Systems and methods for providing transport control

• US 20050166230A1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Reichardt, M. Scott, Day, Thomas, Gaydou, Danny R.
• Application Number:
  US10/804,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166230A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• 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 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/47 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A transport control interface may be provided by an interactive television program guide application to provide information, control or both for live and recorded video programming. The transport control interface may indicate to the user the time duration of a live or recorded program and any time segments of the program that have been recorded. The transport control interface may automatically adjust the start and end time shown to accommodate various factors such as continuous viewing on a particular channel, multiple recorded segments, buffer size, etc. Various information associated with the live or recorded video programming may be displayed in the transport control interface.

Claims

1. A method for providing information about a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program, the method comprising:

displaying the currently broadcasting program;

determining a start time and an end time associated with the currently broadcasting program; and

displaying a transport control interface, wherein the transport control interface indicates;

time length of the currently broadcasting program based on the start time and on the end time, and

at least one time segment of the time length of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the transport control interface comprises displaying a transport control bar.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying the start time on one end of the transport control bar and the end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.

8. A method for providing information about at least two broadcasting programs, the method comprising:

displaying a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program;

displaying a transport control interface that indicates at least one time segment associated with a recording of the currently broadcasting program; and

when playing of the currently broadcasting program is finished, displaying a subsequent broadcasting program, wherein the transport control interface is modified to also indicate at least one time segment associated with a recording of the subsequent broadcasting program.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein displaying the transport control interface comprises displaying a transport control bar.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.

15. A method for providing information about a television program, the method comprising:

displaying a television program; and

displaying a transport control interface that indicates a time segment associated with a recording of the television program, the transport control interface further indicating programming information associated with the television program.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein displaying the transport control interface comprises displaying a transport control bar.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

18. A system for providing information about a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program, the system comprising:

means for displaying the currently broadcasting program;

means for determining a start time and an end time associated with the currently broadcasting program; and

means for displaying a transport control interface, wherein the transport control interface indicates;

time length of the currently broadcasting program based on the start time and on the end time, and

at least one time segment of the time length of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the means for displaying the transport control interface comprises means for displaying a transport control bar.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for displaying the transport control bar comprises means for displaying the start time on one end of the transport control bar and the end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.

25. A system for providing information about at least two broadcasting programs, the system comprising:

means for displaying a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program;

means for displaying a transport control interface that indicates at least one time segment associated with a recording of the currently broadcasting program; and

when playing of the currently broadcasting program is finished, means for displaying a subsequent broadcasting program, wherein the transport control interface is modified to also indicate at least one time segment associated with a recording of the subsequent broadcasting program.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the means for displaying the transport control interface comprises means for displaying a transport control bar.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for displaying the transport control bar comprises means for displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.

32. A system for providing information about a television program, the system comprising:

means for displaying a television program; and

means for displaying a transport control interface that indicates a time segment associated with a recording of the television program, the transport control interface further indicating programming information associated with the television program.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the means for displaying the transport control interface comprises means for displaying a transport control bar.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

35. A system for providing information about a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program, the system comprising:

a user input interface;

a display; and

control circuitry configured to;

display the currently broadcasting program;

determine a start time and an end time associated with the currently broadcasting program; and

display a transport control interface, wherein the transport control interface indicates;

time length of the currently broadcasting program based on the start time and on the end time, and

at least one time segment of the time length of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a transport control bar.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying the start time on one end of the transport control bar and the end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.

41. The system of claim 35 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.

42. A system for providing information about at least two broadcasting programs, the system comprising:

a user input interface;

a display; and

control circuitry configured to;

display a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program;

display a transport control interface that indicates at least one time segment associated with a recording of the currently broadcasting program; and

when playing of the currently broadcasting program is finished, display a subsequent broadcasting program, wherein the transport control interface is modified to also indicate at least one time segment associated with a recording of the subsequent broadcasting program.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a transport control bar.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.

47. The system of claim 42 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.

48. The system of claim 42 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.

49. A system for providing information about a television program, the system comprising:

a user input interface;

a display; and

control circuitry configured to;

display a television program; and

display a transport control interface that indicates a time segment associated with a recording of the television program, the transport control interface further indicating programming information associated with the television program.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a transport control bar.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

52. Machine-readable media for providing information about a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program, and wherein the machine-readable media is encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for:

displaying the currently broadcasting program;

determining a start time and an end time associated with the currently broadcasting program; and

displaying a transport control interface, wherein the transport control interface indicates;

time length of the currently broadcasting program based on the start time and on the end time, and

at least one time segment of the time length of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded.

53. The machine-readable media of claim 52 wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a transport control bar.

54. The machine-readable media of claim 53 wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying the start time on one end of the transport control bar and the end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

55. The machine-readable media of claim 53 wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.

56. The machine-readable media of claim 55 wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.

57. The machine-readable media of claim 52 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.

58. The machine-readable media of claim 52 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.

59. Machine-readable media for providing information about at least two broadcasting programs, where the machine-readable media is encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for:

displaying a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program;

displaying a transport control interface that indicates at least one time segment associated with a recording of the currently broadcasting program; and

when playing of the currently broadcasting program is finished, displaying a subsequent broadcasting program, wherein the transport control interface is modified to also indicate at least one time segment associated with a recording of the subsequent broadcasting program.

60. The machine-readable media of claim 59 wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a transport control bar.

61. The machine-readable media of claim 60 wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.

62. The machine-readable media of claim 60 wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.

63. The machine-readable media of claim 62 wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.

64. The machine-readable media of claim 59 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.

65. The machine-readable media of claim 59 wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.

66. Machine-readable media for providing information about a television program, wherein the machine-readable media is encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for:

displaying a television program; and

displaying a transport control interface that indicates a time segment associated with a recording of the television program, the transport control interface further indicating programming information associated with the television program.

67. The machine-readable media of claim 66 wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a transport control bar.

68. The machine-readable media of claim 67 wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.