Systems and methods for recording and playing back programs having desirable recording attributes

• US 10,104,421 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Spiegel, Jr., Reed S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/651,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20170318332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 386291, 386292, 386293, 386326, 386296, 386298
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4424 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums

Abstract

Systems and methods for recording multiple copies of a program are provided. The method may include receiving a user instruction to record a program. A determination may be made to record multiple copies of the program. In response to the determination, multiple copies of the program may be recorded. A user instruction to display the recorded program may be received. A copy of the program may be played back. The user may switch to another copy of the recorded program if the original copy lacks desirable recording attributes, or the interactive television application may automatically switch to another copy of the program.

Claims

1. A method for presenting media with an interactive media application, the method comprising:

automatically scheduling a recording of multiple copies of media content at different transmission times, wherein the scheduling is performed before any one of the different transmission times;

recording the multiple copies of the media content at the different transmission times at a device;

retrieving, from memory, an indication that at least one of the multiple copies was interrupted, wherein the indication of the at least one of the multiple copies was interrupted is associated with the at least one of the multiple copies based on at least one of;

monitoring a state of the device during the different transmission times to determine that a recording of one or more of the multiple copies is interrupted at the device; and

extracting, from schedule data received from a media data source, an indication that one or more of the multiple copies was not transmitted in its entirety;

determining that one of the multiple copies of the media content is not associated with the indication that the at least one of the multiple copies was interrupted;

selecting the one of the multiple copies of the media content for playback based on determining that the one of the multiple copies of the media content is not associated with the indication that the at least one of the multiple copies was interrupted; and

generating a display of at least a portion of the selected copy of the media content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one of the multiple copies of the media content for playback comprises:

retrieving, from the memory, a plurality of indications associated with the multiple copies, wherein each of the plurality of indications is associated with a respective one of the multiple copies, and wherein each of the plurality of indications indicate recording options of a plurality of recording options associated with the respective one of the multiple copies; and

comparing the plurality of indications to a plurality of desired recording options to determine that the one of the multiple copies is associated with an indication indicating the most recording options that match with the desired recording options; and

wherein selecting one of the multiple copies of the media content is further based on determine that the one of the multiple copies is associated with an indication indicating the most recording options that match with the desired recording.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a user input of the desired recording options.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

retrieving, from memory, a log of recording options of programs that a user of the device previously viewed;

determining, based on the log, a most common set of recording options; and

wherein the desired recording options comprise the most common set.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a number of copies to record for the media content.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the number of copies comprises receiving, view a user input, an indication of a preference for the number of copies.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the number of copies comprises:

determining an expected time when a user of the device will view the media content; and

searching the schedule data for the different transmission times, wherein all of the different transmission times are before the expected time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the expected time comprises receiving, from the user, an indication of the expected time.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the expect time comprises:

accessing a viewing history associated with the user; and

calculating an average amount of time between a first transmission time of a program and a viewing time of the program;

calculating the expected time by adding the average amount of time to a transmission time of an earliest transmission of the media content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the state of the device comprises at least one of monitoring a power state of the device and monitoring a tuning state of the device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor the state of the device by at least one of monitoring a power state of the device and monitoring a tuning state of the device.

11. A system for presenting media with an interactive media application, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

automatically schedule a recording of multiple copies of media content at different transmission times, wherein the scheduling is performed before any one of the different transmission times;

record the multiple copies of the media content at the different transmission times at a device;

retrieve, from memory, an indication that at least one of the multiple copies was interrupted, wherein the indication of the at least one of the multiple copies was interrupted is associated with the at least one of the multiple copies based on at least one of;

monitoring a state of the device during the different transmission times to determine that a recording of one or more of the multiple copies is interrupted at the device; and

extracting, from schedule data received from a media data source, an indication that one or more of the multiple copies was not transmitted in its entirety;

determine that one of the multiple copies of the media content is not associated with the indication that the at least one of the multiple copies was interrupted;

select the one of the multiple copies of the media content for playback based on determining that the one of the multiple copies of the media content is not associated with the indication that the at least one of the multiple copies was interrupted; and

generate a display of at least a portion of the selected copy of the media content.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to select the one of the multiple copies of the media content for playback by:

retrieving, from the memory, a plurality of indications associated with the multiple copies, wherein each of the plurality of indications is associated with a respective one of the multiple copies, and wherein each of the plurality of indications indicate recording options of a plurality of recording options associated with the respective one of the multiple copies; and

comparing the plurality of indications to a plurality of desired recording options to determine that the one of the multiple copies is associated with an indication indicating the most recording options that match with the desired recording options; and

wherein selecting one of the multiple copies of the media content is further based on determine that the one of the multiple copies is associated with an indication indicating the most recording options that match with the desired recording.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a user input of the desired recording options.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

retrieve, from the memory, a log of recording options of programs that a user of the device previously viewed;

determine, based on the log, a most common set of recording options; and

wherein the desired recording options comprise the most common set.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine a number of copies to record for the media content.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the number of copies by receiving, view a user input, an indication of a preference for the number of copies.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the number of copies by:

determining an expected time when a user of the device will view the media content; and

searching the schedule data for the different transmission times, wherein all of the different transmission times are before the expected time.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the expected time by receiving, from the user, an indication of the expected time.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the expected time by:

accessing a viewing history associated with the user; and

calculating an average amount of time between a first transmission time of a program and a viewing time of the program;

calculating the expected time by adding the average amount of time to a transmission time of an earliest transmission of the media content.