US 2,002,120,925 · Filed 2002-01-29

The Patent That Lets You Skip to the Good Parts

Imagine a system that uses invisible labels (called metadata) attached to TV shows and movies to help you automatically record only the parts you actually want to watch. Instead of recording an entire 2-hour broadcast, the system knows exactly which segments are worth keeping and which you can skip — kind of like bookmarks for video.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a system that creates, distributes, and uses metadata (descriptive information) about video and audio programming to control what gets recorded and how it plays back. What's protected here is the method of tagging programming segments with metadata either at a central location or at individual user locations, then using those tags to selectively record content and customize playback. This includes both the mechanisms for identifying segments and the infrastructure for sharing that metadata between a central source and multiple users.

Why it matters

This patent addresses a fundamental problem in the era of abundant broadcast content: information overload. By enabling automated, intelligent recording and playback based on descriptive metadata, it creates a foundation for what would become modern TV guide systems, DVR recording preferences, and streaming platform recommendations. The ability to systematically label and distribute information about content allows media systems to work smarter on behalf of viewers, rather than forcing people to manually hunt through schedules or sit through entire programs.

Real-world use

When your streaming service recommends shows you might like or when a DVR automatically records only your favorite actor's appearances in a series, metadata systems similar to this one are working behind the scenes to match your preferences with available content.

Original USPTO abstract

A system for utilizing metadata created either at a central location for shared use by connected users, or at each individual user's location, to enhance user's enjoyment of available broadcast programming content. A variety of mechanisms are employed for automatically and manually identifying and designating programming segments, associating descriptive metadata which the identified segments, distributing the metadata for use at client locations, and using the supplied metadata to selectively record and playback desired programming.

Patent details

Publication number: US 2,002,120,925
Filing date: 2002-01-29
Grant date: Application — not yet granted
Assignee: Logan James D.
Inventor(s): LOGAN JAMES D.
CPC class: H04N21/23424

View original record on Google Patents →

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