Managing time shift buffers

• US 20020199185A1
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Banker, Robert O., Rodriguez, Arturo A., Kaminski, Dariusz S., Gutknecht, Valerie G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/47214 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for managing a time-shift buffer (TSB) that is used for buffering video presentations. One such method includes receiving user input identifying a storage capacity for the TSB and modifying a storage capacity of the TSB such that it is at least substantially equal to the storage capacity identified by the user input.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to buffered data, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying whether access is to be provided after a future change in a displayed television channel to a buffered video presentation that is buffered before the future change in the displayed television channel;

providing the access responsive to the user input specifying that the access is to be provided; and

preventing the access responsive to the user input specifying that the access is not to be provided.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the access is provided via a rewind operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the access is provided via a user interface screen containing a list of buffered video presentations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffered video presentation is buffered in a time-shift buffer (TSB).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video st ream that is received via a subscriber television network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received from a local device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input identifies an option that is provided via a user interface screen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the access is provided only if the displayed television channel had been designated as a favorite television channel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the access is provided only if the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video presentation that had been designated as a favorite video presentation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is provided via a certain remote control key.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user input is received within a short time interval prior to receiving a request for the change in the displayed television channel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein operation of the certain remote control key may be enabled in response to the selection of a certain option via a user interface screen.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the modifying step includes assigning additional storage capacity to the TSB.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the modifying step includes removing storage capacity from the TSB.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

managing a storage capacity of the TSB such that it is not substantially different from the storage capacity identified by user input.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

managing the TSB such that it does not contain an amount of data that substantially exceeds the storage capacity identified by the user input.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk.

14. A method for determining a size of a time-shift buffer (TSB) that is used for buffering video presentations, the method comprising:

receiving user input identifying a storage capacity for the TSB; and

modifying a storage capacity of the TSB such that it is substantially equal to the storage capacity identified by the user input.

20. A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) comprising:

a time-shift buffer (TSB); and

a processor that is programmed to modify a storage capacity of the TSB such that it is substantially equal to the storage capacity identified by a user input.

21. The DHCT of claim 20, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

manage a storage capacity of the TSB such that it is not substantially different from the storage capacity identified by user input.

22. The DHCT of claim 20, wherein the processor is further programmed to:

manage the TSB such that it does not contain an amount of data that substantially exceeds the storage capacity identified by the user input.

23. The DHCT of claim 20, wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk.

25. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the access is provided via a rewind operation.

26. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the access is provided via a user interface screen containing a list of buffered video presentations.

27. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk.

28. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received via a subscriber television network.

29. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received from a local device.

30. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the user input identifies an option that is provided via a user interface screen.

31. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the access is provided only if the displayed television channel had been designated as a favorite television channel.

32. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the access is provided only if the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video presentation that had been designated as a favorite video presentation.

33. The DHCT of claim 24, wherein the user input is provided via a certain remote control key.

34. The DHCT of claim 33, wherein the user input is received within a short time interval prior to receiving a request for the change in the displayed television channel.

35. The DHCT of claim 33, wherein operation of the certain remote control key may be enabled in response to the selection of a certain option via a user interface screen.

24. A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) that is configured to receive user input specifying whether access is to be provided after a future change in a displayed television channel to a buffered video presentation that is buffered before the future change in the displayed television channel, the DHCT comprising:

a time-shift buffer (TSB) for buffering the buffered video presentation; and

a processor that is programmed to;

provide the access to the buffered video presentation responsive to the user input specifying that the access is to be provided; and

prevent the access to the buffered video presentation responsive to the user input specifying that the access is not to be provided.

36. A method for determining a size of a time-shift buffer (TSB) that is used for buffering video presentations, the method comprising:

receiving user input identifying a storage capacity for the TSB;

modifying a storage capacity of the TSB such that is substantially equal to the storage capacity identified by the user input;

assigning additional storage capacity to the TSB;

managing the TSB such that it does not contain an amount of data that substantially exceeds the storage capacity identified by the user input; and

wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk.

37. A method for providing access to buffered data, the method comprising:

receiving user input specifying whether access is to be provided after a future change in a displayed television channel to a buffered video presentation that is buffered before the future change in the displayed television channel;

providing the access responsive to the user input specifying that the access is to be provided;

preventing the access responsive to the user input specifying that the access is not to be provided;

wherein the access is provided via a rewind operation;

wherein the buffered video presentation is buffered in a time-shift buffer (TSB);

wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk;

wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received via a subscriber television network; and

wherein the user input identifies an option that is provided via a user interface screen.