Audio and video program recording, editing and playback systems using metadata

Abstract

A system for utilizing metadata created either at a central location for shared use by connected users, or at each individual user's location, to enhance user's enjoyment of available broadcast programming content. A variety of mechanisms are employed for automatically and manually identifying and designating programming segments, associating descriptive metadata which the identified segments, distributing the metadata for use at client locations, and using the supplied metadata to selectively record and playback desired programming.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . The method of selectively controlling the presentation of broadcast programming which comprises: 
 at a first location, performing the steps of: 
 receiving said broadcast programming,  
 presenting said broadcast programming to a first user,  
 accepting metadata from said first user, said metadata characterizing said broadcast programming presented to said first user, and  
 transmitting said metadata to a second user location remote from said first location, and  
   at said second location, performing the steps of: 
 receiving said metadata,  
 receiving said broadcast programming, and  
 presenting said broadcast programming to said second user in a manner facilitated by said metadata.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method set forth in  claim 1  wherein step performed at said first location of accepting metadata from said first user includes accepting a rating from said first user which expresses the user's opinion of the merit of a designated segment of said broadcast programming.  
     
     
         3 . The method set forth in  claim 1  wherein step performed at said first location of accepting metadata from said first user includes accepting a comment from said first user associated with a designated segment of said broadcast programming.  
     
     
         4 . The method set forth in  claim 1  wherein step performed at said first location of accepting metadata from said first user includes accepting a summary of a designated segment of said broadcast programming from said first user composed by said first user.  
     
     
         5 . The method of selectively controlling the presentation of broadcast programming which comprises: 
 at a first location, performing the steps of: 
 receiving said broadcast programming,  
 presenting said broadcast programming to a first user,  
 accepting metadata from said first user, said metadata including a designation of a specific segment of said broadcast programming and a characterization of the content of said specific segment of said broadcast programming, and  
 transmitting said metadata to a second user location remote from said first location, and  
   at said second location, performing the steps of: 
 receiving said metadata,  
 receiving said broadcast programming, and  
 presenting said specific segment of said broadcast programming to said second user in a manner facilitated by said metadata.  
   
     
     
         6 . The method set forth in  claim 5  wherein said characterization of the content of said specific segment comprises a rating from said first user which expresses the user's opinion of the merit of said specific segment of said broadcast programming  
     
     
         7 . The method set forth in  claim 5  wherein said characterization of the content of said specific segment comprises a comment from said first user associated with said specific segment of said broadcast programming.  
     
     
         8 . The method set forth in  claim 5  wherein said characterization of the content of said specific segment comprises a summary said specific segment of said broadcast programming provided said first user.  
     
     
         9 . The method of selectively controlling the presentation of broadcast programming which comprises: 
 at a first location, performing the steps of: 
 receiving said broadcast programming,  
 presenting said broadcast programming to a first user,  
 accepting metadata from said first user, said metadata including a designation of a specific segment of said broadcast programming and a characterization of the content of said specific segment of said broadcast programming, and  
 transmitting said metadata to central server at a location remote from said first location, and  
   at said second location, performing the steps of: 
 receiving said metadata from said central server,  
 receiving said broadcast programming,  
 storing said broadcast programming for later playback, and  
 selecting and playing back said specific segment of said broadcast programming to said second user in a manner facilitated by said metadata.  
   
     
     
         10 . The method set forth in  claim 5  wherein said characterization of the content of said specific segment comprises a rating from said first user which expresses the user's opinion of the merit of said specific segment of said broadcast programming  
     
     
         11 . The method set forth in  claim 5  wherein said characterization of the content of said specific segment comprises a comment from said first user associated with said specific segment of said broadcast programming.  
     
     
         12 . The method set forth in  claim 5  wherein said characterization of the content of said specific segment comprises a summary said specific segment of said broadcast programming provided said first user.