Receivers for television signals

• US 20060179462A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sky CP Limited (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: British Broadcasting Corporation
• Inventors: Collins, Ellen Fiona, Willame, Xavier, James, Nicholas, Bodkin, Nigel, Sullivan, Brian Francis, Freeman, Benjamin Johnathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,124,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• 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 21/4583 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 21/47214 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 21/4882 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 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A television signals receiver for receives and stores television signals encoded at a variable data rate. Time information is generated based on the time of receipt of the signals that defines the duration of the television signals when output in decompressed form at a substantially constant data rate. The received signals are then written to a file on a hard disk (13) in received order together with the time information. The time information of signals stored in the file is monitored and old signals are deleted from the file such that the file stores signals corresponding to a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A method of storing data comprising:

receiving data at a variable data rate that represents an information stream;

storing the received data;

determining the expected duration of the information stream represented by the stored data should the information stream be reproduced as intended;

and deleting the oldest stored data when the determined duration reaches a given period such that the determined duration does not exceed the given period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information stream is intended to be reproduced at a substantially constant rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data represents a video stream.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expected duration of the information stream represented by the stored data is determined as the period during which the stored data was received.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the given period is a default period that may be varied by a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the data comprises receiving a data stream of compressed video data delivered at a variable data rate;

the determination comprises generating time information based on the time of receipt of the data and relating to the duration of the data when output in decompressed form at a substantially constant data rate;

storing the data comprises writing the received data to a file in a store in received order together with the time information;

and the deletion comprises monitoring the time information of data written to the file and deleting data from the file when the total amount of data in the file corresponds to a period of time greater than a predetermined period so that at any instant in time the amount of data in the file is of a duration no greater than the predetermined period.

7. The method of any one of claims 1, wherein the data is stored as a data file in a memory and the oldest stored data is deleted by moving the start of the data file to data representing information later in the information stream.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the memory is formatted as plural storage sectors and the data file occupies a series of the storage sectors.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the start of the data file is identified as at a particular storage sector.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the start of the file is moved by identifying another particular storage sector later in the series of storage sectors such that the preceding storage sectors in the series are removed from the data file.

12. A method of recording data representing a programme for subsequent playback of the programme, the method comprising:

storing one set of received data for one programme in a store while simultaneously outputting the same data for display of the programme represented thereby, the one set of received data being stored in accordance with the method of claim 1;

and

simultaneously recording another set of received data for another programme in the store.

8. A method of storing data, comprising storing a data stream as a data file in a memory such that the data file does not exceed a specified size by deleting the oldest stored data from the data file whilst storing new data at the end of the data file, wherein the oldest data is deleted by moving the start of the data file to later in the stored data stream.

46. The method of claim 8, wherein the memory is formatted as plural storage sectors and the data file occupies a series of the storage sectors.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the start of the data file is identified as at a particular storage sector.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the start of the file is moved by identifying another particular storage sector later in the series of storage sectors such that the preceding storage sectors in the series are removed from the data file.

13. A method of recording television programmes, the method comprising storing times that programmes are to be recorded and revising the stored times if there is a overlap in the time that two or more programmes are to be recorded to give priority to the programme having programme type with higher priority on a stored programme type priority list.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising revising the stored times if there is a overlap in the time that two or more programmes are to be recorded to give priority in turn to programmes having respective programme types with higher respective priorities on a stored programme type priority list

15. A method of making recordings of plural programmes, the method comprising:

generating a priority list identifying types of programmes to be recorded and their relative priorities;

storing timing information relating to one or more programmes to be recorded together with information identifying the type of programme to be recorded;

comparing entries on the priority list with the stored timing and type information for each programme to be recorded; and

revising the stored timing information in the event of a conflict between timing information for two or more programmes to be recorded, depending on the relative priorities of the conflicting programmes.

16. A method of controlling a recorder to record programmes, the method comprising:

storing a priority list identifying types of programmes to be recorded and their relative priorities;

storing timing information relating to one or more programmes to be recorded together with information identifying the type of programme to be recorded;

receiving a data stream including data representing programme content, programme identity data and data identifying the broadcast times of programmes;

comparing the stored timing information with the received data identifying the broadcast times of programmes;

adjusting the stored timing information in the event of a change as determined from the received data identifying the broadcast times of programmes;

comparing entries on the priority list with the stored timing and type information for each programme to be recorded; and

revising the stored timing information in the event of a conflict between timing information for two or more programmes to be recorded, depending on the relative priorities of the conflicting programmes.

17. An apparatus for storing data comprising:

a receiver for receiving data at a variable data rate that represents and information stream;

a storage device for storing the data; and

a processor for determining the expected duration of the information stream represented by the stored data should the information stream be reproduced as intended;

wherein the storage device deletes the oldest stored data when the determined duration reaches a given period such that the determined duration does not exceed the given period.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the information stream is intended to be reproduced at a substantially constant rate.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data represents a video stream.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor determines the expected duration of the information stream represented by the stored data as the period during which the stored data was received.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the given period is a default period and the apparatus comprises means by which a user can vary the default period.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the storage device is a hard disk.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

the receiver comprises means for receiving a data stream of compressed video data delivered at a variable data rate;

the processor comprises means for generating time information based on the time of receipt of the data and relating to the duration of the data when output in decompressed form at a substantially constant data rate;

the storage device comprises means for writing the received data to a file in a store in received order together with the time information; and

the processor further comprises means for monitoring the time information of data written to the file and means for deleting data from the file from the file when the total amount of data in the file corresponds to a period of time greater than a predetermined period so that at any instant in time the amount of data in the file is of a duration no greater than the predetermined period.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the storage device stores the data as a data file in a memory and deletes the oldest stored data by moving the start of the data file to data representing information later in the information stream.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the memory is formatted as plural storage sectors and the data file occupies a series of the storage sectors.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the file manager identifies the start of the data file as at a particular storage sector.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the file manager moves the start of the file by identifying another particular storage sector later in the series of storage sectors such that the preceding storage sectors in the series are removed from the data file.

29. An apparatus for recording data representing a programme for subsequent playback of the programme, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing one set of received data for one programme in a store while simultaneously outputting the same data for display of the programme represented thereby, the one set of received data being stored by the apparatus of claim 17;

and

means for recording another set of received data for another programme in the store.

44. A television signal receiver including the apparatus of claim 17.

25. An apparatus for storing data, comprising means for storing a data stream as a data file in a memory and a file manager for managing the size of the data file such that it does not exceed a specified size by deleting the oldest data stored in the data file whilst new data is stored at the end of the data file, wherein the file manager deletes the old data by moving the start of the data file to later in the stored data stream.

49. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the memory is formatted as plural storage sectors and the data file occupies a series of the storage sectors.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the file manager identifies the start of the data file as at a particular storage sector.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the file manager moves the start of the file by identifying another particular storage sector later in the series of storage sectors such that the preceding storage sectors in the series are removed from the data file.

30. An apparatus for recording television programmes, the apparatus comprising means for storing times that programmes are to be recorded and means for revising the stored times if there is a overlap in the time that two or more programmes are to be recorded to give priority to the programme having programme type with higher priority on a stored programme type priority list.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the revising means revises the stored times if there is a overlap in the time that two or more programmes are to be recorded to give priority in turn to programmes having respective programme types with higher respective priorities on a stored programme type priority list

32. An apparatus for making recordings of plural programmes, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating a priority list identifying types of programmes to be recorded and their relative priorities;

means for storing timing information relating to one or more programmes to be recorded together with information identifying the type of programme to be recorded;

means for comparing entries on the priority list with the stored timing and type information for each programme to be recorded; and

means for revising the stored timing information in the event of a conflict between timing information for two or more programmes to be recorded, depending on the relative priorities of the conflicting programmes.

33. An apparatus for controlling a recorder to record programmes, the apparatus comprising:

means for storing a priority list identifying types of programmes to be recorded and their relative priorities;

means for storing timing information relating to one or more programmes to be recorded together with information identifying the type of programme to be recorded;

means for receiving a data stream including data representing programme content, programme identity data and data identifying the broadcast times of programmes;

means for comparing the stored timing information with the received data identifying the broadcast times of programmes;

means for adjusting the stored timing information in the event of a change as determined from the received data identifying the broadcast times of programmes;

means for comparing entries on the priority list with the stored timing and type information for each programme to be recorded; and

means for revising the stored timing information in the event of a conflict between timing information for two or more programmes to be recorded, depending on the relative priorities of the conflicting programmes.

34. A method of recording television programmes comprising:

buffering a television signal currently being displayed on a television screen; and

responding to a request to record a television programme included in the television signal by saving the buffered television signal along with subsequent television signals to record the programme

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the request to record the television programme comprises pausing display of the television programme.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the request to record the television programme comprises display of the buffered television signal.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the saved buffered television signal is truncated to the start of the television programme.

38. A method of displaying a recorded television programme comprising progressively deleting data representing the recorded programme at a given interval behind the programme as it is displayed.

39. An apparatus for recording television programmes comprising:

a memory for buffering a television signal currently being displayed on a television screen; and

a processor for responding to a request to record a television programme included in the television signal by saving the buffered television signal along with subsequent television signals to record the programme

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the request to record the television programme comprises pausing display of the television programme.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the request to record the television programme comprises display of the buffered television signal.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the processor truncates the saved buffered television signal to the start of the television programme.

43. An apparatus for displaying a recorded television programme comprising a processor progressively deleting data representing the recorded programme at a given interval behind the programme as it is displayed.

45. (canceled)