Video thumbnail
View Patent ↗A video thumbnail for use as an icon of a digital video file and method of generating same. The video thumbnail is preferably a relatively short, low resolution, animated video thumbnail. The video thumbnail is extracted from a preferred sequence of the video file and embedded as a header of the file. The video thumbnail preferably plays automatically, and acts as a pointer to the file and the preferred point within it.
1. A video thumbnail comprising: a low resolution, animated series of digital video frames extracted from a segment of a digital video file that comprises an icon that is representative of the digital video file.
2. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 wherein the series of frames is sampled at a low rate to minimize storage requirements.
3. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 which plays automatically when the icon is selected.
4. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 which plays automatically when scrolling through images of a digital camera that recorded the digital video file.
5. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 which plays automatically when scrolling through images of a video camcorder that recorded the digital video file.
6. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 which plays automatically when scrolling through images of a digital image capture device that recorded the digital video file.
7. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 which plays automatically when the icon is highlighted.
8. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 which plays automatically when a mouse cursor is over the icon.
9. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 wherein the thumbnail replays continuously while the icon is selected.
10. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 wherein the series of digital video frames comprises a preferred segment of the digital video file.
11. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 wherein the series of digital video frames comprises a relatively short time-lapse video thumbnail corresponding to a fast forward view of the entire digital video file.
12. The video thumbnail recited in claim 10 wherein the preferred segment is identified by a user by sampling a few seconds of the digital video file on either side of a shutter press or other means of selection.
13. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 is embedded in a header of the digital video file.
14. The video thumbnail recited in claim 1 which comprises a pointer to the digital video file.
15. The video thumbnail recited in claim 14 wherein the pointer identifies a file on a remote computer or server.
16. The video thumbnail recited in claim 14 wherein the pointer is a URL or web address.
17. A method of generating a video thumbnail of a digital video file, comprising: extracting a low resolution, animated series of digital video frames from a segment of a digital video file to form an icon that is representative of the digital video file; and creating a video thumbnail comprising an animated series of the extracted digital video frames.
18. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the series of frames is sampled at a low rate to minimize storage requirements.
19. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the series of frames plays automatically when the icon is selected.
20. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the series of frames plays automatically when scrolling through images of a digital camera that recorded the digital video file.
21. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the series of frames plays automatically when scrolling through images of a video camcorder that recorded the digital video file.
22. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the series of frames plays automatically when scrolling through images of a digital image capture device that recorded the digital video file.
23. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the series of frames plays automatically when the icon is highlighted.
24. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the thumbnail replays continuously while the icon is selected.
25. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the thumbnail comprises a relatively short time-lapse video thumbnail of the entire digital video file compressed in time.
26. The method recited in claim 18 wherein the series of digital video frames comprises a preferred segment of the digital video file.
27. The method recited in claim 26 wherein the preferred segment is identified by a user by sampling a few seconds of the digital video file on either side of a selection event.
28. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the thumbnail is embedded in a header of the digital video file.
29. The method recited in claim 17 wherein the thumbnail comprises a pointer to the digital video file.
30. The method recited in claim 29 wherein the pointer identifies a file on a remote computer or server.
31. The method recited in claim 29 wherein the pointer is a URL or web address.