Program guide system for recording television programs

• US 20020181933A1
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tv Guide Magazine Group, Inc (NTVB Media, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Knudson, Edward B., Davis, Bruce L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,748,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/45 Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.

Claims

1. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

means for selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;

means for receiving a plurality of television channels;

means for tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and

means for directing the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.

2. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for directing the video recorder to record a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.

3. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment configured to implement an interactive television program guide on user equipment, comprising:

communications circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

tuner circuitry configured to receive a plurality of television channels; and

control circuitry configured to provide a user with an opportunity to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive program guide, and (a) to tune the tuner circuitry from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program and (b) to direct a video recorder to record the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

4. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the video recorder to record a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

5. A method for using an interactive program guide system in which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;

receiving a plurality of television channels;

tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and

directing the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

6. The method defined in claim 5, further comprising directing the video recorder to record a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

7. A machine readable medium comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving television program guide information for use in an interactive television program guide;

providing a user with an opportunity to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on different channels from the interactive television program guide;

receiving a plurality of television channels;

tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and

recording the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

8. The machine readable medium defined in claim 7, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for recording a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

9. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided, comprising:

means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

means for selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on first and second television channels, respectively, wherein the first and second television channels are different;

means for tuning to the first channel at a predetermined amount of time prior to a scheduled start time of the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs; and

means for tuning from the first channel to the second channel immediately following a scheduled end time of the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

10. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 9 further comprising means for recording the first channel for the predetermined amount of time prior to the scheduled start time of the first program, the first channel during a scheduled showing time of the first program, and the second channel during a scheduled showing time of the second program.

11. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 10 further comprising means for recording the second channel for a predetermined amount of time immediately following a scheduled end time of the second program.

13. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 12 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct a video recorder to record the first channel for the predetermined amount of time prior to the scheduled start time of the first program, the first channel during a scheduled showing time of the first program, and the second channel during a scheduled showing time of the second program.

14. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 13 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the video recorder to record the second channel for a predetermined amount of time immediately following a scheduled end time of the second program.

16. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising recording the first channel for the predetermined amount of time prior to the scheduled start time of the first program, the first channel during a scheduled showing time of the first program, and the second channel during a scheduled showing time of the second program.

17. The method defined in claim 16 further comprising recording the second channel for a predetermined amount of time immediately following a scheduled end time of the second program.

19. The machine readable medium defined in claim 18, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for recording the first channel for the predetermined amount of time prior to the scheduled start time of the first program, the first channel during a scheduled showing time of the first program, and the second channel during a scheduled showing time of the second program.

20. The machine readable medium defined in claim 19, further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for recording the second channel for a predetermined amount of time immediately following a scheduled end time of the second program.

12. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment configured to implement an interactive television program guide on user equipment, comprising:

communications circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide; and

control circuitry configured to provide a user with an opportunity to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on first and second television channels, respectively, wherein the first and second television channels are different, and (a) to tune tuner circuitry to the first channel at a predetermined amount of time prior to a scheduled start time of the first program and (b) to tune the tuner circuitry from the first channel to the second channel immediately following a scheduled end time of the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

15. A method for recording television programs, comprising:

receiving television program guide information for use in an interactive television program guide;

selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on first and second television channels, respectively, wherein the first and second television channels are different;

tuning to the first channel at a predetermined amount of time prior to a scheduled start time of the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs; and

tuning from the first channel to the second channel immediately following a scheduled end time of the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

18. A machine readable medium for recording television programs comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving television program guide information for use in an interactive television program guide;

selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on first and second television channels, respectively, wherein the first and second television channels are different;

tuning to the first channel at a predetermined amount of time prior to a scheduled start time of the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs; and

tuning from the first channel to the second channel immediately following a scheduled end time of the first program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.