Technique for resegmenting assets containing programming content delivered through a communications network

• US 7,904,936 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Interactive Video Group, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Urdang, Erik G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANCE, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US10/274,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,063 Days
• Field of Search: 725/58, 725/145
• US Class Current: 725/145
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Program content is received at a headend of a broadband communication system, along with data concerning scheduled start and end times of the program derived from electronic program guide (EPG) data. After the program is broadcast, the actual broadcast start and end times of the program are compared with the corresponding scheduled times to determine whether there is any start and/or end time variance. If a time variance is determined, the content of the program is redefined to include only its supposed content. The redefined content is then made part of an asset for later retrieval and distribution.

Claims

1. A method for defining content of a first program scheduled to be broadcast at a scheduled start time, a second program preceding the first program in a broadcast of the first and second programs, the content of the first program being defined starting from the scheduled start time, the method comprising operating a headend of a broadcast system to perform the following steps:

storing broadcast content including at least a portion of said first and second programs;

receiving an end time of the second program in the broadcast;

determining whether a difference in time between the end time of the second program and the scheduled start time of the first program is greater than a threshold amount of time;

processing the stored broadcast content as a function of said received information to re-define the content of the first program when it is determined that the difference in time is greater than the threshold amount of time; and

storing the re-defined content for subsequent retrieval.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein said storing the broadcast content includes storing the broadcast content including at least a portion of said first and second programs in a buffer;

wherein storing the redefined content includes storing the re-defined content in a storage device from which assets can be retrieved for on-demand content delivery; and

wherein if the difference in time indicates that the end time of the second program is later than the scheduled start time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the end time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if the difference in time indicates that the end time of the second program is earlier than the scheduled start time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the end time and the scheduled start time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein data concerning the scheduled start time and the information concerning the end time are from different sources.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduled start time is derived from program guide data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the end time is received after the first program is broadcast.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the redefined content of the first program is made part of an asset.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing broadcast content; and

wherein re-defining the content of the first program includes;

changing a set of stored broadcast content defined as corresponding to the first program.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said storing the re-defined content includes storing the defined content in a storage device for subsequent retrieval.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the step of storing broadcast content includes storing broadcast content including more broadcast content than the content of said first program in a buffer;

and

wherein the step of storing the re-defined content includes storing the re-defined content in a storage device from which programs are retrieved for post broadcast delivery.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said information concerning an end time of the second program in the broadcast is received after the end of the broadcast.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said end time of the second program indicates an end time which is earlier than the scheduled start time of the first program.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said threshold is a fraction of a second.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said threshold is a few minutes.

16. A method for defining content of a first program which is scheduled to be broadcast until a scheduled end time, a second program succeeding the first program in a broadcast of the first and second programs, the content of the first program being defined ending at the scheduled end time, the method comprising:

storing, at a communications system headend, broadcast content including at least a portion of said first and second programs;

receiving a start time of the second program in the broadcast;

determining whether a difference in time between the start time of the second program and the scheduled end time of the first program is greater than a threshold amount of time;

processing the stored broadcast content as a function of said received information to re-define the content of the first program when it is determined that the difference in time is greater than the threshold amount of time; and

storing, at the communications system headend, the re-defined content for subsequent retrieval.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein if the difference in time indicates that the start time of the second program is later than the scheduled end time of the first program by more than the threshold amount of time, the content of the first program is redefined by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled end time and the start time.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein if the difference indicates that the start time of the second program is earlier than the scheduled end time of the first program by more than the threshold amount of time, the content of the first program is redefined by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the start time and the scheduled end time.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving an identifier identifying the second program.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein data concerning the scheduled end time and the information concerning the start time are from different sources.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the scheduled end time is derived from program guide data.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the start time is received after at least a portion of the second program is broadcast.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing, prior to said re-defining step, content of the first program with additional program content; and

wherein re-defining the content of the first program includes;

defining a set of content to correspond to the first program which is different from stored content defined by a scheduled first program start time and a scheduled first program end time.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said storing, prior to said re-defining step is performed using a buffer used to buffer broadcast programs.

25. A method for generating an asset containing content of a program, comprising:

storing, at a communications system headend, broadcast content including said program;

receiving first data concerning a scheduled start time of a broadcast of the program, and an actual start time of the broadcast of the program;

subtracting the scheduled start time from the actual start time to generate a first difference;

determining whether the absolute value of the first difference is greater than a first threshold;

adjusting the stored broadcast content of the program when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold, the adjusting performed on the stored broadcast content of the program depending on whether said first difference is positive or negative; and

storing, at the communications system headend, the adjusted content of the program to generate said asset for subsequent retrieval.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual start time is later than the scheduled start time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the actual start time.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual start time is earlier than the scheduled start time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the actual start time and the scheduled start time.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the first data and the actual start time are from different sources.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the first data is derived from program guide data.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the actual start time is received after a second program is broadcast.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

storing, prior to said adjusting step, content of the first program with additional program content; and

wherein adjusting the content of the first program includes;

adjusting a set of content corresponding to the first program to include content which is different from stored content defined by a scheduled first program broadcast start time and a scheduled first program broadcast end time.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said storing, prior to said adjusting step is performed using a buffer used to buffer broadcast programs.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein adjusting the stored broadcast content includes:

subtracting the scheduled end time of the program from the actual broadcast end time of the program to generate a second difference.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

determining if said second difference is greater than a second predetermined threshold, when the first difference is not greater than said threshold.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

appending a portion of a succeeding program when said second difference is positive and said second difference exceeds the second predetermined threshold.

37. A method for generating an asset containing content of a program, comprising:

storing at a communications system headend broadcast content including said program;

receiving first data concerning a scheduled end time of a broadcast of the program and second data said second data being an actual end time of the broadcast of the program;

determining whether a difference between the scheduled end time and the actual end time is greater than a threshold;

adjusting the stored broadcast content of the program when it is determined that the difference is greater than the thresholds; and

storing, at the communications system headend, the adjusted content of the program to generate said asset for subsequent retrieval.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual end time is later than the scheduled end time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the actual start time.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual end time is earlier than the scheduled end time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the actual end time and the scheduled end time.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the first data and the second data are from different sources.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the first data is derived from program guide data.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the second data is received after a second program is broadcast.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

storing, prior to said re-adjusting step, content of the first program with additional program content; and

wherein adjusting the content of the first program includes;

adjusting a set of content corresponding to the first program to include content which is different from stored content defined by a scheduled first program broadcast start time and a scheduled first program broadcast end time.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said storing, prior to said adjusting step is performed using a buffer used to buffer broadcast programs.

46. A system for defining content of a first program which is scheduled to be broadcast at a scheduled start time, a second program preceding the first program in a broadcast of the first and second programs, the content of the first program being defined starting from the scheduled start time, the system comprising:

a buffer, located at a communications system headend, for storing broadcast content including said program;

an interface for receiving an end time of the second program in the broadcast;

a processor for determining whether a difference between the end time of the second program and the scheduled start time of the first program is greater than a threshold, the stored broadcast content of the first program being redefined when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storage, located at the communications system headend, for storing the redefined content.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein if the difference indicates that the end time of the second program is later than the scheduled start time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the end time.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein if the difference indicates that the end time of the second program is earlier than the scheduled start time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the end time and the scheduled start time.

49. The system of claim 46, further comprising a second interface for receiving an identifier identifying the second program.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein data concerning the scheduled start time and the information concerning the end time are from different sources.

51. The system of claim 46, wherein the scheduled start time is derived from program guide data.

52. The system of claim 46, wherein the information concerning the end time is received after the first program is broadcast.

53. The system of claim 46, wherein the redefined content of the first program is made part of an asset.

54. The system of claim 46, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

55. A system for defining content of a first program which is scheduled to be broadcast until a scheduled end time, a second program succeeding the first program in a broadcast of the first and second programs, the content of the first program being defined ending at the scheduled end time, the system comprising:

a buffer, located at a communications system headend, for storing broadcast content including said program;

an interface for receiving a start time of the second program in the broadcast;

a processor for determining whether a difference between the start time of the second program and the scheduled end time of the first program is greater than a threshold, the stored broadcast content of the first program being redefined when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storage, located at the communications system headend, for storing the redefined content.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein if the difference indicates that the start time of the second program is later than the scheduled end time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled end time and the start time.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein if the difference indicates that the start time of the second program is earlier than the scheduled end time of the first program by more than the threshold, the content of the first program is redefined by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the start time and the scheduled end time.

58. The system of claim 55, further comprising a second interface for receiving an identifier identifying the second program.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein data concerning the scheduled end time and the information concerning the start time are from different sources.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein the scheduled end time is derived from program guide data.

61. The system of claim 55, wherein the information concerning the start time is received after at least a portion of the second program is broadcast.

62. The system of claim 55, wherein the redefined content of the first program is made part of an asset.

63. The system of claim 55, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

64. A system for generating an asset containing content of a program, comprising:

a buffer, located at a communications system headend, for storing broadcast content including said program;

an interface for receiving an actual start time of the broadcast of the program;

a processor for determining whether a difference between a scheduled start time of the program and the actual start time is greater than a threshold, the stored broadcast content of the program being adjusted when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storage, located at the communications system headend, for storing said adjusted content to generate the asset, said asset containing the adjusted content and being available for subsequent retrieval.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the scheduled start time and the actual start time are from different sources.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein the scheduled start time is from program guide data.

67. The system of claim 64, wherein the actual start time is received after the second program is broadcast.

68. The system of claim 64, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

69. A system for generating an asset containing content of a program, the content of the program and first data concerning a scheduled end time of a broadcast of the program being provided to the system, comprising:

a buffer, located at a communications system headend, for storing broadcast content including said program;

an interface for receiving second data, said second data being an actual end time of the broadcast of the program;

a processor for determining whether a difference between the scheduled end time and the actual end time is greater than a threshold, the stored broadcast content of the program being adjusted when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storage, located at the communications system headend, for storing said adjusted content to generate the asset, said asset containing the adjusted content and being available for subsequent retrieval.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual end time is later than the scheduled end time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least including, in the content, a content segment broadcast between the scheduled start time and the actual start time.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein if the difference indicates that the actual end time is earlier than the scheduled end time by more than the threshold, the content of the program is adjusted by at least excluding, from the content, a content segment broadcast between the actual end time and the scheduled end time.

72. The system of claim 69, wherein the first data and the second data are from different sources.

73. The system of claim 69, wherein the first data is derived from program guide data.

74. The system of claim 69, wherein the second data is received after the second program is broadcast.

75. The system of claim 69, wherein the threshold has a non-zero value.

76. A method for defining content of a broadcast program scheduled to end at a scheduled time, the method comprising:

storing broadcast content including at least a portion of said broadcast program and a portion of a second program broadcast following said broadcast program in a storage device;

receiving as input an actual end time of said broadcast program;

determining, after the broadcast of said broadcast program, whether a difference between the actual end time of said broadcast program and the scheduled end time of said broadcast program is greater than a threshold;

re-defining the stored broadcast content of the broadcast program when it is determined that the difference is greater than the threshold; and

storing the re-defined content for subsequent retrieval thereof.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the actual end time is provided by human input after the program has been broadcast.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein re-defining the stored broadcast content includes resegmenting stored broadcast content so that stored program content, indicated by electronic program guide information indicating a broadcast schedule, to correspond to the second program, is defined to be part of said broadcast program.

79. The method of claim 76, wherein said actual end time of the broadcast program is determined from information obtained from a source other than an electronic program guide.