APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING AN INITIAL PORTION OF A MEDIA CONTENT EVENT
First Claim
1. A media device comprising:
- 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 a broadcast system;
where in response to determining that the initial portion of the specified media content event has previously been communicated over a broadcast system, the processor system is further configured to;
operate the recorder to store the remaining portion of the media content 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 second media device 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 second media device.
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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.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. 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 a broadcast system; where in response to determining that the initial portion of the specified media content event has previously been communicated over a broadcast system, the processor system is further configured to; operate the recorder to store the remaining portion of the media content 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 second media device 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 second media device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising:
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receiving a request from a first media device, wherein the request identifies an initial portion of a media content event that has previously been communicated over a broadcast system; identifying at least one second media device that has stored the initial portion of the media content event during broadcast of the initial portion over the broadcast system; and communicating a response to the first media device, wherein the response identifies the at least one second media device, wherein the second media device has stored the initial portion of the media content event. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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storing a media content event at a first media device as the media content event is communicated over a broadcast system; receiving 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; identifying the initial portion of the media content event from the stored media content event; retrieving the identified initial portion of the media content event; and communicating the initial portion of the media content event from the first media device to the second media device. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification