US Patent 7080392 Process and device for multi-level television program abstraction

Distribution, either incorporated into a video signal or via a separate channel, of human and/or artificially intelligent generated auxiliary information used to selectively record and/or display one of several subsets of program segments. Subsets comprise options that are progressively abstracted, alternatively rated, selectively limited to particular subject matter, or otherwise diverse versions of the program material. Settop box, or similar device, records program and auxiliary information, and displays selected subset under user control.