Program position user interface for personal video recording time shift buffer

• US 20030121055A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaminski, Dariusz S., Banker, Robert O.
• Granted Patent: US 6,744,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A system that provides information about media content stored in a storage device coupled to an interactive media services client device. In one embodiment, the system includes a memory with logic, and a processor configured with the logic to provide a symbol that represents the duration of at least one media content instance of a plurality of media content instances stored in the storage device. Preferably, the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a recorded portion in the symbol that represents the portion of the media content instance that is accessible to a user.

Claims

1. A method for providing information about media content stored in a storage device coupled to an interactive media services client device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a symbol that represents the duration of one media content instance among a plurality of media content instances stored in the storage device; and

providing a recorded portion in the symbol that represents the portion of the media content instance that is accessible to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a pointer in the symbol that represents a location within the media content instance.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pointer provides the user with an indication of what portion of the media content instance the user is viewing.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the pointer is a triangle that is colored yellow.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an inaccessible portion in the symbol that represents the inaccessible portion of the media content instance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the inaccessible portion is colored red.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a remaining portion that represents the duration of the media content instance that is remaining to be downloaded into the storage device as time advances.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the remaining portion is clear colored based on a user selected color from a user setting.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an arrow that indicates when other media content instances are stored in the storage device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the arrow points in the direction in time the user must navigate to find the other media content instances.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a status clock that provides the user with an indication of what time in the media content instance the user is viewing if the user was viewing the media content instance in real-time.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a current time clock that provides the current time.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a title for the media content instance.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a scheduled viewing time for the media content instance.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the symbol on a screen of a display device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the recorded portion is colored green.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the symbol is presented with a pause banner, wherein the pause banner is overlaid on a display of the media content instance.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the symbol for each of the plurality of media content instances stored in the storage device.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the media content in buffer space in the storage device.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the media content in non-buffer space in the storage device.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of changing the area of the recorded portion as the media content instance is downloaded to the storage device.

16. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of overlaying the symbol on the screen display of the media content instance.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of presenting the symbol in response to a command by the user, wherein the command is delivered from a remote control device.

24. A method for providing information about media content stored in a storage device coupled to an interactive media services client device, the method comprising the steps of:

representing a scheduled duration of a media content instance, among a plurality of media content instances stored in the storage device, with a symbol;

representing in the symbol what portion of the media content instance is accessible to a user with a first colored portion having an area that is proportional to the media content instance portions stored in the storage device;

representing in the symbol what portion of the media content instance is inaccessible to the user with a second colored portion that is proportional to the media content instance portions that are not stored in the storage device;

representing in the symbol what portion of the media content instance remains to be downloaded to the storage device with a third colored portion;

representing in the symbol what location in the media content instance the user is currently viewing with a pointer;

providing a current time that provides the current real-time;

providing a scheduled viewing time that provides the scheduled time of presentation for the media content instance;

providing a title of the media content instance;

providing a playback time that provides where in the scheduled viewing time the user is currently viewing the media content instance;

representing in the symbol where the user can go to find the plurality of media content instances with arrows; and

overlaying the symbol on the displayed media content instance.

25. A system for providing information about media content stored in a storage device coupled to an interactive media services client device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to provide a symbol that represents the duration of at least one media content instance of a plurality of media content instances stored in the storage device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a recorded portion in the symbol that represents the portion of the media content instance that is accessible to a user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a pointer in the symbol that represents a location within the media content instance.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the pointer provides the user with an indication of what portion of the media content instance the user is viewing.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the pointer is a triangle that is colored yellow.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide an inaccessible portion in the symbol that represents the inaccessible portion of the media content instance.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the inaccessible portion is colored red.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a remaining portion that represents the duration of the media content instance that is remaining to be downloaded into the storage device as time advances.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the remaining portion is clear colored based on a user selected color from a user setting.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide an arrow that indicates when other media content instances are stored in the storage device.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the arrow points in the direction in time the user must navigate to find the other media content instances.

35. The system of claim 25, wherein the logic is further configured to provide a status clock that provides the user with an indication of what time in the media content instance the user is viewing if the user was viewing the media content instance in real-time.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a current time clock that provides the current time.

37. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a title for the media content instance.

38. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a scheduled viewing time for the media content instance.

39. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to display the symbol on a screen of a display device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to overlay the symbol on the screen display of the media content instance.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to present the symbol in response to a command by the user, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to receive the command from a remote control device.

42. The system of claim 25, wherein the recorded portion is colored green.

43. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide the symbol with a pause banner, wherein the pause banner is overlaid on a display of the media content instance.

44. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide the symbol for each of the plurality of media content instances stored in the storage device.

45. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to store the media content in buffer space in the storage device.

46. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to store the media content in non-buffer space in the storage device.

47. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to change the area of the recorded portion as the media content instance is downloaded to the storage device.

48. A system for providing information about media content stored in a storage device coupled to an interactive media services client device, the system comprising:

a memory with logic; and

a processor configured with the logic to represent a scheduled duration of a media content instance, among a plurality of media content instances stored in the storage device, with a symbol, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to represent in the symbol what portion of the media content instance is accessible to a user with a first colored portion having an area that is proportional to the media content instance portions stored in the storage device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to represent in the symbol what portion of the media content instance is inaccessible to the user with a second colored portion that is proportional to the media content instance portions that are not stored in the storage device, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to represent in the symbol what portion of the media content instance remains to be downloaded to the storage device with a third colored portion, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to represent in the symbol what location in the media content instance the user is currently viewing with a pointer, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a current time that provides the current real-time, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a scheduled viewing time that provides the scheduled time of presentation for the media content instance, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a title of the media content instance, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide a playback time that provides where in the scheduled viewing time the user is currently viewing the media content, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to represent in the symbol where the user can go to find the plurality of media content instances with arrows, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to overlay the symbol on the displayed media content instance.

51. The display system of claim 48, wherein the pointer provides the user with an indication of what portion of the media content instance the user is viewing.

49. A media content information display system on a recordable media, the display system comprising:

logic configured to provide a symbol that represents the duration of at least one media content instance of a plurality of media content instances stored in a storage device; and

logic configured to provide a recorded portion in the symbol that represents the portion of the media content instance that is accessible to a user.

50. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide a pointer in the symbol that represents a location within the media content instance.

52. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide an inaccessible portion in the symbol that represents the inaccessible portion of the media content instance.

53. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide a remaining portion that represents the duration of the media content instance that is remaining to be downloaded into the storage device as time advances.

54. The display system of claim 49, wherein the processor is further configured with the logic to provide an arrow that indicates when other media content instances are stored in the storage device.

55. The display system of claim 54, wherein the arrow points in the direction the user must navigate to find the other media content instances.

56. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide a status clock that provides the user with an indication of what time in the media content instance the user is viewing if the user was viewing the media content instance in real-time.

57. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide a current time clock that provides the current time.

58. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide a title for the media content instance.

59. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide a scheduled viewing time for the media content instance.

60. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to display the symbol on a screen of a display device.

61. The display system of claim 60, wherein the logic is further configured to overlay the symbol on the screen display of the media content instance.

62. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to present the symbol in response to a command by the user, wherein the logic is further configured to receive the command from a remote control device.

63. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide the symbol with a pause banner, wherein the pause banner is overlaid on a display of the media content instance.

64. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to provide the symbol for each of a plurality of media content instances stored in the storage device.

65. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to store the media content in buffer space in the storage device.

66. The display system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to store the media content in non-buffer space in the storage device.

67. The system of claim 49, wherein the logic is further configured to change the area of the recorded portion as the media content instance is downloaded to the storage device.