Signal Distribution System with Interrupt Processing and Trick Play Functionality

• US 20080005770A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Acharya, Swarup, Gupta, Bhawna
• Granted Patent: US 9,015,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/101
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for recording programming content in a signal distribution system are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, an interrupt is received, which may be associated with an incoming telephone call, email message, alarm or other type of message, and a corresponding interrupt indicator is presented on a user interface screen of a device such as television, laptop computer, mobile telephone, etc. Also presented on the user interface screen of the device is an activatable pause control that if activated initiates recording of a portion of the programming content that would otherwise be presented via the device absent activation of the pause control. Various trick play functions, such as pause, play, forward and rewind, may be provided utilizing the recorded portion of the programming content.

Claims

1. A method of recording programming content in a signal distribution system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an interrupt; and

controlling the presentation of a corresponding interrupt indicator on a user interface screen of a device;

wherein the user interface screen further comprises an activatable pause control that if activated initiates recording of a portion of the programming content that would otherwise be presented via the device absent activation of the pause control.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming content comprises programming content of a selected one of a plurality of channels of a subscription service available to a system user at a home location of the user.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the device is at a location remote from the home location of the user and the user is accessing the selected channel via the device at the remote location.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user registers with the system as a roaming user via the device at the remote location.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the activatable pause control comprises a pause control icon presented on the user interface screen in conjunction with presentation of the interrupt indicator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the activatable pause control and the interrupt indicator are both superimposed on a presentation of one or more frames of the programming content.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the activatable pause control comprises at least a portion of the interrupt indicator.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the interrupt comprises an interrupt associated with at least one of a telephone call and an email message.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface screen further comprises an activatable ignore interrupt control that if activated results in removal of the interrupt indicator and continued presentation of the programming content via the device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein subsequent to activation of the pause control the user interface screen is reconfigured to comprise an activatable resume programming presentation control that if activated will result in a resumption of presentation of the programming content via the device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein subsequent to activation of the pause control the user interface screen is reconfigured to comprise at least one activatable trick play function control that if activated controls presentation of a recorded portion of the programming content via the device in accordance with the corresponding trick play function.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the activatable trick play function control comprises one or more of a pause control, a play control, a forward control and a rewind control.

13. The method of claim 1 further including the step of storing the recorded portion of the programming content on the device.

14. The method of claim 1 further including the step of storing the recorded portion of the programming content on a web server.

15. The method of claim 2 further including the step of storing the recorded portion of the programming content in head end equipment that serves the home location.

16. The method of claim 3 further including the step of storing the recorded portion of the programming content in head end equipment that serves the remote location.

17. An interface device comprising a processor coupled to a memory and being configured for use in recording programming content in a signal distribution system, the interface device being configured to control presentation of an interrupt indicator on a user interface screen of an associated presentation device, wherein the user interface screen further comprises an activatable pause control that if activated initiates recording of a portion of the programming content that would otherwise be presented via the presentation device absent activation of the pause control.

18. The interface device of claim 17 wherein said interface device comprises a set-top box of the signal distribution system.

19. The interface device of claim 17 wherein said interface device and said presentation device are combined into a single device.

20. An apparatus for use in recording programming content in a signal distribution system, the apparatus comprising:

head end equipment comprising at least one server;

the head end equipment being operative to receive an interrupt and to control presentation of a corresponding interrupt indicator on a user interface screen of a device, wherein the user interface screen further comprises an activatable pause control that if activated initiates recording in the head end equipment of a portion of the programming content that would otherwise be presented via the device absent activation of the pause control.