Indexing multimedia web content

Abstract

A method of indexing multimedia content is disclosed. An element associated with a multimedia content is located in a display page. A potential multimedia content data file is identified through automated processing of data associated with the display page. An index data associated with one or more of the following: the display page, the multimedia content, and the potential multimedia content data file, is generated by processing the potential multimedia content data file.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . to  23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising:
 locating in a display page an element associated with a multimedia content;   identifying through automated processing of data associated with the display page a binary multimedia application code;   decompiling the binary multimedia application code;   using a sniffer to parse network traffic to identify a potential multimedia content data file by parsing HTTP traffic to recognize XML files by identifying XML tags using regular expressions or DOM traversal;   applying a heuristic to the potential multimedia content data file that associates a short string as a title; a long string as a description; a string included in a set of rating strings as a rating; and a date as a release date; and   using the application of the heuristic to build a data model of the potential multimedia content data file.   
     
     
         25 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the element is a tag. 
     
     
         26 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the element is an OBJECT tag or an EMBED tag. 
     
     
         27 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the automated processing comprises one or more of the following: finding a URL in the element, decompiling a multimedia application code associated with the element, finding a script embedded in the display page, or monitoring a network communication associated with the display page. 
     
     
         28 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the potential multimedia content data file comprises XML. 
     
     
         29 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the potential multimedia content data file is contained within a script. 
     
     
         30 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the potential multimedia content data file is external to the display page. 
     
     
         31 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the potential multimedia content data file is stored externally to a system on which the display page resides. 
     
     
         32 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the display page comprises HTML. 
     
     
         33 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein processing of data includes identifying through further automated processing of data a nested binary multimedia application code. 
     
     
         34 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising using the data model to determine that the multimedia content is responsive to a query. 
     
     
         35 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising using the data model to determine that the multimedia content is responsive to a search query. 
     
     
         36 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein to build the data model comprises applying a heuristic and generating an exception for human interaction if the heuristic fails. 
     
     
         37 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the data model is implemented using a relational database. 
     
     
         38 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the data model is implemented using a relational database such that each element type represents a table. 
     
     
         39 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the data model is normalized when compared with a second data model associated with a second display page. 
     
     
         40 . A method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising using the data model to determine that the multimedia content data file is responsive to a query, and if it responsive to the query, returning data identifying the display page. 
     
     
         41 . A system, comprising
 a processor; and   a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:   locate in a display page an element associated with a multimedia content;   identify through automated processing of data associated with the display page a binary multimedia application code;   decompile the binary multimedia application code;   use a sniffer, coupled to the processor, to parse network traffic to identify a potential multimedia content data file by parsing HTTP traffic to recognize XML files by identifying XML tags using regular expressions or DOM traversal;   apply a heuristic to the potential multimedia content data file that associates a short string as a title; a long string as a description; a string included in a set of rating strings as a rating; and a date as a release date; and   use the application of the heuristic to build a data model of the potential multimedia content data file.   
     
     
         42 . A system as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising using the data model to determine that the multimedia content is responsive to a search query. 
     
     
         43 . A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
 locating in a display page an element associated with a multimedia content;   identifying through automated processing of data associated with the display page a binary multimedia application code;   decompiling the binary multimedia application code;   using a sniffer to parse network traffic to identify a potential multimedia content data file by parsing HTTP traffic to recognize XML files by identifying XML tags using regular expressions or DOM traversal;   applying a heuristic to the potential multimedia content data file that associates a short string as a title; a long string as a description; a string included in a set of rating strings as a rating; and a date as a release date; and   using the application of the heuristic to build a data model of the potential multimedia content data file.