Media content sharing

• US 7,886,327 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cable Television Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Stevens, Clarke
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US11/840,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20090049118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 725/41, 725/105, 725/113, 725/103
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70

Abstract

A media content sharing concept wherein users are able to share highlights or other portions of content with friends. The concept may be used in any number of environments where electronic media, such as but not limited to audio, video, and multi-media, is transferable between a number of users. Bookmarks or other features may be used to facilitate accessing the video clips for subsequent viewing.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a video clip taken from a television program broadcasted from a source, the method comprising:

providing a user interface for use by a sender while watching the television program, the user interface overlaying a portion of a display showing the television program and having features to facilitate selecting beginning and ending time stamps for specifying a length of the video clip to be taken from the program, the user interface further including features to facilitate inputting an introductory message and a recipient, the introductory message for use in introducing the video clip and the recipient for use in sharing the video clip;

receiving instructions from the sender marking the beginning and ending time stamps, the time stamps spanning a portion less than an entire length of the program;

storing the video clip at the source for subsequent viewing by the recipient;

transmitting a bookmark having instructions for accessing the video clip and the introductory message to the recipient; and

receiving instructions associated with separately marking multiple portions of the program to be included with the same video clip such that the video clip shows at least two different, non-sequential portions of the program.