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Future capture of block matching clipRelated Patent Categories: Interactive Video Distribution Systems, User-requested Video Program System, Vcr-like FunctionFuture capture of block matching clip description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070250881, Future capture of block matching clip. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/769,157, filed Jan. 24, 2001. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to recording of media content. BACKGROUND ART [0003] Presently, if a user wishes to record a media content item in its entirety but the user did not begin recording at or before the start of the media content item, the user will need to take many steps at a future time to record it. The user will first need to ascertain an identification of the media content item, then identify a future time at which the media content item will be rebroadcast, then begin recording prior to the rebroadcast. In many instances, some or all of those steps can be difficult. Examples of media content items may include a song the user is hearing on a radio broadcast or a television program the user is watching on a television broadcast, or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] The invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of embodiments of the invention which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiments described, but are for explanation and understanding only. [0005] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram representation of one embodiment of an apparatus of the invention. [0006] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart representation of one embodiment of a method of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0007] While the invention will, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, be explained in terms of an exemplary embodiment which is used to perform future capture of a song from a radio broadcast, the skilled reader will readily appreciate that the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Rather, the invention has applicability in a variety of embodiments and with a variety of media content types. The invention may be utilized in capturing media content items which have defined beginning and ending points, such as songs or television shows, but it may also be utilized in capturing arbitrary portions of a media stream lacking predetermined starting or ending points. The phrase "block" will be used herein to refer generically to both complete songs/shows/etc. and/or to portions or arbitrary segments of such, or to continuous streams of content. [0008] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a system which utilizes the invention to perform future capture of a block from one or more incoming media streams ("stream"). The term "stream" should not be interpreted as necessarily meaning "streaming media", but is intended to cover broadcasts and transmissions of all forms, whether they be carried over the airwaves, over cable or other wired system, or any other suitable communication mechanism. The system includes a receiver which receives the stream, perhaps more than one stream at a time from one or more communication mechanisms. The system includes an output device such as a speaker for presenting the stream to the user; the output device may in some embodiments be implemented integrally with the receiver and/or with the other portions of the system. In other embodiments, such as a car radio, the output device such as speakers may be implemented separately from the receiver and/or the future capture system. [0009] The system includes a storage system, coupled to the receiver. The storage system includes storage for one or more clips ("clip storage"), one or more blocks ("block storage"), and one or more streams ("stream storage"). In one embodiment, these may be implemented as separate storage units of a same type or of different types. In another embodiment, one or more of them may be implemented as logically distinct units within a single actual storage device. Any suitable type of storage medium may be used, such as semiconductor memory, hard drive, CD-R or CD-RW, tape, or the like. [0010] The system further includes a processing system, coupled to the storage system in one embodiment. In other embodiments, it may be coupled to the receiver and/or the storage system. The processing system may be constructed in hardware and/or software. It includes a clip manager and a block manager. In some embodiments, the clip manager and block manager may be distinct, while in other embodiments, they may be, for example, portions of the same software application. [0011] Finally, the system includes a capture trigger. The capture trigger includes at least an input mechanism (not shown), and in some embodiments may further include an output mechanism (not shown). [0012] The system may, in some embodiments, optionally have access to an external list source and/or a block source. The list source may be, for example, a play list on a radio station's website, identifying a list of songs that the radio station plays, and perhaps a list of times and dates when they have been played. The block source may be, for example, an on-line music retailer. [0013] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a method of operation of the future capture system. Please make continued reference also to FIG. 1. The receiver receives (20) the media stream and outputs it for the user. In some embodiments, the system may also record the incoming media stream. [0014] At some arbitrary time, the user takes some action to indicate a desire to capture the presently-playing song, such as by pressing a "Capture" button on the radio. The processing system receives (22) this input from the capture trigger, and its clip manager begins storing (24) a "clip" from the incoming media stream to the clip storage. In one mode, the clip store may store the clip itself, such as an analog-to-digital conversion of the clip. In other modes, the clip store may store some other representation of the clip, such as a cyclic redundancy check value of the clip, or a digital signal processing (DSP) representation of the clip, or some other representation which is suitable for future comparing against the media stream to locate a matching portion. [0015] The reader will appreciate that a "matching" portion of the stream will not necessarily be a digitally exact equivalent of the clip. For example, the subsequent rebroadcast of the same block may be on a different station having different sound shaping characteristics, or it may be sent with different gain on the carrier signal, or it may be in a more or less noisy ambient environment, and so forth. Well-known digital signal processing techniques are equipped to identify matches within a predetermined or controllable level of likelihood or tolerance. [0016] In one embodiment, the user may control the length of the clip stored, such as by holding down the "Capture" button. In other embodiments, there may be a default length, such as ten seconds. [0017] In some embodiments, the processing system may prompt (26) the user to enter one or more parameters concerning the clip, the block, and/or the stream. There are many possible parameters. By way of example only and not limitation, the user may indicate and the clip manager may receive (28): [0018] estimated time into the block that the trigger was hit [0019] length of possible block to watch for [0020] suspected name of the song and/or album and/or artist [0021] number and/or identity of radio stations to monitor for future capture of this song [0022] number of instances to save for best-instance comparison [0023] maximum allowable price [0024] preferred source [0025] song style [0026] movie genre [0027] etc. [0028] The reader will appreciate that, in most embodiments, the receiving, storing, and outputting (20) does not end, but will be an ongoing process during the rest of the method of the invention. [0029] The block manager compares (30) the clip against the incoming stream, attempting to determine whether the block is found in the stream. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished using conventional digital signal processing techniques. In some embodiments, the block manager may utilize a sliding "window" over the stored stream and, when the window moves ahead without finding a match against the clip, the already-analyzed portion of the stored stream may be discarded (32). The block manager may generate a DSP result, or a CRC value, or the like, based upon the contents of the window. Continue reading about Future capture of block matching clip... Full patent description for Future capture of block matching clip Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Future capture of block matching clip patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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