GB2462957A - Video display system using non-repeating permutations of video sequences - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for displaying multiple video/audio programs complied from at least one database of stored video/audio segments. Each time the program is played a different permutation of the video clips is shown, with no permutation being repeated until all possible permutations have been displayed. The system may use fixed first (200, fig. 2) and last (220, fig. 2) clips with only the intervening clips (210, fig. 2) being shuffled.

Description

INTELLECTUAL

. .... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No. GB0920530.3 RTM Date:20 January 2010 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: B lu-ray Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

VIDEO DISPLAY PERMUTATION SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A video display system, apparatus and method for randomly selecting and displaying a series of video sequences in all possible permutations from a database of displayable video sequences, including associated audio.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of film and video production and display, the standard mode of telling a story is unaltered each time a particular work is displayed. That is, the work is presented in a linear fashion, and each time the work is displayed, the same events precede or follow each other. Of course, flashbacks or views into the future exist. These are elements that are standard fare in the art of filmic or video story-telling. However, each time the story including those elements is viewed, those elements are viewed in the same order as the last time these e]ements were viewed.

Take, for example, the film NEXT, in which the actor Nicolas Cage plays the lead (Cris Johnson) . Quoting IMDB: "Las Vegas showroom magician Cris Johnson has a secret which torments him: he can see a few minutes into the future. Sick of the examinations he underwent as a child and the interest of the government and medical establishment in his power, he lies low under an assumed name in Vegas, performing cheap tricks and living off small-time gambling!winnings.!v But when a terrorist group threatens to detonate a nuclear device in Los Angeles, government agent Callie Ferris must use all her wiles to capture Cris and convince him to help her stop the cataclysm. Written by Jim B?ave, 7umbJejimo.zc)Lqy.net " Despite the fact that there are numerous flash-forward visions displayed from Cris' (Nicolas Cage's) point of view, each time the film is viewed, those same visions of the future occur in exactly the same position with respect to the rest of the film. What is disclosed here is a method, system and apparatus whereby this invariant sequencing of events is altered, such that each time a particular film or video is viewed, a different story is told by virtue of the fact that the component parts of the story are sequenced differently.

It is noted that there have been many attempts in film to reconstruct memory, knowledge, understanding, and, ultimately, consciousness. It is a proposition of this invention disclosure that the available means for such reconstruction in film are inadequate, at least in part because of the heretofore necessarily or inherently linear nature of display of the content of which each persons' consciousness is comprised. Certainly, the artifices of flash-back and flash-forward help considerably with this goal. Indeed, in the hands of certain brilliant film-makers, the goal is substantially achieved by the seamless, and sometimes circular obfuscation of timelines. Think, for example, of Peter Weir's "The Last Wave", which, on repeated viewing, has the peculiar effect on the viewer of beginning and ending at similar places, without the viewer easily being able to say how one got from one place in the story to the next, while still maintaining coherence to the story that is told. Likewise with Quentin Tarantino's vPulp Fiction", in which at least one commentator has mapped the actual timeline as a spiral (1) . Perhaps the most effective use of these shifting time zones in a film occurs in Rowan Woods' chilling film, "The Boys". In that film, there are multiple time-frames, past, present, future, which somehow co-exist, such that ultimately, it is not at all clear what "the present" is or when "the past" was, only a growing sense of the incipient violence of which the lead character and his brothers are capable and are hurtling towards.

Another notable example of an effort to re-create memories and consciousness is Chris Marker's IMMEMORY CD.

In that project, the brilliant Mr. Marker (of "La Jetee" and "Sans Soleil" fame) has provided a set of hypertext images, text and video which a viewer of the project is able to negotiate by clicking on the hyper-texted elements. The project, however, does not run independent of such viewer selections and there is no sequencThg mechanism or algorithm for automatically displaying various segments of images in different permutations each time the project is viewed -this has to be manually achieved by a viewer of the project.

Think also of Michael Haneke's "71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance", but altered according to the present invention, such that the various fragments themselves are presented in chance permutations with respect to each other each time you view the film.

Quoting [laneke himself (from IMDB) in reference to his film "Cache" ("Hidden") : "I like the multiplicity of books, because each book is different in the mind of each reader. It's the same with this film -if 300 people are in a cinema watching it, they will all see a different film, so in a way there are thousands of different versions of Hidden. The point being that, despite what TV shows us, and what the news stories tell us, there is never just one truth, there is only personal truth." But, absent operation of the present invention, the film "Hidden", is an immutable linear sequence, as is Haneke's "71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance". Thus, the purpose of the present invention is to assist in providing a further tool in the armamentarium of talented film-makers to present their ideas in a new format.

The brilliance of the various films and projects discussed above notwithstanding, it remains the case that each of us walks around, not with a coherent, linear or ordered set of memories of our Jives, but rather, everything is present all at once, or various elements of our lives are present at different times and often without clear chronological import. In light of this, it is proposed that there remains a need in the art of film making and story telling using moving images (of course, the segment of "moving images" may provide, at an appropriate frame rate, the same image over and over again, to give the impression of a still image) which permits segments of moving images to be juxtaposed and sequenced in relation to other segments such that each time a series of such moving image segments are viewed, the order in which some or all of the segments are displayed is varied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method, system and apparatus for displaying, each time a program for displaying is run, "n" segments of images (and optionally associated audio) stored in at least one database in up to "n!" different permutations, without repeating the display of a particular permutation until all such permutations have been displayed. By combining such segments stored in different databases, great flexibility can be achieved in the nature of the programs displayed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method for displaying a video program optionally comprising associated audio, which comprises, each time a program for displaying is run, displaying "n" segments of images (and optionally associated audio) stored in at least one database in up to "n!" different permutations, without repeating the display of a particular permutation until all such permutations have been displayed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a method in which segments stored in different databases are combined in different permutations with each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for displaying a video program wherein the apparatus comprises a means for reading encoded data and outputting video and audio encoded by such data, wherein the apparatus is responsive to commands, either encoded in storage medium interchangeably insertable into and removable from the apparatus or encoded directly in the operating system of the apparatus, wherein the outputting comprises sequential display to video and audio display devices, each time a program for displaying is run, "n" segments of images (and optionally associated audio) stored in at least one database in up to "n!" different permutations, without repeating the display of a particular permutation until all such permutations have been displayed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, to provide such an apparatus in which segments stored in different databases are combined in different permutations with each other in a sequential fashion for display.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a system comprising an apparatus and operating a method according to the above described objects.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a review of the entire disclosure and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 provides a logic diagram whereby the method of this invention achieves the n! display of a series of n segments stored in a database.

Figure 2 provides a logic diagram whereby the method of the invention utilizes a plurality of databases from which to sequence video segments to display in different permutations with each other, each such permutation beginning with a video segment selected from a first database, followed by a video segment selected from a second database, and a third video segment selected from a third database.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE

INVENT ION

There are as many ways to tell a story as there are stories to tell. However, what is proposed here is a system and method for telling stories by randomly displaying one of a possible number of permutations of sequences present in a database by sequencing video and, optionally, associated audio segments from a database of displayable video sequences, such that repeated initiation of display sessions results in a novel and random, or partially random sequencing of available video and associated audio segments.

In this manner, providing a database (and a physical storage medium for making the database available, such as a video disk, a hard drive, a DVD disk, a Blu-rayTM disk, a solid-state disk or drive and such media, now known or subsequently developed) of n video segments (including associated audio), it is possible to essentially generate a program selected from such segments in a variety of permutations (where the order of chosen segments matters, as compared to combinations, where the order is considered irrelevant) . Thus, for example, where there is provided a database of two video and associated audio segments, say segments A and B, these can be displayed in two permutations, namely: (1) A then B, and (2) B then A. If the database comprises three segments, A, B, and C, then these may be displayed in six permutations, namely (1) A then B then C; (2) A then C then B; (3) B then A then C; (4) B then C then A; (5) C then A then B; (6) C then B then A. From this, it can be generalized that if each segment is only shown one time, then from a database of n segments, there are n! (n factorial) available permutations in which those segments may be displayed.

Thus, where there are three segments, there are 3!, that is, 3x2x1 = 6 available permutations in which those three segments may be displayed. If there are, for example, 4 segments available in the database, then there are 4x3x2x1 = 24 available permutations for displaying the available segments. In this manner, providing a database of say 4 video (and associated audio) segments, each time these segments are displayed in sequence, they could be shown 24 times without once repeating the exact same sequence, provided that each time the segments are displayed, one of the available permutations is randomly selected, but then that particular permutation is prevented from being re-displayed in that precise permutation until the entire set of permutations has been displayed at least one time.

This can be achieved as follows: Assuming there are 24 permutations for showing four available segments, these permutations are assigned the numbers pl-p24. Assuming the first time the database is sampled, permutation p19 is displayed, then there would remain, for further display, p1-18 and p2O-p24. The next time the program is displayed, if p7 is displayed, this would leave p1-6, p8- 18 and p2O-p24 for further display, and so forth.

In terms of the order in which the various available permutations may be shown, this may either be random, semi-random, or ordered. Thus, for example, the order of display of permutations mentioned above is random or semi-random, while displaying, for example, p1, then p2 then p3, etc, or p24, p23, p22, etc, or p15, p16, p17...p24, and then p14, p13, p12, etc, would all be considered ordered. It is proposed, although the invention herein is not necessarily restricted in this manner, that it would generally be desirable for the order of display of different permutations to be random or semi-random. In this way, each time the particular program of permutations is displayed, a quite different ordering of displayable video (and optionally associated audio) segments occurs. This would result in a quite different display of story segments each time the story is told, based on the same database of video (and optionally associated audio) segments is run.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to include the option for a user utilizing an apparatus, system or method according to this invention to be able to define the sequence in which each or some of the video segments area displayed. Thus, again, for example, in a database of, for example, four available video segments, for the purposes of this discussion referred to as Vi, V2, V3, and V4, a user may decide to have segment V4 displayed first, and V2 displayed second, while permitting segments Vi or V3 to be displayed randomly after display of segment V2. Naturally, the user could define the order of display of all video segments. Likewise, in a larger database of available segments, the user would have greater flexibility in defining the relative order of display of various segments with respect to other segments, while permitting various other segments to be displayed randomly, or semi-randomly in relation to those for which the order of display have been selected.

It will be appreciated from this disclosure that it is well within the skill of the ordinary artisan in the art of video display or computer programming to provide a user interface for prompting a user with respect to choices discussed above. Thus, a menu architecture may be provided in which, as an initial matter, upon mounting of media into a video display device, whether that be a computer, DVD player, Blu-ray disk player, hard-drive video player or the like, the device initially scans the media to recognize all video segments and all databases of video segments present on the medium. Desirably, for example to facilitate home users to load their own video (and optionally associated audio) segments into the device, for any video or audio files detected which are not of a file type appropriate for display, conversion software, such as is well known in the art, is included to permit conversion of all files to a standard format for appropriate display. Thus, for example, all files may be converted to AVI (audio-video interlaced) file formats, or any other standard format. In addition, resolution may be standardized, either by upscaling or reducing definition from standard to high-definition formats or vice-versa. Commercial products are known in the market for these purposes and therefore these are not further discussed herein.

Once all the media mounted into the system for display has been recognized and standardized in format, the user may be prompted to either permit totally random permutation of the entire set of video (and optionally associated audio files), for display, sequentially, of different permutations of the various segments included in the various databases. Alternatively, the user may be prompted to select from among the various video segments those segments to be displayed in an invariant order with respect to other segments or to select that subset of segments included in the various detected databases to be included for permutation.

All of these instructions, algorithms and options (including the process steps embodied in figures 1 and 2 discussed in detail herein below) may be included in a software product adapted for operation in a standard DVD player, Blu-ray disc player, computer, and the like.

Once loaded into such a device, the standard device is converted into a special purpose device, specially adapted for receiving and sequencing video segments supplied to the special purpose device for permuted display of video segments thus provided. Provision of such software to home or professional videographers will facilitate practicing of the present invention, whether for purposes of display of home video segments or professionally produced film elements. Both the software adapted for this purpose and the special purpose device created upon transformation by being programmed by such software, are considered to come within the scope of the present invention.

In another embodiment according to this invention, the database may include still images, such as JPEG images, bitmap images, gif images and the like, or a segment of identical images, displayed at an appropriate frame rate, so that the impression on the viewer is one of a still image. These "still images" may be treated in the same manner as any of the video segments included in the database. That is, still images may be randomly or semi-randomly ordered for display, with or without audio accompaniment, in various permutations with video segments included in the database.

In another embodiment according to this invention, the audio segments associated with video segments may be independently played, but, of course, in such an embodiment, considerable attention would need to be given to the end result such that appropriate audio is played with the various permutations of video segments that are sequenced for display.

In a further embodiment according to this invention, a user interacting with the system selects from a menu displaying all available segments in a database, that subset of segments the viewer wishes to have included in the program of segments to be displayed. The user is able to select a particular sequence in which segments are to be displayed or the user is able to merely select which segments are to be included in the program of display, leaving it to the system, and method as implemented in the apparatus (the method and apparatus together comprising the system of the invention) to display permutations in the order of segments.

In terms of means for achieving the objects of this invention, until recently, this might have been a matter of some question, particularly with respect, for example, to the limited programmable capabilities and memory registers available in the standard DVD player. However, for several reasons, this is no longer an issue. First, technology today is such that one of ordinary skill in the art of video display technology can easily implement the method of this invention using the higher computing power now present in Blu_rayTM disks and players. Each Blu_rayTM disk, for example, has storage capacity up to 50 gigabytes, some of which storage capacity may easily be utilized for storing a simple executable program requiring storage in registers according to this invention of the simple algorithm and permutation information required. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that even with respect to the limited memory and storage capacity of the older DVD technology, problems of storage, display and sequencing have been solved, such that, for example, as of the writing of this disclosure, playing of games from a DVD player has been successfully achieved. An example of such a game is called Scene-It?�. That game and its program and enabling technology is described and enabled in US Patent No. 6,987,925, ("the 925 patent") herein incorporated by reference. Utilizing the DVD remote control, the player of the game is able to negotiate the various stages of game play, and the DVD player, into which a game DVD is loaded, and is able to display single video clips and other game elements, from a database of such elements stored on the game disk loaded in the DVD player. The 925 patent discloses a system and algorithm whereby, from a database of clips, each time a new clip is to be displayed in the course of game play, the algorithm encoded in the disk ensures that the DVD player displays a different clip than was previously displayed in the course of game play. While at first this might sound similar to that which is disclosed in the present invention disclosure, in fact what is disclosed and

claimed in this invention disclosure is, in many

respects, a simpler system and has very different objectives. First, in the 925 patent, the goal is to Note-onthe Scene-It?� game box, the recited patent number is 6,987,926, but this is believed to be an error and it should be 6,987,925.

achieve interactive game play, whereas, in the present invention, while the viewer can certainly interact with the media and has options for setting variant and invariant segments of the database to be displayed, once set-up, the object is to permit the entire program to display all relevant or selected segments in the database to permit the display of a unique permutation or set of permutations based on the sequencing of said segments.

Second, the present invention does not include a game board or a game play. Third, while the 925 patent describes and enables a method, notwithstanding the limited programmable abilities of DVD players, for randomly shuffling through a large number of video and/or sound clips without repeating a clip, the output of such shuffling is not the display of permutations of clips included in the collection or database of clips. Rather, the system is implemented such that upon reaching particular points in the game play, the user can press the remote to access single video or audio clips which have not been previously displayed in the course of that game. There is no sequencing of video or audio clips, but merely display at particular points in the game of single video/audio clips. These are key distinguishing features (amongst many other distinguishing features) between the 925 patent and the present invention. The 925 patent is cited here because it provides enabling disclosure to those skilled in the art, based on the present invention disclosure, as to how to go about using the limited programming capacities of an apparatus, such as a DVD player, to randomly shuffle amongst a series of video/audio clips in a database. Per the present invention, all that is required then is to add the step of reiterating this random shuffling with the remaining members of the database minus a first selected clip.

Referring now to figure 1, there is provided a logic-flow chart for the method of the present invention, which, when implemented by any appropriate apparatus (including but not limited to a DVD player, a Blu-rayTM player, a DVD or Blu-rayTM projector, a data storage disk, a computer or any other display and computing means now known or which is hereafter developed), is transformed into the specific function apparatus of this invention, which transforms the data stored in an appropriate medium (a DVD disk, a Blu_rayTM disk, a flash memory drive, a hard disk drive or any other appropriate data storage medium known in the art or hereafter developed), thus constituting the system of this invention and operating the method of this invention. The result is a transformation of encoded information into a unique sequence of displayed images and sound. As shown in figure 1, utilizing a database comprising n segments of video and optionally associated audio clips, all possible permutations are calculated 110 and the results are stored, following which each possible permutation is displayed 120 without re-displaying any previously displayed permutation until all possible permutations have been displayed. The calculation of all possible permutations 110 is shown in sub-routine 130, in which 131 all segments in the database 100 are ordered such that a first segment is selected as segment 1 to be displayed, a second segment is selected from the remaining segments (i.e. ri-i remaining segments) to be displayed as segment 2, a third segment is selected from the remaining segments (i.e. n-2 remaining segments), etc., until all segments in the database have been selected for display in a first permutation, P1. The order of segments to be displayed according to P1 is stored 132, and a second permutation, P2 through the n!th possible permutation, is calculated and is available for display sequentially each time the method is run using the given database of segments, wherein P2, P3, etc up to the n!th permutation is each a different permutation than P1 or any other foregoing permutation. That is, for example, in a database comprising only two video segments, if video segment Vi in the database is selected for display first in P1, and video segment V2 is selected for display second in P1, then in P2, video segment V2 is selected for display first and video segment Vi is selected for display second. Each permutation is then displayed, as shown at 120, and a record is retained of all permutations that have already been displayed, such that no permutation is re-displayed until all possible permutations have been displayed. Thus, in a database comprising only two segments, Vi and V2, there would only be two permutations, P1 and P2. The video display system according to this invention would desirably include a memory register such that when the media comprising the database for a given set of video segments is removed or otherwise dismounted form the display system, the next time the database or media is mounted to the system, it wrecallsF! which permutations have already been displayed and only permutations which have not already been displayed are then sequenced for display. Of course, it is also desirable for the system to include the possibility for a user to select an already displayed permutation for re-display.

In a further embodiment according to this invention, significant and considerable variation in the nature of the various permutations of the video/audio segments is achieved by selecting from video/audio stored in separate databases. In this manner, for example, with reference to figure 2, in database Dl 200, there may be stored one video segment, Vi, in database D2 210 there may be stored multiple video segments, Vn, and in database D3 220 there may be stored a single video segment, V3. In this manner, each iteration of the video program is played selecting a starting video segment from Di, a video segment from D2, and a video segment from D3, with all possible permutations of each database being utilized before that permutation being displayed again. In this manner, each program would begin with the single video segment stored in Dl, a different choice from the Vn segments for the middle segment and the end segment would be the invariant segment selected from database D3, namely V3. Of course, Di and D3 may each comprise more than a single video segment, and in that case, the variation that can be built into the displayed video program increases significantly.

In practice, if there is limited storage capacity in the apparatus used to implement the method, the system may require implementation of a solution such as that disc]osed in the 925 patent, whereby the permutations of segments in each database included in the program is calculated on the fly with only limited data storage being required.

Having generally described this invention above, the following examples are provided to further describe and enable this invention, including the best mode thereof.

However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the specifics of the examples which follow are not limiting and that various modifications, variations and alterations in the specifics included in these examples does not depart from the essence of the invention and equivalents thereof disclosed and claimed herein.

Example 1

The Bus Segment The present invention might be utilized, for example, to implement the following simple scenario: At least one database is created with the following three video segments, Vi, V2, and V3, with their associated audio: Video/Audio Segment Vi: Man and woman board a bus in central London. It is a bright, beautiful, sunny crisp wintery morning. They sit down at the front of the bus, and await the bus driver to get going. The bus driver climbs aboard and greets his only two passengers that morning: Bus driver: "Oy there fo]ks, you're the on]y one's riding wit me this morning..." Man: "Oh, were we at the wrong station?" Bus driver: "No worries mate, just got ta pull around Aldwych and then we're on our way." Man: wok, great.... How do you like driving in London?" Bust driver, turns to face man...: wBeen doin it for 17 years, and thank goodness, so far, not a single accident...." The bus begins to move and the camera pans to provide a view out of the front of the bus, showing the Man's POV, to include also the bus driver.

Video/Audio Segment V2: Man's POV out the front of the bus, to include the bus driver, who is turned to face Man as the bus pulls into motion.... Man:

"Well, that's encouraging and good news...HEY, WATCH IT!" A pedestrian has stepped in front of the bus, the BUS DRIVER slams on his brakes, the pedestrian goes by unharmed.... Man:

wOuch, that was close, almost the end of a perfect 17 year career!" Bus driver: "BJoomin pedestrians, never look where they're goin!" The bus pulls over at a stop, the Man and Woman get off the bus shaken.

Woman: "Thanks for an exciting ride, but I think we'll walk from here...." The bus driver scowls.

Video/Audio Segment V3: Man's POV out the front of the bus, to include the bus driver, who is turned to face Man as the bus pulls into motion.... Man:

"Well, that's encouraging and good news...HEY, WATCH IT!" A pedestrian has stepped in front of the bus, the BUS DRIVER slams on his brakes, but it is too late and there is a loud THUMP as the pedestrian is hit by the bus. The BUS slams to a halt. Man:

"Oh god!" Woman: "Oh no!" Bus driver: "Bloomin pedestrians, never look where they're goin!" The BUS DRIVER jumps out of the bus, there is already a crowd assembled, the PEDESTRIAN is lying in a pool of blood partially under the bus, FADE OUT....

In this scenario, as video segments V2 and V3 are essentially variations on each other, and Vi is the necessary introduction to both, it would be desirable for Vi to be stored in a first database, Di, and V2 and V3 to be stored in a second database, D2. Utilizing the method of this invention, (as shown, for example, in Figure 2, except that in this example there is no third database of segments), in a first iteration of the program, Vi would be selected from Di, followed by selecting V2 from D2, to generate the first permutation, P1, in which the pedestrian survives. In a second iteration of the program, Vi would be selected from Di, followed by selecting V3 from D2, to generate the second permutation, P2, in which the pedestrian is squashed by the bus.

Example 2

Iwo Databases Each Comprising Multiple Video Segments In this example, two databases, Di and D2, are utilized, with each database comprising n segments. If in Di there are three segments, Vi, V2, V3, and in D2 there are three segments, V4, V5, and V6, then combining the segments from Di with those in D2 in different permutations permits for a wide array of variations to be achieved.

If each segment Vi, V2 and V3 are slight variations on each other, and likewise if segments V4, V5 and V6 are slight variations on each other, provided that appropriate attention is given to how each segment from Di will juxtapose with each segment from D2, then the following permutations are achieved according to the method of this invention: (Pi) Vi then V4, (P2) Vi then V5, (P3) Vi then V6; (P4) V2 then V4, (P5) V2 then V5, (P6) V2 then V6; and (P7) V3 then V4, (P8) V3 then V5, and (P9) V3 then V6, for a total of nine program variations.

EXAMPLE 3

SAME EVENTS, DIFFERENT POV In this example, the same events may be depicted, but because the sequencing of the events told are displayed from databases in which different points of view (POV) of either participants or observers of the event are displayed in different permutations of the telling of the events, a very different picture emerges. Imagine, for example, the Kurosawa masterpiece Rashomon, told in this fashion.

Quoting again from IMDB: wRashomon (1950) is a Japanese crime drama, that is produced with both philosophical and psychological overtones. An episode (rape and murder) in a forest is reported by four witnesses, each from their own point of view. -Who is telling the truth? What is truth?" Written by Erode S. Str.inqe: {fstrinqe@direct c} As told in the original film, there is a linear telling of the story from the viewpoint of each witness. Had the technology of the present invention been available to Kurosawa, it might be that he would have elected to program a display apparatus such that a common first segment of the story, Vi, might have set the scene, and then, via permutations of a second set of clips in a second database, different testimony might have been given by each of the various witnesses or alleged participants/accused people. Finally, the closing segment of the film might again have been selected from a third database, and a common closing, or multiple different closings, may then have been juxtaposed to the preceding clips.

EXAMPLE 4

ONE DATABASE, MULTIPLE SEGMENTS Camus, in "The Myth of Sisyphus", states: "It is certain that apparently, though I have seen the same actor a hundred times, I shall not for that reason know him any better personally. Yet, if I add up the heroes he has personified and if I say that I know him a little better at the hundredth character counted off, this will be felt to contain an element of truth. For this apparent paradox is also an apologue. There is a moral to it. It teaches that a man defines himself by his make-believe as well as by his sincere impulses.

There is thus a lower key of feelings, in accessible in the heart but partially disclosed by the acts they imply and the attitudes of mind they assume." (Penguin Modern Classics, Justin O'Brien translation, page 18) In this examp]e, a singiLe database is utilized in which a plurality (n segments) of segments from a person's life are included. By operation of the present invention, the plurality of segments is sequenced such that n! permutations of the segments are viewable in different orders. In this manner, it is possible, more than in a pre-ordained or pre-determined manner of display, to apprehend something essential about the life of the person depicted in the different segments, as this more closely represents what that person him-or herself carries around as their own memory of their life and aspirations for the future.

Thus, a video segment, Vi, might be selected from a significant event in the person's childhood; a video segment, V2, might be a significant event from the person's teenage years, and another segment, V3, might be a significant event from the person's adulthood. Viewed in strict chronological fashion, Vi, V2, V3, there might emerge one picture, almost a causality, from the childhood to the event(s) depicted in the person's teenage and adult years. Viewed in a different order, however, a different picture might emerge, say, if the events from the person's adulthood, V3, are first viewed, followed by the event(s) from the person's childhood, Vi, then followed by the event(s) from the person's teenage years. Shuffled and reviewed in this fashion, it is possible that a different perception, and perhaps a greater knowledge and familiarity with the person might emerge. In addition, such reshuffling might provide a more accurate familiarity with the manner in which those events are actually remembered and carried by that person in their own head -all present, essentially simultaneously, non-chronologically.

EXAMPLE 5

APPLICATION OF THE METHOD OF THIS INVENTION TO RANDOMIZE

AN EXISTING FILM

In a further example of how the present invention may be used, an existing film, stored either in a computer database as a digital file, or on a DVD or Blu-rayTM disk, may be subjected to randomization. This may be achieved by selecting, for example, to have the various chapters of a film (i.e. the various scenes of the film) detected and played in a permutation of different orders, rather than in the order defined by the chronology in which the segments are provided. Thus, for a given film comprising chapters, rather than re-watching the film in the same order that it has previously been watched, the film may be provided to an apparatus according to this invention in which the method of this invention is implemented, and up to 10! Variations on the original film may then be experienced. Alternatively, the user may elect to have the system permute the existing film files in a user defined manner. For example, the user may elect to randomize the film in linear ten minute segments.

Alternatively, the user may, for instance, elect to break the film up into, say, three defined elements. Thus, for a standard 90 minute film, for example, the user may elect to define the first 35 minutes as Vi, the next 45 minutes as V2, and the final 10 minutes as V3. Then, these elements may be viewed in 3! Iterations, each time, thereby, permitting the viewer a different apprecitation of the otherwise fixed content of the film.

Claims (5)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A method for displaying a video program optionally comprising associated audio, which comprises, each time a program for displaying is run, displaying n segments of images (and optionally associated audio) stored in at least one database in up to n! different permutations, without repeating the display of a particular permutation until all such permutations have been displayed.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1 in which segments stored in different databases are combined in different permutations with each other.
3. 3. An apparatus for displaying a video program wherein said apparatus comprises a means for reading encoded data and outputting video and audio encoded by such data, wherein said apparatus is responsive to commands, either encoded in storage medium interchangeably insertable into and removable from said apparatus or encoded directly in the operating system of said apparatus, wherein said outputting comprises sequential display to video and audio display devices, each time a program for displaying is run, n segments of images (and optionally associated audio) stored in at least one database in up to n! different permutations, without repeating the display of a particular permutation until all such permutations have been displayed.
4. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which segments stored in different databases are combined in different permutations with each other in a sequential fashion for display.
5. 5. A system comprising an apparatus according to claim 3 and operating a method according to claim 1.