Technique for resegmenting assets containing programming content delivered through a communications network

• US 20040078811A1
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Urdang, Erik G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Program content is received at a headend of a broadband communication system, along with data concerning scheduled start and end times of the program derived from electronic program guide (EPG) data. After the program is broadcast, the actual broadcast start and end times of the program are compared with the corresponding scheduled times to determine whether there is any start and/or end time variance. If a time variance is determined, the content of the program is redefined to include only its supposed content. The redefined content is then made part of an asset for later retrieval and distribution.

Claims

1. A method for defining content of a first program which is scheduled to broadcast at a scheduled start time, a second program preceding the first program in a broadcast of the first and second programs, the content of the first program being defined starting from the scheduled start time, the method comprising:

receiving information concerning an end time of the second program in the broadcast;

determining whether a difference between the end time of the second program and the scheduled start time of the first program is greater than a threshold;

re-defining the content of the first program when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storing the re-defined content for subsequent retrieval thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the difference indicates that the end time of the second program is later than the scheduled start time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the end time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if the difference indicates that the end time of the second program is earlier than the scheduled start time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the end time and the scheduled start time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an identifier identifying the second program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein data concerning the scheduled start time and the information concerning the end time are from different sources.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduled start time is derived from program guide data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information concerning the end time is received after the first program is broadcast.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the redefined content of the first program is made part of an asset.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

10. A method for defining content of a first program which is scheduled to broadcast until a scheduled end time, a second program succeeding the first program in a broadcast of the first and second programs, the content of the first program being defined ending at the scheduled end time, the method comprising:

receiving information concerning a start time of the second program in the broadcast;

determining whether a difference between the start time of the second program and the scheduled end time of the first program is greater than a threshold;

re-defining the content of the first program when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storing the re-defined content for subsequent retrieval thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein if the difference indicates that the start time of the second program is later than the scheduled end time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled end time and the start time.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein if the difference indicates that the start time of the second program is earlier than the scheduled end time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the start time and the scheduled end time.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an identifier identifying the second program.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein data concerning the scheduled end time and the information concerning the start time are from different sources.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the scheduled end time is derived from program guide data.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the information concerning the start time is received after at least a portion of the second program is broadcast.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the redefined content of the first program is made part of an asset.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

19. A method for generating an asset containing content of a program, comprising:

receiving content of a program;

receiving first data concerning a scheduled start time of a broadcast of the program, and second data concerning an actual start time of the broadcast of the program;

determining whether a difference between the scheduled start time and the actual start time is greater than a threshold;

adjusting the content of the program when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold, the asset containing the adjusted content; and

storing the asset for subsequent retrieval thereof.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual start time is later than the scheduled start time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the actual start time.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual start time is earlier than the scheduled start time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the actual start time and the scheduled start time.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first data and the second data are from different sources.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the first data is derived from program guide data.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the second data is received after the second program is broadcast.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

26. A method for generating an asset containing content of a program, comprising:

receiving content of a program;

receiving first data concerning a scheduled end time of a broadcast of the program, and second data concerning an actual end time of the broadcast of the program;

determining whether a difference between the scheduled end time and the actual end time is greater than a threshold;

adjusting the content of the program when it is determined that the difference is greater than the thresholds, the asset containing the adjusted content; and

storing the asset for subsequent retrieval thereof.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual end time is later than the scheduled end time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the actual start time.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual end time is earlier than the scheduled end time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the actual end time and the scheduled end time.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first data and the second data are from different sources.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the first data is derived from program guide data.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the second data is received after the second program is broadcast.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

33. A system for defining content of a first program which is scheduled to broadcast at a scheduled start time, a second program preceding the first program in a broadcast of the first and second programs, the content of the first program being defined starting from the scheduled start time, the system comprising:

an interface for receiving information concerning an end time of the second program in the broadcast;

a processor for determining whether a difference between the end time of the second program and the scheduled start time of the first program is greater than a threshold, the content of the first program being redefined when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storage for storing the redefined content.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein if the difference indicates that the end time of the second program is later than the scheduled start time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the end time.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein if the difference indicates that the end time of the second program is earlier than the scheduled start time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the end time and the scheduled start time.

36. The system of claim 33, further comprising a second interface for receiving an identifier identifying the second program.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein data concerning the scheduled start time and the information concerning the end time are from different sources.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the scheduled start time is derived from program guide data.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the information concerning the end time is received after the first program is broadcast.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the redefined content of the first program is made part of an asset.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

42. A system for defining content of a first program which is scheduled to broadcast until a scheduled end time, a second program succeeding the first program in a broadcast of the first and second programs, the content of the first program being defined ending at the scheduled end time, the system comprising:

an interface for receiving information concerning a start time of the second program in the broadcast;

a processor for determining whether a difference between the start time of the second program and the scheduled end time of the first program is greater than a threshold, the content of the first program being redefined when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storage for storing the redefined content.

43. The system of claim 43, wherein if the difference indicates that the start time of the second program is later than the scheduled end time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled end time and the start time.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein if the difference indicates that the start time of the second program is earlier than the scheduled end time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the start time and the scheduled end time.

45. The system of claim 43, further comprising a second interface for receiving an identifier identifying the second program.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein data concerning the scheduled end time and the information concerning the start time are from different sources.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein the scheduled end time is derived from program guide data.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the information concerning the start time is received after at least a portion of the second program is broadcast.

49. The system of claim 43, wherein the redefined content of the first program is made part of an asset.

50. The system of claim 43, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

51. A system for generating an asset containing content of a program, the content of the program and first data concerning a scheduled start time of a broadcast of the program being provided to the system, comprising:

an interface for receiving second data concerning an actual start time of the broadcast of the program;

a processor for determining whether a difference between the scheduled start time and the actual start time is greater than a threshold, the content of the program being adjusted when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storage for storing the asset which contains the adjusted content.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual start time is later than the scheduled start time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the actual start time.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual start time is earlier than the scheduled start time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the actual start time and the scheduled start time.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the first data and the second data are from different sources.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the first data is derived from program guide data.

56. The system of claim 51, wherein the second data is received after the second program is broadcast.

57. The system of claim 51, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

58. A system for generating an asset containing content of a program, the content of the program and first data concerning a scheduled end time of a broadcast of the program being provided to the system, comprising:

an interface for receiving second data concerning an actual end time of the broadcast of the program;

a processor for determining whether a difference between the scheduled end time and the actual end time is greater than a threshold, the content of the program being adjusted when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storage for storing the asset which contains the adjusted content.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual end time is later than the scheduled end time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the actual start time.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual end time is earlier than the scheduled end time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the actual end time and the scheduled end time.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the first data and the second data are from different sources.

62. The system of claim 58, wherein the first data is derived from program guide data.

63. The system of claim 58, wherein the second data is received after the second program is broadcast.

64. The system of claim 58, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.