System and method for recording and reproducing broadcasting programs

• US 20020009283A1
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ichioka, Hidetoshi, Asazu, Hideki, Ishida, Masaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/46
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape

Abstract

There is provided a system for recording and/or reproduction of broadcasting programs permits the facilitation of selection and management of recorded videos in the manner of following the operations of general AV equipment such as televisions and video decks, in which virtual channels are assigned according to categories defined by a user, and programs corresponding to the categories are recorded into the virtual channels, and since the recorded programs are set in array on a time base for simultaneous reproduction on each virtual channel, the user may happen to watch various recorded programs only by switching over the channels from one to another or continuing to reproduce recorded programs in a single channel after application of power at any time, which results in quite passive style only sufficient for the user to watch the recorded programs.

Claims

1. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs received or programmed to be received, comprising:

program sorting means for sorting said broadcasting programs into categories according to a predetermined rule;

program recording means for recording said broadcasting programs or programming a recording schedule thereof;

virtual channel management means for assigning virtual channels every category, while setting said broadcasting programs, sorted into said categories, in array on an associated virtual channel in a reproduction start order;

user operation means for accepting user-based channel select operation and/or program search operation on said virtual channels; and

program presentation means for taking out a corresponding broadcasting program for reproduction from a selected channel in response to user operations accepted through said user operation means.

2. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein an entry of the categories of said virtual channels is made according to user profiles and/or user instructions.

3. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channels include a virtual channel for array of programs, which are not included in any category for the failure to set an associated category by the user.

4. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said program sorting means is to sort said broadcasting programs into categories according to EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) and/or user instructions.

5. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein the reproduction start order of the programs on the virtual channels is in conformity with a priority established in accordance with at least one of an on-the-air program order, user profiles and user instructions.

6. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to shift reproduction start positions on the virtual channels in the process of being selected and non-selected with the lapse of real time.

7. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said user operation means is to accept program search operations including pause, fast forward and rewind of reproduction positions on the virtual channels.

8. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said user operation means is to accept operations of specifying a broadcasting program preservative status, inclusively of deletion, preservation and reservation (for later watching) relating to specific programs on the virtual channels.

9. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to manage the preservative status of the programs set in array on the virtual channels as well.

10. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to identify each program set in array on the virtual channels as one watched by the user or not.

11. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate the programs on the virtual channels according to a specified preservative status with respect to each of the recorded programs.

12. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate a program, identified as one watched, in a period of a near past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

13. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate a program, identified as one programmed to be deleted, in a period of a remote past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

14. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate a program, identified as one preserved, in a period of a slightly remote past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

15. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate a program, identified as one programmed to be recorded, in a period of a future (provided that a point on and after a broadcasting date is required) on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

16. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate a program, identified as one remaining recorded without being watched (reproduced) yet, in a period of a future spare time on the associated virtual channel.

17. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate a program, identified as one in process of reservation, in a period of a future spare time on the associated virtual channel preferentially.

18. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate already located programs in overlap array when a period of a future spare time is not filled with the programs.

19. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to display scheduling of programs on each virtual channel and a watching status and a preservative status of each program in a form of being identified at a glance.

20. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to locate a series of programs on a same virtual channel continuously.

21. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to shift a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being selected to a period of a future or a past on a time base in response to fast forward or rewind instructions supplied through said user operation means.

22. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means permits no fast forward operation for a program corresponding to one earlier than a broadcasting date.

23. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, wherein said virtual channel management means is to shift a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being selected to a period of a future or a past on a time base in response to fast forward or rewind instructions supplied through said user operation means, while setting a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being non-selected to follow the lapse of real time.

24. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, further comprising real channel management means for assigning real channels to broadcasting programs on the air, wherein said program presentation means is to take out the recorded program for reproduction from the virtual channel selected through said user operation means in response to the selection of said virtual channel, while presenting the on-the-air program on the real channel selected through said user operation means in response to the selection of said real channel.

25. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 24, wherein said user operation means is to accept a channel select operation requiring no distinction between the real channels and the virtual channels.

26. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 1, further comprising “

To Watch list”

management means for managing reproduction information or the like relating to programs paused on each virtual channel.

27. A system for recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 26, wherein said “

To Watch list”

management means is to display a list of paused programs for accepting the user selection on the list, and also to start reproduction of the corresponding recorded program in response to the user selection.

28. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs received or programmed to be received, comprising:

a program sorting step of sorting the broadcasting programs into categories according to a predetermined rule;

a program recording step of recording the broadcasting programs or programming a recording schedule thereof;

a virtual channel management step of assigning virtual channels every category, while setting the broadcasting programs, sorted into the categories, in array on associated virtual channels in a reproduction start order;

a user operation step of accepting a user-based channel select operation and/or a program search operation on the virtual channels; and

a program presentation step of taking out a corresponding broadcasting program for reproduction from a selected channel in response to the user operation accepted through said user operation step.

29. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein an entry of categories of the virtual channels is made according to user profiles and/or user instructions.

30. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channels include a virtual channel for array of programs, which are not included in any category for the failure to set an associated category by the user.

31. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said program sorting step is to sort the broadcasting programs according to EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) and/or user instructions.

32. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein the reproduction start order of the programs on the virtual channels is in conformity with a priority established in accordance with at least one of an on-the-air program order, user profiles and user instructions.

33. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to shift reproduction start positions on the virtual channels in a process of being selected and non-selected in response to the lapse of real time.

34. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said user operation step is to accept program search operations including pause, fast forward and rewind of reproduction positions on the virtual channels.

35. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said user operation step is to accept operations of specifying a recorded program preservative status, inclusively of deletion, preservation and reservation (for later watching) of specific programs on the virtual channels.

36. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to manage a preservative status of programs set in array on the virtual channels.

37. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to identify the programs set in array on the virtual channels as one watched by the user or not.

38. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate the programs on the virtual channels in response to a specified preservative status with respect to each of the recorded programs.

39. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate a program, identified as one watched, in a period of a near past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

40. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate a program, identified as one programmed to be deleted, in a period of a remote past on the a base on the associated virtual channel.

41. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate a program, identified as one preserved, in a period of a slightly remote past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

42. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate a program, identified as one programmed to be recorded, in a period of a future (provided that a point on and after a broadcasting date is required) on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

43. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate a program, identified as one remaining recorded without being watched (reproduced) yet, in a period of a future spare time on the associated virtual channel.

44. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate a program, identified as one in process of reservation, preferentially in a period of a future spare time on the associated virtual channel.

45. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate the already located programs in overlap array when a period of future spare time is not filled with the programs.

46. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to display scheduling of programs on each virtual channel and a watching status and a preservative status of each program in a form of being identified at a glance.

47. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to locate a series of programs on a same virtual channel continuously.

48. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to shift a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being selected to a period of a future or a past on a time base in response to fast forward or rewind instructions supplied through said user operation means.

49. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step permits no fast forward operation for a program corresponding to one earlier than a broadcasting schedule date.

50. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein said virtual channel management step is to shift a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being selected to a period of a future or a past on a time base in response to fast forward or rewind instructions supplied through said user operation means, while setting the reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being non-selected to follow the lapse of real time.

51. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein further comprising a real channel management step of assigning real channels to broadcasting programs on the air, said program presentation step is to take out the recorded program for reproduction from the virtual channel selected through said user operation means in response to a selection of said virtual channel, while presenting the on-the-air program on the real channel selected through said user operation means in response to the selection of said real channel.

52. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 51, wherein said user operation step is to accept a channel select operation requiring no distinction between the real channels and the virtual channels.

53. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 28, wherein it further comprises a “

To Watch list”

management step of managing reproduction information or the like relating to paused programs on each virtual channel.

54. A method of recording and/or reproducing broadcasting programs according to claim 53, wherein said “

To Watch list”

management step is to display a list of paused programs for accepting user selection on said list, and to start the reproduction of the corresponding recorded program in response to the user selection.