Thumbnail generation and presentation for recorded TV programs

摘要

Thumbnail images representative of recorded TV programs are generated and presented to aid a user in browsing the recorded TV programs. In one implementation, a temporary thumbnail image is generated when a TV program first starts recording. The temporary thumbnail is used to populate any user interface (UI) screens that reference the recoded TV program. Once the TV program has reached a threshold amount of recording (e.g., a prescribed duration of recording, or completion of the recording), a permanent thumbnail image is generated and associated with the TV program. The permanent thumbnail is then presented in any subsequent UI screens, replacing the temporary thumbnail. In another implementation, display of the thumbnail images in the UI screens may be further controlled by setting preferences, such as parental controls.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
recording, at a client device, media content; generating from the media content, during an initial recording of the media content and before a recorded portion of the media content exceeds a threshold portion of the media content, a temporary thumbnail representative of the media content from a frame in the media content; presenting, by the client device, the temporary thumbnail within an electronic program guide (EPG) listing; determining, by the client device, that the recorded portion of the media content exceeds the threshold portion of the media content; generating from the recorded portion of the media content, a permanent thumbnail representative of the recorded portion of the media content based at least in part on selecting a representative frame in the recorded portion of the media content; and presenting, by the client device, the permanent thumbnail within the EPG listing instead of the temporary thumbnail.