Method and system for creating a chapter menu for a video program

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a user for creating a menu of chapters for a video program, each chapter representing a video segment of the video program;

creating, by a processor, an updateable menu based on the request;

presenting the user with the updateable menu; and

receiving input from the user for selecting a particular chapter from and/or updating the updateable menu,

wherein the video program includes at least broadcast content, pay-per-view content, Internet Protocol Television content, data communication services content, Internet-based content, or combination thereof, and is provided to the user by one or more service providers and/or content providers

wherein the updateable menu includes a plurality of chapters designated as beginning by a plurality of chapter points, and a common time interval is provided between each adjacent chapter point,

wherein an input from the user results in creation in the updateable menu of chapters of a plurality of sub-chapters in the common time interval between at least one set of adjacent chapter points, and the common interval between all adjacent chapter points is not changed by the plurality of sub-chapters, and

wherein the plurality of sub-chapters in the updateable menu of chapters are designated as beginning by a plurality of sub-chapter points, and another common time interval is provided between each adjacent subchapter point that is less that the common time interval between each adjacent chapter point.

2. A method of claim 1 , wherein the input results in playback from the particular chapter.

3. A method of claim 1 , wherein the user specifies the common interval that will be between all adjacent chapter points or specifies a number of chapters to be in the updateable menu of chapters.

4. A method of claim 1 , wherein each chapter in the updateable menu is represented by one or more of an image, video clip, animation, icon, text label, or time marker.

5. A method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the updateable menu of chapters includes:

capturing a plurality of images of the video program;

storing each image in an image database; and

associating a chapter with each image.

6. A method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating the updateable menu of chapters includes:

retrieving a plurality of images of the video program from an image database; and

associating a chapter with each image.

7. A method of claim 6 , wherein the image database includes a plurality of images captured from a plurality of video programs, the plurality of the images captured from the plurality of video programs being organized according to programming information that includes at least one of broadcast channel, broadcast time, description, and video source type.

8. A set-top box apparatus comprising:

an input interface configured to receive a request from a user for creating a menu of chapters for a video program, each chapter representing a video segment of the video program;

a chaptering module configured to create an updateable menu based on the request;

a presentation module configured to present the user with the updateable menu; and

the input interface further configured to receive input from the user for selecting a particular chapter and/or updating the updateable menu,

wherein the video program includes at least broadcast content, pay-per-view content, Internet Protocol Television content, data communication services content, Interact-based content, or combination thereof, and is provided to the user by one or more service providers and/or content providers,

wherein the updateable menu includes a plurality of chapters designated as beginning by a plurality of chapter points, and a common time interval is provided between each adjacent chapter point,

wherein an input from the user results in creation in the updateable menu of chapters of a plurality of sub-chapters in the common time interval between at least one set of adjacent chapter points, and the common interval between all adjacent chapter points is not changed by the plurality of sub-chapters, and wherein the plurality of sub-chapters in the updateable menu of chapters are designated as beginning by a plurality of sub-chapter points, and another common time interval is provided between each adjacent subchapter point that is less that the common time interval between each adjacent chapter point.

9. An apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the input results in playback from the particular chapter.

10. An apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the user specifies the common interval that will be between all adjacent chapter points or specifies a number of chapters to be in the updateable menu of chapters.

11. An apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each chapter in the updateable menu is represented by one or more of an image, video clip, animation, icon, text label, or time marker.

12. An apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

an image database configured to store a plurality of images from a plurality of video programs;

a thumbnail image server configured to capture a plurality of images of the video program and store the plurality of images of the video program in the image database, or to retrieve multiple images of the plurality of images from the plurality of video programs from the image database; and

a chaptering module further configured to associate a chapter with one of the plurality of captured images or one of the multiple images of the plurality of images from the plurality of video programs.

13. An apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of images stored within the image database are organized according to programming information.

14. A method of claim 13 , wherein the programming information includes broadcast channel, broadcast time, description, and video source type.

15. A system comprising:

a processor configured to receive a request from a user for creating a menu of chapters for a video program, each chapter representing a video segment of the video program, create an updateable menu based on the request, present the user with the updateable menu, and receive input from the user for selecting a particular chapter and/or updating the updatable menu,

wherein the input results in either playback from the particular chapter or presentation of a menu of additional chapters defined at a finer temporal granularity,

wherein the chaptering manager is coupled to a multimedia system with connectivity to a plurality of video sources,

wherein the video program includes at least broadcast content, pay-per-view content, Internet Protocol Television content, data communication services content, Internet-based content, or combination thereof, and is provided to the user by one or more service providers and/or content providers,

wherein the updateable menu includes a plurality of chapters designated as beginning by a plurality of chapter points, and a common time interval is provided between each adjacent chapter point,

wherein an input from the user results in creation in the updateable menu of chapters of a plurality of sub-chapters in the common time interval between at least one set of adjacent chapter points, and the common interval between all adjacent chapter points is not changed by the plurality of sub-chapters, and

wherein the plurality of sub-chapters in the updateable menu of chapters are designated as beginning by a plurality of sub-chapter points, and another common time interval is provided between each adjacent subchapter point that is less that the common time interval between each adjacent chapter point.

16. A system of claim 15 , wherein the chaptering manager is further configured to capture a plurality of images of the video program, store each image in an image database, and associate a chapter with each image.

17. A system of claim 15 , wherein the chaptering manager is further configured to retrieve a plurality of images of the video program from an image database, and associate a chapter with each image.

18. A method of claim 1 , wherein the video program is a live video program.