Multi-DVR Media Stream Transition

• US 20080022331A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T.
• Application Number:
  US11/428,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/89
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23424 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Multi-DVR media stream transition is described. In an embodiment, television-based client devices are each a node of a multi-DVR system where the nodes are implemented for communication with each other. Media content can be recorded from a content stream in a pause buffer at a recording node of the multi-DVR system. A television-based client device at a node of the multi-DVR system can then be transitioned from receiving the media content via the content stream to receiving the recorded media content from the pause buffer without discontinuity when rendering the media content.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a content stream of media content at a first television-based client device of a multi-DVR system to render the media content;

recording the media content when a second television-based client device of the multi-DVR system initiates the recording; and

transitioning the first television-based client device from the content stream to render the media content from the recording without discontinuity of the media content.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media content is recorded in a pause buffer at a recording node of the multi-DVR system, and wherein the first television-based client device is transitioned from the content stream to the pause buffer to render the media content from the recording without discontinuity of the media content.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first television-based client device is transitioned from the content stream to the recording utilizing a time-based index corresponding to both the media content of the content stream which is synchronous with the media content of the recording.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising pausing the media content being rendered at the first television-based client device, and wherein the first television-based client device is transitioned from the content stream to the recording when the first television-based client device resumes rendering the media content.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first television-based client device and the second television-based client device are each a node of the multi-DVR system that includes multiple nodes configured for communication with each other, the multi-DVR system further including a recording node that records the media content when initiated by the second television-based client device.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the recording node is at least one of the television-based client devices at a node of the multi-DVR system that records the media content for one or more of the nodes of the multi-DVR system.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the recording node is a network-based service that records the media content for one or more of the nodes of the multi-DVR system.

8. A method, comprising:

recording media content from a content stream in a pause buffer at a recording node of a multi-DVR system which includes television-based client devices that are each a node of the multi-DVR system; and

transitioning a television-based client device at a node of the multi-DVR system from receiving the media content via the content stream to receiving the recorded media content from the pause buffer without discontinuity when rendering the media content.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the television-based client device at the node of the multi-DVR system is transitioned from the content stream to the recorded media content utilizing a time-based index corresponding to both the media content of the content stream which is synchronous with the recorded media content.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising pausing the media content being received by the television-based client device at the node of the multi-DVR system, and wherein the television-based client device is transitioned from the content stream to the recorded media content when the television-based client device resumes receiving the media content.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the recording node is at least one of the television-based client devices at a node of the multi-DVR system that records the media content for one or more of the nodes of the multi-DVR system.

12. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the recording node is a network-based service that records the media content for one or more of the nodes of the multi-DVR system.

13. A multi-DVR system, comprising:

television-based client devices that are each a node of the multi-DVR system and configured for communication with each other;

a first television-based client device configured to receive a content stream of media content to render the media content; and

a second television-based client device configured to initiate a recording of the media content such that the first television-based client device can transition from the content stream to render the media content from the recording without discontinuity of the media content.

14. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a recording node of the multi-DVR system configured to record the media content with a recording media for one or more of the television-based client devices.

15. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 14, wherein the recording node of the multi-DVR system is at least one of the television-based client devices at a node of the multi-DVR system.

16. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 14, wherein the recording node of the multi-DVR system is a network-based service configured to record the media content for one or more of the television-based client devices.

17. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 14, wherein the recording node of the multi-DVR system is further configured to record the media content in a pause buffer, and wherein the first television-based client device can transition from the content stream to the pause buffer to render the media content without discontinuity of the media content.

18. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first television-based client device is configured to be transitioned from the content stream to the recorded media content utilizing a time-based index corresponding to both the media content of the content stream which is synchronous with the recorded media content.

19. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 13, further comprising a content mapping system that includes a content map and a recording media configured to record the media content, the content map including a media content reference to the recording media to designate the recorded media content as being associated with the second television-based client device.

20. A multi-DVR system as recited in claim 19, wherein the content map includes a virtual content reference to the media content reference such that the recorded media content is also designated as being associated with the first television-based client device.