claims:

1. A method of retrieving a video comprising the steps of:

• establishing a viewer's content preferences;


• receiving, from a remote video provider, a previously edited video and information defining a plurality of video segments of said video; and


• playing, responsive to said content preferences and said information and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of said video that is different in length than the length of said video.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said previously edited video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.

3. A method of retrieving a video comprising the steps of:

• establishing a viewer's content preferences;


• receiving a previously edited video from a remote video provider;


• retrieving information defining a plurality of video segments of said video; and


• playing, responsive to said content preferences and said information and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of said video that is different in length than the length of said video.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said previously edited video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.

5. A method of retrieving a video comprising the steps of:

• establishing a viewer's content preferences;


• requesting a previously edited video from a remote video provider, said video having information defining a plurality of video segments;


• providing said remote video provider said content preferences; and


• receiving, responsive to said content preferences and said information and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of said video that is different in length than the length of said video.

7. A method of retrieving a video comprising the steps of:

• communicating a viewer's content preferences to a remote video provider;


• requesting a previously edited video from said remote video provider, said video having information defining a plurality of video segments; and


• receiving, responsive to said content preferences and said information and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of said video that is different in length than the length of said video.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said previously edited video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.

9. A video retriever system comprising:

• establishing means for a viewer to establish content preferences;


• receiving means for receiving, from a remote video provider, a previously edited video and information defining a plurality of video segments of said video; and


• playing means for playing, responsive to said content preferences and said information and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of said video that is different in length than the length of said video.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said previously edited video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.

11. A video retriever system comprising:

• establishing means for a viewer to establish content preferences;


• receiving means for receiving a previously edited video from a remote video provider;


• retrieving means for retrieving information defining a plurality of video segments of said video; and


• playing means for playing, responsive to said content preferences and said information and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of said video that is different in length than the length of said video.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said previously edited video includes within at least one non-sequential video segment.

13. A video retriever system comprising:

• communicating means for communicating a viewer's content preferences to a remote video provider;


• requesting means for requesting a previously edited video from said remote video provider, said video having information defining a plurality of video segments; and


• receiving means for receiving, responsive to said content preferences and said information and without requiring editing by said viewer, a continuous version of said video that is different in length than the length of said video.