Dynamic media recording

Abstract

A stream of media content is received in a media device. A value is determined in metadata of the media content relating to indicia of interest in a portion of the media content. A first clip including the portion of the media content is stored based at least in part on the indicia of interest, whereby the first clip is made available for later retrieval.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for automatically recording a portion of a media content item, comprising:
 receiving a media content stream; and   while the media content stream is being received:
 determining a threshold value for a parameter indicating interest; and 
 for each of a plurality of successively received portions of the media content stream:
 determining whether a metadata value of the media content portion meets or exceeds the threshold value for the parameter; and 
 responsive to a determination that the metadata value meets or exceeds the threshold value for the parameter, automatically storing, in a storage device, a first clip including the portion of the media content stream, whereby the first clip is made available for later retrieval; 
 
   wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on an objective determination of interest level that is independent of preferences of any single user.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on a determination of a particular user's interest in the portion of the media content stream. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on a determination of a particular user's interest in the portion of the media content stream, based on data from an account associated with the user on a remote site. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 automatically creating a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip; and   automatically storing the composite clip in the storage device.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein automatically creating a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip comprises to automatically arranging the first clip and the at least one additional clip according to a determination of interest level in the clips. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 4 , wherein automatically creating a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip comprises to automatically arranging the first clip and the at least one additional clip according to a determination of a particular user's interest level in the clips. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, on a display device, a graphical user interface comprising a link to the first clip.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata value of the media content portion is generated in real time or near real time. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the media content stream comprises a live broadcast. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold value comprises a threshold for the metadata value. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for automatically recording a portion of a media content item, comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor, perform the steps of:
 receiving a media content stream; and   while the media content stream is being received:
 determining a threshold value for a parameter indicating interest; and 
 for each of a plurality of successively received portions of the media content stream:
 determining whether a metadata value of the media content portion meets or exceeds the threshold value for the parameter; and 
 responsive to a determination that the metadata value meets or exceeds the threshold value for the parameter, automatically storing, in a storage device, a first clip including the portion of the media content stream, whereby the first clip is made available for later retrieval; 
 
   wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on an objective determination of interest level that is independent of preferences of any single user.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on a determination of a particular user's interest in the portion of the media content stream. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on a determination of a particular user's interest in the portion of the media content stream, based on data from an account associated with the user on a remote site. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the processor, perform the steps of:
 automatically creating a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip; and   automatically storing the composite clip in the storage device.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein automatically creating a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip comprises to automatically arranging the first clip and the at least one additional clip according to a determination of interest level in the clips. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein automatically creating a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip comprises to automatically arranging the first clip and the at least one additional clip according to a determination of a particular user's interest level in the clips. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor, perform the steps of:
 causing a display device to display a graphical user interface comprising a link to the first clip.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the metadata value of the media content portion is generated in real time or near real time. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the media content stream comprises a live broadcast. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the threshold value comprises a threshold for the metadata value. 
     
     
         21 . A system for automatically recording a portion of a media content item, comprising:
 a media device, configured to receive a media content stream;   an electronic storage device;   a processor, communicatively coupled to the media device and to the electronic storage device, configured to, while the media content stream is being received:
 determine a threshold value for a parameter indicating interest; and 
 for each of a plurality of successively received portions of the media content stream:
 determine whether a metadata value of the media content portion meets or exceeds the threshold value for the parameter; and 
 responsive to a determination that the metadata value meets or exceeds the threshold value for the parameter, automatically causing the storage device to store a first clip including the portion of the media content stream, whereby the first clip is made available for later retrieval; 
 
   wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on an objective determination of interest level that is independent of preferences of any single user.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on a determination of a particular user's interest in the portion of the media content stream. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the threshold value is determined, at least in part, based on a determination of a particular user's interest in the portion of the media content stream, based on data from an account associated with the user on a remote site. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 automatically create a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip; and   automatically cause the storage device to store the composite clip.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein automatically creating a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip comprises to automatically arranging the first clip and the at least one additional clip according to a determination of interest level in the clips. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein automatically creating a composite clip comprising at least one additional clip comprises to automatically arranging the first clip and the at least one additional clip according to a determination of a particular user's interest level in the clips. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a display device, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to display a graphical user interface comprising a link to the first clip.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the metadata value of the media content portion is generated in real time or near real time. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the media content stream comprises a live broadcast. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the threshold value comprises a threshold for the metadata value.