System and method for providing video program information or video program content to a user
View Patent ↗In a system for broadcasting video programs to a user including a display, a system and method for providing program information or a copy of at least a portion of a program to the user. In one embodiment, a controller receives an input signal representing a request for summary information concerning a program, the program having a beginning and the input signal generated at a time during the broadcast. The controller provides via the display a summary of the program from the program beginning to the input signal time in response to the input signal. A controller may alternatively monitor a period of time during which the display is tuned to a broadcast of a program, the period starting during the broadcast. The controller is used to provide via the display a copy of at least a portion of the program when the period exceeds a predetermined threshold time.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a terminal, a request to present a program being transmitted by a provider, wherein the request is received after a start time of program transmission;
monitoring, by the terminal, a length of time during which a user device has been presenting the program;
determining, by the terminal, that the length of time exceeds a predetermined threshold amount of time;
generating and communicating a request to the provider to retrieve a copy of a portion of the program subsequent to the request to present the program and said determining; and
receiving the copy of the portion of the program, wherein the portion comprises the program transmitted between the start time and a receipt time of the request to present the program.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a prompt requesting approval prior to generating the request to retrieve the copy.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the user device to present the copy of the portion of the program.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the copy does not include the portion of the program transmitted after the receipt time.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a channel selection during transmission of the program;
receiving a request for a synopsis of the program during transmission of the program;
upon receipt of the request for the synopsis, identifying a portion of the program that has been transmitted as of an identified clock time; and
causing presentation of the synopsis of the program that summarizes the portion of the program that has been transmitted from a beginning of program transmission until the identified clock time.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the synopsis is presented in a fast forward mode.
7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining that the user device has maintained the channel selection for a predefined period of time before causing presentation of the synopsis.
8. An apparatus comprising:
a storage medium; and
a controller operatively coupled to the storage medium, the controller being configured to cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request to present a program being transmitted by a provider, wherein the request is received after a start time of program transmission;
monitoring a length of time during which a user device has been presenting the program;
determining that the length of time exceeds a predetermined threshold amount of time;
retrieving a copy of a portion of the program subsequent to said request and said determining; and
causing presentation of the copy of the portion of the program, wherein the portion comprises the program transmitted between the start time and a receipt time of the request to present the program.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to generate a prompt requesting approval prior to retrieving the copy.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to automatically generate and communicate a request to retrieve the copy.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the copy does not include the portion of the program broadcasted after the receipt time.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to perform:
receiving a channel selection during transmission of the program;
receiving a request for a synopsis of the program during transmission of the program;
upon receipt of the request for the synopsis, identifying a portion of the program that has been transmitted as of an identified clock time; and
causing presentation of the synopsis that summarizes the portion of the program that has been transmitted from a beginning of program transmission until the identified clock time.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the synopsis is presented in a fast forward mode.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the channel selection has been maintained for a predefined period of time before causing presentation of the synopsis.
15. A method comprising:
causing, by a server, transmission of a program to a terminal;
receiving a request from the terminal that requests a copy of a portion of the program; and
causing, in response to a determination that a user device has been presenting the program for a length of time in excess of a predetermined threshold amount of time, transmission of the copy of the portion of the program to the terminal, wherein the portion of the program comprises the program transmitted between a start time of the program and a second time corresponding to when the user device first presented the program.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the copy of the portion of the program comprises a complete copy of the program.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the copy of the portion of the program comprises less than a complete copy of the program.
18. A system comprising:
a data storage device; and
a server operatively coupled to the data storage device, the server being configured to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
causing transmission of a program to a terminal;
receiving a request from the terminal that requests a copy of a portion of the program; and
causing, in response to a determination that a user device has been presenting the program for a length of time in excess of a predetermined threshold amount of time, transmission of the copy of the portion of the program to the terminal, wherein the portion of the program comprises the program transmitted between a start time of the program and a second time corresponding to when the user device first presented the program.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the copy of the portion of the program comprises a complete copy of the program.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the copy of the portion of the program comprises less than a complete copy of the program.