US6931451B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for modifying broadcast programming
Assignee: Adeia Media Solutions Inc
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Filing: 2000-03-28
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Granted: 2005-08-16
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Expires: 2020-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A system for selecting, erasing or reproducing program recordings using marking and descriptive data which is transmitted to a client location from a remote processing location. A database of identification signals specifying the characteristics of a known programming is maintained at a remote processing location. In a first embodiment, selected identification signals are downloaded from the database to the client location and are used by a processor at the client location to identify desired programming within a locally stored collection of previously received broadcast programming signals. In a second arrangement, locally stored programming signals are processed to extract identification data which is uploaded from the client location to the remote processing location for comparison to the database, and information describing the content of the matching programs is returned to the client location for use as a program guide, facilitating the selection, permanent storage, or playback of desired program records and/or the erasure of undesired programming. To conserve local storage space, identified program records may be uploaded and stored at the remote processing location, or shared program records in a central library may be made available for remote playback after an the identity of equivalent locally stored programming is confirmed.
Inventors
- 👤 James D. Logan
- 👤 Daniel F. Goessling
- 👤 Richard S. Goldhor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/84; G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0033; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/35; H04H60/37; H04H60/38; H04H60/39; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/231; H04N21/233; H04N21/25; H04N21/254; H04N21/2541; H04N21/2543; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/433; H04N21/439; H04N21/45; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/482; H04N21/60; H04N21/65; H04N21/654; H04N21/658; H04N21/6582; H04N21/81; H04N21/8106; H04N21/8113; H04N21/8126; H04N21/8133; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/121; G10H2240/125; G10H2240/131; G10H2240/155; H04H60/76; H04H60/81; H04H60/82; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/466; H04N21/4667; H04N21/845; H04N21/8455
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for selectively reproducing locally stored programming signals comprising, in combination, the steps of: storing a first set of separate programming segments at a client location, at said client location, employing processing means to derive identification data from each of said first set of separate programming segments, transmitting said identification data from said client location to a remote processing location, at said remote processing location, comparing said identification data with a database containing identification information and associated content descriptions for each of a second set of programming segments to identify common program segments found in both said first and said second set of programming segments, transmitting from said remote processing location to said client location selected ones of content descriptions stored in said database which describe said common program segments, and at said client location, presenting said selected content descriptions to a user to facilitate the selective processing of said common program segments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for selectively reproducing locally stored programming signals comprising, in combination, the steps of: storing a first set of separate programming segments at a client location, at said client location, employing processing means to derive identification data from each of said first set of separate programming segments, transmitting said identification data from said client location to a remote processing location, at said remote processing location, comparing said identification data with a database containing identification information and associated content descriptions for each of a second set of programming segments to identify common program segments found in both said first and said second set of programming segments, transmitting from said remote processing location to said client location selected ones of content descriptions stored in said database which describe said common program segments, and at said client location, presenting said selected content descriptions to a user to facilitate the selective processing of said common program segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of said programming signals are recorded musical performances.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method set forth in claim 2 wherein at least some of said content descriptions specify one or more attributes of the corresponding recorded musical performance from the group of attributes consisting of the title, performer, composer, and date of the corresponding recorded musical performance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of storing said first set of separate programming segments comprises receiving and recording broadcasted programming signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method set forth in claim 4 wherein said identification data contained in said database are derived from said broadcasted programming signals received at said remote processing location concurrently with the reception and recording of said broadcast programming signals at said client location, and said content descriptions transmitted to said client location from said remote processing location are used at said client location to facilitate the selective time-shifted reproduction of said broadcast programming signals.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
36 words
The method as set forth in 1 wherein said content descriptions transmitted from said remote processing location to said client location include information specifying the beginning and ending time of each of said common program segments.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
36 words
The method as set forth in 1 wherein said content descriptions transmitted from said remote processing location to said client location include information specifying the beginning and ending time of each of said common program segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the steps of transmitting one or more selected ones of said common program segments from said client location to said remote processing location, and storing said selected common program segments at said remote processing location for subsequent retrieval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the steps performed at said remote processing location comprising: maintaining a stored library containing said second set of programming segments at said remote processing location, accepting a retrieval request from said client location specifying one or more particular ones of said common program segments, and responding to said request by transmitting to said client location the content of said one or more particular ones of said common program segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method set forth in claim 8 further comprising the steps of uploading a copy of a program segment stored locally at said client location to said remote processing location and storing the uploaded copy in said stored library for later retrieval from said remote processing location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method set forth in claim 8 further including the steps of posting an entry in an accounting file upon the transmittal of said identification data to said remote processing location, subsequently transmitting a playback request identifying said client location and identifying a requested program segment, and authorizing the transmittal of said requested program segment if said accounting file contains data indicating that identification data for said requested program segment was previously transmitted from said client location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method set forth in claim 10 further including the step of disabling the playback of a local copy of a program segment when the remote playback of said program segment is authorized at said remote processing location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method set forth in claim 10 further including the step of disabling the transmittal of said requested program segment from said remote processing location when the playback of the copy of said requested program segment locally stored at said client location is enabled.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for selectively reproducing previously broadcast programming segments comprising, in combination, the steps of: employing a first broadcast receiver at a client location for capturing a broadcast signal, recording said broadcast signal in a local storage unit in a substantially continuous manner as said signal is received at said client location; processing said broadcast signal at said client location to extract brief segments from the content of said broadcast signal, utilizing a communications channel to transmit said brief segments from said client location to a remote processing location; comparing said segments received from said client location with a library of previously recorded programs to identify particular programs which contain segments matching the segments received from said client location, and transmitting program guide data describing said particular programs to said client location from said remote programming location.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for selectively reproducing previously broadcast programming segments comprising, in combination, the steps of: employing a first broadcast receiver at a client location for capturing a broadcast signal, recording said broadcast signal in a local storage unit in a substantially continuous manner as said signal is received at said client location; processing said broadcast signal at said client location to extract brief segments from the content of said broadcast signal, utilizing a communications channel to transmit said brief segments from said client location to a remote processing location; comparing said segments received from said client location with a library of previously recorded programs to identify particular programs which contain segments matching the segments received from said client location, and transmitting program guide data describing said particular programs to said client location from said remote programming location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as set forth in claim 13 further including the steps of displaying said program guide data for use at said client station to facilitate the selection and reproduction of desired ones of said particular programs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said data identifying said particular programs includes timing information specifying the beginning and ending time of each of said particular programs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the steps of recording and processing said broadcast signal at said client location are performed by a programmed personal computer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein said communications channel is the Internet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as set forth in claim 13 further including steps, at said client location, of processing said program guide data to display a listing of the available programs in said local storage unit, and selectively processing said available programs in response to commands from a user.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 18 wherein said step of processing said available programs to selectively reproduce selected ones of said available programs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method set forth in claim 19 wherein said step of processing said available programs further includes selectively erasing designated ones of said available programs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-08-15 | 2009-02-14 | 2009-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-08-15 | 2013-02-14 | 2013-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-08-15 | 2017-02-14 | 2017-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |