METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A NORMALIZED TIME FOR USE IN RESUMING CONTENT PLAYBACK

摘要

Methods and apparatus relating to determining and using a normalized in progress program indicator that can be used for resuming content playback are described. In some embodiments the normalized in progress program indicator, also referred to as a normalized in progress program time, indicates a portion, e.g., fraction, of a program which has been viewed. The normalized in progress time is generated by determining an in progress program point after excluding the time of advertisements that may have been included in a content stream with the program. A user may begin watching a program on one device and resume playback of a different version of the same program on another playback device with the normalization process allowing for the playback starting point to be easily determined whether the same or a different version, with a different duration, of the program is played back.

主权项

1. A method of providing program content to a viewer, the method comprising:
operating a control device to determine from a normalized in progress time, that was generated from a first in progress time corresponding to a first content stream that includes a first version of a first program, a second in progress time to be used in streaming a second content stream to said viewer, said second content stream communicating a second version of said first program having a second program duration which is different from a first program duration of said first version of said first program, said second program duration excluding any non-program segments included in said second content stream; and operating a content server to use said second in progress time to stream said second content stream to a second playback device.