Patent Publication Number: US-2007098357-A1

Title: DVR content skip navigation

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      Television-based client devices, such as a digital video recorder (DVR), can be implemented to receive and record media content in the form of programs, on-demand videos, movies, and any other type of broadcast and/or interactive television-based entertainment and information. A digital video recorder includes a hard disk memory so that a viewer can record media content of interest to the viewer.  
      The advent of on-demand programming, such as with recorded or cached on-demand and broadcast media content, as well as IP-based television (IPTV) media content, provides a viewer with the option to navigate a recorded program or on-demand media with media content navigation features commonly referred to as “trick modes”. These media content navigation features are typically initiated with a remote control device and include commands such as fast-forward, skip-ahead in the program, skip to a next segment, pause the program, and the like.  
      Some remote control devices are implemented with a “skip” button (e.g., a jump-ahead navigation control input) that can be selected to jump over advertisements in recorded or on-demand programming. While beneficial when used to shorten the time for viewing a recorded program, a “skip” input enables a viewer to jump past and ignore advertisements that are broadcast between segments of the program. These advertisements for products and services are typically a primary source of revenue for a provider of the media content. As more viewers attain the ability to jump past the advertisements in their programming choices, advertisers will become unwilling to have their advertising messages communicated in the traditional manner.  
      Some content providers have opted to remove the skip functionality from the remote control devices provided with a television-based service, leaving only the fast-forward function. However, the fast-forward function does not provide a convenient media content advance function for skipping segments of a recorded program, such as television commercials, because the video that is being displayed must be observed by the viewer to input another remote control input, such as another fast-forward or play input, at precisely the right time to keep from overrunning a commercial and missing part of the recorded or on-demand program.  
     SUMMARY  
      This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of digital video recorder (DVR) content skip navigation which is further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.  
      In an embodiment of DVR content skip navigation, a video system, such as a television-based client device, renders video for display at a playback speed for viewing. A skip input can be received, such as from a user-selectable input via a television-based remote control device. The skip input initiates a fast review of the video for a designated duration during which the video is viewable. After the designated duration of fast review, the video automatically returns to the playback speed for viewing without receiving an additional user-selectable input.  
      In another embodiment of DVR content skip navigation, a skip input is received as a skip advance to initiate fast-forwarding through the video for the designated duration. After fast-forwarding through the video for the designated duration, the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed for viewing. Optionally, the speed at which the video is fast-forwarded through may vary and/or be adjustable. For example, the fast-forward speed may be accelerated at or near the beginning of the designated duration and then decelerate at or near the end of the designated duration when fast-forwarding through the video.  
      In another embodiment of DVR content skip navigation, a skip input is received as a skip reverse to initiate rewinding through the video for the designated duration. After rewinding through the video for the designated duration, the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed for viewing.  
      In another embodiment of DVR content skip navigation, a skip input is received as a continuous fast-forward input signal to initiate the fast review of the video. The designated duration is a time duration during which the continuous fast-forward input signal is received, after which the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed for viewing when the continuous fast-forward input signal is no longer received. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary DVR content system in which embodiments of DVR content skip navigation can be implemented.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates exemplary method(s) for DVR content skip navigation.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary IP-based television (IPTV) system in which embodiments of DVR content skip navigation can be implemented.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates various components of an exemplary client device in which embodiments of DVR content skip navigation can be implemented.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates various devices and components in an exemplary entertainment and information system in which embodiments of DVR content skip navigation can be implemented. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Digital video recorder (DVR) content skip navigation is described in which embodiments provide that a viewer can skip a segment of a video that is being displayed for viewing at a playback speed. A skip input can be a skip advance to initiate fast-forwarding through the video for an optionally configurable amount of time (e.g., a designated duration). For example, a viewer may use a television-based remote control device having a user-selectable skip input control or button to skip through a thirty (30) second commercial or the approximate twenty (20) seconds between plays in a football game. The optionally configurable amount of time for a skip advance can be configured by an operator (e.g., a content provider) and may be based on agreements that designate how long the skip duration should be and at what fast-forward rate.  
      After fast-forwarding through a commercial, the down time between plays in a football game, or any other video segment, the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed for viewing without an additional viewer input. A skip input can also be a skip reverse to initiate rewinding through the video for the designated duration, after which the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed for viewing without an additional viewer input.  
      A user-selectable skip input control or button on a television-based remote control device provides a viewer the preset skip functionality to fast-forward and/or rewind through the video for an incremental duration. A viewer selectable skip “mode” provides the viewer with the option to navigate through any part of a video stream with a fast advance (e.g., fast-forward) or a fast reverse (e.g., rewind) for a designated duration of time without having to continuously monitor the display for the exact moment to enter a second input to resume viewing the video. As such, the viewer can “smooth-scroll” through a segment of the video while still being able to see the content of the segment that is being skipped through.  
      Alternatively, a skip input can be a continuous fast-forward input signal from a viewer with a television-based remote control device to initiate the fast review of the video. The designated duration is a time duration during which the continuous fast-forward input signal is received, after which the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed for viewing when the continuous fast-forward input signal is no longer received. Similarly, a skip input can be a continuous rewind input signal to initiate the fast review of the video.  
      While aspects of the described systems and methods for DVR content skip navigation can be implemented in any number of different computing systems, environments, television-based entertainment systems, and/or configurations, embodiments of DVR content skip navigation are described in the context of the following exemplary system architecture(s).  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary digital video recorder (DVR) system  100  in which embodiments of DVR content skip navigation can be implemented. The DVR system  100  includes a client device  102 , a display device  104 , and a television-based remote control device  106 . The display device  102  can be any type of television, monitor, or similar television-based display system that renders audio, video, and/or image data. The client device  102  and display device  104  together are but one example of a television-based client system, examples of which are described with reference to the exemplary IP-based television (IPTV) system  300  shown in  FIG. 3 , and with reference to the exemplary entertainment and information system  500  shown in  FIG. 5 .  
      Client device  102  can be implemented in any number of embodiments, such as a set-top box, a digital video recorder (DVR) and playback system, an appliance device, and as any other type of client device that may be implemented in a television-based entertainment and information system. In this example, client device  102  includes a playback application  108  and a recording media  110  that maintains recorded media content  112 . Additionally, client device  102  may be implemented with any number and combination of differing components as further described below with reference to the exemplary client device  400  shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      Recording media  112  can be implemented as a DVR system to record and maintain the recorded media content  112  which may be any form of on-demand and/or broadcast media content such as programs, movies, commercials, music, and similar audio, video, and/or image content that client device  102  receives and/or records. Further, client device  102  may access or receive additional recorded media content that is maintained with a remote data store (not shown), such as from a video-on-demand server, or media content that is maintained at a broadcast center or content provider that distributes the media content to subscriber sites and client devices.  
      The playback application  108  is a video control application that, in this example, can be implemented to control the playback of media content, such as the recorded media content  112 , or other video on-demand media content, music, a slideshow, and any other audio, video, and/or image media content which can be rendered and/or displayed for viewing as video  114  on the display device  104 . Further, the playback application  122  is implemented to receive user-selectable content navigation input commands  116 , such as from the remote control device  106 .  
      In this example, the television-based remote control device  106  includes various configuration and television-specific input keys, an input keypad, and various user-selectable input controls  118 . The input controls  118  include a fast-forward input control  120 , a rewind input control  122 , and a skip input control  124 . Optionally, the skip input control  124  may be implemented to include a skip-advance input control  126  and/or a skip-reverse input control  128 , or may be a toggle switch that functionally implements a skip-advance and/or a skip-reverse.  
      This example system  100  also includes a representation of a video stream  130  which can represent video data corresponding to recorded media content  112  being rendered for display as video  114  on the display device  104 . In an embodiment of DVR content skip navigation, a viewer can initiate a skip function via the skip input control  124  on the television-based remote control device  106 . The playback application  108  at client device  102  receives and processes the user-selectable skip input to initiate a fast review of the video stream  130  for a designated duration during which the video  114  is still viewable. For example, the skip input can be a skip advance  132 ( 1 ) to initiate fast-forwarding through the video stream  130  for an optionally configurable amount of time  134  (e.g., a designated duration, such as thirty (30) seconds).  
      The playback application  108  is also implemented to automatically resume display of the video  114  at the playback speed for viewing after the skip advance  132 ( 1 ) without an additional viewer input from the remote control device  106 . This is contrary to a conventional fast-forward type of input when a viewer would then continuously monitor the display for the exact moment to enter a second input, such as “play”, to resume viewing the video. With DVR content skip navigation as described herein, a viewer can enter a skip input to initiate a fast review  132 ( 1 ) of the video stream  130  (e.g., forward or reverse) without having to enter a second input to then resume displaying the video  114  on display device  104 .  
      In another embodiment of DVR content skip navigation, a viewer can initiate a first skip advance  132 ( 1 ) via the skip input control  124  on the television-based remote control device  106  followed by a second skip advance  132 ( 2 ). The playback application  108  at client device  102  receives and processes the user-selectable skip inputs  132 ( 1 - 2 ) to initiate fast-forwarding through the video stream  130  for twice the designated duration  136 . For example, a viewer can press or select the skip input control  124  any number of consecutive times to fast-forward through the video stream  130 . If the designated duration for a skip input is thirty (30) seconds, then a viewer can skip advance, or fast-forward, through two (2) minutes of the video stream  130  by pressing and releasing the skip input control  124  four (4) times in succession. At the end of the two (2) minute skip advance, the video  114  automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed.  
      In another embodiment of DVR content skip navigation, the playback application  108  at client device  102  receives and processes a user-selectable skip input to initiate a fast review of the video stream  130  for a designated duration during which the video  114  is still viewable. For example, the skip input can be a skip reverse  138  (also referred to as “replay”) to initiate rewinding through the video stream  130  for an optionally configurable amount of time  140  (e.g., a designated duration, such as ten (10) seconds). The playback application  108  is also implemented to automatically resume display of the video  114  at the playback speed for viewing after the skip reverse  138  without an additional viewer input from the remote control device  106 .  
      In another embodiment of DVR content skip navigation, a viewer can press and hold the fast-forward input control  120  on the remote control device  106  to input a continuous fast-forward input signal  116  to the client device  102 . The playback application  108  receives and processes the input signal  116  to initiate a fast-forward review of the video stream  130  until such time that the continuous fast-forward input signal is no longer received. The designated duration of the fast-forward review is a time duration during which the continuous fast-forward input signal is received, after which the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed for viewing when the continuous fast-forward input signal is no longer received. In a similar manner, a viewer can press and hold the rewind input control  122  on the remote control device  106  to input a continuous rewind input signal to the client device  102 . The playback application  108  receives and processes the rewind input signal to initiate a fast rewind review of the video stream  130  until such time that the continuous rewind input signal is no longer received.  
      In one embodiment, the skip input functionality can be implemented by adding to the existing fast-forward and rewind functions in the embedded programming (i.e., hardware, software, and/or firmware) built into a television-based remote control device  106 . The remote control device  106  can be implemented with a microcontroller to detect a skip input and automatically generate start/stop timing pulses that are communicated to the client device  102  to indicate the duration of fast review (e.g., forward or reverse). Alternatively and/or in addition, the client device  102  can be implemented to detect the skip input signals received from the television-based remote control device  106  and process the skip input signals, such as with playback application  108 .  
      Methods for DVR content skip navigation, such as exemplary method  200  described with reference to  FIG. 2 , may be described in the general context of computer executable instructions. Generally, computer executable instructions can include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, procedures, modules, functions, and the like that perform particular functions or implement particular abstract data types. The methods may also be practiced in a distributed computing environment where functions are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, computer executable instructions may be located in both local and remote computer storage media, including memory storage devices.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary method  200  for DVR content skip navigation. The order in which the method is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks can be combined in any order to implement the method, or an alternate method. Furthermore, the method can be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.  
      At block  202 , video is rendered for display at a playback speed for viewing. For example, playback application  108  at client device  102  is a video control application that controls playback of video  114  displayed for viewing on the display device  104 . At block  204 , a skip input is received to initiate a fast review of the video for a designated duration. For example, client device  102  receives a user-selectable skip input  116  from the remote control device  106  and processes the skip input to fast-forward or rewind through the video stream  130  such that the displayed video  114  is still viewable.  
      At block  206 , a determination is made as to whether the received skip input is a skip advance input. If the received skip input is detected as a skip advance input (i.e., “yes” from block  206 ), then the video fast-forwards for the designated duration at block  208 . For example, the playback application  108  at client device  102  initiates fast-forwarding through the video stream  130  for an optionally configurable amount of time  134 . At block  210 , the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed after fast-forwarding through the video for the designated duration, and without receiving an additional user-selectable input.  
      If the received skip input is not a skip advance input (i.e., “no” from block  206 ), then a determination is made as to whether the received skip input is a skip reverse input at block  212 . If the received skip input is detected as a skip reverse input (i.e., “yes” from block  212 ), then the video rewinds for the designated duration at block  214 . For example, the playback application  108  at client device  102  initiates rewinding through the video stream  130  for an optionally configurable amount of time  140 . At block  210 , the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed after rewinding through the video for the designated duration, and without receiving an additional user-selectable input.  
      If the received skip input is not a skip reverse input (i.e., “no” from block  212 ), then a determination is made as to whether the received skip input is a fast-forward skip input at block  216 . If the received skip input is detected as a fast-forward skip input (i.e., “yes” from block  216 ), then the video fast-forwards while the continuous fast-forward skip input is received at block  218 . For example, the playback application  108  at client device  102  initiates fast-forwarding through the video stream  130  while the continuous fast-forward skip input signal is being received. At block  220 , the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed when the continuous fast-forward skip input signal is no longer received, and without receiving an additional user-selectable input.  
      If the received skip input is not a fast-forward skip input (i.e., “no” from block  216 ), then the received skip input is a rewind skip input and the video rewinds while the continuous rewind skip input is received at block  222 . For example, the playback application  108  at client device  102  initiates rewinding through the video stream  130  while the continuous rewind skip input signal is being received. At block  220 , the video automatically resumes displaying at the playback speed when the continuous rewind skip input signal is no longer received, and without receiving an additional user-selectable input. The method  200  can then continue at block  204  to receive an additional skip input that would be processed with the first skip input to initiate the fast review of the video for twice the designated duration.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary IP-based television (IPTV) environment  300  in which embodiments of DVR content skip navigation can be implemented. The IPTV environment  300  includes a content provider  302  and a viewing system  304  that can include any number of television-based client systems  306 . A client system  306 ( 1 ) is configured for communication with the content provider  302  via a communication network  308  which, in this example, is an IP-based network. In addition to the client system  306 ( 1 ), the viewing system  304  includes television-based client systems  306 (2−N), and can represent a household viewing system that has several viewing areas, such as different rooms, for viewing television programming.  
      Television-based programs may include any form of programs, commercials, music, movies, video on-demand movies and other media content, recorded media content, interactive games, network-based applications, and any other similar audio, video, and/or image content. In addition, programming in general may include music streamed from a computing device to a client device, such as a television-based set-top box, and may also include video on-demand media content delivered from a server, a photo slideshow, and any other audio, video, and/or image content received from any type of media content source.  
      The television-based client systems  306 (1−N) may be implemented with any number and combination of differing components as further described below with reference to the exemplary client device  400  shown in  FIG. 4 . Further, the IPTV environment  300  may be implemented with any number and combination of differing components as described below with reference to the exemplary entertainment and information system  500  shown in  FIG. 5 .  
      The television-based client system  306 ( 1 ) includes a client device  310 ( 1 ) and a display device  312 ( 1 ), such as any type of television, monitor, or similar television-based display system that renders audio, video, and/or image data. Similarly, the television-based client systems  306 (2−N) each include a respective client device  310 (2−N) and a respective display device  312 (2−N). Each client device  310  can be implemented in any number of embodiments, such as a set-top box, a digital video recorder (DVR) and playback system, a personal video recorder (PVR), an appliance device, and as any other type of client device that may be implemented in a television-based entertainment and information system.  
      Client device  310 ( 1 ) receives program content from content provider  302  via the communication network  308 . In the example viewing system  304 , client device  310 ( 1 ) is a master client device that receives one or more data streams from content provider  302  and then arbitrates stream allocation to distribute the data streams, one each, to one or more of the other satellite client devices  310 (2−N). The satellite client devices  310 (2−N) connect to the master client device  310 ( 1 ) to receive a data stream for live television, delayed program viewing, and/or recorded DVR playback. The data streams are allocated by the content provider to the viewing system  304  (e.g., a household), and the data streams can be any combination of high definition and/or standard definition television data streams. For example, the viewing system  304  may receive one high definition data stream and three standard definition data streams depending upon available bandwidth to deliver the data streams. As more bandwidth becomes available, a viewing system may receive more high definition and/or standard definition data streams.  
      Although the data streams are not shown specifically, the arrowed communication links illustrate various data communication links which include the data streams. Additionally, the arrowed communication links are not intended to be interpreted as a one-way communication link from client device  310 ( 1 ) to client device  310 ( 2 ), for example. It is contemplated that any one or more of the arrowed communication links can facilitate two-way data communication, such as from client device  310 ( 2 ) to client device  310 ( 1 ) for example, and from client device  310 ( 1 ) to content provider  302 .  
      In this system, the master client device  310 ( 1 ) receives four (4) data streams from the content provider  302  via the communication network  308 . A viewing selection from a first data stream is shown for viewing on display device  312 ( 1 ) at the television-based client system  306 ( 1 ). A second data stream is directed from the master client device  310 ( 1 ) to the television-based client system  306 ( 2 ) and a viewing selection from a second data stream is shown for viewing on display device  312 ( 2 ). Similarly, a third data stream is directed from the master client device  310 ( 1 ) to the television-based client system  306 ( 3 ) and a viewing selection from the third data stream is shown for viewing on display device  312 ( 3 ). Additionally, a fourth data stream is directed from the master client device  310 ( 1 ) to the television-based client system  306 ( 4 ) and a viewing selection from the fourth data stream is shown for viewing on display device  312 ( 4 ).  
      The available bandwidth for a viewing system, or household as in this example, may not be able to accommodate as many data streams as there are client devices. It is not unusual for a household to have five (5) or more televisions in various rooms and at various locations throughout the house. In this system, the number of client devices exceeds the number of data streams allocated to the viewing system  304  from the content provider  302 . For example, the viewing system  304  includes at least a fifth satellite client device  310 (N) of the television-based client system  306 (N). The corresponding display device  312 (N) indicates that no video stream is available because the four (4) data streams allocated to the viewing system  304  are already being directed to the other client devices  310 (1-4).  
      The viewing system  304  also includes recording media  314  which can be implemented as a DVR system to record and maintain media content  316 , such as any form of programs, movies, and similar audio, video, and/or image content that may be distributed or otherwise received from content provider  302 . In one embodiment, the recording media can be implemented as an independent component of the viewing system  304  and connected to the master client device  310 ( 1 ). Alternatively, the recording media  314  can be implemented as a component of the master client device  310 ( 1 ) which manages recordings initiated from any of the other satellite client devices  310 (2−N). In yet another embodiment, the recording media  314  may be a distributed recording system where any one or more of the client devices  310 (1−N) include recording media that is centrally managed by the master client device  310 ( 1 ).  
       FIG. 4  illustrates various components of an exemplary client device  400  which can be implemented as any form of a computing, electronic, and/or television-based client device, and in which embodiments of DVR content skip navigation can be implemented. For example, the client device  400  can be implemented as the television-based client device  102  shown in  FIG. 1  and/or as any one of the television-based client devices  310 (1−N) shown in  FIG. 3  as part of the viewing system  304 .  
      Client device  400  includes one or more media content inputs  402  which may include Internet Protocol (IP) inputs over which streams of media content are received via an IP-based network. Device  400  further includes communication interface(s)  404  which can be implemented as any one or more of a serial and/or parallel interface, a wireless interface, any type of network interface, a modem, and as any other type of communication interface. A wireless interface enables client device  400  to receive control input commands  406  and other information from an input device, such as from remote control device  408 , PDA (personal digital assistant)  410 , cellular phone  412 , or from another infrared (IR), 802.11, Bluetooth, or similar RF input device.  
      A network interface provides a connection between the client device  400  and a communication network by which other electronic and computing devices can communicate data with device  400 . Similarly, a serial and/or parallel interface provides for data communication directly between client device  400  and the other electronic or computing devices. A modem facilitates client device  400  communication with other electronic and computing devices via a conventional telephone line, a DSL connection, cable, and/or other type of connection.  
      Client device  400  also includes one or more processors  414  (e.g., any of microprocessors, controllers, and the like) which process various computer executable instructions to control the operation of device  400 , to communicate with other electronic and computing devices, and to implement embodiments of DVR content skip navigation. Client device  400  can be implemented with computer readable media  416 , such as one or more memory components, examples of which include random access memory (RAM), non-volatile memory (e.g., any one or more of a read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.), and a disk storage device. A disk storage device can include any type of magnetic or optical storage device, such as a hard disk drive, a recordable and/or rewriteable compact disc (CD), a DVD, a DVD+RW, and the like.  
      Computer readable media  416  provides data storage mechanisms to store various information and/or data such as software applications and any other types of information and data related to operational aspects of client device  400 . For example, an operating system  418  and/or other application programs  420  can be maintained as software applications with the computer readable media  416  and executed on processor(s)  414  to implement embodiments of DVR content skip navigation.  
      For example, client device  400  can be implemented to include a program guide application  422  that is implemented to process program guide data  424  and generate program guides for display which enable a viewer to navigate through an onscreen display and locate broadcast programs, recorded programs, video on-demand programs and movies, interactive game selections, network-based applications, and other media access information or content of interest to the viewer. The application programs  420  can include a programmed application to implement features and embodiments of DVR content skip navigation as described herein. Alternatively, the programmed application can be implemented as an integrated module or component of the program guide application  422  to implement embodiments of DVR content skip navigation. The client device  400  can also include a DVR system  426  with playback application  428 , and recording media  430  to maintain recorded media content  432 .  
      The client device  400  also includes an audio and/or video output  434  that provides audio and video to an audio rendering and/or display system  436 , or to other devices that process, display, and/or otherwise render audio, video, and image data. Video signals and audio signals can be communicated from device  400  to a television  438  (or to other types of display devices) via an RF (radio frequency) link, S-video link, composite video link, component video link, analog audio connection, or other similar communication link.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary entertainment and information system  500  in which an IP-based television environment can be implemented, and in which embodiments of DVR content skip navigation can be implemented. System  500  facilitates the distribution of program content, program guide data, and advertising content to multiple viewers and to multiple viewing systems. System  500  includes a content provider  502  and television-based client systems  504 (1−N) each configured for communication via an IP-based network  506 . Each television-based client system  504 (1N) is an example of the television-based client system  306 ( 1 ) described with reference to  FIG. 3 . Each of the television-based client systems  504 (1−N) can receive one or more data streams from content provider  502  and then arbitrate stream allocation to distribute the data streams, one each, to one or more other satellite client devices in a viewing system.  
      The network  506  can be implemented as a wide area network (e.g., the Internet), an intranet, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network infrastructure, or as a point-to-point coupling infrastructure. Additionally, network  506  can be implemented using any type of network topology and any network communication protocol, and can be represented or otherwise implemented as a combination of two or more networks. A digital network can include various hardwired and/or wireless links  508 (1−N), routers, gateways, and so on to facilitate communication between content provider  502  and the client systems  504 (1−N). The television-based client systems  504 (1−N) receive program content, program guide data, advertising content, closed captions data, and the like from content server(s) of the content provider  502  via the IP-based network  506 .  
      System  500  includes a media server  510  that receives program content from a content source  512 , program guide data from a program guide source  514 , and advertising content from an advertisement source  516 . In an embodiment, the media server  510  represents an acquisition server that receives the audio and video program content from content source  512 , an EPG server that receives the program guide data from program guide source  514 , and/or an advertising management server that receives the advertising content from the advertisement source  516 .  
      The content source  512 , the program guide source  514 , and the advertisement source  516  control distribution of the program content, the program guide data, and the advertising content to the media server  510  and/or to other television-based servers. The program content, program guide data, and advertising content is distributed via various transmission media  518 , such as satellite transmission, radio frequency transmission, cable transmission, and/or via any number of other wired or wireless transmission media. In this example, media server  510  is shown as an independent component of system  500  that communicates the program content, program guide data, and advertising content to content provider  502 . In an alternate implementation, media server  510  can be implemented as a component of content provider  502 .  
      Content provider  502  is representative of a headend service in a television-based content distribution system, for example, that provides the program content, program guide data, and advertising content to multiple subscribers (e.g., the television-based client systems  504 (1−N)). The content provider  502  can be implemented as a satellite operator, a network television operator, a cable operator, and the like to control distribution of program and advertising content, such as movies, television programs, commercials, music, and other audio, video, and/or image content to the client systems  504 (1−N).  
      Content provider  502  includes various components to facilitate media data processing and content distribution, such as a subscriber manager  520 , a device monitor  522 , and a content server  524 . The subscriber manager  520  manages subscriber data, and the device monitor  522  monitors the client systems  504 (1−N) (e.g., and the subscribers), and maintains monitored client state information.  
      Although the various managers, servers, and monitors of content provider  502  (to include the media server  510  in one embodiment) are illustrated and described as distributed, independent components of content provider  502 , any one or more of the managers, servers, and monitors can be implemented together as a multi-functional component of content provider  502 . Additionally, any one or more of the managers, servers, and monitors described with reference to system  500  can implement features and embodiments of DVR content skip navigation.  
      The television-based client systems  504 (1−N) can be implemented to include a client device  526  and a display device  528  (e.g., a television). A client device  526  of a television-based client system  504  can be implemented in any number of embodiments, such as a set-top box, a digital video recorder (DVR) and playback system, a personal video recorder (PVR), an appliance device, a gaming system, and as any other type of client device that may be implemented in a television-based entertainment and information system. In an alternate embodiment, client system  504 (N) is implemented with a computing device  530  as well as a client device  526 . Additionally, any of the client devices  526  of a client system  504  can implement features and embodiments of DVR content skip navigation as described herein.  
      Although embodiments of DVR content skip navigation have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the subject of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as exemplary implementations of DVR content skip navigation.