Method and apparatus for fast forwarding and rewinding in a video recording device

• US 20020044762A1
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wood, Anthony, Woodward, Donald Jr., Shannon, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/68
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

A method and apparatus providing for “instant replays” and “quick skip” functionality in a media playback device. In the case of an instant replay, under user control, the media playback moves temporally backwards. In the case of quick skip, under user control, the media playback moves temporally forward. In one embodiment, the temporal movement is based on a predetermined time (e.g., move back 5 seconds, move forward 30 seconds). In another embodiment, the temporal movement is based on scene change analysis.

Claims

1. A method for playback of media comprising the steps of:

a) playing the media;

b) allowing a user to select a function, the media being played at a first location at the time the user selects the function; and

c) playing the media at a second location responsive to the user selecting the function, the second location a predetermined distance from the first location.

2. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is a temporal distance.

3. The method as recited by claim 2 wherein the predetermined temporal distance is ahead of the first location.

4. The method as recited by claim 2 wherein the predetermined temporal distance is behind the first location.

5. The method as recited by claim 2 wherein the media is video media.

6. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein the media is audio media.

7. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is user selectable.

8. A method for playback of media comprising the steps of:

a) playing the media;

b) allowing a user to select an instant replay function, the media being played at a first location at the time the user selects the instant replay function; and

c) playing the media at a second location responsive to the user selecting the instant replay function, the second location a predetermined temporal distance before the first location.

9. The method as recited by claim 8 wherein the media is video media.

10. The method as recited by claim 8 wherein the media is audio media.

11. The method as recited by claim 8 wherein the predetermined temporal distance is user selectable.

13. The method as recited by claim 12 wherein the media is video media.

14. The method as recited by claim 12 wherein the media is audio media.

15. The method as recited by claim 12 wherein the predetermined temporal distance is user selectable.

17. The method as recited by claim 16 wherein the media is video media.

18. The method as recited by claim 16 wherein the media is audio media.

19. The method as recited by claim 16 wherein the temporal movement is forward.

20. The method as recited by claim 16 wherein the temporal movement is backward.

12. A method for playback of media comprising the steps of:

a) playing the media;

b) allowing a user to select a forward function, the media being played at a first location at the time the user selects the forward function; and

c) playing the media at a second location responsive to the user selecting the forward function, the second location a predetermined temporal distance after the first location.

16. A method of playback of media comprising the steps of:

a) playing the media;

b) a user activating a temporal movement function;

c) responsive to the user activating the temporal movement function, temporally moving through the media at a first speed if the user activates the temporal movement function for a first period of time and at a second speed if the user activates the temporal movement function for a second period of time.

21. A method for playback of media comprising the steps of:

a) playing the media;

b) a user activating a temporal movement function;

c) responsive to the user activating the temporal movement function, temporally moving through the media at a first speed if the user activates the temporal movement function for a first period of time and increasing the speed of temporal movement if the user continues to activate the temporal movement function for longer than the first period of time.

22. The method as recited by claim 21 wherein the media is video media.

23. The method as recited by claim 21 wherein the media is audio media.

24. The method as recited by claim 21 wherein the temporal movement is forward.

25. The method as recited by claim 21 wherein the temporal movement is backward.

27. The method as recited by claim 26 wherein the second location is temporally ahead of the first location.

28. The method as recited by claim 26 wherein the second location is temporally behind the first location.

29. The method as recited by claim 26 wherein the media is video media.

30. The method as recited by claim 26 wherein the frames are examined for scene changes.

26. A method for playback of media comprising the steps of:

d) playing the media;

e) allowing a user to select a function, the media being played at a first location at the time the user selects the function; and

f) playing the media at a second location responsive to the user selecting the function, the second location determined based on examination of frames of the media.