Systems and methods for providing continuous recording of repeating programming
First Claim
1. In a video recording system that is associated with a television on which television programming can be displayed and includes a recording medium for preserving video data that represents a repeating television program, a method for enabling a viewer to immediately view a recently broadcast version of the repeating television program, comprising the steps for:
- at the video recording system, continually recording immediately successive versions of a repeating television program, such that a recently broadcast complete version and any partial amount of a current version are stored on the recording medium;
receiving input from a viewer requesting access to data preserved on the recording medium that represents said repeating television program; and
in response to said viewer input, initiating playback and display on the television of said repeating television program, such that the viewer can view said repeating television program without having to wait until a start time of a next version of said repeating television program.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for continuously and selectively recording a repeating program to provide a viewer instant access to a recent version of the repeating program without having to wait until the next start time, and to allow the viewer to only view the specific segments of the repeating program that the viewer desires to watch. Programming information used to control the recording of the repeating programs is obtained from an electronic programming guide (“EPG”). Alternatively, the programming information, such as information relating to emergency warnings, is not scheduled and thus is not included in a programming guide. Repeating programs may be divided into segments and an overlay may be used to allow a viewer to quickly and easily view a segment of interest. The recording can be performed by home entertainment systems that include one tuner or systems that include multiple tuners. When a plurality of tuners are available, a viewer may use one tuner to watch or record programming, while at the same time the other tuners may be used to perform the continuous recording of repeating programs.
28 Citations
28 Claims
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1. In a video recording system that is associated with a television on which television programming can be displayed and includes a recording medium for preserving video data that represents a repeating television program, a method for enabling a viewer to immediately view a recently broadcast version of the repeating television program, comprising the steps for:
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at the video recording system, continually recording immediately successive versions of a repeating television program, such that a recently broadcast complete version and any partial amount of a current version are stored on the recording medium;
receiving input from a viewer requesting access to data preserved on the recording medium that represents said repeating television program; and
in response to said viewer input, initiating playback and display on the television of said repeating television program, such that the viewer can view said repeating television program without having to wait until a start time of a next version of said repeating television program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a recording system that includes a tuner for receiving television programming and a recording medium for recording data associated with the television programming, wherein the data includes video and audio components, and wherein the television programming includes a repeating program, a method for recording the repeating program so as to provide a viewer instant access to the repeating program, the method comprising the acts of:
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determining whether the tuner is in an otherwise idle state;
if the tuner is in an otherwise idle state, performing the acts of;
identifying a start time of a first repeating program and a second repeating program;
alternating a recording of said first repeating program and said second repeating program on the recording medium;
receiving input from a viewer requesting access to one of said first repeating program and said second repeating program; and
in response to said viewer input, initiating playback and display of a recent broadcast version of one of said first repeating program and said second repeating program on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19)
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17. A recording system for association with a home entertainment system that may be implemented to continuously record a repeating television program, the recording system comprising:
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a recorder for continually recording video data that represents immediately successive versions of the repeating television program;
a receiver coupled to said recorder, wherein said receiver receives a signal that carries television programming, and wherein said television programming includes the repeating television program;
a tuner coupled to said recorder for tuning to a channel of said signal when said tuner is in an otherwise idle state, wherein said channel corresponds to the repeating television program;
a recording medium coupled to said recorder, wherein said recording medium preserves said video data, and wherein said video data is accessible by a viewer for display on a display device without the viewer having to wait until a start time of a next version of said repeating program.
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20. A computer program product for implementing within a home entertainment system a method for recording a repeating program so as to provide a viewer instant access to the repeating program, wherein the computer system includes a client and a plurality of servers, the computer program product comprising:
a computer readable medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means is comprised of executable code for implementing the steps for;
determining whether a tuner of the home entertainment system is in an otherwise idle state;
if the tuner is in an otherwise idle state, recording one or more successive versions of said repeating program;
receiving input from a viewer requesting access to said repeating program; and
in response to said viewer input, initiating playback and display of a recent broadcast version of said repeating program on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Specification