Patent ID: 8533210

Claim:
A server device comprising: a memory to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising: directing a set-top box to record a first plurality of media programs for storage at the set-top box responsive to receiving recording requests from the set-top box; extracting index data from a second plurality of media programs stored at a provider network, wherein the index data comprises searchable data associated with video frames of the second plurality of media programs; receiving a search request from the set-top box to perform a search of the index data; searching the index data according to the search request to generate search results, wherein the searching is constrained to a portion of the second plurality of media programs that correspond to the first plurality of media programs that are stored at the set-top box, wherein the search results comprise index display data and locator code data, wherein the index display data identifies a plurality of segments of the second plurality of media programs and provides an order of presentation of the plurality of segments, wherein the locator code data identifies a plurality of locations of the plurality of segments in the second plurality of media programs, and wherein the order of presentation of the plurality of segments is based on relevance of each of the plurality of segments according to matches of search criteria in the search request; comparing first content from the first plurality of media programs stored at the set-top box with second content from the second plurality of media programs stored at the provider network for the plurality of segments identified by the searching to determine a plurality of time shifts between the first plurality of media programs and the second plurality of media programs for the plurality of segments; correcting the index display data and the locator code data for the plurality of segments according to the plurality of time shifts, wherein the correcting of the locator code data synchronizes the locator code data to the plurality of segments of the first plurality of media programs stored at the set-top box; and transmitting the corrected index display data and the corrected locator code data to the set-top box, wherein the set-top box generates an index page for user selection and presentation of the plurality of segments identified by the searching from the first plurality of media programs stored at the set-top box according to the corrected index display data and the corrected locator code data, wherein the index page comprises a pictorial index created at the set-top box based on command information transmitted by the server device, and wherein the pictorial index comprises thumbnail images generated by extracting video frames associated with the first plurality of media programs stored at the set-top box.