Method and apparatus for creating and sharing customized multimedia segments
Multimedia content segment identified by users may be shared among media devices and media device users. Media content segment metadata is generated based on one or more identified media content item segments identified in one or more media content items. The media content segment metadata may include, but is not limited to, information indicating segment start and stop times, information about the particular media content item (e.g., title, actors, original air date), and other user-provided descriptive information. A link for the media content segment metadata may be posted for display on a webpage and which enables other users to access the media content segment metadata.
1. A method comprising:
causing display of, by a first media device, one or more media content items;
receiving, at the first media device, data representing input identifying one or more segments of the one or more media content items that are stored at a remote server, the input associated with a particular user;
generating, based on the input, media content segment metadata that identifies at least one of a start point or an end point associated with each segment of the one or more segments of the one or more media content items; and
causing posting, on a webpage associated with the particular user, a link selectable to cause retrieval of the media content segment metadata by a second media device, wherein, upon selection of the link on the webpage by another user by way of the second media device:
the first media device determines whether the another user is eligible to access content provided by a content provider of the one or more segments; and
in response to determining that the another user is eligible to access the content provided by the content provider of the media content segment:
the first media device sends the media content segment metadata that are stored separately from the one or more segments, to the second media device, associated with the another user; and
the second media device retrieves the one or more segments based on the media content segment metadata.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content segment metadata is included in a URL in the link.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the link indicates a reference to a network DVR storing the media content segment metadata.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content segment metadata identifying the one or more segments is stored on the second media device upon selection of the link by the another user.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media content segment metadata identifying at least one of the start point or the end point associated with each segment is further based on one or more of: one or more timestamps, in-band data, one or more fingerprints, or service information.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the start point of one of the one or more segments is automatically identified by a particular user input, wherein the particular user input comprises replaying the segment from the start point.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the webpage is a social networking website.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for at least one segment of the one or more segments, at least one of a respective start point or a respective end point associated with the at least one segment is automatically modified based at least in part on one or more detected boundaries in the one or more media content items, the one or more detected boundaries based on one or more boundary rules associated with the at least one segment and the input associated with the particular user, the one or more boundary rules associated with the media content segment metadata, wherein a boundary of the one or more detected boundaries corresponds to a commercial segment boundary as indicated in the media content segment metadata.
9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of:
causing display of, by a first media device, one or more media content items;
receiving, at the first media device, data representing input identifying one or more segments of the one or more media content items that are stored at a remote server, the input associated with a particular user;
generating, based on the input, media content segment metadata that identifies at least one of a start point or an end point associated with each segment of the one or more segments of the one or more media content items; and
causing posting, on a webpage associated with the particular user, a link selectable to cause retrieval of the media content segment metadata by a second media device, wherein, upon selection of the link on the webpage by another user by way of the second media device:
the first media device determines whether the another user is eligible to access content provided by a content provider of the one or more segments; and
in response to determining that the another user is eligible to access the content provided by the content provider of the media content segment:
the first media device sends the media content segment metadata that are stored separately from the one or more segments, to the second media device, associated with the another user; and
the second media device retrieves the one or more segments based on the media content segment metadata.
10. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the media content segment metadata is included in a URL in the link.
11. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the link indicates a reference to a network DVR storing the media content segment metadata.
12. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the media content segment metadata identifying the one or more segments is stored on the second media device upon selection of the link by the another user.
13. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the media content segment metadata identifying at least one of the start point or the end point associated with each segment is further based on one or more of: one or more timestamps, in-band data, one or more fingerprints, or service information.
14. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the start point of one of the one or more segments is automatically identified by a particular user input, wherein the particular user input comprises replaying the segment from the start point.
15. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the webpage is a social networking website.
16. The medium of claim 9 , wherein, for at least one segment of the one or more segments, at least one of a respective start point or a respective end point associated with the at least one segment is automatically modified based at least in part on one or more detected boundaries in the one or more media content items, the one or more detected boundaries based on one or more boundary rules associated with the at least one segment and the input associated with the particular user, the one or more boundary rules associated with the media content segment metadata, wherein a boundary of the one or more detected boundaries corresponds to a commercial segment boundary as indicated in the media content segment metadata.
17. A method comprising:
causing display, by a first media device, one or more media content items;
receiving, at the first media device, data representing input identifying one or more segments of the one or more media content items that are stored at a remote server, the input associated with a particular user;
generating, based on the input, media content segment metadata that identifies at least one of a start point or an end point associated with each segment of the one or more segments of the one or more media content items;
storing the one or more segments at a remote server in a user-defined collection based on an identified metadata element shared among the one or more segments; and
causing posting, on a webpage associated with the particular user, a link selectable to cause retrieval of the media content segment metadata by a second media device, wherein, upon selection of the link on the webpage by another user by way of the second media device:
the first media device determines whether the another user is eligible to access content provided by a content provider of the user-defined collection; and
in response to determining that the another user is eligible to access the content provided by the content provider of the media content segment:
the first media device sends the media content segment metadata that are stored separately from the user-defined collection to the second media device, associated with the another user; and
the second media device retrieves the one or more segments based on the media content segment metadata.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the identified metadata element comprises a fingerprint.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the identified metadata element comprises a character role in the one or more segments.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the identified metadata element comprises a song played in the one or more segments.
21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, based on similar input to the input associated with the particular user, one or more popular media content segments based on the media content segment metadata, wherein a threshold number of other users have identified the one or more segments through the similar input.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more popular media content segments are combined to create a crowd-sourced macro-clip for the one or more media content items, and wherein the crowd-sourced macro-clip is made available to users of a network DVR.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing posting of the link on the webpage further comprises displaying descriptive information about the one or more segments based on the media content segment metadata.