Importance

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Abstract

Video data is retrieved by a user device (41) from a database (49) as a plurality of video segments each having metadata (44) associated therewith indicative of the relative narrative interest of individual segments of the data, and is arranged such that it may be played at a selectable plurality of speeds. The speed at which each segment is to be played is selected in accordance with the metadata associated with that segment. This allows a “catch-up” facility to be provided to allow a viewer to watch the beginning of a sequence which is still being created (e.g a sports fixture in progress) at a variable speed so that the events of greater interest are displayed at normal speed (or in slow motion) and the less significant parts at a faster speed. The selection of the parts to be played at each speed can be tailored to the interests of the user, the relative interest of each segment, and the elapsed duration of the sequence to be viewed. The speed may be controlled by selective omission of frames, or groups of frames. Alternatively, separate streams may be generated for the different speeds available, and a manifest file generated specifying from which stream each segment is to be selected. Processing of the video stream to generate the various speed outputs may be in a client device (41) or in a client agent embodied in a content server device (420). The process may be controlled by the client device or by an agent in a request server (42).

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First Claim