Text-synchronized media utilization and manipulation based on an embedded barcode

Abstract

The embodiments relate to using barcodes embedded in a text document, such as a transcript. The barcode comprises a reference number or reference to a synchronization index associated with multimedia. When the barcode is read by a mobile computing device, the barcode indicates a location of multimedia that corresponds to the relevant portion of the transcript in which it appears. Methods and systems are also provided for controlling delivery of a text document based on a barcode. A mobile computing device scans a barcode or receives a portion of the text document and recognizes that a barcode has been embedded in the document. The barcode provides an address to a first computer by which the mobile computing device can authenticate itself and gain access to the text document. Based on the authentication, the mobile computing device may then obtain the text document as well as associated multimedia.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transcript comprising:
 at least one barcode;   wherein said at least one barcode comprises data selected from the group comprising a machine readable client control number and a reference to a synchronization index;   wherein said barcode is adapted to be recognized by software operating on a mobile computing device; and   wherein said mobile computing device may be used to retrieve multimedia by a process initiated by reading said barcode.   
     
     
         2 . The transcript of  claim 1 , wherein said transcript is printed and the barcode is printed thereon. 
     
     
         3 . A method for accessing a text transcription and associated multimedia utilizing a mobile computing device configured by software code to read a barcode, said method comprising:
 reading, by the mobile computing device, a barcode;   authenticating the mobile computing device based on communication with a first computer; and   delivering data comprising a synchronization index and associated multimedia, after said barcode reading step and said authenticating the mobile computing device step.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said barcode comprises data selected from the group comprising a client control number and a reference to a synchronization index. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said barcode comprises data selected from the group comprising a client control number and a reference to a synchronization index;
 wherein authentication of the mobile computing device comprises communication of a client control number by the mobile computing device to the first computer,   wherein said client control number is utilized to determine whether to authenticate; and   wherein said determination whether to authenticate causes the delivery of, or prevents the delivery of, a synchronization index and associated multimedia to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said barcode comprises a reference to a synchronization index;
 wherein said reference to a synchronization index is used to direct mobile computing device software to display multimedia and an associated synchronization index; and   wherein said barcode comprises a deep link, said deep link causing playback of multimedia at a point in the multimedia other than its beginning.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said synchronization index comprises a transcription of a legal proceeding. 
     
     
         8 . A method of delivering transcripts, said method comprising:
 providing a transcript comprising a barcode for scanning with a mobile computing device;   scanning said barcode with a mobile computing device; and   after said scanning step, initiating a transaction for payment based on information from said barcode.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of authenticating a user, said authenticating step occurring after said scanning step. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising delivery to the mobile computing device of data selected from the group comprising a transcript, a synchronization index, and multimedia . 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said transaction for payment comprises payment for delivering data to a mobile computing device, said data selected from the group comprising a transcript, a synchronization index, and multimedia. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said transcript is a transcription of a legal proceeding. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: converting transcript data to a format for printing, said format for printing comprising one transcript page per printed page, or more than one transcript page per printed page. 
     
     
         14 . A method of printing transcripts, said method comprising:
 printing a transcript page comprising text and at least one barcode,   wherein said barcode indicates a client control number for retrieving with a mobile computing device a synchronization index and corresponding multimedia.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising retrieving multimedia using a mobile computing device and the barcode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said transcript is a transcription from a legal proceeding. 
     
     
         17 . A method of sharing between a first computing device and a mobile computing device a deep link to multimedia, the method comprising:
 displaying, on a first computing device, a barcode that can be interpreted by software code running on the mobile computing device; and   retrieving, based on information provided in the barcode, a synchronization index and corresponding multimedia with the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         18 . A method of sharing a link to multimedia for retrieval of multimedia by a mobile computing device, said method comprising:
 displaying a barcode that can be interpreted by software code running on the mobile computing device; and   retrieving, based on information provided in the barcode, a synchronization index and corresponding multimedia with the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         19 . A method of sharing multimedia location data, said method comprising:
 providing a first multimedia delivery system;   providing a multimedia receiver, said multimedia receiver being capable of playing multimedia;   wherein said multimedia receiver comprises executable program code to stop or pause multimedia and to display barcode; and   and wherein said barcode may be read by a mobile computing device to facilitate delivery of multimedia to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said first multimedia delivery system comprises one selected from the group comprising cable television system, satellite television system, fiber optic multimedia delivery system, wireless multimedia delivery system, and internet-based multimedia delivery system. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising authenticating the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein authenticating the mobile computing device comprises a search for multimedia from at least one multimedia delivery system. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein authenticating the mobile computing device comprises a search for multimedia from at least one multimedia delivery system; and
 wherein said at least one multimedia delivery system comprises one selected from the group comprising cable television system, satellite television system, fiber optic multimedia delivery system, wireless multimedia delivery system, and internet-based multimedia delivery system.   
     
     
         24 . A system for sharing multimedia location data, said system comprising:
 a first multimedia delivery system;   a multimedia receiver, said multimedia receiver configured for playing multimedia;   wherein said multimedia receiver comprises executable program code to stop or pause multimedia and to display barcode;   and wherein said barcode may be read by a mobile computing device to facilitate delivery of multimedia to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said first multimedia delivery system comprises one selected from the group comprising cable television system, satellite television system, fiber optic multimedia delivery system, wireless multimedia delivery system, and internet-based multimedia delivery system. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said barcode comprises a client control number. 
     
     
         27 . A system for sharing multimedia location data, said system comprising:
 a first multimedia playback system;   wherein said multimedia playback system comprises executable program code to stop or pause multimedia and to display barcode; and   wherein said barcode may be read by a mobile computing device to facilitate delivery of multimedia to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said delivery of multimedia to the mobile computing device occurs by data transfer from a multimedia delivery system. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said first multimedia playback system comprises at least one data reading means selected from the group comprising a flash memory reader, a hard drive, a streaming media receiver, and an optical reader for reading data from a disc. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said multimedia delivery system comprises one selected from the group comprising cable television system, satellite television system, fiber optic multimedia delivery system, wireless multimedia delivery system, and internet-based multimedia delivery system. 
     
     
         31 . A method of sharing multimedia location data, said method comprising:
 providing a first multimedia delivery system;   providing a multimedia receiver, said multimedia receiver being capable of playing multimedia;   wherein said multimedia receiver comprises executable program code to display a content programming guide and to display barcode; and   and wherein said barcode may be read by a mobile computing device to facilitate delivery of multimedia to the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said first multimedia delivery system comprises one selected from the group comprising cable television system, satellite television system, fiber optic multimedia delivery system, wireless multimedia delivery system, and internet-based multimedia delivery system. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising authenticating the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein authenticating the mobile computing device comprises a search for multimedia from at least one multimedia delivery system. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein authenticating the mobile computing device comprises a search for multimedia from at least one multimedia delivery system; and wherein said at least one multimedia delivery system comprises one selected from the group comprising cable television system, satellite television system, fiber optic multimedia delivery system, wireless multimedia delivery system, and internet-based multimedia delivery system.