Method and system for displaying portions of recorded media content instances

• US 8,468,454 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Poslinski, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, DAEHO D
• Application Number:
  US10/926,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,218 Days
• Field of Search: 715/719, 715/723, 725/2, 725/88, 725/700, 725/110
• US Class Current: 715/719
• 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 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A method and system for displaying a number of portions of a number of recorded media content instances during a single viewing session. A number of entries are defined to each correspond to one of the number of portions of the number of recorded media content instances. Each of the entries are included in a play list which is selected for viewing. The portions of the number of recorded media content instances included in the entries in the play list are then displayed during the single viewing session.

Claims

1. A method of displaying recorded media content during a single viewing session with a set-top box, wherein recorded media content instances are stored in memory accessible to said set-top box, said method comprising:

with a user interface of said set-top box, defining a number of entries such that each of said number of entries corresponds to at least a portion of one of said recorded media content instances;

including each of said entries in a play list;

selecting said play list for viewing;

whereupon said set-top box sequentially outputs content according to said entries in said play list as said single viewing session; and

displaying a progress bar, said progress bar graphically representing a total duration of said entries in said play list,

wherein said step of defining said number of entries comprises;

selecting one of said number of recorded media content instances accessible to said set-top box;

displaying said selected media content instance; and

designating a begin bookmark and an end bookmark in said selected media content instance;

wherein said begin and end bookmarks correspond to beginning and ending frames of a portion of said selected media content instance to be included in one of said number of entries.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of defining said number of entries comprises creating a new entry, said new entry referencing a portion of a said recorded media content instance, said recorded media content instance being a recording of previously broadcast content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of defining said number of entries comprises editing a pre-existing entry.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to allow a user to add, delete, or edit any of said number of entries.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said GUI shows a title corresponding to each of said number of entries.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selecting said one of said number of recorded media content instances comprises displaying a recorded program list GUI configured to allow a user to select said one of said number of recorded media content instances.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said one of said entries comprises a number of pointers pointing to locations of said beginning and end frames within a media content file corresponding to said selected media content instance.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selecting said play list for viewing further comprises selecting said play list from among a number of play lists for viewing.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising, within said progress bar, a graphical representation of a duration of each of said entries in said play list.

6. A method of displaying recorded media content during a single viewing session with a set-top box, wherein recorded media content instances are stored in memory accessible to said set-top box, said method comprising:

with a user interface of said set-top box, defining a number of entries such that each of said number of entries corresponds to at least a portion of one of said recorded media content instances;

including each of said entries in a play list; and

selecting said play list for viewing, whereupon said set-top box sequentially outputs content according to said entries in said play list as said single viewing session; and

wherein said step of defining said number of entries comprises;

selecting one of said number of recorded media content instances accessible to said set-top box;

displaying said selected media content instance;

designating a begin bookmark and an end bookmark in said selected media content instance, wherein said begin and end bookmarks correspond to beginning and ending frames of a portion of said selected media content instance to be included in one of said number of entries; and

displaying a progress bar with said selected media content instance, said progress bar graphically representing the duration of said selected media content instance.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said step of designating said begin and end bookmarks comprises:

positioning a progress indicator at a position within said progress bar corresponding to said beginning and ending frames of said portion of said selected media content instance to be included in one of said number of entries; and

sending a bookmark command from a user input device when said progress bar is positioned within said progress bar at said position corresponding to said beginning and ending frames.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of sending a bookmark command from a user input device comprises pressing a button on said user input device.

12. A method of displaying recorded media content during a single viewing session with a set-top box, wherein recorded media content instances are stored in memory accessible to said set-top box, said method comprising:

with a user interface of said set-top box, defining a number of entries such that each of said number of entries corresponds to at least a portion of one of said recorded media content instances;

including each of said entries in a play list;

selecting said play list for viewing;

whereupon said set-top box sequentially outputs content according to said entries in said play list as said single viewing session;

displaying a progress bar, said progress bar graphically representing a total duration of said entries in said play list; and

flagging each of said media content instances corresponding to an entry included in said play list.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying a warning message indicating that a flagged media content instance is part of a playlist if a user attempts to delete one of said flagged media content instances.

14. A system for displaying a number of portions of a number of recorded media content instances during a single viewing session, said system comprising a set-top box (STB), wherein said STB is configured to:

define a number of entries such that each of said number of entries corresponds to one of said number of portions of said number of recorded media content instances;

include each of said entries in a play list; and

select said play list from a number of play lists for viewing; and

display on a display device said portions of said number of recorded media content instances included in said entries in said play list during said single viewing session;

wherein said STB is further configured to flag each of said number of media content instances included in said play list; and

wherein said STB is further configured to display a warning message indicating that a flagged media content instance is part of a playlist if a user attempts to delete one of said flagged media content instances.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said STB is further configured to define said entries by creating a new entry.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said STB is further configured to define said entries by editing a pre-existing entry.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said STB is further configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI), said GUI being configured allow a user cause said STB to add, delete, or edit any of said number of entries.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said GUI shows a title corresponding to each of said number of entries.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said STB is further configured to:

select one of said number of recorded media content instances;

display said selected media content instance; and

designate a begin bookmark and an end bookmark in said selected media content instance;

wherein said begin and end bookmarks correspond to beginning and ending frames of a portion of said selected media content instance to be included in one of said number of entries.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said STB is further configured to display a progress bar with said selected media content instance, said progress bar graphically representing the duration of said selected media content instance.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said STB is further configured to:

position a progress indicator at a position within said progress bar corresponding to said beginning and ending frames of said portion of said selected media content instance to be included in one of said number of entries; and

receive a bookmark command from a user input device when said progress bar is positioned within said progress bar at said position corresponding to said beginning and ending frames.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein user input device is a remote control.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein said STB is further configured to display a recorded program list GUI configured to allow a user to select said one of said number of recorded media content instances.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein said one of said entries comprises a number of pointers pointing to locations of said beginning and end frames within a media content file corresponding to said selected media content instance.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein said STB is further configured to display a GUI configured to display a list of said number of play lists and allow a user to perform said selection.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein said STB is further configured to display a progress bar, said progress bar graphically representing a total duration of each of said portions of said number of recorded media content instances included in said entries in said play list.

27. A system of displaying a number of portions of a number of recorded media content instances during a single viewing session, said system comprising a set-top box configured for connection to a display device, said set-top box comprising:

means for defining a number of entries such that each of said number of entries corresponds to one of said number of portions of said number of recorded media content instances, said recorded media content instances being stored in electronic memory accessible to said set-top box;

means for including each of said entries in a play list;

means for selecting said play list from a number of play lists for viewing;

means for sequentially outputting content to a display device according to said entries in said play list as said single viewing session; and

means for displaying a progress bar, said progress bar graphically representing a total duration of said portions of said number of recorded media content instances included in said entries in said play list and, within said progress bar, graphically representing a duration of each of said entries in said play list,

wherein said means for defining said number of entries comprises;

means for selecting one of said number of recorded media content instances;

means for displaying said selected media content instance; and

means for designating a begin bookmark and an end bookmark in said selected media content instance;

wherein said begin and end bookmarks correspond to beginning and ending frames of a portion of said selected media content instance to be included in one of said number of entries.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) configured allow a user to add, delete, or edit any of said number of entries.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising means for displaying a progress bar with said selected media content instance, said progress bar graphically representing the duration of said selected media content instance.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said means for designating said begin and end bookmarks comprises:

means for positioning a progress indicator at a position within said progress bar corresponding to said beginning and ending frames of said portion of said selected media content instance to be included in one of said number of entries; and

means for sending a bookmark command from a user input device when said progress bar is positioned within said progress bar at said position corresponding to said beginning and ending frames.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein said means for selecting said one of said number of recorded media content instances comprises means for displaying a recorded program list GUT configured to allow a user to select said one of said number of recorded media content instances.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein said means for selecting said play list from said number of play lists for viewing comprises means for displaying a GUT configured to display a list of said number of play lists and allow a user to perform said selection.

33. A system of displaying a number of portions of a number of recorded media content instances during a single viewing session, said system comprising a set-top box configured for connection to a display device, said set-top box comprising:

means for defining a number of entries such that each of said number of entries corresponds to one of said number of portions of said number of recorded media content instances, said recorded media content instances being stored in electronic memory accessible to said set-top box;

means for including each of said entries in a play list;

means for selecting said play list from a number of play lists for viewing;

means for sequentially outputting content to a display device according to said entries in said play list as said single viewing session;

means for displaying a progress bar, said progress bar graphically representing a total duration of said portions of said number of recorded media content instances included in said entries in said play list and, within said progress bar, graphically representing a duration of each of said entries in said play list; and

means for flagging each of said number of media content instances corresponding to an entry included in said play list.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising means for displaying a warning message if a user attempts to delete one of said flagged media content instances.