Method and apparatus for indexing video programs

• US 7,197,758 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blackketter, Dean J., Zigmond, Daniel J., Matheny, John R., Park, Timothy F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/561,390
• Time in Patent Office: 2,525 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61, 725/93, 725/116, 386/86, 386/125
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8405 represented by keywords
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8455 involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate

Abstract

A television program is received that includes an index that identifies multiple television program segments contained in the television program. The index of program segments is displayed to a television viewer, and the television viewer is allowed to select at least one program segment for recording. The index of program segments can identify the name of each program segment, the time period during which each program segment is transmitted, the program type for each program segment, the content rating for each program segment, or whether the viewer is required to watch a particular program segment. The selected program segments may be recorded on a video recorder. The television viewer is also allowed to select the order of viewing of the program segments.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving an index associated with a television program, wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch program segments;

displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer;

allowing the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and

when the at least one segment is selected, automatically selecting the adjacent must watch program segments.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein retrieving an index associated with a television program includes storing the index in a digital video recorder and retrieving the index from the digital video recorder.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a first communication link enables communication between a television receiver and the Internet, such that the index is retrieved via the first communication link.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein retrieving an index associated with a television program includes retrieving the index from a web server.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the index of program segments identifies the name of each program segment.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the index of program segments identifies the time period during which each program segment is transmitted.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising recording the selected program segments on a digital video recorder.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein recording the selected program segments further comprises retrieving the selected program segment from a video server.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising allowing the television viewer to select the order of viewing of the selected program segments.

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

11. A method comprising:

retrieving an index associated with a television program wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch segments, wherein the index and the associated television program are stored on a digital video recorder;

displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer;

allowing the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments;

when the television viewer selects the at least one segment,

determining if the television viewer fails to select any adjacent must watch program segments; and

automatically selecting any non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected segment; and

retrieving the selected program segments and displaying the retrieved program segments on a display device.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein retrieving the index associated with the television program includes retrieving the index from a web server via the Internet.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein retrieving an index includes identifying a plurality of labels contained in the television program.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein at least one of the labels identifies a program segment as a must watch segment and wherein the television viewer is prevented from skipping must watch segments during viewing.

15. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising allowing the television viewer to select the order of viewing of the program segments.

16. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 11.

17. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the index indicates a content rating associated with at least one of the video program segments.

18. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein a portion of the index is broadcast prior to the program segment with which the portion of the index is associated.

19. An apparatus comprising a television receiver coupled to a network through a first communication link and configured to retrieve an index associated with a television program via the first communication link, the index identifying a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designating one or more program segments as must watch segments, wherein the television program is broadcast via a second communication link, the television receiver further configured to display the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer and to allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, the television receiver further configured to determine if the television viewer has failed to select any must watch program segments adjacent to a program segment selected by the viewer and to automatically select non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected program segment.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 19 further comprising a video recorder coupled to the television receiver, the video recorder configured to store the television program and the associated index.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the television receiver is configured to retrieve the television program via the first communication link.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the second communication link includes at least one of cable, satellite, microwave, and terrestrial broadcast.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the television receiver is further to allow the television viewer to select the order of viewing of the program segments.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a television receiver to receive a television program via a television broadcast communication link and to retrieve an index identifying a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program via a data communication link separate from the television broadcast communication link, the index further identifying one or more program segments as must watch segments;

a display device coupled to the television receiver to display the index of program segments to a television viewer and to allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, the television receiver configured to determine if the television viewer has failed to select a must watch program segment adjacent to a program segment selected by the television viewer and to automatically select the non-selected must watch program segment; and

a digital video recorder coupled to the television receiver to record selected program segments.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein the television viewer is prevented from skipping must watch segments during viewing.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein the data communication link enables the television receiver to communicate via the Internet.

27. 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:

retrieve an index associated with a television program via a first communication link, wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch segments, the television program broadcast via a second communication link;

display the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer;

allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, wherein the at least one television program segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and

when the at least one television program segment is selected;

determine if the television viewer fails to select adjacent must watch program segments; and

automatically select the adjacent must watch program segments.

28. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 27 further comprising receiving selected television program segments via the second communication link.

29. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 27 wherein the first communication link is associated with the Internet.

30. An apparatus comprising:

means for retrieving an index associated with a television program via a bi-directional data communication link;

means for receiving the television program via a video communication link;

means for determining a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program;

means for displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a viewer; and

means for allowing the viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one television program segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and

when the at least one television program segment is selected, means for automatically selecting non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected television program segment.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, further comprising means for retrieving the index from the Internet and means for storing the index in a digital video recorder.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 30, further comprising means for preventing the viewer from skipping must watch program segments.