Digital video recorder system with an integrated DVD recording device

• US 20040013406A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M., Goodman, Andrew Martin, Moskowitz, Alan, Vannier, Eric, Otala, Tapani
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/69
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• 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 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• 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 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: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• 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 21/42204 : 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 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42615 : involving specific demultiplexing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 : involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 : of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/4341 : Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 : by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 21/4884 : for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 : involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• 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 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8081 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A digital video recorder (DVR) system with an integrated DVD recording device accepts TV input streams in a multitude of forms. Analog TV streams are converted to an MPEG formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation, while pre-formatted MPEG streams are extracted from the digital TV signal and presented in a similar format. Indexes within the MPEG stream are determined and saved at predefined intervals and are stored on a hard disk along with the MPEG program material and used to create navigation packets when writing to a DVD inserted in an integrated DVD player/recorder. When a program is requested for display from the hard disk or the integrated DVD player/recorder, the program material are extracted from the appropriate source and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV monitor. User control commands are accepted which affect the flow of the MPEG stream allowing the user to view stored programs with special functions: reverse, fast forward, play, pause, index, fast/slow reverse play, and fast/slow play. The user can select program material stored on the hard disk to be written to a DVD and can also select program material stored on a DVD to be transferred to the hard disk.

Claims

1. A process for a digital video recorder (DVR) incorporating an integrated digital video device (DVD) player/recorder, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of input signal tuners in said DVR;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

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

providing a hard disk in said DVR;

storing specific broadcast signals as digital program material on said hard disk;

providing a DVD player/recorder in said DVR;

determining indexes at predetermined intervals for a broadcast signal as the broadcast signal is being stored as digital program material; and

storing said indexes along with the digital program material on said hard disk.

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

receiving a user selection of one or more program material stored on said hard disk to be transferred to said DVD player/recorder; and

writing said one or more selected program material onto a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder.

3. The process of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

retrieving indexes associated with said one or more selected program material; and

wherein said retrieved indexes are used by said writing step to establish navigation packets on said inserted DVD.

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

receiving a user selection of one or more program material stored on a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder to be transferred to said hard disk; and

transferring said one or more selected program material from the inserted DVD onto said hard disk.

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

providing at least one output device;

wherein said at least one output device extracts a specific program material from said hard disk or from a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder;

decoding said extracted specific program material into a television output signal; and

sending said television output signal to a television monitor.

6. The process of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user selection of a program material stored on a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder to be played; and

playing said selected program material from the inserted DVD.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein said playing step directs an output device to extract said selected program material from the inserted DVD.

8. The process of claim 6, wherein said playing step directs an output device to extract said selected program material from the inserted DVD and cache a predetermined amount of said selected program material on said hard disk, and wherein said output device directs said decoding step to decode said cached program material from said hard drive.

9. The process of claim 5, wherein the user selects a specific program material to be extracted and decoded from said hard disk or from a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder.

10. The process of claim 5, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding step to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

13. The process of claim 1, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

14. The process of claim 2, wherein said writing step places a serial number or encoded key specific to the DVR on said inserted DVD.

15. The process of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

providing a registration server;

wherein a user registers DVRs that he owns on said registration server;

wherein said registration server creates a list of DVRs owned by a specific user; and

distributing said list to DVRs on said list.

16. The process of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

validating a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder;

wherein said validating step extracts a serial number or encoded key from the inserted DVD;

wherein said validating step compares said extracted serial number or encoded key with said list; and

wherein said validating step allows the inserted DVD to be read if said extracted serial number or encoded key is on said list.

17. An apparatus for a digital video recorder (DVR) incorporating an integrated digital video device (DVD) player/recorder, comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners in said DVR;

wherein said tuners accept analog and digital television broadcast signals;

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

a hard disk in said DVR;

a module for storing specific broadcast signals as digital program material on said hard disk;

a DVD player/recorder in said DVR;

a module for determining indexes at predetermined intervals for a broadcast signal as the broadcast signal is being stored as digital program material; and

a module for storing said indexes along with the digital program material on said hard disk.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a module for receiving a user selection of one or more program material stored on said hard disk to be transferred to said DVD player/recorder; and

writing said one or more selected program material onto a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a module for retrieving indexes associated with said one or more selected program material; and

wherein said retrieved indexes are used by said writing module to establish navigation packets on said inserted DVD.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a module for receiving a user selection of one or more program material stored on a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder to be transferred to said hard disk; and

a module for transferring said one or more selected program material from the inserted DVD onto said hard disk.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one output device;

wherein said at least one output device extracts a specific program material from said hard disk or from a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder;

a module for decoding said extracted specific program material into a television output signal; and

a module for sending said television output signal to a television monitor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a module for receiving user selection of a program material stored on a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder to be played; and

a module for playing said selected program material from the inserted DVD.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said playing module directs an output device to extract said selected program material from the inserted DVD.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said playing module directs an output device to extract said selected program material from the inserted DVD and cache a predetermined amount of said selected program material on said hard disk, and wherein said output device directs said decoding module to decode said cached program material from said hard drive.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the user selects a specific program material to be extracted and decoded from said hard disk or from a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the user controls the decoding rate and direction of said decoding module to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions on said television output signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the user selects an individual tuner and the specific broadcast signal for said individual tuner.

28. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on the current date and time.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the specific broadcast signal for an individual tuner is selected automatically based on a particular word or phrase in said broadcast signal.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said writing module places a serial number or encoded key specific to the DVR on said inserted DVD.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

a registration server;

wherein a user registers DVRs that he owns on said registration server;

wherein said registration server creates a list of DVRs owned by a specific user; and

a module for distributing said list to DVRs on said list.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

a module for validating a DVD inserted into said DVD player/recorder;

wherein said validating module extracts a serial number or encoded key from the inserted DVD;

wherein said validating module compares said extracted serial number or encoded key with said list; and

wherein said validating module allows the inserted DVD to be read if said extracted serial number or encoded key is on said list.