System and method of indexing video content

• US 20070250874A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howcroft, Jerald
• Application Number:
  US11/387,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250874A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/89
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• 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 5/85 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 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A system and method of indexing video content is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a set index command at a set-top box device during transmission of video content from the set-top box device to a display device coupled to the set-top box device. The method also includes storing an index marker at a position in the video content, where the set-top box device transmits the video content to the display device beginning at the position in response to a selection of the index marker.

Claims

1. A method of indexing video content, the method comprising:

receiving a set index command at a set-top box device during transmission of video content from the set-top box device to a display device coupled to the set-top box device; and

storing an index marker at a position in the video content, wherein the set-top box device transmits the video content to the display device beginning at the position in response to a selection of the index marker.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set index command is received from a remote control device communicating with the set-top box device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set index command is received from a programmable smart key of the remote control device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a record command and storing the video content at a digital video recorder (DVR) of the set-top box device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a playback command and retrieving the video content from a digital video recorder (DVR).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the position is a frame of the video content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the position is a time position of the video content.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a selection to delete an index marker at the set-top box device; and

removing the index marker from the video content.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first selection of a first index marker and a second selection of a second index marker;

receiving a delete content command; and

deleting a portion of the video content, wherein the deleted portion begins at the first index marker and ends at the second index marker.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first selection of a first index marker and a second selection of a second index marker;

receiving a delete content command; and

deleting all but a portion of the video content, wherein the undeleted portion begins at the first index marker and ends at the second index marker.

11. A set-top box, comprising:

a processor and a memory device accessible to the processor;

wherein the memory device includes an index module executable by the processor to receive a set index command at a set-top box device during transmission of video content from the set-top box device to a display device coupled to the set-top box device;

wherein the index module is executable by the processor to store an index marker at a position in the video content; and

wherein the set-top box device transmits the video content to the display device beginning at the position after a selection of the index marker is received.

12. The set-top box of claim 11, wherein the set index command is received from a keypad of the set-top box device.

13. The set-top box of claim 11, wherein the set index command is received from a programmable smart key of a remote control device communicating with the set-top box device.

14. The set-top box of claim 11, further comprising a digital video recorder (DVR) to store the video content.

15. The set-top box of claim 11, wherein the index module is executable by the processor to remove an index marker from the video content in response to a delete index marker command.

16. The set-top box of claim 11, further comprising a crop module executable by the processor to delete a portion of the video content, wherein the portion begins at a first selected index marker and ends at a second selected index marker.

17. The set-top box of claim 11, further comprising a crop module executable by the processor to delete all but a portion of the video content, wherein the portion begins at a first selected index marker and ends at a second selected index marker.

18. A computer program embedded in a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising:

instructions to receive a set index command at a set-top box device during transmission of video content from the set-top box device to a display device coupled to the set-top box device; and

instructions to store an index marker at a position in the video content, wherein the set-top box device transmits the video content to the display device beginning at the position in response to a selection of the index marker.

19. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions to remove an index marker from the video content in response to a delete index marker command.

20. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions to delete a portion of the video content, wherein the portion begins at a first selected index marker and ends at a second selected index marker.

21. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions to delete all but a portion of the video content, wherein the portion begins at a first selected index marker and ends at a second selected index marker.

22. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions to delete all but a portion of the video content, wherein the portion begins at the start of the video content and ends at a selected index marker.

23. The computer program of claim 18, further comprising instructions to delete all but a portion of the video content, wherein the portion begins at a first selected index marker and ends at the end of the video content.