IP Library Granted Patent US 6,859,799
Granted Patent B1
US 6,859,799 · App. 09/452,287 · Granted Feb 22, 2005

Search engine for video and graphics

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,859,799
App. No.
09/452,287
Granted
Feb 22, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user.

Claims (141)

1. A method of searching for graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer comprising:

automatically acquiring identifier information related to a graphic or video file without user input, wherein the identifier information is acquired by searching an area near the graphic or video file within a web page for searchable identification terms;

creating an identifier of searchable file information based on the identifier information;

storing the identifier and a locator for the graphic or video file in a database;

receiving search criteria;

searching the identifiers in the database based on the search criteria; and

sending or displaying the results of the search.

2. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein the identifier comprises information comprising at least one of: a unique identification number, format, size, play time, whether sound is contained, date of creation, category, whether conditional access or payment is required, text description, content author, content director, year made, category, actor/actress, owner, star rating, parental control code, representative frame, representative audio, number of segments, number of frames, and linking information of a file.

3. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein identifier information is embedded within the graphic or video file.

4. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein identifier information is embedded within the periphery of each frame of the video.

5. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 4 further comprising appending a border to the video file to cover the identifier information.

6. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 further comprising storing a portion of a video stream in the database for further identification.

7. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 further comprising aggregating identifier elements to display to a user.

8. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 further comprising enabling a user to select a specific video or a specific graphic file for one or more of the following: viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending.

9. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 8 wherein enabling a user to select a specific file is dependent on and integrated with a conditional access system or a payment system.

10. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 further comprising enabling a user to select a class of video or graphic files for one or more of the following: viewing, saving, recording, downloading, grouping, erasing, concatenating, segmenting, integrating or sending.

11. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 further comprising integrating items associated with a video or a graphic file into the video or graphic file identifier.

12. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein identifier information is acquired by searching an area near a link to the graphic or video file within a web page for searchable identification terms.

13. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein identifier information is acquired by parsing the text in an area within a web page near a link to the graphic or video file.

14. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein identifier information is acquired by searching the text for keywords in an area within a web page near a link to the graphic or video file.

15. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein identifier information is acquired by searching a file related to the graphic or video file.

16. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein identifier information is provided by the content provider.

17. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 1 wherein the database is stored on a storage device comprising one or more of a hard disk, an optical disk, and a floppy disk.

18. A method of searching for graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer comprising:

automatically acquiring identifier information related to a graphic or video file without user input;

creating an identifier of searchable file information from the identifier information;

storing the identifier and a locator for the graphic or video file in a database;

receiving search criteria;

searching the identifiers in the database based on the search criteria;

sending or displaying the results of the search; and

integrating video or graphic file information with television programs that are receivable by the user.

19. A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer comprising:

automatically acquiring identifier information related to a graphic or video file without user input, wherein the identifier information is acquired by searching an area near the graphic or video file within a web page for searchable identification terms;

building identifiers based on the identifier information;

storing the identifiers in a database;

receiving a user request for graphic or video file content;

searching the identifiers in the database based on the user request; and

providing the graphic or video file content to the user.

20. A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer comprising:

automatically acquiring identifier information related to a graphic or video file without user input, wherein the identifier information is acquired by searching an area near a link to the graphic or video file within a web page for searchable identification terms; building identifiers based on the identifier information;

storing the identifiers in a database;

receiving a user request for graphic or video file content;

searching the identifiers on the database based on the user request; and

providing the graphic or video file content to the user.

21. A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer comprising:

automatically acquiring identifier information embedded within graphic and video files without user input;

building a searchable database of identifiers from the identifier information;

receiving a user request for graphic or video file content;

searching the identifiers in the database based on the user request; and

providing graphic or video file content to the user.

22. The method of selecting graphic or video files using a computer of claim 21 wherein the user request further comprises filtering, selecting or blocking segments or frames of a video file.

23. A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer comprising:

automatically acquiring identifier information embedded within graphic and video files without user input;

building a searchable database of identifiers from the identifier information;

receiving a user request for graphic or video file content;

searching the identifiers in the database based on the user request; and

providing the graphic or video file content to the user,

wherein the user request further comprises smart filtering of both existing graphic and video files and future generated graphic and video files.

24. A system for searching for graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files comprising:

means for automatically acquiring identifier information related to a video or graphic file without user input, wherein the identifier information is embedded within the graphic or video file;

means for creating an identifier containing searchable file information from the identifier information;

a database for saving an identifier;

an input for receiving search criteria;

a search engine for searching the identifiers in the database based on the search criteria;

an output for sending or displaying the results of the search.

25. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 wherein the identifier comprises information comprising at least one of: a unique identification number, format, size, play time, whether sound is contained, date of creation, category, whether conditional access or payment is required, text description, content author, content director, year made, category, actor/actress, owner, star rating, parental control code, representative frame, representative audio, number of segments, number of frames, and linking information of a file.

26. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 wherein identifier information is embedded within the periphery of each frame of the video.

27. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 26 wherein a border is appended to the video file to cover the identifier information.

28. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising a database for storing a portion of a video stream in the storage device for further identification.

29. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising means for aggregating identifier elements to send or display to a user.

30. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising means enabling the user to select a specific video or a specific graphic file for one or more of the following: viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending.

31. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 30 wherein enabling a user to select a specific file is dependent on and integrated with a conditional access system or a payment system.

32. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising means for enabling a user to select a class of video or graphic files for one or more of the following: viewing, saving, recording, downloading, grouping, erasing, concatenating, segmenting, integrating or sending.

33. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising means for integrating items associated with the video or graphic file into the video or graphic file identifier.

34. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising means for acquiring identifier information by searching an area near a graphic or a video file within a web page for searchable identification terms.

35. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising a search engine for acquiring identifier information by searching an area near a link to the graphic or video file within a web page for searchable identification terms.

36. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising means for acquiring identifier information by parsing the text in an area within a web page near a link to the graphic or video file.

37. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising means for acquiring identifier information by searching the text for keywords in an area within a web page near a link to the graphic or video file.

38. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising a search engine for acquiring identifier information by searching a file related to the graphic or video file.

39. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 24 further comprising an input for receiving identifier information from the content provider.

40. The method of searching for graphic or video files using a computer of claim 24 further comprising a storage device wherein the database is stored comprising one or more of a hard disk, an optical disk, and a floppy disk.

41. A system for searching for graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files comprising:

means for automatically acquiring identifier information related to a video or graphic file without user input;

means for creating an identifier containing searchable file information from the identifier information;

a database for saving an identifier;

an input for receiving search criteria;

a search engine for searching the identifiers in the database based on the search criteria;

an output for sending or displaying the results of the search; and

means for integrating the video or graphic file information with television programs that are receivable by the user.

42. A system for searching for graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files comprising:

means for automatically acquiring identifier information related to a video or graphic file without user input, wherein the identifier information is acquired by searching an area near the graphic or video file within a web page for searchable identification terms;

means for creating an identifier containing searchable file information from the identifier information;

a database for saving an identifier;

an input for receiving search criteria;

a search engine for searching the identifiers in the database based on the search criteria; and

an output for sending or displaying the results of the search.

43. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 wherein the identifier comprises information comprising at least one of: a unique identification number, format, size, play time, whether sound is contained, date of creation, category, whether conditional access or payment is required, text description, content author, content director, year made, category, actor/actress, owner, star rating, parental control code, representative frame, representative audio, number of segments, number of frames, and linking information of a file.

44. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 wherein identifier information is embedded within the graphic or video file.

45. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 wherein identifier information is embedded within the periphery of each frame of the video.

46. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 wherein a border is appended to the video file to cover the identifier information.

47. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means for placing identifier information in a video or a graphic file as the video or graphic file is created.

48. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means for placing identifier information in a video or a graphic file after the video or graphic file is created.

49. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising a database for storing a portion of a video stream in the storage device for further identification.

50. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means for aggregating identifier elements to send or display to a user.

51. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means enabling the user to select a specific video or a specific graphic file for one or more of the following: viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending.

52. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 wherein enabling a user to select a specific file is dependent on and integrated with a conditional access system or a payment system.

53. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means for enabling a user to select a class of video or graphic files for one or more of the following: viewing, saving, recording, downloading, grouping, erasing, concatenating, segmenting, integrating or sending.

54. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means for integrating the video or graphic file information with television programs that are receivable by the user.

55. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means for integrating items associated with the video or graphic file into the video or graphic file identifier.

56. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising a search engine for acquiring identifier information by searching an area near a link to the graphic or video file within a web page for searchable identification terms.

57. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means for acquiring identifier information by parsing the text in an area within a web page near a link to the graphic or video file.

58. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising means for acquiring identifier information by searching the text for keywords in an area within a web page near a link to the graphic or video file.

59. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising a search engine for acquiring identifier information by searching a file related to the graphic or video file.

60. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising an input for receiving identifier information from the content provider.

61. The system of searching for graphic or video files of claim 42 further comprising a storage device wherein the database is stored comprising one or more of a hard disk, an optical disk, and a floppy disk.

62. A system for searching for graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files comprising:

means for automatically acquiring identifier information related to a graphic or video file without user input, wherein the identifier information is acquired by searching an area near a link to the graphic or video file within a web page for searchable identification terms;

means for creating an identifier containing searchable file information from the identifier information;

a database for saving an identifier;

an input for receiving search criteria;

a search engine for searching the identifiers in the database based on the search criteria; and

an output for sending or displaying the results of the search.

63. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 wherein the identifier comprises information comprising at least one of: a unique identification number, format, size, play time, whether sound is contained, date of creation, category, whether conditional access or payment is required, text description, content author, content director, year made, category, actor/actress, owner, star rating, parental control code, representative frame, representative audio, number of segments, number of frames, and linking information of a file.

64. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 wherein identifier information is embedded within the graphic or video file.

65. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 wherein identifier information is embedded within the periphery of each frame of the video.

66. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 wherein a border is appended to the video file to cover the identifier information.

67. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for placing identifier information in a video or a graphic file as the video or graphic file is created.

68. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for placing identifier information in a video or a graphic file after the video or graphic file is created.

69. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising a database for storing a portion of a video stream in the storage device for further identification.

70. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for aggregating identifier elements to send or display to a user.

71. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means enabling the user to select a specific video or a specific graphic file for one or more of the following: viewing, saving, erasing, recording, downloading, and sending.

72. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 wherein enabling a user to select a specific file is dependent on and integrated with a conditional access system or a payment system.

73. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for enabling a user to select a class of video or graphic files for one or more of the following: viewing, saving, recording, downloading, grouping, erasing, concatenating, segmenting, integrating or sending.

74. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for integrating the video or graphic file information with television programs that are receivable by the user.

75. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for integrating items associated with the video or graphic file into the video or graphic file identifier.

76. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for acquiring identifier information by searching an area near a graphic or a video file within a web page for searchable identification terms.

77. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for acquiring identifier information by parsing the text in an area within a web page near a link to the graphic or video file.

78. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising means for acquiring identifier information by searching the text for keywords in an area within a web page near a link to the graphic or video file.

79. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising a search engine for acquiring identifier information by searching a file related to the graphic or video file.

80. The system for searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising an input for receiving identifier information from the content provider.

81. The system of searching for graphic or video files of claim 62 further comprising a storage device wherein the database is stored comprising one or more of a hard disk, an optical disk, and a floppy disk.

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034501/0207 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033396/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC, A BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANY; ROVI CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027039/0168 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.); ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION); ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED); ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025222/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2008
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; INDEX SYSTEMS INC; MACROVISION CORPORATION; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 020986/0074 →