System and method for meta data distribution to customize media content playback

• US 20030122966A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Markman, Michael J., Christensen, Kory D.
• Application Number:
  US10/328,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122966A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/563
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• 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 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A reviewer edits a media program stored in digital form. Such “editing” does not directly change the media program; rather, editing information is stored in a separate meta data file. The reviewer can be a person or an automated system. The meta data can include supplemental content, indicia defining highlight segments, skipped-over segments, content categorization, etc. The meta data files can be distributed to other users via various networks, or manually, including a decentralized, peer-to-peer network or a centralized, client-server network.

Claims

1. A method in an entertainment system for controlling presentation of a media content file, the method comprising:

accessing an unedited copy of the media content file;

accessing through a network a set of meta data associated with the media content file; and

presenting the media content file in accordance with the meta data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting comprises skipping over at least one portion of the media content file as designated in the meta data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the media content file comprises television programming.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the skipped-over portion comprises a commercial advertisement.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the skipped-over portion comprises a scene deemed unsuitable for young audiences.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting comprises skipping to a selected location within the media content file as designated in the meta data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected location is the beginning of a scene of special interest.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the selected scene of special interest comprises a highlight of a sports event.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected location is the end of a scene of lesser interest.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said skipping is triggered manually.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said skipping proceeds automatically during presentation of the media content file.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the meta data indicates a starting location and a duration of the skipped-over segment.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the meta data indicates a starting location and an ending location of the skipped-over segment.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing through a network comprises receiving the meta data through the Internet.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing through a network comprises receiving the meta data from a meta data server.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing through a network comprises receiving the meta data via a decentralized peer-to-peer network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sharing meta data with peers via a decentralized peer-to-peer network, thereby enabling the peers to present copies of the media content file in accordance with the meta data

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the entertainment system comprises a set top box for accessing the unedited copy of the media content file.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the entertainment system comprises a media center for accessing the unedited copy of the media content file.

20. An entertainment system for receiving and processing broadcast media signals comprising:

at least one tuner to receive broadcast media signals;

a memory to store an unedited media program derived from the received broadcast media signals;

an interface to receive meta data associated with the unedited media program; and

a processor to control a playback presentation of the unedited media program responsive to the received meta data.

21. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the interface for receiving meta data comprises a network interface.

22. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the interface for receiving meta data comprises a web browser.

23. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the interface for receiving meta data comprises an e-mail client.

24. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the interface for receiving meta data comprises a peer-to-peer network client.

25. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the interface for receiving meta data comprises a removable memory interface.

26. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the processor is to skip over at least one portion of the media content file as designated in the meta data.

27. The entertainment system of claim 26, wherein the media content file comprises television programming.

28. The entertainment system of claim 27, wherein the skipped-over portion comprises a commercial advertisement.

29. The entertainment system of claim 27, wherein the skipped-over portion comprises a scene deemed unsuitable for young audiences.

30. The entertainment system of claim 20, wherein the processor is to skip to a selected location within the media content file as designated in the meta data.

31. A playback apparatus comprising:

a media interface to receive broadcast media signals;

a meta data interface to receive a set of meta data associated with an unedited media program; and

a playback control component to control a playback presentation of the unedited media program responsive to the received meta data.

32. The playback apparatus of claim 31, wherein the meta data interface comprises a web browser.

33. The playback apparatus of claim 31, wherein the meta data interface comprises an e-mail client.

34. The playback apparatus of claim 31, wherein the meta data interface comprises a peer-to-peer network client.

35. The playback apparatus of claim 31, wherein the meta data interface comprises a removable memory interface.

36. The playback apparatus of claim 31, wherein the playback control component is to skip over at least one portion of the media content file as designated in the meta data.

37. The playback apparatus of claim 36, wherein the media content file comprises television programming.

38. The playback apparatus of claim 37, wherein the skipped-over portion comprises a commercial advertisement.

39. The playback apparatus of claim 37, wherein the skipped-over portion comprises a scene deemed unsuitable for young audiences.

40. The playback apparatus of claim 31, wherein the playback control component is to skip to a selected location within the media content file as designated in the meta data.

41. A meta data server for distributing meta data to customize playback of media content comprising:

a receiver to receive broadcast media signals and convert the media signals into corresponding media content;

a content processor to analyze the media content, the content processor including an editing module for selecting locations within the media content and recording indicia of the selected locations as meta data; and

an interface for exporting the meta data via a network to remote users for the users to customize playback of the media content.

42. The meta data server of claim 41, wherein the receiver includes at least one tuner for receiving television signals, the media content comprising television programming.

43. The meta data server of claim 42, wherein the content processor has access to a module for detecting commercial advertisements in the television programming, thereby enabling the editing module to select locations within the media content that correspond to detected commercial advertisements.

44. The meta data server of claim 42, wherein the content processor has access to a module for detecting highlights in the television programming, thereby enabling the editing module to select locations within the media content that correspond to detected highlights.

45. The meta data server of claim 42, wherein the content processor has access to a module for detecting pornography in the television programming, thereby enabling the editing module to select locations within the media content that correspond to detected pornography.

46. The meta data server of claim 41, wherein the interface for exporting the meta data comprises a web site.

47. The meta data server of claim 41, wherein the interface for exporting the meta data comprises a peer-to-peer client.

48. The meta data server of claim 41, wherein the interface for exporting the meta data comprises a removable storage medium.

49. The meta data server of claim 41, wherein the interface for exporting the meta data comprises an e-mail server.

50. The meta data server of claim 41, wherein the selected locations within the media content comprise the beginnings of commercial advertisements.

51. The meta data server of claim 41, wherein the selected locations within the media content comprise the beginnings of scenes of special interest.

52. A machine-readable medium encoded with data for customizing playback of media content, the encoded data comprising:

an identifier of an associated unedited media content file; and

meta data for customizing playback of the associated unedited media content file.

53. The machine-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the meta data includes at least one designation of a scene to skip over within the associated media content file.

54. The machine-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the meta data includes at least one designation of a location of a commercial advertisement within the associated media content file.

55. The machine-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the meta data includes at least one designation of a highlight scene within the associated media content file.

56. The machine-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the meta data includes at least two different sets of meta data both associated with the identified unedited media content file, thereby enabling at least two different presentations of the same unedited media content file.