Advanced Television System

Abstract

A digital television recording method comprising: broadcasting a television program associated with a broadcaster set of parameters enabling access to a first set of predetermined portions of the program; operating an agent for determining whether to record the program and for associating with the program, upon recording of the program, an agent set of parameters enabling access to a second set of predetermined portions of the program; storing the program together with the broadcaster set of parameters and the agent set of parameters to generate an addressable program; retrieving at least a portion of the addressable program; displaying the at least a portion of the addressable program to a user; receiving from the user a user set of parameters enabling access to a third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program; editing the addressable program to include the user set of parameters enabling access to the third set of predetermined portions of the addressable program thereby generating an edited addressable program; and storing the edited addressable program.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A broadcast system comprising:
 a headend for broadcasting program material with a browsable program structure; and   a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations, each receiving said program material being broadcast and including a receiver-decoder browser for browsing said program material at least in accordance with said browsable program structure.   
     
     
         36 . A receiver-decoder for use with a broadcast system having a headend for broadcasting program material with a browsable program structure and a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations, said receiver-decoder comprising:
 a receiver configurable to receive said program material being broadcast;   a memory configurable to digitally store said program material being broadcast in response to a recording determination;   a receiver-decoder browser for browsing said stored program material at least in accordance with said browsable program structure;   an agent module configured to associate an agent set of parameters with said stored program material;   means for receiving a user set of parameters and associating said user set of parameters with said stored program material; and   at least one of a NEXT selector and a PREVIOUS selector, wherein said NEXT and PREVIOUS selectors are operative to cause said receiver-decoder to browse in accordance with a hierarchy determined by a combination of all of the following: said user set of parameters, said agent set of parameters, and a broadcaster set of parameters associated with said stored program material.   
     
     
         37 . A receiver-decoder according to  claim 36  and wherein said browsable program structure comprises a plurality of individually accessible sequential units. 
     
     
         38 . A receiver-decoder according to  claim 36  and wherein said receiver-decoder includes user actuable access apparatus for enabling a user to selectably access one or more of said individually accessible sequential units. 
     
     
         39 . A receiver-decoder according to  claim 36  and wherein said hierarchy comprises a plurality of hierarchies. 
     
     
         40 . A receiver-decoder according to  claim 39  and wherein said plurality of hierarchies comprises a hierarchy of stories within a program. 
     
     
         41 . A receiver-decoder according to  claim 39  and wherein said plurality of hierarchies comprises a hierarchy of sections within a program. 
     
     
         42 . A receiver-decoder according to  claim 39  and wherein said plurality of hierarchies comprises a hierarchy of programs of similar type. 
     
     
         43 . A broadcast system comprising:
 a headend for broadcasting program material with a program structure including non-user view controllable portions; and   a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations, each receiving said program material being broadcast and including a receiver-decoder browser for enabling user view control of said program material other than said non-user view controllable portions thereof.   
     
     
         44 . A receiver-decoder for use with a broadcast system comprising a headend for broadcasting program material with a program structure including non-user view controllable portions and a multiplicity of receiver-decoders at user locations, the receiver-decoder comprising:
 a receiver for receiving said program material being broadcast; and   a receiver-decoder browser for enabling user view control of said program material other than said non-user view controllable portions thereof.