WO2016035061A1

WO2016035061A1 - A system for preloading imagized video clips in a web-page

Info

Publication number: WO2016035061A1
Application number: PCT/IL2014/051055
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tal MELENBOIM
Original assignee: Ani-View Ltd
Priority date: 2014-09-01
Filing date: 2014-12-04
Publication date: 2016-03-10

Abstract

A system enables preloading of imagized video clips in a web-page. The system receives a request for web-page content from a user device. The system analyzes the content of the web-page to identify video content items that the user device is likely to select. The system then fetches the video content items and generates imagized video clips respective thereto. The system preloads the imagized video clips to the user device. According to an embodiment, the system further identifies the type of the user device. Respective of the type of the user device the system customizes the imagized video clips in order to enhance the display of the imagized video clip.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR PRELOADING IMAGIZED VIDEO

CLIPS IN A WEB-PAGE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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

62/044,337 filed on September 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 converting video content to imagized video content and preloading the imagized video content to user devices.

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 web-pages' content. Typically, advertisements displayed in a web-page contain video elements that are intended for display on the user' s display device.

[004] 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.

[005] 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. [006] 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

[007] 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.

[008] Figure 1 - is a system for preloading imagized video clips in web-pages according to an embodiment;

[009] Figure 2 - is a flowchart of the operation of a system for preloading imagized video clips in web-pages according to an embodiment; and,

[0010] Figure 3 - is a flowchart of the operation of a system for customizing preloaded imagized video clips in web-pages respective of the type of a user device 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 enables preloading of imagized video clips in a web-page. The system receives a request for web-page content from a user device. The system analyzes the content of the web-page to identify video content items that the user device is likely to select. The system then fetches the video content items and generates imagized video clips respective thereto. The system preloads the imagized video clips to the user device. According to an embodiment, the system further identifies the type of the user device. Respective of the type of the user device the system customizes the imagized video clips in order to enhance the display of the imagized video clip.

[0014] Fig. 1 depicts an exemplary and non-limiting schematic diagram of a system 100 for preloading 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 as further described herein below. The network 110 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 portions of the system 100. The system 100 further comprises at least one user device (UD) 120 connected to the network 110. The user device 120 may be for example but without limitations, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a laptop, a tablet computer, a wearable computing device, a personal computer (PC), a smart television and the like. The user device 120 comprises at least one display unit 125 such as a screen, a touch screen, etc.

[0015] A server 130 is further connected to the network 110. The server 130 is configured to receive from the user device 120 requests for content exists in at least one of a plurality of web-pages 140-1 through 140-N (collectively referred hereinafter as web-pages 140 or individually as a web-page 140, merely for simplicity purposes), where N is an integer equal to or greater than 1. The web-pages 140 are stored in a plurality of web sites 150-1 through 150-N (collectively referred hereinafter as web sites 150 or individually as a web site 150, merely for simplicity purposes), where N is an integer equal to or greater than 1. The system 100 further comprises a database 160 communicatively coupled to the server 130 over the network 110. The database 160 is configured to store data received from the server 130.

[0016] According to an embodiment, a request is received by the server 130 from the user device 120 for content exists in the web-page 140 stored in the web site 150 over the network 110. The request may be, for example, to execute a video content item, enlarge an image, access a second web-page linked to the web-page 140, etc. According to another embodiment, the request enables the server 130 to determine the type of the user device 120. The determination may be whether the user device 120 is for example, a PC or a smart phone, as well as a deeper determination, e.g, an iPhone® smart phone or a Samsung® smart phone. According to further embodiment, the content requested may be analyzed by the server 130 in order to generate a profile of a user of the user device 120. The profile may be generated respective of one or more characteristics, such as, user's preferences as identified respective of the content requested. The user's profile is then sent by the server 130 for storage in the database 160.

[0017] Respective of the request, the server 130 analyzes each of the content items that comprising the web-page 140. The analysis enables identification of video content items stored in the web site 150. Respective of the analysis, the server 130 identifies at least one video content item stored in the web site 150 that a user of the user device 120 is likely to select, following the requested content. As an example, in case the web-page 140 contains chapters of the television series "Lost" and the request is for the first episode, the server 130 may determine that the user device 120 is likely to request the second episode thereafter. The analysis may include extraction of data from the database 160. The data may include, for example, the user's profile, past selection received from the user device 120, past selection of other users' devices that requested same content, a combination thereof, etc. According to another embodiment, the analysis includes identification of an association between the content items exist in the web-page 140.

[0018] The server 130 then fetches from the web site 150 the at least one video content that the user device 120 is likely to select following the requested content. The determination of the at least one video content item that the user device 120 is likely to select is made respective of the analysis. The server 130 generates a sequence of a plurality of images respective of each of the at least one video content item(s). The server 130 then generates timing sequence information respective of each sequence of the plurality of images. The timing sequence information is to be used for timed display of the sequence of the plurality of images. The plurality of images together with the timing sequence provides an imagized video clip respective of the video content item. The server 130 then preloads the imagized video clip to the user device 120 with respect of the web-page 140.

[0019] Fig. 2 is an exemplary and non-limiting flowchart 200 of the operation of a system for preloading imagized video clips in web-pages according to an embodiment. In S210, the method starts when a request for content exists in the web- page 140-1 is received from the user device 120 over the network 110. In S220, each content item comprising the web-page 140-1 is analyzed to identify at least one video content item that a user of the user device 120 is likely to select. In S230, the at least one video content item is fetched from the web site 150-1. In S240, a sequence of a plurality of images respective of each of the at least one video content item is generated. In S250, a timing sequence information respective of each sequence of the plurality of images is generated. The timing sequence information is to be used for timed display of the sequence of the plurality of images. The plurality of images together with the timing sequence provide an imagized video clip of the at least one video content item. In S260, the imagized video clip is preloaded to the user device 120. In S270, it is checked whether there are additional requests and if so, execution continues with S210; otherwise, execution terminates.

[0020] Fig. 3 is an exemplary and non-limiting flowchart 300 of the operation of a system for preloading imagized video clips in web-pages according to an embodiment. In S310, the method starts when a request for content from the web- page 140-1 is received from the user device 120 over the network 110. In S320, a type of the user device 120 is identified as further described hereinabove with respect of Fig. 1. In S330, each content item shown in the web-page 140-1 is analyzed to identify at least one video content item that a user of the user device 120 is likely to select. In S340, the at least one video content item is fetched from the web site 150-1. In S350, a sequence of a plurality of images respective of the at least one video content item is generated. In S360, a timing sequence information respective of the sequence of the plurality of images is generated. In S370, the imagized video clip is customized respective of the type of the user device 120. The customization enable enhancement of a user's experience while viewing the imagized video clip on the display 125 of the user device 120. The customization may include, for example, modification of the resolution of the video, adjustment to the sound of associated with the video content, modification of the size of the imagized video clip, modification of the spread of the imagized video clip, a combination thereof and more. The modification of the spread of the imagized video clip includes either stretching or shrinking of the imagized video clip. The modification of the spread is enabled by identifying a centric point of the imagized video clip and modifying the edges of the imagized video clip responsive to the type of the display 120 and the centric point. In S380, the imagized video clip is preloaded to the user device 120. In S390, it is checked whether there are additional requests and if so, execution continues with S310; otherwise, execution terminates.

1] 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.

2] 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 method for preloading video content items of a web site on a user device, comprising:

receiving a request from a user device for content from a web-page stored on the web site;

analyzing each content items comprising the web-page for identifying at least one video content item that a user of the user device is likely to select;

fetching the at least one video content item from the web site;

generating a sequence of a plurality of images respective of each of the at least one video content item;

generating a timing sequence information respective of each sequence of the plurality of images, the timing sequence information to be used for timed display of the sequence of the plurality of images, wherein the plurality of images together with the timing sequence provide an imagized video clip of the video content item; and,

preloading the imagized video clip to the user device with respect of the web-page.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a type of the user device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

customizing the imagized video clip respective of the type of the user device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device is at least one of: a smart phone, a mobile phone, a laptop, a tablet computer, a wearable computing device, a personal computer (PC), a smart television.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a user's profile respective of at least the analysis.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one video content item is fetched respective of the user's profile.

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.

8. An embodiment of a server configured to preload video content items of a web site on a user device, comprises: an interface to a network;

a processing unit connected to the network interface;

a memory connected to the processing unit, the memory contains instructions therein that when executed by the processing unit configure the server to: receive a request from a user device for content from a web-page stored on the web site; analyze each content items comprising the web- page for identifying at least one video content item that a user of the user device is likely to select; fetch the at least one video content item from the web site; generate a sequence of a plurality of images respective of each of the at least one video content item; generate a timing sequence information respective of each sequence of the plurality of images, the timing sequence information to be used for timed display of the sequence of the plurality of images, wherein the plurality of images together with the timing sequence provide an imagized video clip of the video content item; and, preload the imagized video clip to the user device with respect of the web-page.

9. The server of embodiment 8, wherein the memory further contains instructions that when executed by the processing unit configures the server to identify a type of the user device.

10. The server of embodiment 9, wherein the memory further contains instructions that when executed by the processing unit configures the server to customize the imagized video clip respective of the type of the user device.

11. The server of embodiment 8, wherein the user device is at least one of: a smart phone, a mobile phone, a laptop, a tablet computer, a wearable computing device, a personal computer (PC), a smart television.

12. The server of embodiment 8 wherein the memory further contains instructions that when executed by the processing unit configures the server to generate a user's profile respective of at least the analysis.

13. The server of embodiment 12, wherein the at least one video content item is fetched respective of the user's profile.