Content Storage and Identification

Abstract

Content intended for delivery to one or more consuming users may be recorded by a content distribution system. The recording or archival of the content may allow users to retrieve the content at a later time without providing specific instructions to record the content. Storage of the content may include retrieving programming information describing the content and storing the information in association with the content. In one or more arrangements, descriptive data for content may be generated based on user feedback. Additionally or alternatively, content storage may include fragmentation of the content into a number of segments or segments of a specified size. Content may further be paused and resumed between multiple devices, taking into account the capabilities and compatibilities of the devices and a network through which the content is to be delivered.

1 . A method comprising:
 sending, by a computing device, to a first user device, and based on a first request for a content item, a first content segment of a first version of the content item;   receiving, from the first user device, a first user description corresponding to the first content segment; and   sending, to a second user device, based on a second request for a second version of the content item, and based on information indicating that a second content segment, of the second version, corresponds to the first content segment, the first user description and the second content segment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content item is a first content item, and the method further comprises:
 generating a second content item by merging content segments, of the first version of the first content item, that correspond to an event occurring in the first content item;   generating information indicating an association between a second user description and the second content item; and   making, based on the information indicating the association, the second user description and the merged content segments available to a plurality of user devices.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the second user device and during delivery of a third content segment of the second version of the content item, a request to pause sending of the content item;   receiving, from a third user device, a request to resume sending of the content item;   determining a fourth content segment, of the first version of the content item, that corresponds to the third content segment; and   sending, to the third user device, the fourth content segment.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user description corresponding to the first content segment is a user rating for the first content segment, and the method further comprises:
 determining, based on the user rating, a placement location for commercial content for delivery to one of a plurality of user devices.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the second user device, a second user description corresponding to the second content segment; and   generating information indicating an association between the second user description and the second content segment.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second content segment has a time duration different from a time duration of the first content segment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the content item is a movie;   the first user description is a comment, from a first user, associated with a high definition version of a portion of the movie; and   the sending the first user description and the second content segment comprises: sending, with a standard definition version of the portion of the movie, the comment associated with the high definition version of the portion of the movie.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 send, to a first user device, and based on a first request for a content item, a first content segment of a first version of the content item; 
 receive, from the first user device, a first user description corresponding to the first content segment; and 
 send, to a second user device, based on a second request for a second version of the content item, and based on information indicating that a second content segment, of the second version, corresponds to the first content segment, the first user description and the second content segment. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the content item is a first content item, and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 generate a second content item by merging content segments, of the first version of the first content item, that correspond to an event occurring in the first content item;   generate information indicating an association between a second user description and the second content item; and   make, based on the information indicating the association, the second user description and the merged content segments available to a plurality of user devices.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from the second user device, and during delivery of a third content segment of the second version of the content item, a request to pause sending of the content item;   receive, from a third user device, a request to resume sending of the content item;   determine a fourth content segment, of the first version of the content item, that corresponds to the third content segment; and   send, to the third user device, the fourth content segment.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first user description corresponding to the first content segment is a user rating for the first content segment, and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 determine, based on the user rating, a placement location for commercial content for delivery to one of a plurality of user devices.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from the second user device, a second user description corresponding to the second content segment; and   generate information indicating an association between the second user description and the second content segment.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second content segment has a time duration different from a time duration of the first content segment. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the content item is a movie;   the first user description is a comment, from a first user, associated with a high definition version of a portion of the movie; and   the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to send the first user description and the second content segment by sending, with a standard definition version of the portion of the movie, the comment associated with the high definition version of the portion of the movie.   
     
     
         15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause:
 sending, to a first user device, and based on a first request for a content item, a first content segment of a first version of the content item;   receiving, from the first user device, a first user description corresponding to the first content segment; and   sending, to a second user device, based on a second request for a second version of the content item, and based on information indicating that a second content segment, of the second version, corresponds to the first content segment, the first user description and the second content segment.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the content item is a first content item, and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 generating a second content item by merging content segments, of the first version of the first content item, that correspond to an event occurring in the first content item;   generating information indicating an association between a second user description and the second content item; and   making, based on the information indicating the association, the second user description and the merged content segments available to a plurality of user devices.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 receiving, from the second user device, and during delivery of a third content segment of the second version of the content item, a request to pause sending of the content item;   receiving, from a third user device, a request to resume sending of the content item;   determining a fourth content segment, of the first version of the content item, that corresponds to the third content segment; and   sending, to the third user device, the fourth content segment.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first user description corresponding to the first content segment is a user rating for the first content segment, and   the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 determining, based on the user rating, a placement location for commercial content for delivery to one of a plurality of user devices. 
   
     
     
         19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 receiving, from the second user device, a second user description corresponding to the second content segment; and   generating information indicating an association between the second user description and the second content segment.   
     
     
         20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the second content segment has a time duration different from a time duration of the first content segment. 
     
     
         21 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the content item is a movie;   the first user description is a comment, from a first user, associated with a high definition version of a portion of the movie; and   the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause sending the first user description and the second content segment by causing sending, with a standard definition version of the portion of the movie, the comment associated with the high definition version of the portion of the movie.