Systems and methods for multi-tuner recording

• US 10,027,998 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Lemmons, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tesfaye, Aklil M
• Application Number:
  US11/099,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,851 Days
• Field of Search: 725 58, 725 89, 725115, 725133, 725134, 725139, 725142, 725145, 725141, 725153, 386116, 386 83, 386 44, 386 45, 386125, 386126, 386 46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2318 using striping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 : for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 : Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 : Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.

Claims

1. A method for using an interactive television program guide to record programs, the method comprising:

receiving a first user selection of a first program listing, corresponding to a first television program, in the interactive television program guide to record the first television program on a digital storage device;

directing a first tuner to tune to a first channel corresponding to the first television program in response to receiving the first user selection of the first program listing corresponding to the first television program;

recording the output of the first tuner to the digital storage device;

receiving a second user selection of a second program listing, corresponding to a second television program, in the interactive television program guide to record the second television program on the digital storage device, wherein the broadcast time of the second television program overlaps at least partially with the broadcast time of the first television program;

directing a second tuner to tune to a second channel corresponding to the second television program in response to receiving the second user selection of the second program listing corresponding to the second television program;

simultaneously recording the first television program output of the first tuner to the digital storage device as a first file and the second television program output of the second tuner to the digital storage device as a second file, such that only a single program is stored in each of the first file and the second file;

determining that a number of user selections of a third program listing, corresponding to the third television program, to record the third television program exceeds a threshold;

based on the determining that the number of user selections of the third program listing to record the third television program exceeds the threshold;

directing a third tuner to tune to a third channel corresponding to the third television program; and

performing the recording of the output of the third tuner as a third file simultaneously with recording the first television program output of the first tuner to the digital storage device and with recording the second television program output of the second tuner to the digital storage device such that only a single program is stored in each of the first file, second file and third file.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a directory of program listings.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the providing further comprises displaying a first program listing that corresponds to the first television program and a second program listing that corresponds to the second television program.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are located in the digital storage device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing program information associated with the first television program and storing program information associated with the second television program.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at least one other user selection to record at least one other television program on the digital storage device, wherein a broadcast time of the at least one other television program overlaps at least partially with a first broadcast time of the first television program and a second broadcast time of the second television program;

directing at least one other tuner to tune to at least one other channel corresponding to the at least one other television program in response to receiving the at least one other user selection; and

recording the output of the at least one other tuner along with the output of the first tuner and the output of the second tuner to the digital storage device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a retrieval request when a user indicates a desire to play back one of the first television program and the second television program;

retrieving the desired television program of the first television program and the second television program from the digital storage device; and

playing back the desired television program.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to fast-forward the desired television program; and

fast-forwarding the desired television program in response to the user indicating a desire to fast-forward the desired television program.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to rewind the desired television program; and

rewinding the desired television program in response to the user indicating a desire to rewind the desired television program.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to stop the desired television program; and

stopping the desired television program in response to the user indicating a desire to stop the desired television program.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

providing the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to pause the desired television program; and

pausing the desired television program in response to the user indicating a desire to pause the desired television program.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first television program is scheduled to be broadcast at a first future time, and the second television program is scheduled to be broadcast at a second future time, further comprising:

directing the first tuner to tune to the first channel, at the first future time, corresponding to the first television program in response to receiving the first user selection of the first program listing corresponding to the first television program scheduled to be broadcast at the first future time; and

directing the second tuner to tune to the second channel, at the second future time, corresponding to the second television program in response to receiving the second user selection of the second program listing corresponding to the second television program scheduled to be broadcast at the second future time.

13. A system for using an interactive television program guide to record programs, the system comprising:

a first tuner;

a second tuner;

a digital storage device; and

an interactive television application implemented at least partially on control circuitry configured to;

receive a first user selection of a first program listing, corresponding to a first television program, in the interactive television program guide to record the first television program on the digital storage device;

direct the first tuner to tune to a first channel corresponding to the first television program in response to receiving the first user selection of the first program listing corresponding to the first television program;

record the output of the first tuner to the digital storage device;

receive a second user selection of a second program listing, corresponding to a second television program, in the interactive television program guide to record the second television program on the digital storage device, wherein the broadcast time of the second television program overlaps at least partially with the broadcast time of the first television program;

direct the second tuner to tune to a second channel corresponding to the second television program in response to receiving the second user selection of the second program listing corresponding to the second television program; and

simultaneously record the first television program output of the first tuner to the digital storage device as a first file and the second television program output of the second tuner to the digital storage device as a second file, such that only a single program is stored in each of the first file and the second file;

further comprising a third tuner, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to;

determine that a number of user selections of a third program listing, corresponding to the third television program, to record the third television program exceeds a threshold;

based on the determining that the number of user selections of the third program listing to record the third television program exceeds the threshold;

direct a third tuner to tune to a third channel corresponding to the third television program; and

perform the recording of the output of the third tuner as a third file simultaneously with recording the first television program output of the first tuner to the digital storage device and with recording the second television program output of the second tuner to the digital storage device such that only a single program is stored in each of the first file, second file, and third file.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to provide a directory of program listings.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a display for displaying a first program listing that corresponds to the first television program and a second program listing that corresponds to the second television program.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are located in the digital storage device.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to store program information associated with the first television program and program information associated with the second television program.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

at least one other tuner; and

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to;

receive at least one other user selection to record at least one other television program on the digital storage device, wherein a broadcast time of the at least one other television program overlaps at least partially with a first broadcast time of the first television program and a second broadcast time of the second television program;

direct the at least one other tuner to tune to a channel corresponding to the at least one other television program in response to receiving the at least one other user selection; and

simultaneously record the output of the at least one other tuner along with the outputs of the first tuner and the second tuner to the digital storage device.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

generate a retrieval request when a user indicates a desire to play back one of the first television program and the second television program;

retrieve the desired television program of the first television program and the second television program from the digital storage device; and

play back the desired television program.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to fast-forward the desired television program; and

fast-forward the desired television program in response to the user indicating a desire to fast-forward the desired television program.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to rewind the desired television program; and

rewind the desired television program in response to the user indicating a desire to rewind the desired television program.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to stop the desired television program; and

stop the desired television program in response to the user indicating a desire to stop the desired television program.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

provide the user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to pause the desired television program; and

pause the desired television program in response to the user indicating a desire to pause the desired television program.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the first television program is scheduled to be broadcast at a first future time, and the second television program is scheduled to be broadcast at a second future time, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

direct the first tuner to tune to the first channel, at the first future time, corresponding to the first television program in response to receiving the first user selection of the first program listing corresponding to the first television program scheduled to be broadcast at the first future time; and

direct the second tuner to tune to the second channel, at the second future time, corresponding to the second television program in response to receiving the second user selection of the second program listing corresponding to the second television program scheduled to be broadcast at the second future time.