Audio and video program recording, editing and playback systems using metadata

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.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method of selectively controlling the presentation of video programming which comprises: 
 receiving said video programming,    presenting said video programming to a user,    accepting metadata from said user, said metadata characterizing said video programming presented to said first user and comprising at least one of a start point of a specific segment of said video programming, an end point of said specific segment, a size of said specific segment, and a length of said specific segment,    enabling access to said metadata from a plurality of locations, and    using said metadata to retrieve said specific segment for presentation of said specific segment without presentation of the rest of said video programming.