Sharing Television Clips

• US 20100036854A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Regan, Timothy, Harper, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/513,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

Methods, software and apparatus are described which enable users to share and exchange clips from broadcast media using their mobile devices. Whilst watching broadcast media, a user can cause their mobile device to capture a clip, for example by pressing a button. The capture of the clip enables the user to show and share the clip with friends as part of a system of exchange.

Claims

1. One or more device readable media comprising executable instructions for performing the steps of:

in response to a user input from a user received by a mobile device, identifying a media clip for capture;

accessing clip data for said identified media clip; and

storing said clip data on said mobile device.

2. Media according to claim 1, further comprising executable instructions for performing the steps of:

providing an interface for navigation to and selection of a clip stored on the mobile device.

3. Media according to claim 1, wherein identifying a media clip for capture comprises:

determining a time of said user input; and

identifying said media clip based on said time of said user input.

4. Media according to claim 3, wherein identifying a media clip for capture further comprises:

determining a broadcast channel being watched by said user; and

wherein said media clip is identified based on said time of said user input and said broadcast channel.

5. Media according to claim 1, wherein said clip data comprises a media file for said identified media clip and wherein accessing clip data for said identified media clip comprises:

accessing said media file for said identified media clip.

6. Media according to claim 5, wherein accessing said media file for said identified media clip comprises:

receiving said media file over a broadcast channel.

7. Media according to claim 5, wherein accessing said media file for said identified media clip comprises:

downloading said media file from a server.

8. Media according to claim 5, further comprising executable instructions for performing the step of:

in response to a user input received by said mobile device selecting said identified clip, playing said media file.

9. Media according to claim 1, wherein said clip data further comprises a representative still image for the clip.

10. Media according to claim 1, further comprising executable instructions for performing the step of:

in response to a user input received by the mobile device selecting a stored clip, transmitting said stored clip to another mobile device over a wireless link.

11. Media according to claim 1, further comprising executable instructions for performing the step of:

accessing a licence for said identified clip.

12. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a wireless transmitter and receiver;

a user input means;

a display; and

a memory arranged to store executable instructions arranged to cause said processor to;

identify a media clip for capture in response to receipt of an input via said user input means;

access clip data for the identified media clip; and

store the clip data in the memory.

13. A mobile device according to claim 12, wherein said memory is further arranged to store executable instructions arranged to cause said processor to:

access a licence for said identified media clip.

14. A mobile device according to claim 12, wherein said memory is further arranged to store executable instructions arranged to cause said processor to:

provide an interface for navigation to and selection of a clip stored on said mobile device.

15. A mobile device according to claims 12, wherein said memory is further arranged to store executable instructions arranged to cause said processor to:

transmit a stored clip to a second mobile device via said wireless transmitter in response to a user input received via said user input means, said input identifying said stored clip.

16. A method of enabling capture of media clips on a mobile device comprising:

generating a plurality of clips from broadcast media; and

distributing said plurality of clips to mobile devices.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein distributing the plurality of clips to mobile devices comprises:

storing said plurality of clips on a server; and

in response to a request from a mobile device, downloading one of said plurality of clips from the server to said mobile device.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein distributing the plurality of clips to mobile devices comprises:

selecting at least two of said plurality of clips;

dividing each of said selected clips into a plurality of blocks; and

sequentially broadcasting one of said plurality of blocks from each of said selected clips.