Programming content capturing and processing system and method
First Claim
1. A method for processing a program stream containing at least one program, the at least one program including a plurality of program segments, the method comprising:
- receiving the program stream;
dividing the program stream into a plurality of blocks;
identifying one or more of the plurality of blocks relating to a selected one of the program segments; and
deriving, from the identified blocks, content of the selected program segment.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system is provided for processing a program stream for interactive viewing, wherein the program stream includes programming content relating to a program having a plurality of program segments. The program stream is received and divided into at least one block comprising an expanse of the program stream. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a block is measured based upon the normal play time of the programming content, or some other predefined measurement. A determination is then made as to whether the block comprises at least one complete program segment. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a program segment is a logical portion of TV show or movie, such as a specific story of a news show, a scene in a movie, etc. Upon identifying one or more programming segments, these segment(s) may be made available for interactive viewing prior to receiving the end of the program. In another embodiment of the invention, a determination is made as to whether the block comprises an ending portion—but incomplete portion—of a program segment. In such instance, segment portions from multiple blocks may be accessed and appended to form a complete segment which may then be made available for interactive viewing. In yet another embodiment of the invention, content derived from blocks associated with a program segment may be combined with additional content relating to the program segment, even though the additional content is not within the plurality of blocks.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for processing a program stream containing at least one program, the at least one program including a plurality of program segments, the method comprising:
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receiving the program stream;
dividing the program stream into a plurality of blocks;
identifying one or more of the plurality of blocks relating to a selected one of the program segments; and
deriving, from the identified blocks, content of the selected program segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for allowing interactive viewing of a program segment in a program, the method comprising:
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recording a program stream containing the program, the recorded program stream being divided into a plurality of blocks;
storing the plurality of blocks in storage;
associating one or more of the plurality of blocks in storage with the program segment;
deriving, from the associated blocks, content of the program segment; and
making available the content of the program segment for interactive viewing thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for processing a program stream containing at least one program, the at least one program including a plurality of program segments, the system comprising:
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an interface to receive the program stream; and
a processor programmed to;
divide the program stream into a plurality of blocks;
identify one or more of the plurality of blocks relating to a selected one of the program segments; and
derive, from the identified blocks, content of the selected program segment. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for allowing interactive viewing of a program segment in a program, the system comprising:
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a storage device to record a program stream containing the program, the recorded program stream being divided into a plurality of blocks and store the plurality of blocks in storage; and
a processor programmed to;
associate one or more of the plurality of blocks in storage with the program segment;
derive from the associated blocks content of the program segment; and
make available the content of the program segment for interactive viewing thereof. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification