Methods and apparatus for recording and replaying sports broadcasts

Abstract

A system for replaying a broadcast sports event using a video on demand or personal video recording system. Metadata is created that subdivides the original broadcast into segments, and associates descriptive information with each segment. Playlists that specify an ordered subsequence of the sequence may be selected and used to present a variety of expanded or condensed versions of the sporting event to a viewer. Navigation controls including segment lists, specially formatted screen displays, and special functions under the control of a user-operated remote control, facilitate the interactive selection and control of the presentation.

1 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts which comprises, in combination, the steps of: 
 recording a live sports event to create a video program stored in a program storage device,    creating a metadata playlist which identifies and describes each of a plurality of segments of said video program as stored,    transmitting said metadata playlist to a presentation device,    displaying a segment guide containing information from said playlist on said presentation device, said segment guide including elements which identify at least selected ones of said plurality of segments,    employing a control device operated by a viewer and coupled to said presentation device for selecting a specified one of said elements,    retrieving the particular segment identified by said specified one of said elements from said storage device,    transmitting said particular segment to said presentation device,    and displaying said particular segment for said viewer on said presentation device    
   
   
       2 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of segments substantially excludes any portion of video program recorded when said sports event was not in active play.  
   
   
       3 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said metadata playlist is one of a group of metadata playlists, each of which identifies and describes a different plurality of segments of said video program as stored, said method further comprising the steps of displaying a description of each playlist in said group and accepting a designation of said metadata playlist from said control device operated by said viewer.  
   
   
       4 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said plurality of segments designated by said playlist comprise substantially less than all of said video program whereby viewing said plurality of segments designated by said playlist provides said viewer with a condensed version of said sports event.  
   
   
       5 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 4  wherein each of said plurality of segments substantially excludes any portion of video program recorded when  
   
   
       6 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sports event is a football game and wherein each element of said segment guide describes one or more plays in said football game.  
   
   
       7 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 6  wherein most of said plurality of segments substantially excludes any portion of said video program recorded when said football game was not in active play.  
   
   
       8 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 7  wherein most of said plurality of segments of said video program were recorded when the football was in motion.  
   
   
       9 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 7  wherein most of said plurality of segments substantially excludes any portion of said video program recorded when the official timekeeper's clock for said football game was not in motion.  
   
   
       10 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said plurality of segments are each devoted to only those events in the football game that are selected by one or more human editors as being more important than the remainder of the events in said football game whereby said playlist presents a condensed version of said football game for said viewer on said presentation device.  
   
   
       11 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said video program stored in said storage device is subdivided into segments each of which is associated with attribute data and wherein each of said plurality of segments identified by said metadata playlist is associated with attributed data having defined characteristics.  
   
   
       12 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said attribute data identifies persons who participated in that portion of the sports event depicted by each segment, and wherein the attribute data for each of said plurality of segments identified by said playlist identifies a particular person.  
   
   
       13 . A method for presenting recorded sports broadcasts as set forth in  claim 1   1  wherein said attribute data identifies one or more categories within which said segments may be classified, and wherein the attribute data for each of said plurality of segments identified by said playlist identifies a specific one of more of said categories.