Apparatus and Method for Multi-User Construction of Tagged Video Data
A video content source includes a processor and a download module executed by the processor to download or stream selected videos from a video library. A tag collection module executed by the processor receives tag data from users viewing the selected videos from different set-top boxes. The tag data provides content descriptors from the users for the selected videos. A tag search module executed by the processor searches the tag data from the users in response to a search command from a user.
1 . A set-top box, comprising:
a receiver to receive video content;
an audio/video processor to process the video content; and
a processor executing tag collection instructions that prompt a user to enter tag data characterizing the video content.
2 . The set-top box of claim 1 wherein the processor invokes the tag collection instructions in response to a tag collection signal received from a remote control associated with the set-top box.
3 . The set-top box of claim 2 wherein the tag collection instructions include instructions to supply a tag template.
4 . The set-top box of claim 3 wherein the tag template includes a text box for entering a custom description of the video content.
5 . The set-top box of claim 3 wherein the tag template includes a list of selectable tags for the video content.
6 . The set-top box of claim 1 wherein the tag collection instructions include instructions to convey the tag data to a video content source.
7 . The set-top box of claim 1 further comprising tag search instructions executed by the processor.
8 . The set-top box of claim 7 wherein the processor invokes the tag search instructions in response to a tag search signal received from a remote control associated with the set-top box.
9 . The set-top box of claim 8 wherein the tag search instructions include instructions to supply a tag search template.
10 . The set-top box of claim 8 wherein the tag search instructions include instructions to search tag data from a plurality of users.
11 . The set-top box of claim 10 wherein the tag search instructions are applied to a video content source that searches the tag data from the plurality of users.
12 . The set-top box of claim 11 wherein the tag search instructions include instructions to supply search results.
13 . The set-top box of claim 12 wherein the tag search instructions include instructions to retrieve and display a requested video.
14 . A video content source, comprising:
a processor; and
a download module executed by the processor to download or stream selected videos from a video library;
a tag collection module executed by the processor to receive tag data from a plurality of users viewing the selected videos from a plurality of set-top boxes, wherein the tag data provides content descriptors from the plurality of users for the selected videos;
a tag search module executed by the processor to search the tag data from the plurality of users in response to a search command from one user of the plurality of users.
15 . The video content source of claim 14 wherein the tag collection module collects the tag data in a first format and re-indexes the tag data in a second format optimized for search.
16 . The video content source of claim 14 wherein the tag search module supplies search results to a set-top box of the one user.
17 . The video content source of claim 16 wherein the tag search module supplies a requested video.
18 . The video content source of claim 16 wherein the tag search module supplies a specified frame of a requested video, wherein the specified frame is associated with the tag data.
19 . The video content source of claim 16 wherein the tag search module supplies a time coded segment of requested video, wherein the time coded segment of requested video is associated with the tag data.