Apparatus, systems and methods for accessing an initial portion of a media content event
First Claim
1. A media device comprising:
- a memory with a portion configured to store an electronic program guide (EPG);
a remote interface configured to receive a user specification for a specified media content event at a first media device;
a media content stream interface configured to receive media content events that are broadcast to a plurality of media devices via a broadcast system;
a communication network interface configured to communicatively coupled the media device to other ones of the plurality of media devices via a communication network;
a recorder configured to store selected ones of the received media content events; and
a processor system communicatively coupled to the remote interface, the media content stream interface, the communication network interface, the memory and the recorder wherein the processor system is configured to;
operate the media content stream interface to receive the specified media content event in response to receiving the user specification for the specified media content event anddetermine if an initial portion of the specified media content event has previously been communicated over a broadcast system;
where in response to determining that the initial portion of the specified media content event has previously been communicated over the broadcast system, the processor system is further configured to;
operate the recorder to store a remaining portion of the media content event as the media content stream interface is receiving the remaining portion of the media content event over the broadcast system;
communicate a request for the initial portion of the specified media content event to a selected one of the other media devices via the communication network interface, wherein the selected one of the other media devices has stored the initial portion of the specified media content event during broadcast of the initial portion over the broadcast system; and
operate the communication network interface to receive the initial portion of the media content event from the selected one of the other media devices,wherein the EPG presents information that identifies a plurality of currently broadcast media content events that are available for selection, wherein the EPG indicates that presentation of the plurality of media content events are already underway such that the user of the media device understands that initial portions of each of the currently broadcast media content events are not available at the media device,wherein the processor system is further configured to receive a user selection of the specified media content event based on a selection made by the user while navigating about the presented EPG, andwherein the initial portion of the specified media content event received from the selected one of the other media devices in response to the user selection made by the user while navigating about the presented EPG.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are operable to retrieve a previously broadcast initial portion of a media content event. An exemplary embodiment stores a media content event at a first media device as the media content event is communicated over a broadcast system; receives a request at the first media device from a second media device, wherein the request identifies an initial portion of a media content event that has previously been communicated over a broadcast system; identifies the initial portion of the media content event from the stored media content event; retrieves the identified initial portion of the media content event; and communicates the initial portion of the media content event from the first media device to the second media device.
50 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A media device comprising:
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a memory with a portion configured to store an electronic program guide (EPG); a remote interface configured to receive a user specification for a specified media content event at a first media device; a media content stream interface configured to receive media content events that are broadcast to a plurality of media devices via a broadcast system; a communication network interface configured to communicatively coupled the media device to other ones of the plurality of media devices via a communication network; a recorder configured to store selected ones of the received media content events; and a processor system communicatively coupled to the remote interface, the media content stream interface, the communication network interface, the memory and the recorder wherein the processor system is configured to; operate the media content stream interface to receive the specified media content event in response to receiving the user specification for the specified media content event and determine if an initial portion of the specified media content event has previously been communicated over a broadcast system; where in response to determining that the initial portion of the specified media content event has previously been communicated over the broadcast system, the processor system is further configured to; operate the recorder to store a remaining portion of the media content event as the media content stream interface is receiving the remaining portion of the media content event over the broadcast system; communicate a request for the initial portion of the specified media content event to a selected one of the other media devices via the communication network interface, wherein the selected one of the other media devices has stored the initial portion of the specified media content event during broadcast of the initial portion over the broadcast system; and operate the communication network interface to receive the initial portion of the media content event from the selected one of the other media devices, wherein the EPG presents information that identifies a plurality of currently broadcast media content events that are available for selection, wherein the EPG indicates that presentation of the plurality of media content events are already underway such that the user of the media device understands that initial portions of each of the currently broadcast media content events are not available at the media device, wherein the processor system is further configured to receive a user selection of the specified media content event based on a selection made by the user while navigating about the presented EPG, and wherein the initial portion of the specified media content event received from the selected one of the other media devices in response to the user selection made by the user while navigating about the presented EPG. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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8. A media device comprising:
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a remote interface configured to receive a user specification for a specified media content event at a first media device; a media content stream interface configured to receive media content events that are broadcast to a plurality of media devices via a broadcast system; a communication network interface configured to communicatively coupled the media device to other ones of the plurality of media devices via a communication network; a recorder configured to store selected ones of the received media content events; and a processor system communicatively coupled to the remote interface, the media content stream interface, the communication network interface, and the recorder, wherein the processor system is configured to; operate the media content stream interface to receive the specified media content event in response to receiving the user specification for the specified media content event and determine if an initial portion of the specified media content event has previously been communicated over the broadcast system; where in response to determining that the initial portion of the specified media content event has previously been communicated over the broadcast system, the processor system is further configured to; operate the recorder to store the remaining portion of the media content event as the media content stream interface is receiving the remaining portion of the media content event over the broadcast system; communicate a request for the initial portion of the specified media content event to a selected one of the other media devices via the communication network interface, wherein the selected one of the other media devices has stored the initial portion of the specified media content event during broadcast of the initial portion over the broadcast system, wherein the request is an initial request for the initial portion of the specified media content event to a media content event availability tracker, and wherein the media content event availability tracker is configured to identify the selected one of the other media devices that has stored the initial portion of the specified media content event during broadcast of the initial portion over the broadcast system; receive a reply from the media content event availability tracker, wherein the reply includes information used to establish a communication link between the media device and the selected one of the other media devices; and operate the communication network interface to receive the initial portion of the media content event from the selected one of the other media devices, wherein the initial request communicated to the media content event availability tracker comprises information associated with a video frame of a remaining portion of the specified media content event, wherein the media content event availability tracker is configured to determine a duration of the initial portion of the specified media content event based on the video frame, and wherein the media content event availability tracker is configured to identify the selected one of the other media devices from the plurality of media devices based upon the determined duration of the initial portion of the specified media content event.
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Specification