Method and apparatus for handling metadata

• US 20050210501A1
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Zigmond, Daniel J., Scott, Samuel Thomas III, Carle, Kevin T.
• Application Number:
  US10/805,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A system records a video program as well as metadata associated with the video program. The system then receives updated metadata associated with the video program. The previously recorded metadata is replaced with the updated metadata.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording a video program;

recording metadata associated with the video program;

receiving updated metadata associated with the video program; and

replacing the previously recorded metadata with the updated metadata.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising requesting updated metadata associated with the video program periodically.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising requesting updated metadata associated with a plurality of video programs at regular intervals.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising requesting updated metadata associated with the video program from a content server.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request to display information regarding the video program; and

displaying at least a portion of the information contained in the updated metadata.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the updated metadata includes information generated after the video program was recorded.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the updated metadata has an associated timestamp.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving second updated metadata;

determining whether the second updated metadata is more current than the previously received updated metadata;

if the second updated metadata is more current than the previously received updated metadata, then replacing the previously received updated metadata with the second updated metadata.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising discarding the second updated metadata if the previously received updated metadata is more current than the second updated metadata.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating the updated metadata to at least one client device.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the video program includes audio data.

12. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.

13. A method comprising:

receiving metadata associated with program content;

providing the received metadata to a plurality of client devices;

receiving updated metadata associated with the program content;

determining whether the updated metadata is more current than the previously received metadata; and

if the updated metadata is more current than the previously received metadata;

replacing the previously received metadata with the updated metadata; and

providing the updated metadata to the plurality of client devices.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising discarding the updated metadata if the previously received metadata is more current than the updated metadata.

15. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein determining whether the updated metadata is more current than the previously received metadata includes comparing a timestamp associated with the updated metadata to a timestamp associated with the previously received metadata.

16. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising storing the metadata associated with program content after receiving the metadata.

17. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising storing the updated metadata if the updated metadata is more current than the previously received metadata.

18. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising requesting updated metadata associated with the program content periodically.

19. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the updated metadata includes information generated after the program content was received.

20. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 13.

21. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

receive a request to display available content;

identify metadata associated with the available content;

determine whether other metadata associated with the available content is more current than the identified metadata;

if the other metadata associated with the available content is more current than the identified metadata, then generate a display of available content using the other metadata; and

if the identified metadata is more current than the other metadata associated with the available content, then generate a display of available content using the identified metadata.

22. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 21 wherein timestamps associated with the identified metadata and the other metadata are used to determine whether other metadata is more current than the identified metadata.

23. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 21 wherein if the other metadata associated with the available content is more current than the identified metadata, then replacing the identified metadata with the other metadata.

24. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 21 wherein the request to display available content is received from a client device coupled to a display device.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor coupled to the storage device, wherein the processor is to record broadcast content and metadata associated with the broadcast content on the storage device, wherein the processor is further to receive updated metadata associated with the broadcast content, and wherein the processor is to replace the previously recorded metadata with the updated metadata if the updated metadata is more current than previously recorded metadata.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 further comprising a communication interface coupled to the processor, wherein the communication interface is to receive updated metadata from a plurality of data providers coupled to the apparatus.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein the processor is further to generate a listing of available content based on metadata stored on the storage device.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein the processor is further to request updated metadata associated with the broadcast content at regular intervals.