Program storage, retrieval and management based on segmentation messages

摘要

Segmentation messages indicative of locations of upcoming events, such as the start and end of programs and program portions, and/or rights related to the programs and program portions, are used by cable systems and the like to store programs and program portions for later retrieval and transmission to customers on request. Storage, retrieval and management of programming is thereby facilitated. Methods and systems are disclosed.

主权项

1. A method of storing an expanse of a program signal stream by a program content distribution system, the method comprising:
receiving a program signal stream from a source of program content by a program content distribution system, the program signal stream comprising a sequence of programs provided serially and a plurality of rights-related segmentation messages defining rights granted by the source to the program distribution system with respect to the content of the expanse; receiving a first rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream prior to a start of the expanse, the first rights-related segmentation message defining first rights-related information concerning a right to store the entire expanse by the program distribution system; receiving a start of the expanse in the program signal stream; receiving a second rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream after receiving the start of the expanse, the second rights-related segmentation message defining second rights-related information concerning the content of the entire expanse, different from the first rights-related information, wherein the respective locations of the first and second segmentation messages are based, at least in part, on the first and second rights-related information, respectively; receiving the end of the expanse after receiving the second rights-related segmentation message; determining whether there is a right to store the entire expanse granted by the source to the program content distribution system based, at least in part, on the first rights-related information defined by the first rights-related segmentation message, by at least one processing device; segmenting the expanse from the program signal stream by the at least one processing device as the at least one program signal stream is received, only if it is determined that is the first-rights related segmentation message defines a right to store the entire expanse by the program content distribution system; and storing the segmented expanse in memory.