Patent ID: 7500257
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
1. A system for screening broadcast programming, comprising: a viewer configured to receive broadcast programming, to receive commands from a user, to receive commands from an interface coupled to the viewer, to present the received broadcast programming to the user based on commands from the user, and to present the received broadcast programming to the user based on commands from the interface; a processor coupled to the interface and configured to receive a real time screening signal (RTSS) and a precision screening signal (PSS), to receive user input from the interface, to store the received user input, to generate a local action signal based on the user input and at least one of the received RTSS or PSS, and to transmit the local action signal to the interface; the interface configured to receive the local action signal, to transmit commands to the viewer based on the local action signal, and to receive the user input from the user, the user input comprising at least an action preference; and a broadcast recorder coupled to the interface and configured to receive broadcast programming, to store the received broadcast programming, and to transmit the stored broadcast programming to the viewer in response to user commands, wherein the RTSS is generated based on real time monitoring of the broadcast programming being presented in real time, the PSS is generated based on a playback of at least one portion of a recording of the broadcast programming, wherein the processor, in response to the broadcast programming being presented to the user via the viewer in real time, generates the local action signal based on the RTSS, and wherein, in response to the broadcast programming being presented to the user via the viewer as a playback of the stored broadcast programming, the processor generates the local action signal based on the PSS, wherein the RTSS is generated by reconciling a plurality of screening signals from a plurality of different viewers of the broadcast programming prior to the broadcast programming being presented to the user, and wherein the PSS is generated based on the RTSS by having a second user view portions of the recording of the broadcast programming, prior to the broadcast programming being presented to the user via the viewer, based on content of interest segments present in the broadcast programming as specified by the RTSS and identifying a start or end of the content of interest segments present in the broadcast programming.