Program storage, retrieval and management based on segmentation messages

1. A method of storing an expanse of a program signal stream by a program content distribution system, the method comprising:

receiving a program signal stream from a source of program content by a program content distribution system, the program signal stream comprising a sequence of programs provided serially and a plurality of rights-related segmentation messages defining rights granted by the source to the program distribution system with respect to the content of the expanse;

receiving a first rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream prior to a start of the expanse, the first rights-related segmentation message defining first rights-related information concerning a right to store the entire expanse by the program distribution system;

receiving a start of the expanse in the program signal stream;

receiving a second rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream after receiving the start of the expanse, the second rights-related segmentation message defining second rights-related information concerning the content of the entire expanse, different from the first rights-related information, wherein the respective locations of the first and second segmentation messages are based, at least in part, on the first and second rights-related information, respectively;

receiving the end of the expanse after receiving the second rights-related segmentation message;

determining whether there is a right to store the entire expanse granted by the source to the program content distribution system based, at least in part, on the first rights-related information defined by the first rights-related segmentation message, by at least one processing device;

segmenting the expanse from the program signal stream by the at least one processing device as the at least one program signal stream is received, only if it is determined that is the first-rights related segmentation message defines a right to store the entire expanse by the program content distribution system; and

storing the segmented expanse in memory.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rights-related segmentation messages is formatted in accordance with DVS 253 Standard.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rights-related segmentation messages comprises a sync byte.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expanse comprises a program.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second rights-related information defined by the second rights-related segmentation message defines a right to manipulate presentation of the expanse by the program distribution system for a user by at least one of fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the presentation of the expanse, the method further comprising:

receiving a request to manipulate a presentation of the expanse from a user; and

manipulating presentation of the expanse in accordance with the request of a user only if the second rights related information defines a right to manipulate in accordance with the request.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating an asset including the segmented expanse and rights-related information from at least one of the first and second rights-related segmentation messages; and

storing the asset.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first rights-related information defines a right to store the expanse for a predetermined period of time, the method further comprising:

deleting the stored asset based, at least in part, on the predetermined period of time defined by the first rights-related information.

8. The method of claim 6 , comprising:

storing the asset including the rights-related information in a single memory location of a storage device comprising a plurality of memory locations.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of segmentation messages defines a right to transmit the expanse, the method further comprising:

receiving by the distribution system a request for presentation of a stored program, from a user;

retrieving a stored asset containing the requested program;

determining whether there is a right to transmit the stored asset based, at least in part, on the rights-related information stored in the asset; and

transmitting the requested stored program to the party, only if there is a right to transmit the stored asset.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rights-related information in the first rights-related segmentation message defines a right to store the expanse for a predetermined period of time, the method further comprising:

deleting the stored asset based, at least in part, on the predetermined period of time defined by the rights-related information.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one time-related segmentation message defining a start of the expanse based, at least in part, on a position of a respective time-related segmentation message in the program signal stream.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one time-related segmentation message further defines an end of the expanse based, at least in part, on a position of a respective segmentation message in the program signal stream.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the expanse comprises a chapter of a program;

the program comprises a plurality of chapters;

the method comprising:

segmenting the program signal stream into a respective plurality of chapters based, least in part, on the at least one time-related segmentation message;

creating a plurality of separate assets, each containing a respective chapter;

storing each asset in a separate memory location;

receiving a request by the distribution system from a user for the program;

retrieving the separately stored assets containing the chapters of the program;

determining whether the predetermined period of time defined by the rights-related information expired;

assembling the requested program from the retrieved assets where the right to store has not expired; and

transmitting the assembled program to the user.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one time-related segmentation message comprises:

a first time-related segmentation message defining, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a first amount of time to the start of the expanse; and

a second time-related segmentation message separate from the first time-related segmentation message, the second time-related segmentation message defining, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to the end of the expanse;

the method further comprising segmenting the expanse based, at least in part, on the first and second time-related segmentation messages.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein:

the first time-related segmentation message is outside the expanse, prior to a start of the expanse in the program signal stream; and

the second time-related segmentation message is within the expanse.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one time-related segmentation message and at least one of the plurality rights-related segmentation messages are the same message.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution system comprises a cable television broadcast system.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the second rights-related segmentation message comprises second rights-related information defining a right to transmit the respective expanse to a user upon request.

19. The method of claim 18 , comprising:

receiving the expanse in the program stream;

determining whether the at least one first rights-related segmentation message is received;

segmenting the expanse from the program signal stream as the at least one program signal stream is received, only if it is determined that at least one first rights-related segmentation message is received;

the method further comprising:

creating an asset including the segmented expanse and the at least one second rights-related information;

storing the asset including at least one second rights-related information;

receiving a request for a user to receive the stored expanse;

determining whether the second rights-related information is stored with the expanse; and

transmitting the expanse to the user only if it is determined that the at least one second-rights related information is stored with the expanse.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the program signal stream comprises:

a third rights-related segmentation message comprising third rights-related information defining a right to manipulate presentation of the respective expanse by at least one of the fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the presentation of the expanse;

wherein the third rights-related segmentation message is received after the start of the expanse and before the end of the expanse; and

the stored asset includes the third rights-related information.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

receiving a request from a user to manipulate the presentation of the stored expanse;

determining whether the third rights-related information is included in the requested stored expanse; and

manipulating the presentation of the transmitted asset in response to the request only if the requested stored asset includes the third rights-related information.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expanse is a chapter of a program.

23. A program distribution system for storing an expanse of a portion of a program signal stream, the system comprising:

a receiver to receive a program signal stream from a source of program content, the program signal stream comprising a sequence of programs provided serially, the program signal stream comprising a plurality of rights-related segmentation messages defining rights granted to the program distribution system with respect to the content of the expanse;

the program signal stream being configured so that the receiver receives:

a first rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream prior to a start of the expanse, the first rights-related segmentation message defining first rights-related information comprising a right to store the expanse by the program distribution system;

a start of the expanse in the program signal stream;

a second rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream after receiving the start of the expanse, the second rights-related segmentation message defining second rights-related information concerning the content of the entire expanse, different from the first rights-related information, wherein the respective locations of the first and second segmentation messages are based, at least in part, on the first and second rights-related information, respectively; and

the end of the expanse after receiving the second rights-related segmentation message;

the program distribution system further comprising:

memory; and

at least one processing device configured to:

receive the program signal stream from the receiver;

determine whether there is a right to store the entire expanse based, at least in the part, on the first rights-related information in first rights-related segmentation message in the program signal stream;

segment the expanse from the program signal stream as the program signal stream is received only if it is determined that there is a right to store the entire expanse defined by the first rights-related segmentation message; and

store the segmented expanse in the memory.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the each of the plurality of rights-related segmentation message is formatted in accordance with DVS 253 Standard.

25. The system of claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality rights-related segmentation messages comprises a sync byte.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the second rights-related information defined by the second segmentation message defines a right to manipulate presentation of the expanse by at least one of fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the presentation of the expanse, and the at least one processing device is configured to:

manipulate presentation of the expanse upon request of a user only if there is a right to manipulate in accordance with the request.

27. The system of claim 25 , wherein the at least one processing device is configured to:

receive a request for presentation of a stored program, from a user;

retrieve a stored asset containing the requested program;

determine whether there is a right to transmit the stored asset based, at least in part, on the rights-related information contained within the asset; and

transmit the requested stored program to the user, only if there is a right to transmit the stored asset.

28. The system of claim 23 , wherein the expanse comprises a program.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to:

create an asset including the segmented expanse and the rights-related information from at least one of the first and second rights-related segmentation messages; and

store the asset.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the first rights-related information in the first rights-related segmentation message defines a right to store the expanse for a predetermined period of time, and at least one processing device is further configured to:

delete the stored asset based, at least in part, on the predetermined period of time defined by the rights-related information.

31. The system of claim 29 , wherein the at least one processing device is configured to:

create the asset containing the rights-related information from at least one of the first and second rights-related messages; and

store the asset including the rights related information from at least one of the first and second rights-related messages in a single memory location of a storage device comprising a plurality of memory locations.

32. The system of claim 23 , wherein:

the program signal stream further comprises at least one time-related segmentation message; and

the at least one time-related segmentation message further defines a start of the expanse based, at least in part, on a position of a respective time-related segmentation message in the program signal stream.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the at least one time-related segmentation message comprises:

a first time-related segmentation message defining, in units of time with respect to progression of the program signal stream, a first amount of time to the start of the expanse; and

a second time-related segmentation message separate from the first time-related segmentation message, the second time-related segmentation message defining, in units of time with respect to the progression of the program signal stream, a second amount of time to the end of the expanse; and

the at least one processing device is configured to:

segment the expanse from the programs signal stream starting at the start defined by the first and second time-related segmentation messages.

34. The system of claim 32 , wherein:

the expanse comprises a chapter of a program;

the program comprises a plurality of chapters;

the at least one of the plurality of rights-related segmentation messages defines rights-related information defining a right to store respective chapters for respective predetermined periods of time and at least respective start times of respective chapters of the program;

wherein the at least one processing device is further configured to:

segment the program signal stream into a plurality of chapters based, least in part, on the at least one rights-related segmentation message;

create a plurality of separate assets, each containing a respective chapter;

store each asset in a separate memory location;

receive a request by the distribution system from a user for the program;

retrieve the separately stored assets containing the chapters of the program;

determine whether a right to transmit a respective retrieved asset has expired;

assemble the requested program from the plurality of retrieved assets whose right to transmit has not expired; and

transmit the assembled program to the user.

35. The system of claim 23 , wherein:

the second rights-related segmentation message comprises second rights-related information defining a right to transmit the expanse to the user, the second segmentation message being located within the expanse.

36. The system of claim 35 , wherein:

the at least one processing device is configured to:

receive the respective expanse in the respective program;

determine whether the first rights-related segmentation message is received; and

segment the expanse from the program signal stream only if it is determined that the first rights-related segmentation message is received;

the at least one processing device being further configured to:

create an asset including the segmented expanse and the at least one second rights-related information;

store the asset;

receive a request from a user to receive the stored asset;

determine whether the stored asset includes the second rights-related information; and

transmit the expanse to the user only if it is determined that the stored asset includes the second rights-related information.

37. The system of claim 36 , wherein the program signal stream comprises:

a third rights-related segmentation messages comprising third rights-related information defining a right to manipulate within the respective expanse, the third segmentation message being within the respective expanse.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the at least one processing device is configured to:

receive a request from a user to manipulate the presentation of the transmitted asset;

determine whether the transmitted asset includes the third rights-related information; and

manipulate the presentation of the transmitted asset in accordance with the request only if the third rights-related information is included in the stored asset and grants a right to manipulate presentation of the transmitted asset in accordance with the request.

39. The system of claim 23 , wherein the expanse is a chapter of a program.