The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 08, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 24, 2003
Jonathan Richard Thorpe, Winchester, GB;
Andrew David Kydd, Berlin/Schoneberg, DE;
Mark John Mcgrath, Bracknell, GB;
Alexander John James Miller, Basingstoke, GB;
Timothy Stuart Roberts, Hook, GB;
Michael John Williams, Basingstoke, GB;
Barney Govan, Martinez, CA (US);
Jonathan Richard Thorpe, Winchester, GB;
Andrew David Kydd, Berlin/Schoneberg, DE;
Mark John McGrath, Bracknell, GB;
Alexander John James Miller, Basingstoke, GB;
Timothy Stuart Roberts, Hook, GB;
Michael John Williams, Basingstoke, GB;
Barney Govan, Martinez, CA (US);
Sony United Kingdom Limited, Weybridge, GB;
Abstract
A data structure for representing metadata describes the content of at least one shot or sub-shot of information material. The data structure comprises a volume identification defining a data carrier on which the information material is contained, at least one shot identification defining the shot or sub-shot within the material, and at least one type of metadata associated with the content of the shot or sub-shot. The volume identification is arranged at a first hierarchical level and the shot identification is arranged at a lower hierarchical level and the metadata describing the shot is arranged with respect to the shot hierarchical level. The data structure provides an efficient facility for communicating metadata between metadata nodes including application programs which use the metadata. The metadata is identified on the basis of a shot and volume on which the information material which the metadata describes is contained. By arranging the volume identifier at a first hierarchical level, the shot identifier at a lower hierarchical level and the metadata related to the shot or sub-shot within the shot level, a systematic and compatible format for interrogating and retrieving metadata is provided.