US7197758B1 — Method and apparatus for indexing video programs

Claim 1

Independent Claim 97 words

A method comprising: retrieving an index associated with a television program, wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch program segments; displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer; allowing the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and when the at least one segment is selected, automatically selecting the adjacent must watch program segments.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 97 words

A method comprising: retrieving an index associated with a television program, wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch program segments; displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer; allowing the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and when the at least one segment is selected, automatically selecting the adjacent must watch program segments.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein retrieving an index associated with a television program includes storing the index in a digital video recorder and retrieving the index from the digital video recorder.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a first communication link enables communication between a television receiver and the Internet, such that the index is retrieved via the first communication link.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein retrieving an index associated with a television program includes retrieving the index from a web server.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the index of program segments identifies the name of each program segment.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the index of program segments identifies the time period during which each program segment is transmitted.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising recording the selected program segments on a digital video recorder.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as recited in claim 7 wherein recording the selected program segments further comprises retrieving the selected program segment from a video server.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising allowing the television viewer to select the order of viewing of the selected program segments.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1 .

Claim 12

Independent Claim 148 words

A method comprising: retrieving an index associated with a television program wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch segments, wherein the index and the associated television program are stored on a digital video recorder; displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer; allowing the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; when the television viewer selects the at least one segment, determining if the television viewer fails to select any adjacent must watch program segments; and automatically selecting any non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected segment; and retrieving the selected program segments and displaying the retrieved program segments on a display device.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 148 words

A method comprising: retrieving an index associated with a television program wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch segments, wherein the index and the associated television program are stored on a digital video recorder; displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer; allowing the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; when the television viewer selects the at least one segment, determining if the television viewer fails to select any adjacent must watch program segments; and automatically selecting any non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected segment; and retrieving the selected program segments and displaying the retrieved program segments on a display device.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein retrieving the index associated with the television program includes retrieving the index from a web server via the Internet.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein retrieving an index includes identifying a plurality of labels contained in the television program.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method as recited in claim 13 wherein at least one of the labels identifies a program segment as a must watch segment and wherein the television viewer is prevented from skipping must watch segments during viewing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising allowing the television viewer to select the order of viewing of the program segments.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 11 .

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the index indicates a content rating associated with at least one of the video program segments.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method as recited in claim 11 wherein a portion of the index is broadcast prior to the program segment with which the portion of the index is associated.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 144 words

An apparatus comprising a television receiver coupled to a network through a first communication link and configured to retrieve an index associated with a television program via the first communication link, the index identifying a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designating one or more program segments as must watch segments, wherein the television program is broadcast via a second communication link, the television receiver further configured to display the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer and to allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, the television receiver further configured to determine if the television viewer has failed to select any must watch program segments adjacent to a program segment selected by the viewer and to automatically select non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected program segment.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 144 words

An apparatus comprising a television receiver coupled to a network through a first communication link and configured to retrieve an index associated with a television program via the first communication link, the index identifying a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designating one or more program segments as must watch segments, wherein the television program is broadcast via a second communication link, the television receiver further configured to display the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer and to allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, the television receiver further configured to determine if the television viewer has failed to select any must watch program segments adjacent to a program segment selected by the viewer and to automatically select non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected program segment.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 further comprising a video recorder coupled to the television receiver, the video recorder configured to store the television program and the associated index.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the television receiver is configured to retrieve the television program via the first communication link.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the second communication link includes at least one of cable, satellite, microwave, and terrestrial broadcast.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the television receiver is further to allow the television viewer to select the order of viewing of the program segments.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 148 words

An apparatus comprising: a television receiver to receive a television program via a television broadcast communication link and to retrieve an index identifying a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program via a data communication link separate from the television broadcast communication link, the index further identifying one or more program segments as must watch segments; a display device coupled to the television receiver to display the index of program segments to a television viewer and to allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, the television receiver configured to determine if the television viewer has failed to select a must watch program segment adjacent to a program segment selected by the television viewer and to automatically select the non-selected must watch program segment; and a digital video recorder coupled to the television receiver to record selected program segments.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 148 words

An apparatus comprising: a television receiver to receive a television program via a television broadcast communication link and to retrieve an index identifying a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program via a data communication link separate from the television broadcast communication link, the index further identifying one or more program segments as must watch segments; a display device coupled to the television receiver to display the index of program segments to a television viewer and to allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, the television receiver configured to determine if the television viewer has failed to select a must watch program segment adjacent to a program segment selected by the television viewer and to automatically select the non-selected must watch program segment; and a digital video recorder coupled to the television receiver to record selected program segments.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 20 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein the television viewer is prevented from skipping must watch segments during viewing.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 21 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein the data communication link enables the television receiver to communicate via the Internet.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 151 words

One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: retrieve an index associated with a television program via a first communication link, wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch segments, the television program broadcast via a second communication link; display the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer; allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, wherein the at least one television program segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and when the at least one television program segment is selected: determine if the television viewer fails to select adjacent must watch program segments; and automatically select the adjacent must watch program segments.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 151 words

One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to: retrieve an index associated with a television program via a first communication link, wherein the index identifies a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program and designates one or more program segments as must watch segments, the television program broadcast via a second communication link; display the retrieved index of program segments to a television viewer; allow the television viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing, wherein the at least one television program segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and when the at least one television program segment is selected: determine if the television viewer fails to select adjacent must watch program segments; and automatically select the adjacent must watch program segments.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 22 words

One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 27 further comprising receiving selected television program segments via the second communication link.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 20 words

One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 27 wherein the first communication link is associated with the Internet.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 118 words

An apparatus comprising: means for retrieving an index associated with a television program via a bi-directional data communication link; means for receiving the television program via a video communication link; means for determining a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program; means for displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a viewer; and means for allowing the viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one television program segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and when the at least one television program segment is selected, means for automatically selecting non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected television program segment.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 118 words

An apparatus comprising: means for retrieving an index associated with a television program via a bi-directional data communication link; means for receiving the television program via a video communication link; means for determining a plurality of television program segments contained in the television program; means for displaying the retrieved index of program segments to a viewer; and means for allowing the viewer to select at least one television program segment for viewing wherein the at least one television program segment is adjacent to one or more designated must watch program segments; and when the at least one television program segment is selected, means for automatically selecting non-selected must watch program segments adjacent to the selected television program segment.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 30 , further comprising means for retrieving the index from the Internet and means for storing the index in a digital video recorder.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 30 , further comprising means for preventing the viewer from skipping must watch program segments.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-03-26	2010-09-25	2011-03-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-03-26	2014-09-25	2015-03-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-03-26	2018-09-25	2019-03-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for indexing video programs

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag