Program guide system for recording television programs

• US 20040019902A1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Knudson, Edward B., Davis, Bruce L.
• Application Number:
  US10/627,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019902A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/45 Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.

Claims

1. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

means for determining whether the video recorder and television are a combined unit;

means for selecting a program for recording from the interactive television program guide; and

means for displaying a message prior to recording the selected program when the video recorder and television are a combined unit that informs the user that recording is to begin and asks the user whether to continue with recording.

2. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for cancelling the recording of the selected program when the user chooses to not continue with recording in response to the message.

3. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of television channels; and

means for tuning to the channel for the selected program and directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the user chooses to continue with recording in response to the message.

4. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 3 further comprising means for recording the selected program without directing the video recorder to turn on when the user chooses to continue with recording in response to the message.

5. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of television channels;

means for tuning to the channel for the selected program, turning on the video recorder, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the user does not respond to the message.

6. A method for using an interactive program guide system using user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

determining whether the video recorder and television are a combined unit;

selecting a program for recording from the interactive television program guide; and

displaying a message prior to recording the selected program when the video recorder and television are a combined unit that informs the user that recording is to begin and asks the user whether to continue with recording.

7. The method defined in claim 6 further comprising cancelling the recording of the selected program when the user chooses to not continue with recording in response to the message.

8. The method defined in claim 6 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of television channels; and

tuning to the channel for the selected program and directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the user chooses to continue with recording in response to the message.

9. The method defined in claim 8 further comprising recording the selected program without directing the video recorder to turn on when the user chooses to continue with recording in response to the message.

10. The method defined in claim 6 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of television channels; and

tuning to the channel for the selected program, turning on the video recorder, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the user does not respond to the message.

11. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

communications circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;

control circuitry configured to determine whether the video recorder and the television are a combined unit and to allow the user to select a program for recording from the interactive television program guide; and

display circuitry configured to display a message prior to recording the selected program when the video recorder and television are a combined unit that informs the user that recording is to begin and asks the user whether to continue with recording.

12. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 11 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to cancel the recording of the selected program when the user chooses to not continue with recording in response to the message.

13. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 11 further comprising tuner circuitry configured to receive a plurality of television channels, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the tuner circuitry to tune to the channel for the selected program and direct the video recorder to record the selected program when the user chooses to continue with recording in response to the message.

14. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 13 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the video recorder to record the selected program without directing the video recorder to turn on when the user chooses to continue with recording in response to the message.

15. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 11 further comprising tuner circuitry configured to receive a plurality of television channels, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the tuner circuitry to tune to the channel for the selected program, directs the video recorder to turn on, and direct the video recorder to record the selected program when the user does not respond to the message.

16. A machine-readable medium for implementing an interactive television program guide comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:

receiving television program guide information for use in an interactive television program guide;

determining whether a video recorder and a television are a combined unit;

providing a user with an opportunity to select a program for recording from the interactive television program guide; and

displaying a message prior to recording the selected program when the video recorder and television are a combined unit that informs the user that recording is to begin and asks the user whether to continue with recording.

17. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 16 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for cancelling the recording of the selected program when the user chooses to not continue with recording in response to the message.

18. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 16 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for directing tuning circuitry to tune to a channel for the selected program and directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the user chooses to continue with recording in response to the message.

19. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 18 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for directing the video recorder to record the selected program without directing the video recorder to turn on when the user chooses to continue with recording in response to the message.

20. The machine-readable medium defined in claim 16 further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for directing tuning circuitry to tune to a channel for the selected program, directing the video recorder to turn on, and directing the video recorder to record the selected program when the user does not respond to the message.