Patent ID: 8171518

Claim:
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a set top box, comprising computer instructions for: estimating an estimated length of a media program from reported media program information for the media program in catalogs of media programs, wherein the estimation is based on a plurality of different reported lengths of the media program in the reported media program information, and wherein the estimated length of the media program is different from an actual length of the media program; presenting at a media device coupled to the set top box a portion of the media program while it is being delivered to the set top box by a media delivery system; adjusting the presentation of said portion of the media program according to the estimated length; generating an estimated time index for the media program based on the estimated length, wherein the estimated time index is configured for use by the set top box for playback and navigation, the estimated time index representing estimated time positions along an estimated time line for the media program, the estimated time positions being usable by the set top box for the playback and navigation of the media program; obtaining an index file at a completion of a progressive download of the media program; generating a true time index from the index file, wherein the generation of the estimated time index continues to be performed until the true time index is generated; comparing the estimated time index with the true time index; and transferring user-inputted information from the estimated time index to the true time index based on the comparison and based on a time differential between the estimated length of the media program and the actual length of the media program.