Identification and recording of program sub-segments

摘要

Techniques are provided for identifying and recording program segments and sub-segments for later playback and use. In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method of recording a sub-segment of a broadcast program. The method includes receiving a user input of one or more user specified parameters, identifying a program sub-segment starting point within a program using data in a broadcast stream, and identifying a program sub-segment ending point within a program. The method also includes storing a program sub-segment and presenting the program sub-segment to a user.

主权项

1. A method of digitally recording a sub-segment of a broadcast program segment, comprising:
receiving a user input of one or more user specified parameters to identify a portion of said program segment to be recorded; monitoring at least one broadcast stream for said one or more parameters;recording a program segment based on the one or more user specified parameters;
identifying a sub-segment starting point within the recorded program segment using data in a broadcast stream; identifying a sub-segment ending point within the recorded program segment;storing the program sub-segment from said starting point to said ending point;
monitoring for an update of the stored program sub-segment;determining whether the stored program sub-segment has been retrieved prior to the broadcast of an updated program sub-segment;
automatically recording the updated program sub-segment and replacing the stored program sub-segment with the recorded updated program sub-segment, in response to determining that the stored program sub-segment has not been retrieved prior to the broadcast of the updated program sub-segment; and providing the stored program sub-segment, if a user retrieves the stored program sub-segment prior to the broadcast of the updated program sub-segment.