JP2014534513A - Method and user interface for classifying media assets - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to grouping media assets stored at different locations. Media assets are identified as having a common classification (420) by using metadata associated with such media assets. Additional media assets are also automatically added to such storage locations (430), and the additional media assets share the same classification as previously classified media assets. Optionally, a suggestion is provided to the user based on such a classification operation (425).

Description

  This application claims the priority of US Provisional Application No. 61 / 546,025, filed Oct. 11, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

  The present disclosure relates generally to digital lockers, and more specifically to user interfaces used to manage digital locker content residing in different locations.

  With storage services known as digital lockers, and the increasing presence of media stored on consumer devices by users, users can have media content stored in multiple locations. Because digital locker services and local / remote storage devices can have file formats or front ends that vary from service to service and from device to device, such users can have difficulty understanding such content. Users can also find it difficult to buy new content at a discount because the suggestions made to the users are only related to a particular digital locker or media service.

  A method and apparatus for automatically grouping media assets stored at different locations is described. Media assets are grouped together by determining how the corresponding metadata for each media asset is related. Since the additional media assets share a classification with the media assets previously grouped, the additional media assets are automatically added to such locations.

  These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which will be explained or read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, like reference numerals represent like elements throughout the drawings.
1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system of a media distribution and consumption system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary consumer device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary media device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for classifying media assets stored at different locations according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a user interface showing the location of various media assets in the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a user interface illustrating the classification of various media assets that are grouped together in accordance with the present disclosure.

  For the purposes of this specification, the term digital locker can be a storage server that allows a user to store media content remotely or locally. A digital locker can also be a digital copyright service that allows users to use content from such services. An example of the digital copyright service is ULTRAVIOLET, but is not limited thereto.

  Various fields are introduced below, and such generic fields are used to indicate various characteristics for media assets, media services, digital locker services, and the like. In this application, fields are represented by using “tags” in the form of << field >>. Specific attributes for such fields are: << Field & Attribute 1 & Attribute 2 & Attribute 3. . . It can be added using various delimiters as shown by >>. It will also be appreciated that certain hash combinations (MD5, SHA1, etc.) can construct fields and attributes that can represent the contents of fields and associated attributes.

  Other implementations can be made in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, and each media service and digital locker service can have their own metadata description of how to define their media assets. Such a unique metadata description can be converted to other metadata using an XML conversion table or other metadata conversion technique.

  Table 1 below represents an example of a media service such as a social networking service or a media asset delivery service. Table 2 shows examples of various identification information that can be used to identify media assets. Table 4 represents various parameters for media assets. Table 5 represents various fields for the location or style for transmission of media assets. Table 6 represents various parental assignments for media assets. Table 7 represents the various fields for suggestions that can be made to the media asset.

  The term media asset (as described below for Table 3) refers to video-based media, audio-based media, television programs, movies, interactive services, video games, HTML-based web pages, video on demand, audio / Video broadcasts, radio programs, advertisements, podcasts, etc.

  FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a media distribution / consumption system 100. Media assets such as movies, television programs, music, video games, electronic books, videos, podcasts, and the like can be stored in multiple areas of the system 100. The remote media server 102 may be a server used to store such media that can be downloaded or streamed to the consumer device 150,160. The media server 102 interoperates with the license server 112 to acquire various DRM / license information, thereby enabling the consuming devices 150 and 160 to effectively play media that protects such a scheme. The media server 102 can also be implemented as an over-the-top (OTT) and / or media-on-demand (NETFLIX, PANDORA, etc.) service that can deliver the same media title to different consumer devices 150, 160 in different formats. . Digital locker 104 (ICLOUD, EC-2, ULTRAVIOLET, KEYCHEST, etc.) is another form of media where media assets are arranged for final download / streaming to consumer devices 150, 160 Work as a storage location. In the case of a digital locker 104, the locker itself can distribute the delivery of media assets from multiple servers under the control of the locker service 104 without requiring access to a specific server. Approval for playback of media assets can be approved using license server 114 when digital locker 104 is delivering the assets. It should be noted that the multiple digital lockers 104 shown in FIG. 1 illustrate the possibility of having multiple storage locations for media assets that can exist with the local media storage device 140.

  It is anticipated that the license servers 112, 114 may use the same DRM scheme or different DRM schemes, or may support multiple DRM schemes, eg, as supported in an ULTRAVIOLET digital locker environment. Such a license server can also be implemented to coordinate various locker services when the digital locker 104 is implemented in the form of a digital rights management service. For example, the digital locker 104 can be a storage location for media assets, while permissions for using such media assets are coordinated through the license server 114 and the consumer devices 150,160. Similarly, the license server 112 and the remote media service 102 can be implemented as digital lockers implemented as a digital rights management service.

  The media usage database 120 coordinates usage information that can be tracked when the user operates the consumer device 150, 160. Usage information includes what media assets were consumed, when the media assets were purchased, and when it was, where the media assets were, if applicable, what digital locker service was associated with, what media device Attributes such as how much media assets have been consumed and how long the media assets have been consumed. Such information can be stored on a consumer device (150, 160) using an application program interface (API), media server (102), digital locker (104), license server (112, 114), etc. Can be sought through. Through the use of such APIs, the media usage database can be stored in the consuming device 150, 160 and / or the local media server / storage device 140 to track the playback of media assets distributed through the digital locker 104. The media usage database 120 can be used to build a user profile for a user based on such usage of media assets by the user.

  The media usage database 120 may also be implemented to recognize various media assets stored and / or accessed by a user as shown in FIG. For example, the media usage database is configured to query the digital locker 104 for media assets stored or made available through the locker. Similarly, the media usage database 120 can query the servers 102 and 140 to look up media assets stored on such servers. Optionally, the media usage database 120 can also request consumption devices 150 and 160 for the presence of media content residing in such devices. In an optional embodiment, consumption devices 150 and 160 can be configured to query instead of media usage database 120.

  Media asset recognition by the media usage database 120 is also further enhanced by a database implemented to extract metadata from the identified media assets. That is, the media usage database 120 can process ID tags, text files, etc. that can be embedded within the media asset, identifying attributes for the media asset, which further includes additional information about the media asset. This can be further enhanced by using a metadata database 180 that can be used.

  The suggestion database 130 is based on the data obtained from the use of media consumed on such devices, the presence of media assets stored in the digital locker 104, and the use of media assets used through the digital locker 104. Includes various suggestions that can be presented to the user of the device 150,160. Proposals can be constructed based on media usage data in database 120. In an optional implementation, suggestion database 130 is a content broker that coordinates the purchase and / or distribution of content from various sources, such as media server 102 for consumer devices 150, 160, digital locker 104, and the like. 130 can be combined. Alternatively, the suggestion database 130 and the content broker can be different components. Regardless of whether content is stored locally (on the local media server 140) or remotely (on the server 102, digital locker 104), the content broker 130 is licensed to the consumer device 150, 160 and the license. It can be implemented to coordinate the license between the servers 112, 114.

  Consumer devices 150, 160 are devices such as personal computers, PDAs, set-top boxes, tablets, television receivers, video game systems, cellular phones, smartphones, or other types of media devices used to consume content. Can be, but is not limited to them. Consuming devices 150 and 160 are expected to be operated by the same user, thereby allowing media assets that may have been associated with a particular user through the use of a digital locker service to consumer devices linked to such users. Can be played. That is, media assets can be distributed to various consumer devices in various forms as long as such media assets are associated with the user's media locker (eg, video media assets can be distributed in various encoding formats). it can). The same situation may apply for OTT services that use the server 102 or digital locker 104 to deliver media assets. The local server 140 can also operate as a local storage device (network attached storage, hard drive, disk device, solid state memory, etc.), and media assets can be stored for playback to the consumer devices 150,160. it can.

  Media database 180 may be a database used to obtain further information about media assets played on consumer devices 150, 160. Such a search can be performed by using a universally unique identifier (UUID), an entertainment identifier registry (EIDR), and / or a media ID name associated with the media asset. Such information can then be used by the media usage database 120 to determine which suggestions to provide to the user when consuming the media by using the proposal database 130. Media assets and their associated metadata are derived from metadata within the media asset from external sources such as the media database 180, search engines, dictionaries that query IDs against metadata fields, and the like Can do.

  The media database 180 can also be used to classify media assets based on the associated metadata of such media assets. That is, metadata groups metadata assets based on similar attributes that can include categories such as file type, title, studio, actor, character, director, genre, director, broadcast network, and the like. Can be used to divide. For example, the first media asset stored in the digital locker 104 may be a James Bond movie whose actor is Sean Connery. A second media asset stored in another digital locker 104 (at another location) is a James Bond movie starring Roger Moore. Comparison of such media assets by media database 180 will classify both media assets as being related to a “James Bond” movie, and such media assets are grouped together using such designations. be able to. However, the third media asset may be a movie highlander starring Sean Connery. If the classification operations described are performed on the first and third media assets, such assets will be grouped together as a movie starring Sean Connery. Multiple classifications can be presented in the media database 180 to perform classification operations according to the principles described.

  Additional media assets can then be automatically added to the digital locker 104 based on such additional media assets having the same classification as other media assets already present in such digital locker. Thus, in the example shown above, additional content with James Bond classification, such as trailers, soundtracks, ebooks, and the like, is automatically added to the digital locker 104 based on such classification operations. can do. Additional media assets are automatically added from a source such as remote media server 102 and stored in digital locker 104. In order to access such media assets, digital rights can be proposed to the user through the digital rights management system as described above.

  In an optional embodiment, the user agrees to automatically add additional media assets without selecting media assets to be added in advance. In this optional embodiment, at a later time, the user can specify when to finish adding the media asset.

  The determination of where to store additional media assets can be determined in a variety of ways. The user profile can be used as described above to determine which digital locker 104 or local media storage device 140 should store additional media assets (eg, the most commonly used digital locker 104 uses additional media assets). This is the storage area where assets are stored.) The user profile also allows media assets having a classification such as movies to be automatically stored in a first storage location, such as digital locker 104 or local media storage 140, while media having a second classification, such as a television program. The asset can be specified to be stored in a second storage location, such as the second digital locker 104. Other variations of such storage operations can be implemented in accordance with the exemplary principles described. The sample metadata fields, etc. shown in Table 8 can be used in the described exemplary embodiment.

  Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of one embodiment of the consuming device 200 is shown. The consuming device 200 can operate similarly to devices such as computers, set top boxes, tablets, televisions, telephones, gateways, and the like. The illustrated consumer device 200 can also be incorporated into other systems including audio or display devices. In any case, some components necessary for complete operation of the system are not shown for the sake of brevity, as they are well known to those skilled in the art.

  Content is received by the input signal receiver 202 in the apparatus 200 shown in FIG. Input signal receiver 202 receives, demodulates, and decodes signals supplied through one of several possible networks including wireless, cable, satellite, Ethernet, fiber, and telephone line networks. It can be one of several known receiver circuits used to do this. The desired input signal can be selected and retrieved by the input signal receiver 202 based on user input provided through the control interface or touch panel interface 222. The touch panel interface 222 may include an interface for a touch screen device. The touch panel interface 222 can also be adapted to interface with cellular phones, tablets, mice, high end remote controls, and the like.

  The decoded output signal is supplied to the input stream processor 204. The input stream processor 204 performs final signal selection and processing, including separation of video content from audio content for the content stream. Audio content is provided to audio processor 206 for conversion from a received format, such as a compressed digital signal, to an analog waveform signal. The analog waveform signal is supplied to the audio interface 208 and further supplied to the display device or the audio amplifier. Alternatively, the audio interface 208 uses a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cable or an alternative audio interface such as that according to the Sony / Phillips Digital Interconnect Format (SPDIF) to send the digital signal to an audio output device or display. Can be supplied to the device. The audio interface can also include an amplifier for driving one or more sets of speakers. Audio processor 206 also performs any necessary conversion for storage of the audio signal.

  The video output from the input stream processor 204 is supplied to the video processor 210. The video signal can be in one of several formats. The video processor 210 converts video content based on the input signal format as necessary. Video processor 210 also performs any necessary conversions to store the video signal.

  The storage device 212 stores audio and video content received at the input. The storage device 212 is responsible for following content under control of the controller 214 and also based on navigation commands such as fast forward (FF) and rewind (REW) received from commands such as the user interface 216 and / or the touch panel interface 222, for example. Enables retrieval and playback at The storage device 212 can be one or more mass integrated electronic memories such as a hard disk drive, static RAM (SRAM) or dynamic RAM (DRAM), or a compact disk (CD) drive or digital video disk (DVD). ) A replaceable optical disk storage system such as a drive.

  The converted video signal from video processor 210, originating from input or from storage device 212, is provided to display interface 218. The display interface 218 further provides display signals to display devices of the type described above. The display interface 218 can be an analog signal interface such as red-green-blue (RGB) or a digital interface such as HDMI. It should be understood that the display interface 218 will generate various screens for presenting search results in a two-dimensional format as described in more detail below.

  The controller 214 is interconnected to some of the components of the device 200 including the input stream processor 202, the audio processor 206, the video processor 210, the storage device 212, and the user interface 216 through a bus. The controller 214 manages the conversion process for converting the input stream signal into a signal for storage in a storage device or display. The controller 214 also manages the retrieval and playback of stored content. As will be described further below, the controller 214 generates and coordinates the display of graphic objects representing such content that can be stored or distributed through the content server 110 described above and to be retrieved. Can interface with the search engine 105.

  The controller 214 further includes a control memory 220 (eg, RAM, SRAM, DRAM, ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), flash memory, electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrical, for storing information and instruction codes for the controller 214. Volatile or non-volatile memory, including dynamically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) and the like. The control memory 220 can store instructions for the controller 214. The control memory may also store a database of elements such as graphic elements containing content, various graphic elements used to generate a displayed user interface for the display interface 218, and the like. it can. Alternatively, the memory can store the graphic elements in identified or grouped storage locations, and the access or storage location table can be used to identify storage locations for various portions of information associated with the graphic elements. In addition, various graphic elements can be generated in response to computer instructions interpreted by the controller 214 for output to the display interface 218. Further, the implementation of the control memory 220 may be several possible, such as a single memory device or, alternatively, more than one memory circuit communicatively connected or coupled together to form a shared or common memory. Various embodiments may be included. In addition, the memory can be included in a larger circuit along with other circuits, such as part of a bus communication circuit.

  Optionally, controller 214 can be adapted to extract metadata from audio and video media by using audio processor 206 and video processor 210, respectively. That is, the metadata contained in the video signal within the vertical blanking period, the auxiliary data field associated with the video, or other areas of the video signal generates an electronic program guide and has descriptive information about the received video. And can be collected by the controller 214 using the video processor 210 to generate metadata that can be used for functions such as supporting ancillary information services. Similarly, the audio processor 206 working with the controller 214 can be adapted to recognize audio watermarks that may be present in the audio signal. Such audio watermarks can then be used to perform some action, such as recognition of the audio signal, security identifying the source of the audio signal, or other services. Further, metadata to support the actions listed above can come from a network source processed by the controller 214.

  The controller 214 can also be configured to process user interface information and filter communications and content received from various sources based on the context, subject matter, title, etc. of such communications and content, and filtering All communications / contexts received based on the technique will not be displayed. For example, in accordance with the principles of this disclosure, such communications can be displayed if the received communications are from a particular source of a particular context / subject, or such source and subject are specified in the user profile information. If so, you can relay further. Other filtering options may be realized with the exemplary embodiments.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, the user interface process of the present disclosure uses an input device that can be used to express functions such as fast forward, rewind, etc. to generate user input. To enable this, the touch panel device 300 on the tablet or consumer device can be interfaced through the user interface 216 and / or the touch panel interface 222 of the receiving device 200. The touch panel device 300 enables operation of a receiving device or a set top box based on hand movements or gestures, and actions are converted into commands for the set top box or other control device through the panel. In one embodiment, the touch panel 300 simply serves as a navigation tool for navigating the grid display or as a means for controlling the second device through the user interface. In other embodiments, touch panel 300 further serves as a display device that allows a user to interact more directly with navigation through a grid display of content. The touch panel device can be included as part of a remote control device that includes more conventional control functions, such as an activation button. The touch panel 300 can also include at least one camera element. Note that various touch panel interfaces 222, buttons, soft keys, trackballs, styluses, touchpads, etc. can operate as input interfaces that provide the user with the ability to control elements shown as part of user interface 216.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for classifying media assets stored at different locations. Step 405 begins by extracting metadata from a first media asset at a first storage location, such as the first digital locker 104. Step 410 continues with extracting metadata from a second media asset in a second storage location, such as second digital locker 104, local media storage device 140, consumer device 150, consumer device 160, or the like. To do. Metadata extracted from the first and second media assets is compared at step 415. The result of the comparison step 415 results in a common classification being assigned to the first and second media assets in step 420. Various methods for classifying metadata are described herein with reference to the use of metadata database 180, but are not limited thereto.

  In an optional step 425, a proposal is made to the user to obtain a third media asset, and such a proposal is selected based on the classification assigned in step 420. That is, the proposal is not limited to a specific service or based on what is stored at a specific location, but the exemplary principles described are stored by a user and such media assets are stored at multiple locations. Can be used to bring suggestions to the user based on media content that has access when stored.

  The following serves as a different example of a proposal that can be delivered to a user in the use of the remote media server 102, digital locker 104, local media server 140, consumer device 150, and consumer device 160. Implementation of such an example can be performed using information obtained through the media usage database 120 and the suggestion database 130, optionally with content brokers coordinating such suggestions.

  The first example is where a particular content provider, such as a movie studio or broadcast network, wants to promote the purchase of their content but determines who purchased what content and where such content is located Occurs when there is no means. By using the information required from the media copyright database 120, the content studio or broadcast network producer can use the discount price and price for each purchased “X” media asset produced by the content studio or broadcast network. You can know to set a proposal that will allow you to acquire additional media assets for free. As an example, a user purchases two movie media assets that are available through the digital locker 104. The user then purchases a third movie media asset through a content provider storing content on the server 102 and all movies are classified as being from the same movie studio. Since three titles have been purchased (X = 3 in this example), the proposal can be presented to the user, and such media titles have the same classification (ie, have the same movie studio and the user has the fourth media Assets can be acquired free of charge, and the user can specify where to store digital media assets and which digital assets are purchased, by using elements of content broker 130, server 102, service 104, Or the coordination of proposals can be set by the content broker architecture through other content providers where the content broker 130 can coordinate the purchase and distribution of such digital assets.

  There is a second scenario in which the user can deliver a suggestion according to the consumer device they are using. Thereby, a digital media asset proposal at no charge or at a discounted price can be suggested to the user to recommend consumption of the media asset on the second device. For example, a user plays a video game using the consumer device 150, whereby such information is tracked in the media usage database 120. The user's media usage is tracked and the media usage database can also track what devices the user owns and / or registers so that he can buy movie media assets or view previews that can be played on the consumer device 160 You can make suggestions to the user. This search can also be done by referring to the digital locker 104 data where the user registers a specific device for media playback. This also allows different types of digital media that come from distributed content providers, usually not related to each other, to be unified when the proposal is displayed to the user.

  The third example mentioned is that when the user operates the consumer device, the media consumed is from a local source (media server 140) and / or television station, cable provider, IPTV stream, satellite broadcast, personal Allows reception from broadcast sources such as video recorders and the like. References to media from any of these sources use the techniques described above by the media usage database 120 through additional searching of the database 180 (for additional information about the media that may not be part of the media). Can be monitored. Consumption of content in any of these environments can also facilitate usage against the use of digital lockers in several different ways.

  The fourth example results in a proposal based on the digital locker 104 used to consume media assets and the consumption device 150 or consumption device 160 used for consumption. From this work, the media usage database 120 builds media usage information including movies, which devices are used to consume the movies, and when the movies are consumed by the user. This information is then referenced in a suggestion database 130 consistent with the user's encouragement to try the digital locker service, and the digital locker can be populated with the version of the movie being viewed. Alternatively, the suggestion may cause the digital locker 104 to sequel to the movie being watched, music from the movie, games related to the movie, supplemental information about the movie, Other types of media such as those can be placed (free or discounted), and the added media has the same classification as other media stored in the digital locker 104. Other proposals based on the described principle are possible.

  In step 430, the third media asset is automatically added to the first or second storage location, and the third media asset has the same classification as the first and second media assets. There is no limit to the amount of media assets that have similar classifications that can be added to the first or second storage location. The determination of where to store the third media asset can be determined according to the user profile in step 435, the user profile can specify a particular storage location, the storage location of such a location Media asset categories that can be selected based on frequency of use can be mapped to specific storage locations (eg, sports assets in the first locker 104, television assets in the second locker 104). Etc.

  Step 440 uses the principles described above to classify the fourth media asset stored in the first storage location and the fifth media asset stored in the second storage location with a second common classification. To be implemented. In step 445, the sixth media asset having the second common classification can be automatically stored in the first or second storage location according to the principles described above.

  FIG. 5 shows an exemplary user interface displaying various media assets according to the principles described. Specifically, the user interface 500 displays elements that match the media asset 505 at a first storage location, such as the digital locker 104. Elements that match the media asset 510 are also represented as being in the first storage location. Similarly, media assets 515 and 520 are displayed as stored in the second storage location.

  FIG. 6 shows an exemplary user interface displaying classified results according to the principles described. That is, after performing a classification operation as described above, media asset 505 and media asset 515 are determined to share the same classification of James Bond and are grouped accordingly. Further, media asset 525 shares the same classification as media assets 505 and 515, indicating that media asset 525 has been added to the group. The location where the media asset 525 will be stored can be determined according to the principles set forth in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

  Similarly, media asset 510 and media asset 520 are shown to share a common classification of highlanders and grouped accordingly. Media asset 530 shares the same classification as media assets 510 and 520, indicating that media asset 530 has been added to the highlander group. The location where the media asset 530 will be stored can be determined according to the principles described herein. Other classifications can be used depending on the presence of various media assets. For example, one grouping of media assets can share common directors, common actors, common genres, movie studios, broadcast networks, themes, and so on.

  It should be understood that the elements shown in the figures can be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, or a combination thereof. These elements are preferably implemented in a combination of hardware and software on one or more appropriately programmed general purpose devices that can include a processor, memory, and input / output interfaces.

  This description illustrates the principles of the present disclosure. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art will be able to devise various configurations that do not expressly or are explicitly described herein, but that embody the principles of the present disclosure, which are within the scope of the present disclosure. It will be understood that

  All examples and conditional language set forth herein are for informational purposes to assist the reader in understanding the principles of this disclosure and the concepts that the inventors have contributed to the development of the art. It is intended and should not be construed as being limited to such specifically described examples and conditions.

  Further, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass their structural and functional equivalents. In addition, such equivalents are intended to include both currently known equivalents and equivalents developed in the future, ie, any element developed that performs the same function regardless of structure.

  Thus, for example, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the block diagrams shown herein represent conceptual diagrams of exemplary circuits embodying the principles of the present disclosure. Similarly, any flowchart, flow diagram, state transition diagram, pseudocode, etc. represents various processes that can be represented substantially in a computer-readable medium, whether or not a computer or processor is explicitly indicated. Regardless, it will be understood that this is done by a computer or processor. Computer readable media and code written therein may be in transition states (signals) and non-transition states (eg, on a tangible medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray, hard drive, flash card, etc. (Above).

  The functions of the various elements shown in the figures can be realized by using dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in conjunction with appropriate software. When implemented by a processor, the functionality can be implemented by a single dedicated processor, a single shared processor, or multiple individual processors that can share a portion thereof. Furthermore, the explicit use of the term “processor” or “controller” should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, but is not limited to a digital signal processor (“DSP”). ) Hardware, read only memory (“ROM”) for storing software, random access memory (“RAM”), and non-volatile storage may be implicitly included.

  Other conventional and / or custom hardware can also be included. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are merely conceptual. These functions can be performed by the operation of program logic, by dedicated logic, by the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, and certain techniques are more specifically understood from the context. Can be selected by the practitioner.

  While embodiments herein including the teachings of the present disclosure have been shown and described in detail, those skilled in the art can still readily devise many other various embodiments that include these teachings. It should be noted that changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings.

Claims (17)

Assigning (420) a classification to a first media asset stored at a first location and a second media asset stored at a second location, wherein the classification is the first media asset And based on metadata associated with the second media asset;
Adding (430) a third media asset having the classification to at least one of the first storage location and the second storage location;
How to add media files to a storage location, including Said assigning step comprises:
Extracting metadata embedded in the first media asset;
Extracting metadata embedded in the second media asset;
Comparing the metadata from the first media asset with the metadata from the second media asset by using a database that groups metadata into a plurality of categories;
The method of claim 1, further comprising:   The method of claim 2, wherein the classification is automatically selected from a plurality of classifications based on a user profile.   The method of claim 1, wherein the location where the third media asset is added is selected according to a user profile.   The method of claim 4, wherein the third media asset is selected from a plurality of media assets in view of the user profile. Presenting a proposal from a plurality of proposals to be presented to a user based on the classification;
In response to the presented proposal, the third media asset is added;
The method of claim 1 comprising:   The method of claim 1, wherein the classification is at least one of file type, title, studio, actor, character, director, genre, director, and broadcast network. Assigning a second category to a fourth media asset stored in the first location and a fifth media asset stored in the second location, wherein the second category is the second category 4 based on metadata associated with four media assets and the fifth media asset;
Adding a sixth media asset having the second classification to at least one of the first storage location and the second storage location;
The method of claim 1, further comprising: Generating a displayable signal including a first element corresponding to a first media asset stored at a first location and a second element corresponding to a second media asset stored at a second location And steps to
Updating the displayable signal to provide classifications assigned to the first media asset and the second media asset based on metadata associated with the first media asset and the second media asset; Displaying (420);
Updating (430) updating the displayable signal to display a third element corresponding to a third media asset having the classification, the third media asset comprising the first storage location and Added to at least one of the second storage locations;
A method for generating a user interface comprising: Extracting metadata embedded in the first media asset;
Extracting metadata embedded in the second media asset;
Comparing the metadata from the first media asset with the metadata from the second media asset by using a database that groups metadata into a plurality of categories;
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:   The method of claim 10, wherein the classification is automatically selected from the plurality of classifications based on a user profile.   The method of claim 10, wherein the location where the third media asset is added is selected according to a user profile.   The method of claim 12, wherein the third media asset is selected from a plurality of media assets in view of the user profile. Updating the displayable signal to present a proposal from a plurality of proposals to be presented to a user based on the classification;
In response to the presented proposal, the third media asset is added;
The method of claim 10, comprising:   The method of claim 10, wherein the classification is at least one of file type, title, studio, actor, character, director, genre, director, and broadcast network. The displayable signal is updated and stored in the second location, represented by a fourth media asset stored in the first location, represented by a fourth component, and a fifth component Displaying a second classification assigned to the assigned fifth media asset, wherein the second classification is included in metadata associated with the fourth media asset and the fifth media asset. Based on the steps,
Updating the displayable signal to display a sixth element representative of a sixth media asset having the second classification, the sixth media asset comprising the first storage location and the Adding to at least one of the second storage locations;
The method of claim 10, further comprising: Generating a displayable signal including a first element corresponding to a first media asset stored at a first location and a second element corresponding to a second media asset stored at a second location Display processor to
A controller that determines a classification assigned to the first media asset and the second media asset based on metadata associated with the first media asset and the second media asset;
A device comprising:
The display processor updates the displayable signal to display the classification;
The controller adds a third media asset having the classification added to at least one of the first storage location and the second storage location;
The display processor updates the displayable signal to display a storage location of the third media asset;
Said device.

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