Managing and editing stored media assets

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for providing editing tools that allow a user to manipulate media provided by a media content source. Media editing tools may include content analysis tools capable of extracting information from the media content itself, and may include segment identification and editing tools. Editing tools may be created by a user, and stored or shared with other users. Users may be able to specify and customize a set of storage space requirements that impose constraints on the type, quantity and content of stored assets. Automatic storage management tools provide tools with which stored and to-be-stored assets may be transformed in order to maintain satisfaction of storage preferences and requirements.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for managing storage space of programs stored on a storage device, the method comprising:
 accessing at least one stored program from a storage space;   detecting a first segment within the at least one stored program;   receiving a selection of an editing tool;   generating an edited first segment based on the selected editing tool and the first segment, wherein the edited first segment is a transformation of the first segment;   storing a program asset that comprises the edited first segment on the storage device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein detecting a first segment within the at least one stored program comprises applying a set of segment markers to the at least one stored program. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising receiving the set of segment markers from a remote source. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising generating the set of segment markers based on the content of the at least one stored program. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein generating the set of segment markers is based on a set of user content preferences. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the set of segment markers is specified by a user. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the set of segment markers comprises segment time markers and segment content identifiers. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the transformation is based on a comparison of the segment content identifiers with a set of user content preferences. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the transformation is a compression. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the transformation is a change in video standard. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the transformation comprises removing a portion of the first segment. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the removed portion includes at least one of a commercial, an opening sequence, a closing sequence, a preview sequence, a repeated sequence and a recap sequence. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the transformation comprises replacing a first portion of the first segment with a second portion, wherein the second portion requires a smaller amount of storage space than the first portion. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the reduced memory portion comprises at least one of a static image, a text message, a low-resolution segment, an abbreviated segment, and a compressed segment. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the transformation is based on a set of user preferences. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the user preferences comprise at least one of content preferences and display preferences. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the transformation is based on a set of previously stored assets. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein storing a program asset that comprises the edited first segment on the user equipment comprises storing the edited first segment with a previously stored program asset. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein storing the program asset comprises replacing the at least one stored program, in memory, with the program asset. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising detecting a second segment within the at least one stored program. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first and second segments are sequential parts of a media event. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the program asset comprises the second segment. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the program asset comprises a visual transition between the edited first segment and the second segment. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising generating an edited second segment based on the selected editing tool and the second segment, wherein the edited second segment is a second transformation of the second segment, and the program asset comprises the edited second segment. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the editing tool generates the edited second segment based at least in part on the content of the first segment. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first transformation is based at least in part on a comparison of the content of the first and second segments. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein receiving a selection of an editing tool comprises:
 receiving a selection of a first editing option; and   receiving a selection of a second editing option.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising saving the selected editing tool. 
     
     
         53 .- 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A system for managing storage space of programs stored on a storage device, the system comprising:
 a user input configured to receive a selection;   a storage device configured to store at least on program; and   processing circuitry, communicably coupled to the user input and the storage device and configured to:
 access at least one stored program from a storage space; 
 detect a first segment within the at least one stored program; 
 receive a selection of an editing tool; 
 generate an edited first segment based on the selected editing tool and the first segment, wherein the edited first segment is a transformation of the first segment; 
 store a program asset that comprises the edited first segment on the storage device. 
   
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein detecting a first segment within the at least one stored program comprises applying a set of segment markers to the at least one stored program. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 78 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to receive the set of segment markers from a remote source. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 78 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to generate the set of segment markers based on the content of the at least one stored program. 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 80 , wherein generating the set of segment markers is based on a set of user content preferences. 
     
     
         82 . The system of  claim 78 , wherein the set of segment markers is specified by a user. 
     
     
         83 . The system of  claim 78 , wherein the set of segment markers comprises segment time markers and segment content identifiers. 
     
     
         84 . The system of  claim 83 , wherein the transformation is based on a comparison of the segment content identifiers with a set of user content preferences. 
     
     
         85 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the transformation is a compression. 
     
     
         86 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the transformation is a change in video standard. 
     
     
         87 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the transformation comprises removing a portion of the first segment. 
     
     
         88 . The system of  claim 87 , wherein the removed portion includes at least one of a commercial, an opening sequence, a closing sequence, a preview sequence, a repeated sequence and a recap sequence. 
     
     
         89 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the transformation comprises replacing a first portion of the first segment with a second portion, wherein the second portion requires a smaller amount of storage space than the first portion. 
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein the reduced memory portion comprises at least one of a static image, a text message, a low-resolution segment, an abbreviated segment, and a compressed segment. 
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the transformation is based on a set of user preferences. 
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 91 , wherein the user preferences comprise at least one of content preferences and display preferences. 
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the transformation is based on a set of previously stored assets. 
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 93 , wherein storing a program asset that comprises the edited first segment on the user equipment comprises storing the edited first segment with a previously stored program asset. 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein storing the program asset comprises replacing the at least one stored program, in memory, with the program asset. 
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect a second segment within the at least one stored program. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the first and second segments are sequential parts of a media event. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the program asset comprises the second segment. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 98 , wherein the program asset comprises a visual transition between the edited first segment and the second segment. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to generate an edited second segment based on the selected editing tool and the second segment, wherein the edited second segment is a second transformation of the second segment, and the program asset comprises the edited second segment. 
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 100 , wherein the editing tool generates the edited second segment based at least in part on the content of the first segment. 
     
     
         102 . The system of  claim 96 , wherein the first transformation is based at least in part on a comparison of the content of the first and second segments. 
     
     
         103 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein receiving a selection of an editing tool comprises:
 receiving a selection of a first editing option; and   receiving a selection of a second editing option.   
     
     
         104 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to save the selected editing tool. 
     
     
         105 .- 156 . (canceled)