Media content programming control method and apparatus

Abstract

A method and system for the control, aggregation, and management of television programming and Internet content (both traditional and video sources) and more specifically to the customization of media choices and content based in part on the dynamic editing of content according to user preferences. Affiliate Groups can be used to mark, recommend or provide selective editing of video and other media that can be received by users. Users may join Affiliate Groups and selectively view or have content automatically filtered from the data received in their premises such that the display of the media is less than all of the media received at the premises based on Affiliate Group recommendations. Menus and displays may be created that show preferred media content, additional content generated by the Affiliate Groups. Channel schedules may be pre-filtered or provide customized warnings about objectionable material.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to US Provisional Application 60 / 789,590, filed April 6, 2006, entitled Media Content Programming Control Method and Apparatus, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to the control, aggregation, and management of television programming and Internet content (traditional and video sources), and more particularly to media selection and content customization based in part on dynamic editing of content based on user preferences. The functionality stems from a novel metadata generation and delivery system that enables content management at sub-program granularity. Background technique [0004] Today, broadcast, cable, satellite, and Internet distribution systems make rich sources of television entertainment available everywhere, giving television viewers a vast array of entertainment choices. Because of the plethora...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Existing devices attempt to enable editing using data such as meta tags to provide personalized editing of media programming and identify objectionable scenes, but such systems only work when the incoming media stream is encoded by the original content provider valid under circumstances

Furthermore, metadata itself may be compromised due to lack of independence in its creation (such as the MPAA television rating system, produced by program producers), presenting viewers with any possible editorial system would be based on such unreliable metadata, so rarely use

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