Digital video recording and playback system for television
First Claim
1. A method for automatically retrieving electronic data transmitted over a transmission connection in communication with a data source, manipulating said electronic data according to data type, and then displaying said data on a television monitor by a viewer, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting the electronic data to be retrieved by inputting necessary instructional parameters to a user interface, using a conventional input device, in order to identify the source containing the data to be retrieved and to specifically describe the data to be retrieved;
retrieving the electronic data from the data source, such data being transmitted over the transmission connection to a set-top box in communication with the television monitor;
manipulating said electronic data within the set-top box according to data type and viewer preferences; and
displaying the data on the television monitor at a time specified by the viewer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and apparatus for digitally recording and playing back videos from either an Internet website or a TV broadcast or cablecast is disclosed herein. The system comprises a set-top box, along with the necessary cables and remote control units, that connects between a television set and an Internet hook-up and allows a viewer to digitally record TV shows and/or download video from the Internet and store said video on the set-top box'"'"'s hard drive for later viewing (using video encoding technology). In addition to the recording and playback capabilities, the disclosed system allows the viewer to pause, rewind, slo-mo, and instant replay live television without videotapes or VCR programming.
188 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automatically retrieving electronic data transmitted over a transmission connection in communication with a data source, manipulating said electronic data according to data type, and then displaying said data on a television monitor by a viewer, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting the electronic data to be retrieved by inputting necessary instructional parameters to a user interface, using a conventional input device, in order to identify the source containing the data to be retrieved and to specifically describe the data to be retrieved;
retrieving the electronic data from the data source, such data being transmitted over the transmission connection to a set-top box in communication with the television monitor;
manipulating said electronic data within the set-top box according to data type and viewer preferences; and
displaying the data on the television monitor at a time specified by the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for automatically retrieving into a set-top box, such set-top box comprising electronic data signal processors, digital data transmitted over a transmission connection in communication with an Internet source server, manipulating said digital data within said set-top box according to viewer preferences, converting said digital data to analog data, and then displaying said analog data on a conventional television monitor by a viewer, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting the digital data to be retrieved by inputting necessary instructional parameters to a user interface, using a conventional input device, in order to identify the Internet source server containing the digital data to be retrieved and to specifically describe the digital data to be retrieved;
retrieving the digital data from the Internet source server, such digital data being transmitted over the transmission connection to the set-top box in communication with the conventional television monitor;
manipulating said digital data through a digital-to-analog converter within the set-top box according to viewer preferences; and
displaying the analog data on the television monitor at a time specified by the viewer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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14. An apparatus for automatically receiving electronic data transmitted over a transmission connection from a source server and manipulating said electronic data for display on a conventional television monitor, comprising:
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a generally rectangular housing defined by six generally planar sides, one side being referred to as the front panel and the opposite panel being referred to as the back panel;
a video processor and an audio processor, such processors being located within the housing such that said video processor and said audio processor are in connection with external ports on the back panel of the housing;
a video encoder/decoder and an audio encoder/decoder located within the housing in proximity to and in communication with the respective video and audio processors;
a video signal synthesizer and an audio signal synthesizer located within the housing in proximity to and in communication with the respective video and audio encoder/decoders;
a video controller and an audio controller, such controllers being located within the housing such that said video controller and said audio controller are in proximity to and in communication with the respective video and audio synthesizers;
a video/audio synchronizer located within the housing in proximity to and in communication with the video and audio controllers;
a data microprocessor located within the housing in communication with said processors, said encoder/decoders, said synthesizers, said controllers, and said synchronizer;
a system controller located within the housing in communication with the data microprocessor;
a data multiplexer/demultiplexer located within the housing and in communication with the system controller;
a transmission connection in communication between the video/audio synchronizer and an output display device;
a digital-to-analog processor and an analog-to-digital processor located within the housing in proximity to and in communication with the video and audio processors and the video and audio controllers; and
a digital data storage medium located within the housing and in communication with the data processors.
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Specification