Content Placeholder Markers

• US 20110283313A1
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gathen, Mark Matthew, Chappell, Jerry Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

Content placeholder markers may be provided. A request to insert a placeholder marker may be received during output of a content asset to a device. If memory storage is available to record the content asset, the asset may be recorded. Otherwise, the placeholder marker may be stored and/or used to resume playback of the content asset from another source.

Claims

1. A method for providing a content placeholder, the method comprising:

outputting a content asset to an output device;

receiving a user request to insert at least one content placeholder marker;

determining whether a memory storage is available to record the content asset;

in response to determining that the memory storage is available to record the content asset, recording the content asset; and

in response to determining that the memory storage is not available to record the content asset, storing the at least one content placeholder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content asset comprises an audio asset and the output device comprises at least one speaker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the content asset comprises a video asset and the output device comprises a display device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content asset comprises a first-run content stream transmitted by the content provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one content placeholder comprises a user identifier, an asset identifier associated with the content asset, and a time associated with a time within the outputting of the content asset at which the user request was received.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user request comprises a request to pause output of the content asset.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein recording the content asset begins at a time within the outputting of the content asset at which the user request was received.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to determining that the memory storage is available to record the content asset, determining whether a previously output portion of the content asset is stored in the memory storage; and

in response to determining that the previously output portion of the content asset is stored in the memory storage, recording the content asset from an earliest point of the previously output portion of the content asset stored in the memory storage.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to determining that the memory storage is not available to record the content asset, determining whether the content asset is available as an on demand asset from a content provider associated with providing the content asset; and

in response to determining that the content asset is available as an on demand asset from a content provider associated with providing the content asset, requesting the on demand asset from the content provider.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a second user request comprising a request to resume outputting the content asset; and

outputting the on demand asset requested from the content provider beginning from a time within the outputting of the content asset at which the request to pause output of the content asset was received.

11. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for creating a content placeholder marker, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

displaying a video content stream on a display device;

receiving a request from a user to create a placeholder marker associated with a time within the video content stream;

determining whether a memory storage is available for recording the video content stream;

in response to determining that the memory storage is available for recording the video content stream, recording the video content stream to the memory storage;

in response to determining that the memory storage is not available for recording the video content stream, determining whether the video content stream is available as an on demand asset; and

in response to determining that the video content stream is available as an on demand asset, creating a stored placeholder marker associated with the user and the on demand asset.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein recording the video content stream comprises being operative to record an entirety of the video content stream.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein recording the video content stream comprises being operative to record a remainder of the video content stream beginning at the time within the video content stream associated with the placeholder marker.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a notification to the user that the video content stream is available as the on demand asset;

receiving a request from the user to begin displaying the video content stream; and

displaying the video content stream on the display device beginning from the stored placeholder marker.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein creating a stored placeholder marker associated with the user comprises storing the placeholder marker on an account system associated with a provider of the video content stream as an on demand asset.

16. A system for providing a content placeholder, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

display a video content stream on a display device,

insert a placeholder marker in the video content stream,

determine whether the memory storage comprises a sufficient amount of free space to record the video content stream,

in response to determining that the memory storage comprises the sufficient amount of free space to record the video content stream, record the video content stream,

in response to determining that the memory storage does not comprise the sufficient amount of free space to record the video content stream,

determine whether a recording device is locally coupled to the system,

in response to determining that the recording device is locally coupled to the system, instruct the recording device to record the video content stream,

in response to determining that the recording device is not locally coupled to the system, determine whether a provider of the video content stream offers the video content stream in an on demand format, and

in response to determining that the provider of the video content stream offers the video content stream in the on demand format, transmit the placeholder marker to the content provider for association with the video content stream in the on demand format.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit is operative to insert the placeholder marker in response to receiving a pause request from a user.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit is operative to insert the placeholder marker in response to the display device no longer displaying the video content.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

display a notification to the user that the video content stream is available in the on demand format;

receive a request from the user to resume display of the video content stream;

request the video content stream from the provider in the on demand format;

retrieve the placeholder marker transmitted to the provider and associated with the video content stream; and

display the video content stream on the display device beginning from the placeholder marker.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

in response to determining that the provider of the video content stream does not offer the video content stream in the on demand format, store the placeholder marker in the memory storage; and

periodically determine whether the video content stream has become available from the provider in the on demand format.