An ad in a movie can be a static ad having a position in the movie that cannot be moved, or a dynamic ad having a position in the movie that can be changed. When a viewer wishes to skip a portion of the movie containing the ad, the playback system determines whether the ad is static or dynamic. If the ad is static, only the portion of the movie preceding the static ad can be skipped; the ad is unskippable. This technique is referred to as “bounceback” since the end of the skip bounces back to the start of the static ad. If the ad is dynamic, it is moved to after the end of the skip. This technique is referred to as “slip-ad” since the ad slips to later in the movie. When a movie has multiple ads, some can be static and some can be dynamic.

Apparatus and methods for enabling indexing and playback of media content before the end of a content capture. In one aspect, a method for enabling indexing of media data obtained as part of a content capture is disclosed. In one embodiment, the indexing enables playback of the media data during the capture and before cessation thereof. In one variant, the method includes generating an “SOS track” for one or more images. The SOS track does not contain the same information as a full index, but provides sufficient information to allow an index to be subsequently constructed. In one implementation, the provided information includes identifiable markers relating to video data, audio data, or white space, but it does not provide an enumerated or complete “table of contents” as in a traditional index.

A video identifier uniquely identifying a video captured by a camera is generated. The video includes video frames and optionally concurrently captured audio as well as video metadata describing the video. Video data is extracted from at least two of the video's frames. By combining the extracted video data in an order specified by an identifier generation protocol, an extracted data object is generated. The extracted data object is hashed to generate the unique media identifier, which is stored in association with the video. The identifier generation protocol may indicate the portions of the video data to extract, such as video data corresponding to particular video frames and audio data corresponding to particular audio samples. The extracted data object may include a size of particular video frames, a number of audio samples in the video, or the duration of the video, for example.

Systems and methods to play secondary media content include responding to a trick mode request (e.g., fast forward, rewind). A system receives a message from a device playing primary media content, and the message includes a first identifier of the primary media content, a secondary identifier of a playback direction, and a third identifier of a playback speed. Next, the system executes an application that results in identification of a media asset based on the first identifier, selection of media frames from the media asset, and generation of secondary media content based on the selected media frames, the second identifier, and the third identifier. Next, the system provides the secondary media content to the device. The provided secondary media content enables the device to play the secondary media content instead of continuing to play the primary media content.

A system for receiving and presenting broadcast programming has a television receiver connected to a set-top box having an internal hard disc on which selected programs may be recorded. As the internal hard disc has a finite capacity it can become full, particularly if the viewer wishes to retain a library of recordings. The system provides for the automatic transfer of programs stored on the internal hard disc to external hard drives. The viewer is enabled to set the criteria for such archiving using the remote control unit and on-screen menu options. Content with the largest size, the earliest recorded content, or the content viewed less frequently, may be automatically archived. The set-top box is also enabled to collate information identifying the externally stored content and to store that on the internal hard drive together with information as to the location of the stored content. This enables a viewer to retrieve the transferred content.

In some embodiments, a method to process video data may include receiving an upload file; using the publication identifier, identifying a bumper video segment and retrieving the bumper video segment from a storage device; concatenating a video payload with the bumper video segment to create a concatenated video; using the publication identifier, identifying at least one third-party video service to which to publish the concatenated video; and/or transmitting the concatenated video, together with publication credentials, to the third-party video service.

Audio decoding (108) is carried out in a video display device (10), and a frame number (AC) of the decoded audio is wirelessly transmitted, together with audio data, to an audio output device (20). An audio frame number (RC) is returned from the audio output device (20) to the video display device (10). The timing of video decoding (106) is controlled such that the frame number (VC) of the video decoded in the video display device (10) matches the returned audio frame number (RC). Even if it is not possible to predict the delays such as those involved with transmission from the video display device to the audio output device, and even if the delays fluctuate, it is possible to synchronize the video display with the audio output.

A method and apparatus for creation, distribution, assembly and verification of media, including one embodiment, media is transmitted to a receiver where the receiver assembles the media into programming. In another embodiment, media is transmitted to the receiver from a plurality of sources. In a further embodiment, a source of media performs a tagging operation to associate sets of tags with elements of the stream of media. In various embodiments, different combinations of look-and-feel, content and other tags are associated with the media stream. In an additional embodiment, tagging of the media stream is performed at the receiver. A user at the receiver may also provide data about the user to the receiver. In yet another embodiment, the receiver uses the tags to assemble the media into a program. In still further embodiments of the invention, various Royalty Only Aggregate Revenues or “ROAR” models and apparatus are disclosed.

A video recording apparatus includes a recording device having a location information area and a video data area. The location information area stores location information of video data stored in the video data area. The video data area stores the video data in units of blocks with a size of 1 MB or greater. The tail end of the block is used as a table of contents region for storing table of contents information of a plurality of the most-recent blocks. By providing the table of contents regions at a predetermined frequency, the tables of contents of all blocks being used in the video data area are retained in a distributed and redundant manner. Whenever the power supply is re-activated, the tables of contents regions are read, and pieces of the table of contents information are joined appropriately to construct a complete table of contents in memory.

Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling the playback and recording of television programming containing interactive applications. In one example, a media content item is played for presentation to the user. An interactive application associated with the media content item is available for interaction by a user during the playing of the media content item. During the playing of the media content item, a first indication that the user is interacting with the interactive application is received. In response to the first indication, the playing of the media content item is suspended. During the suspending of the playing of the media content item, a second indication that the user has stopped interacting with the interactive application is received. In response to the second indication, the playing of the media content item is resumed.