TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally relates to devices that play standard video that is either stored locally on the device or streamed over a network, and more specifically relates to providing devices with video for display of textual content such as used to provide electronic versions of newspapers, magazines or books.

BACKGROUND

Over the last few years there has been an explosion in creating electronic versions of books, magazines and newspapers. This electronic textual content is viewed using a specific user device, such as an e-reader or viewed using standard user devices such as personal computers (PCs), laptops, smartphones or tablets. This electronic content is provided to the user through various means: 1) industry standard formatted files such as ePub or pdf, 2) proprietary format files such as Amazon Kindle or Sony's eBeB, or 3) software applications that run on a particular device such as a Time Magazine iOS application for use on an iPod or iPad.

Video, such as may be processed from a file stored in or communicatively connected to a device or from network streamed data received by the device from a remote source, is comprised of “frames.” These frames are processed, in sequence over time, for display of respective images of the scenes. A digital data file or streamed data set of video is generally encoded as two types of video frames, I frames and P frames. The I frames can be decoded without reference to any other frames, but the P frames are decoded with reference to previously decoded I frames and P frames. The I frames usually take considerably more storage then the P frames. Therefore, to save on storage requirements, it is usually desirable to have more of the P frames and fewer of the I frames. The video includes one or more “header” containing metadata which, together with any inputs operative by the metadata, control the sequencing of the frames to display respective images to represent the applicable moving scene of the video. Because the P frames are decoded with reference to previously decoded I frames and P frames, random access to any given frame of the video conventionally requires that previous I frames and P frames must first be decoded.

It would therefore be a significant improvement in the art and technology to provide systems and methods for processing video for display of textual content, such as for electronic versions of newspapers, magazines, books or other purposes, with substantially random selectability of next frame for display from among other frames of the video.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention include video content that when displayed on a user device appears to the user as a typical electronic version of a book, newspaper and magazine. The video content includes a set of frames, each frame viewed one at a time in sequence, with each frame being a page and with capability for access both sequential and non-sequential (i.e., out of regular sequence) frames/pages. The user device can have limited processing power, one or more inputs, a source of the video, a video decoder, and a display. The video format of each frame includes standard video segment and audio segment, together along with one or more metadata segment. The video is processed/played one frame at a time and the metadata that is attached to each video frame is used to provide a list of possible frame numbers to access and display next. Each metadata segment includes logical criteria which, if met, results in an action performed. For example, the action may include next access to a given frame of the video, and processing and display of that frame. Logical criteria of the metadata segment may include, for example, receipt of input of a key stroke, mouse click/movement, touch gesture and possibly the area of the screen, and others. The input is processed together with the metadata segment to yield a next frame to goto, file to goto, a type of transition from current image display to the next image display, area of the screen display where the next frame is displayed (which generally is the entire display, but not always) and others. The video can be uniquely displayed in each device. For example, device specifications, such as display size, input devices and speed of processing by decoder can dictate display, and user preferences of the device, such as font size, color, language and others, can dictate video output by the device. Embodiments also provide concurrent display of multiple videos on a display, wherein the videos are overlaid or non-overlaid in the display. In certain embodiments, the video can invoke other video(s). A main or master video provides a selectable list to other video(s). On invoking a selected video from the master video, control can be returned to the master video.

An embodiment of the invention includes a system for interacting with a video. The system includes a processor, a video decoder communicatively connected to the processor, a storage communicatively connected to the demultiplexer, the storage contains at least one video file having more than one video frame, at least one of the video frame including at least one respective metadata segment of the video frame, and an input device communicatively connected to the processor, wherein the processor, responsive to the input device, processes the at least one of the video frame including the at least one respective metadata segment of the video frame, controlling selection of another of the more than one video frame for the video decoder.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a video file of respective video frames. The video frames are respectively processable by a processor to deliver a video image to a display. The video file includes a respective video segment of each video frame, and a respective metadata logic code segment of each video frame, the respective metadata logic code segment of each video frame processable, responsive to interactive input received by the processor, for controlling the video in the display.

Yet another embodiment of the invention includes a method of processing a video file. The method includes demultiplexing the video file to obtain a first video frame, the first video frame includes a video segment and a metadata segment, decoding the first video frame, processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the first video frame, displaying an image in respect of the video segment of the step of processing, receiving an input logically operative to the metadata segment of the step of processing, selecting a second video frame for the step of decoding in response to the step of receiving, and repeating the steps of decoding, processing and displaying for the second video frame.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a system for displaying a video of successive images from a video file. The system includes a demultiplexer for splitting the video file into at least one respective video frame for each respective image of the video, each of the at least one video frame including a video segment and a metadata segment, a decoder communicatively connected to the demultiplexer, for rendering each of the at least one respective video frame for processing, a processor communicatively connected to the decoder, for processing the video segment and the metadata segment, respectively, of each of the at least one video frame, respectively, a display communicatively connected to the processor, for displaying the successive images, each video segment of each video frame displayable as a respective one of the successive images, and an input device communicatively connected to the processor, for receiving input operative to the processor in processing the metadata segment. The processor selectively calls a next one of the successive images, responsive to processing the metadata segment and input received from the input device.

Yet another embodiment of the invention includes a method for play of an interactive video, the interactive video includes a metadata segment associated with a video segment of each frame. The method includes decoding the interactive video, first processing the video segment and the metadata segment of a first frame of the interactive video, first receiving a first input directive to the step of processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the first frame, first discontinuing the step of first processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the first frame, first calling a second frame of the video, in response to the steps of first processing and first receiving, second processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the second frame of the interactive video, second receiving a second input directive to the step of second processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the second frame, second discontinuing the step of second processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the second frame, second calling a third frame of the video, in response to the steps of second processing and second receiving, third processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the third frame of the interactive video, third receiving a third input directive to the step of third processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the third frame, and third discontinuing the step of processing the video segment and the metadata segment of the third frame of the interactive video.

