Methods and systems for recording programs

• US 20060026647A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Thomas H., Potrebic, Peter J., Lam, Waiman, Schrader, Joseph Alton
• Application Number:
  US10/929,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026647A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/4532 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 21/47 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 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• 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 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

Methods and systems that enable users to find and view programs are described. In one embodiment, a user request associated with a program that does not occur in a current electronic program guide is received and a record request is created based on the user'"'"'s request. A recording associated with the record request is then made. In another embodiment, a client device presents a user interface that allows a user to make a selection to view a program that is not included in a current electronic program guide associated with the client device. A unique marker associated with the program is then used to search for the program in a future electronic program guide. If the program is found in a future electronic program guide, the program is recorded.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting, via a client device, a user interface that allows a user to make a selection to view a program that is not included in a current electronic program guide associated with the client device; and

using a unique marker associated with the program to search for the program in a future electronic program guide.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to using said unique marker, building said unique marker using multiple pieces of information associated with the program.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if the program is found in a future electronic program guide, recording the program when the program is broadcast.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique marker comprises at least the title of the program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique marker does not comprise the title of the program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of presenting is performed by presenting, in the user interface, program titles and images associated with individual programs.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of presenting is performed by presenting, in the user interface, program titles and images associated with individual programs, and wherein at least one of the program titles and associated image pertains to a program that is not included in the electronic program guide.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said program comprises a movie.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said program does not comprise a movie.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said unique marker does not require the user to enter a text string.

11. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 1.

12. A device embodying the one or more computer-readable media of claim 11.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a user request associated with a program that does not occur in a current electronic program guide;

creating a record request based on the user'"'"'s request, wherein the record request does not rely solely, if at all, on the program'"'"'s title; and

making a recording associated with the record request.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said request comprises a request to record the program when it occurs in a future electronic program guide.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said request comprises a request to record metadata associated with the program.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said request comprises a request to record the program, as well as metadata associated with the program, when it occurs in a future electronic program guide.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the program comprises a movie.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the program does not comprise a movie.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said act of making is performed at a time when said program is not being broadcast.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said record request comprises a unique marker associated with the program.

21. One or more computer-readable media having computer readable instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the processors to implement the method of claim 13.

22. A device embodying the one or more computer-readable media of claim 21.

23. A method comprising:

receiving a user request to record a movie that does not occur in a current electronic program guide;

creating a record request based on the movie'"'"'s title and at least one piece of addition information; and

recording the movie if it appears in a future electronic program guide.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein one piece of additional information comprises the movie'"'"'s release year.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of receiving is performed by presenting a user interface that includes multiple movie titles and images associated with individual movies.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the act of receiving is performed by presenting a user interface that includes multiple movie titles and images associated with individual movies, and wherein at least some of said images comprise a movie'"'"'s cover art.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the user request is generated without requiring the user to enter a text string.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the user request is generated by the user clicking on a single button in an associated user interface.

29. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of claim 23.

30. A device embodying the one or more computer-readable media of claim 29.

31. A system comprising:

one or more computer-readable media;

one or more processors;

computer-readable instructions on the one or more computer-readable media which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

present a user interface that allows a user to make a selection pertaining to a program that is not included in an electronic program guide associated with the system;

build a record request associated with the selection, wherein the record request comprises a unique marker associated with the program, and wherein the record request is built responsive to the user clicking an associated button in the user interface and without requiring the user to enter a text string;

use the unique marker to search for the program in a future electronic program guide; and

if the program is found, record the program.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the user interface displays at least program titles and images associated with individual programs.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the program comprises a movie.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the program does not comprise a movie.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the unique marker comprises a globally unique identifier associated with the program.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the unique marker comprises at least a program'"'"'s title.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the unique marker comprises the program'"'"'s title and at least one additional piece of information associated with the program.