Conflict Manager for a Video Recorder

• US 20030198462A1
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aptiv Digital Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Krakirian, Haig H., Bumgardner, Jim
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/289
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4335 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4424 Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4882 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 5/76 : 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 5/782 : on tape

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a conflict manager for a personal video recorder. An embodiment of the present invention includes a set-top box having an internal hard drive or other storage device where broadcasts are transferred to the storage device. The set-top box is connected to an output device such as a television, which displays a graphical user interface (GUI) and an interactive program guide (IPG). The IPG displays a list of broadcasts that are available by tuning to different channels. The GUI allows the user to navigate the IPG, for instance, by viewing different times and dates for broadcasts. The GUI also allows the user to activate a video recorder within the set-top box, by navigating the IPG and selecting broadcasts to later transfer to the storage device. The user may select multiple broadcasts to transfer, may repeatedly transfer the same program, or may repeatedly transfer the same program in a series. When a conflict arises the present invention is configured to automatically or manually resolve the conflict.

Claims

1. A video recorder comprising:

an input mechanism configured to receive a broadcast signal;

a storage device configured to store said broadcast signal;

an output mechanism configured to display said broadcast signal by obtaining said broadcast signal from said storage device;

a transfer mechanism configured to obtain a portion of said broadcast signal at an appropriate time and to transfer said portion of said broadcast signal to said storage device based on a user input; and

a conflict manager configured to determine in advance when said transfer mechanism will be unable to obtain said portion of said broadcast signal and to perform a conflict resolution process in response.

2. The video recorder of claim 1 wherein said conflict manager determines when said transfer mechanism will be unable to obtain said portion of said broadcast signal by examining a first number of tuners used by said transfer mechanism, examining a second number of shows that make up said portion of said broadcast signal, and determining if said first number is smaller than said second number.

3. The video recorder of claim 2 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises establishing a priority for one or more of said shows and instructing said transfer mechanism to transfer to said storage device as many of said shows as possible which have a highest priority.

4. The video recorder of claim 3 wherein said priorities are established by determining if one of said shows is currently being transferred to said storage device and setting said one of said shows to said highest priority.

5. The video recorder of claim 3 wherein said priorities are established by determining if one of said shows is scheduled for a manual transfer and setting said one of said shows to said highest priority, if a remainder of said shows are set for an automatic transfer.

6. The video recorder of claim 3 wherein said priorities are established by determining if a first and a second of said shows is a series and examining a series queue wherein a location of said first and said second of said shows determines said highest priority.

7. The video recorder of claim 3 wherein said priorities are established by determining if one of said shows is a longer show and setting said one of said shows to said highest priority.

8. The video recorder of claim 2 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises determining if one of said shows is available for transfer to said storage device at a later time and not transferring said one of said shows to said storage device currently.

9. The video recorder of claim 8 wherein it is determined if said one of said shows is available for transfer at a later time by examining an interactive program guide (IPG), searching through said IPG to match a title of said one of said shows to a title of another instance of said show later in said IPG.

10. The video recorder of claim 1 wherein said user input instructs said transfer mechanism to repeatedly transfer one or more shows in one or more series.

11. The video recorder of claim 10 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises determining if there is a conflict between a first and a second series and bumping one of said series having a lower priority.

12. The video recorder of claim 10 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises determining if one of said shows in one of said series is available for transfer at a later time and not transferring said one of said shows currently.

13. The video recorder of claim 10 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises determining if one of said shows in one of said series is a repeat and not transferring said one of said shows currently.

14. A method for transferring a broadcast signal to a storage device comprising:

receiving said broadcast signal;

storing said broadcast signal in a storage device;

displaying said broadcast signal by accessing said storage device;

transferring said broadcast signal by obtaining a portion of said broadcast signal from said storage device at an appropriate time based on a user input; and

managing conflicts by determining in advance when it will not be possible to obtain said portion of said broadcast signal and performing a conflict resolution process in response.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of managing conflicts further comprises:

examining a first number of tuners;

examining a second number of shows that make up said portion of said broadcast signal; and

determining if said first number is smaller than said second number.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises:

establishing a priority for one or more of said shows; and

transferring as many of said shows as possible which have a highest priority.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of establishing further comprises:

determining if one of said shows is currently being transferred to said storage device; and

setting said one of said shows to said highest priority.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of establishing further comprises:

determining if one of said shows is scheduled for a manual transfer; and

setting said one of said one of said shows to said highest priority, if a remainder of said shows are set for an automatic transfer.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of establishing further comprises:

determining if a first and a second of said shows is a series; and

examining a series queue wherein a location of said first and said second of said shows determines said highest priority.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of establishing further comprises:

determining if one of said shows is a longer show; and

setting said one of said shows to said highest priority.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of establishing further comprises:

determining if one of said shows is available for transfer at a later time; and

not transferring said one of said shows currently.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said step of determining further comprises:

examining an interactive program guide (IPG); and

searching through said IPG to match a title of said one of said shows to a title of another instance of said show later in said IPG.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein said user input comprises:

giving an instruction to repeatedly transfer one or more shows in one or more series to said storage device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises:

determining if there is a conflict between a first and a second series; and

bumping one of said series having a lower priority.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises:

determining if one of said shows in one of said series is available for transferring at a later time; and

not transferring said one of said shows currently.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises:

determining if one of said shows in one of said series is a repeat; and

not transferring said one of said shows currently.

27. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein comprising;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to receive a broadcast signal;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store said broadcast signal in a storage device;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to display said broadcast signal by accessing said storage device;

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to transfer said broadcast signal by obtaining a portion of said broadcast signal from said storage device at an appropriate time based on a user input; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to manage conflicts by determining in advance when it will not be possible to obtain said portion of said broadcast signal and performing a conflict resolution process in response.

28. The computer program product of claim 27 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to manage conflicts further comprises:

examining a first number of tuners;

examining a second number of shows that make up said portion of said broadcast signal, and

determining if said first number is smaller than said second number.

29. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to establish a priority for one or more of said shows; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to transfer as many of said shows as possible which have a highest priority.

30. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to establish further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if one of said shows is currently being transferred to said storage device; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to set said one of said shows to said highest priority.

31. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to establish further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if one of said shows is scheduled for a manual transfer; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to set said one of said one of said shows to said highest priority, if a remainder of said shows are set for an automatic transfer.

32. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein said computer-readable program code configured to cause a computer to establish further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if a first and a second of said shows is a series; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to examine a series queue wherein a location of said first and said second of said shows determines said highest priority.

33. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to establish further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if one of said shows is a longer show; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to set said one of said shows to said highest priority.

34. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to establish further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if one of said shows is available for transfer at a later time; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to not transfer said one of said shows currently.

35. The computer program product of claim 29 wherein said computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to examine an interactive program guide (IPG); and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to search through said IPG to match a title of said one of said shows to a title of another instance of said show later in said IPG.

36. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein said user input comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to give an instruction to repeatedly transfer one or more shows in one or more series to said storage device.

37. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if there is a conflict between a first and a second series; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to bump one of said series having a lower priority.

38. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if one of said shows in one of said series is available for transferring at a later time; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to not transfer said one of said shows currently.

39. The computer program product of claim 36 wherein said conflict resolution process further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to determine if one of said shows in one of said series is a repeat; and

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to not transferring said one of said shows currently.

40. The computer program product of claim 29 further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to obtain one or more bumped shows that were not transferred to said storage device;

computer readable program code configured to place said bumped shows in a list;

computer readable program code configured to receive additional portions from a program guide;

computer readable program code configured to compare said bumped shows in said list to said additional portions; and

computer readable program code configured to transfer said bumped shows to said storage device, if said bumped shows reside in said additional portions.