Smart card digital video recorder system

• US 20030026589A1
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramsay, Mike, Barton, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/46
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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 21/418 External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
• 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 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals

Abstract

A smart card digital video recorder system provides a smartcard containing a processor and persistent storage device storing a plurality of digital streams and is inserted into an authorized receiving device or a docking station. The invention allows a receiving device to select a specific digital stream from the persistent storage device which is output to the receiving device and displayed to a user. User control commands are accepted via the receiving device and sent through the smartcard system and allow the user to view and listen to stored digital streams with at least the following functions: variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, index, pause, variable rate reverse play, variable rate play, and play. The smartcard receives analog signals and digital video signals from the receiving device and converts them into digital streams which are stored on the persistent storage device. Another embodiment of the invention provides a plurality of input signal tuners on the smartcard that accept analog and digital television broadcast signals which are converted into digital streams and stored on the persistent storage device. An electronic program guide is also stored on the persistent storage device which the smartcard delivers portions of to the receiving device upon request from the receiving device.

Claims

1. A process for a smartcard-based digital video recorder (DVR), comprising the steps of:

providing a smartcard;

providing a persistent storage device on said smartcard;

providing a processor on said smartcard;

wherein said smartcard is inserted into a receiving device;

providing a plurality of digital streams stored on said persistent storage device;

wherein said receiving device selects a specific digital stream;

outputting said specific digital stream to said receiving device from said persistent storage device; and

wherein said receiving device displays said specific digital stream to a user.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving analog signals from said receiving device;

converting analog signals into a digital stream; and

storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving digital video signals from said receiving device;

converting digital video signals into a digital stream; and

storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of input signal tuners on said smartcard;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

converting digital signals or digital television broadcast signals into a digital stream; and

storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein said smartcard will only operate with an authorized receiving device.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an electronic program guide on said persistent storage device; and

wherein said smartcard delivers portions of said electronic program guide to said receiving device upon request from said receiving device.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a docking station;

wherein said docking station comprises a plurality of smartcard slots;

wherein a user inserts a first smartcard and a second smart card into said smartcard slots; and

wherein said docking station allows a user to transfer data from said first smartcard to said second smartcard.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein said first smartcard and said second smartcard authenticate each other, and wherein if said first smartcard and said second smartcard validly authenticate each other, then said first smartcard and said second smartcard allow the data transfer to occur.

9. The process of claim 7, wherein said docking station allows a user to select specific data on said first smartcard to transfer to said second smartcard.

10. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a docking station;

wherein said docking station comprises at least one smartcard slot;

wherein a user inserts a smartcard into a smartcard slot; and

wherein said docking station allows a user to transfer data from said docking station to said smartcard.

11. The process of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user via said receiving device.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the user controls a delivery rate and direction of said outputting step to perform any of:

variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, index, pause, variable rate reverse play, variable rate play, and play functions on said specific digital stream.

13. An apparatus for a smartcard-based digital video recorder (DVR), comprising:

a smartcard;

a persistent storage device on said smartcard;

a processor on said smartcard;

wherein said smartcard is inserted into a receiving device;

a plurality of digital streams stored on said persistent storage device;

wherein said receiving device selects a specific digital stream;

a module for outputting said specific digital stream to said receiving device from said persistent storage device; and

wherein said receiving device displays said specific digital stream to a user.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a module for receiving analog signals from said receiving device;

a module for converting analog signals into a digital stream; and

a module for storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a module for receiving digital video signals from said receiving device;

a module for converting digital video signals into a digital stream; and

a module for storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners on said smartcard;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

a module for converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

a module for converting digital signals or digital television broadcast signals into a digital stream; and

a module for storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said smartcard will only operate with an authorized receiving device.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an electronic program guide on said persistent storage device; and

wherein said smartcard delivers portions of said electronic program guide to said receiving device upon request from said receiving device.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a docking station;

wherein said docking station comprises a plurality of smartcard slots;

wherein a user inserts a first smartcard and a second smart card into said smartcard slots; and

wherein said docking station allows a user to transfer data from said first smartcard to said second smartcard.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first smartcard and said second smartcard authenticate each other, and wherein if said first smartcard and said second smartcard validly authenticate each other, then said first smartcard and said second smartcard allow the data transfer to occur.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said docking station allows a user to select specific data on said first smartcard to transfer to said second smartcard.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a docking station;

wherein said docking station comprises at least one smartcard slot;

wherein a user inserts a smartcard into a smartcard slot; and

wherein said docking station allows a user to transfer data from said docking station to said smartcard.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user via said receiving device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the user controls a delivery rate and direction of said outputting module to perform any of:

variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, index, pause, variable rate reverse play, variable rate play, and play functions on said specific digital stream.

25. A process for a smartcard-based digital video recorder (DVR), comprising the steps of:

providing a smartcard;

providing a persistent storage device on said smartcard;

providing a processor on said smartcard;

wherein said smartcard is connected to a receiving device via USB or Firewire;

providing a plurality of digital streams stored on said persistent storage device;

wherein said receiving device selects a specific digital stream;

outputting said specific digital stream to said receiving device from said persistent storage device; and

wherein said receiving device displays said specific digital stream to a user.

26. The process of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

receiving analog signals from said receiving device;

converting analog signals into a digital stream; and

storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

27. The process of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

receiving digital video signals from said receiving device;

converting digital video signals into a digital stream; and

storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

28. The process of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of input signal tuners on said smartcard;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

converting digital signals or digital television broadcast signals into a digital stream; and

storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

29. The process of claim 25, wherein said smartcard will only operate with an authorized receiving device.

30. The process of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

providing an electronic program guide on said persistent storage device; and

wherein said smartcard delivers portions of said electronic program guide to said receiving device upon request from said receiving device.

31. The process of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

providing a docking station;

wherein said docking station comprises a plurality of smartcard slots;

wherein a user inserts a first smartcard and a second smart card into said smartcard slots; and

wherein said docking station allows a user to transfer data from said first smartcard to said second smartcard.

32. The process of claim 31, wherein said first smartcard and said second smartcard authenticate each other, and wherein if said first smartcard and said second smartcard validly authenticate each other, then said first smartcard and said second smartcard allow the data transfer to occur.

33. The process of claim 31, wherein said docking station allows a user to select specific data on said first smartcard to transfer to said second smartcard.

34. The process of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

providing a docking station;

wherein said docking station comprises at least one smartcard slot;

wherein a user inserts a smartcard into a smartcard slot; and

wherein said docking station allows a user to transfer data from said docking station to said smartcard.

35. The process of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

accepting control commands from a user via said receiving device.

36. The process of claim 35, wherein the user controls a delivery rate and direction of said outputting step to perform any of:

variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, index, pause, variable rate reverse play, variable rate play, and play functions on said specific digital stream.

37. An apparatus for a smartcard-based digital video recorder (DVR), comprising:

a smartcard;

a persistent storage device on said smartcard;

a processor on said smartcard;

wherein said smartcard is connected to a receiving device via USB or Firewire;

a plurality of digital streams stored on said persistent storage device;

wherein said receiving device selects a specific digital stream;

a module for outputting said specific digital stream to said receiving device from said persistent storage device; and

wherein said receiving device displays said specific digital stream to a user.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a module for receiving analog signals from said receiving device;

a module for converting analog signals into a digital stream; and

a module for storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a module for receiving digital video signals from said receiving device;

a module for converting digital video signals into a digital stream; and

a module for storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners on said smartcard;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

wherein each of said tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal;

a module for converting analog television broadcast signals into a digital signal;

a module for converting digital signals or digital television broadcast signals into a digital stream; and

a module for storing said digital stream on said persistent storage device.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said smartcard will only operate with an authorized receiving device.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

an electronic program guide on said persistent storage device; and

wherein said smartcard delivers portions of said electronic program guide to said receiving device upon request from said receiving device.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a docking station;

wherein said docking station comprises a plurality of smartcard slots;

wherein a user inserts a first smartcard and a second smart card into said smartcard slots; and

wherein said docking station allows a user to transfer data from said first smartcard to said second smartcard.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said first smartcard and said second smartcard authenticate each other, and wherein if said first smartcard and said second smartcard validly authenticate each other, then said first smartcard and said second smartcard allow the data transfer to occur.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said docking station allows a user to select specific data on said first smartcard to transfer to said second smartcard.

46. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a docking station;

wherein said docking station comprises at least one smartcard slot;

wherein a user inserts a smartcard into a smartcard slot; and

wherein said docking station allows a user to transfer data from said docking station to said smartcard.

47. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a module for accepting control commands from a user via said receiving device.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the user controls a delivery rate and direction of said outputting module to perform any of:

variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, index, pause, variable rate reverse play, variable rate play, and play functions on said specific digital stream.