WO2015186121A1

WO2015186121A1 - A system for displaying imagized video clips in a web-page

Info

Publication number: WO2015186121A1
Application number: PCT/IL2014/051053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tal MELENBOIM
Original assignee: Ani-View Ltd.
Priority date: 2014-06-01
Filing date: 2014-12-04
Publication date: 2015-12-10

Abstract

A system identifies areas within a web-page over which video content items can be displayed. The system then provides imagized video clips for display in the identified areas as video clips. An imagized video clip is a sequence of images, each image provided as a standalone image. According to one embodiment, the system is configured to generate a borderless imagized video clip. The borders of the imagized video clip are determined based on shapes of areas in the web-page designated for the display of the imagized video clips. According to another embodiment, the system identifies video players stored within web-pages. Upon receiving a request to display video content in one of the video players the system can generate an overlay over the player and display the imagized video clip thereon.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING IMAGIZED VIDEO CLIPS IN A WEB-PAGE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.

62/006,179 filed on June 1, 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference for all that it contain.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[002] The invention generally relates to systems for displaying video content, and more specifically to system and methods for displaying changeable images in web-pages.

BACKGROUND

[003] The Internet, also referred to as the worldwide web (WWW), has become a mass media where the content presentation is largely supported by paid advertisements that are added to the web-page content. Typically, advertisements displayed in a web-page contain video elements that are intended for display on the user' s display device.

[004] Mobile devices such as smartphones are equipped with mobile browsers through which users access the web. Such mobile browsers typically cannot display auto- played video clips on mobile web pages. Furthermore, there are multiple video formats supported by different phone manufactures which makes it difficult for the advertisers to know which phone the user has, and what video format to broadcast it with.

[005] It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that would overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a unitary video clip format that can be displayed on mobile browsers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[006] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [007] Figure 1 - is a system for displaying imagized video clips in web-pages respective of video content according to an embodiment;

[008] Figure 2 - is a flowchart of the operation of a system for identifying portions of a web-page over which imagized video clips can be displayed according to an embodiment.

[009] Figure 3 - is a flowchart of the operation of a system for displaying imagized video clips in web-pages respective of video content according to an embodiment; and,

[0010] Figure 4 - is a schematic communication diagram describing a method for displaying imagized video clips in web-pages respective of video content according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] It is important to note that the embodiments disclosed herein are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.

[0012] The embodiments disclosed by the invention are only examples of the many possible advantageous uses and implementations of the innovative teachings presented herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.

[0013] A system identifies areas within a web-page over which video content items can be displayed. The system then provides imagized video clips for display in the identified areas as video clips. An imagized video clip is a sequence of images, each image provided as a standalone image. According to one embodiment, the system is configured to generate a borderless imagized video clip. The borders of the imagized video clip are determined based on shapes of areas in the web-page designated for the display of the imagized video clips. According to another embodiment, the system identifies video players stored within web-pages. Upon receiving a request to display video content in one of the video players the system can generate an overlay over the player and display the imagized video clip thereon.

[0014] Fig. 1 depicts an exemplary and non-limiting diagram of a system 100 for displaying imagized video clips in a web-page according to an embodiment. The system 100 comprises a network 110 the enables communications between various portions of the system 100. The network may comprise the likes of busses, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), metro area network (MAN), the worldwide web (WWW), the Internet, as well as a variety of other communication networks, whether wired or wireless, and in any combination, that enable the transfer of data between the different elements of the system 100. The system 100 further comprises a publisher server 120 connected to the network 110. The publisher server 120 is configured to operate one or more web-pages 130-1 through 130-M (collectively referred hereinafter as web-pages 130 or individually as a web-page 130, merely for simplicity purposes), where M is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

[0015] A server 140 is further connected to the network 110. The server 140 is configured to receive from the publisher server 120 a request to display at least one video content item in a web-page, for example, the web-page 130-1, from the publisher server 120. According to one embodiment the request may include a request for a certain video content item or a certain stream of images. The request is received over the network 110. In response to the request, the server 140 analyzes the web- page 130-1. According to one embodiment, the analysis may include identification of the content elements displayed in the web-page such as, banner advertisements, text, links to content, etc. Respective of the analysis, the server 140 identifies one or more portions within the web-page 130-1 in which images, that preferably are changeable, can be displayed. Portions of the web-page 130- 1 in which changeable images can be displayed are such areas where only images can be displayed, but not a video clip, and that the images can be periodically changed.

[0016] The system 100 further comprises one or more data sources 150-1 through 150-N (collectively referred hereinafter as data sources 150 or individually as a data source 150, merely for simplicity purposes), where N is an integer equal to or greater than 1. The data sources 150 are accessible through the network 110 and configured to store video content.

[0017] Respective of the request for the at least one video content, the server 140 is configured to fetch the at least one video content item from a data source, for example the data source 150-1. The request may include additional metadata that assists in the identification of the at least one video content and thereby assists in the fetching of the at least one video content from the data source 150-1. According to one embodiment, the fetching may be subject to the type of areas over which changeable images can be displayed.

[0018] The server 140 is then configured to generate a plurality of images respective of the at least one video content. According to another embodiment, the server 140 is further configured to cluster the images to one or more streams of images for further processing by the server 140. Once the images are shown in sequence, one image at a time, each image being a standalone image, the sequence of presentation, though an image at a time, displayed in the manner the web page displays images, it appears to a viewed as a video clip.

[0019] According to yet another embodiment, the borders of the video are determined based on the shapes of areas in the web-page 130-1 designated for the display the video content. This allows the display of odd shaped streams of images, for example, rectangles, circles, ellipses, and other regular and irregular shapes.

[0020] As a non-limiting example, upon determination by the server 140 that there is a circled area within the web-page 130-1 over which the video content can be displayed, the stream of images will therefore be sent as a circled stream of images.

[0021] The server 140 is then configured to generate a timing sequence for displaying the plurality of images or streams of images as an imagized video clip in the web-page 130-1. The timing sequence enables the display of the imagized video clip as a video content, displaying each image at its proper time slot. According to one embodiment, the timing sequence is generated respective of the content items displayed in the web- page 130-1.

[0022] The server 140 then sends the imagized video clip and the timing sequence to the publisher server 120 for display in the web-page 130-1. According to one embodiment, the type of the file of the imagized video clip may be modified by the server 140 respective of the type of content items displayed in the web-page 140-1. Such modification enables changing the priority of the display of the imagized video clip respective of other content items displayed within the web-page 140-1 while the web-page 140-1 is uploaded.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the server 140 is further able to identify through the analysis video players that are capable of displaying video content within the web-page 130-1, as portions of the web-page 130-1 in which changeable images can be displayed. As certain user devices such as, for example, smart phones, cannot display certain video content thereon, the generation of the imagized video clip and display of the imagized video clip as an overlay over the video player enable such user devices to display of such video content thereon.

[0024] Optionally, the system 100 further comprises a database 160. The database 160 is a storage that is configured to store data related to requests received from the publisher server 120, imagized video clips and the video content from which the imagized video clip were generated, etc. and, as may be necessary, maintaining relationships there between.

[0025] One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that any one of the servers mentioned herein, for example each of the publisher server 120 and the server 140, comprises at least a processing unit (not shown) and a memory (not shown) connected thereto. The memory typically stores therein instructions that when executed by the at least a processing unit causes the performance of any one of the servers in the manner described herein, as the execution of such instructions configure each server for such operation.

[0026] Fig. 2 is an exemplary and non-limiting flowchart 200 of the operation of a system for identifying portions within a web-page over which imagized video clips can be displayed according to an embodiment. In S210, the method starts when a request to identify portions within a web-page, for example, the web-page 130-1 over which changeable images can be displayed is received from a publisher server, for example, the publisher server 120.

[0027] In S220, the web-page 130-1 is analyzed. In S230, respective of the analysis, one or more portions within the web-page 140-1 over which changeable images can be displayed are identified. In S240, it is checked whether a video clip can be displayed within the one or more portions within the web-page 140-1 and if so, execution continues with S250; otherwise, execution continues with S260.

[0028] In S250, the borders of the one or more portions within the web-page 140-1 over which the changeable images can be displayed are determined. In S260, it is checked whether there are additional requests and if so, execution continues with S210; otherwise, execution terminates.

[0029] Fig. 3 is an exemplary and non-limiting flowchart 300 of the operation of a system for displaying imagized video clips in a web-page according to an embodiment. In S310, the method starts when a request for at least one video content to be displayed in at least one portion of a web-page is received from a publisher server, for example, the publisher server 120. In optional S320, the borders of the at least one portion are received from the publisher server 120.

[0030] In S330, the requested video content is fetched from a data source 150-1 through the network 110. In S340, a plurality of images are generated respective of the video content.

[0031] In S350, a timing sequence for displaying the plurality of images as an imagized video clip in the at least one portion of the web-page is generated. In optional S360, the borders of the imagized video clips are determined respective of the borders of the at least one portion within the web-page 140-1 over which the streams of images can be displayed. In S370, the imagized video clip and the timing sequence are sent for display to the publisher server 120. In S380, it is checked whether additional requests for video content are received from the publisher server 120 and if so, execution continues with S310; otherwise, execution terminates. [0032] Fig. 4 depicts an exemplary and non-limiting schematic communication diagram 400 describing a method for displaying imagized video clips in web-pages respective of video content according to an embodiment. According to an embodiment, the publisher server 120 identifies 410 over the network 110 a web-page, for example, the web-page 130-1 in which a video content is to be displayed. The server 140 then receives from the publisher server 120 a request 420 to display the video content in the web-page 130-1. The server 130 analyzes the web-page 130-1 and fetches the video content from a data source over the network 110, for example the data source 150-1. The server 140 then generates a plurality of images respective of the video clip and the analysis of the web-page 130-1. The server 130 further generates a timing sequence for displaying the plurality of images as an imagized video clip in the web- page 130-1. The server 140 the sends the imagized video clip and the timing sequence for display in the web-page.

[0033] The principles of the invention, wherever applicable, are implemented as hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof. Moreover, the software is preferably implemented as an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage unit or computer readable medium. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture. Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such as one or more central processing units ("CPUs"), a memory, and input/output interfaces. The computer platform may also include an operating system and microinstruction code. The various processes and functions described herein may be either part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program embodied in non-transitory computer readable medium, or any combination thereof, which may be executed by a CPU, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown. Implementations may further include full or partial implementation as a cloud-based solution. In some embodiments certain portions of a system may use mobile devices of a variety of kinds. In addition, various other peripheral units may be connected to the computer platform such as an additional data storage unit and a printing unit. The circuits described hereinabove may be implemented in a variety of manufacturing technologies well known in the industry including but not limited to integrated circuits (ICs) and discrete components that are mounted using surface mount technologies (SMT), and other technologies. The scope of the invention should not be viewed as limited by the SPPS 110 described herein and other monitors may be used to collect data from energy consuming sources without departing from the scope of the invention.

4] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is;

1. A computerized method for displaying a video content in a web-page, the method comprising: receiving over a network a request to display the video content item in the web-page;

analyzing ihe web-page;

identifying at least one portion of the web-page over which an imagized video clip can be displayed;

fetching the video content item;

generating a plurality of images respective of the video content and the analysis of the web-page; generating a timing sequence for displaying the plurality of images as an imagized video clip in the web-page respective of the analysis of ihe web-page; and,

sending the imagized video clip and the timing sequence for display in the web-page.

2. The computerized method of claim L wherein the request is received from a publisher server.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the video content item is fetched from one or more data sources accessible over the network.

4. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the request further comprises metadata related to the video content item.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising: clustering the plurality of images to one or more streams of images.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying the borders of the at least one portion of the web-page over which an imagized video clip can be displayed; and, determining the borders of the imagized video clip respective of the borders of the at least one portion of the web-page over which an imagized video clip can be displayed.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for causing one or more processing units to execute the computerized method according to claim 1.

An embodiment of a server configured to display video content in a web-page, the server comprises: a network interface to a network; a processing unit connected to the network interface; a memory connected to the processing unit, the memory containing instructions therein that when executed by the processing unit configure the server to: receive a request over the network to display the video content item in the web-page; analyze the web-page; identify at least one portion of the web-page over which an imagized video clip can be displayed; fetch the video content item; generate a plurality of linages respective of the video content; generate a timing sequence for displaying the plurality of images as an imagized video clip in the web-page respective of the analysis; and, send the imagized video clip and the timing sequence for display in the web-page.

9. The server of embodiment 8, wherein the request is received from a publisher server.

10. The server of embodiment 8, wherein the video content item is fetched from one or more data sources accessible over the network.

11. The server of embodiment 8, wherein the request further comprises metadata related to the video content item.

12. The server of embodiment 8, wherein the memory further containing instructions that when executed by the processing unit configures the server to cluster the plurality of images to one or more streams of images.

13. The server of embodiment 8, wherein the memory further containing instructions that when executed by the processing unit configures the server to identify the borders of the at least one portion of the web-page over which an imagized video clip can be displayed; and, determine the borders of the imagized video clip respective of the borders of the at least one portion of the web-page over which an imagized video clip can be displayed.