Method for using a video content recording apparatus with electronic program guide functionality

• US 20080092198A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Hutten, Matthijs C.
• Application Number:
  US11/529,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20080092198A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/133
• 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 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• 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 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode

Abstract

A method for using a video content recording apparatus with electronic program guide functionality is disclosed. In one embodiment, a video content recording apparatus receives a removable memory device storing electronic program guide data, displays an electronic program guide that uses the electronic program guide data, and records, onto a removable memory device, video content selected using the electronic program guide. In another embodiment, a video content recording apparatus receives a removable memory device storing a scheduled recording file and records, onto a removable memory device, video content specified by the scheduled recording file. In yet another embodiment, a video content recording apparatus receives electronic program guide data, displays an electronic program guide that uses the electronic program guide data, and records, onto a removable memory device, video content selected using the electronic program guide. Other embodiments are disclosed, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Claims

1. A method for using a video content recording apparatus with an electronic program guide, the method comprising:

with a video content recording apparatus;

receiving a removable memory device storing electronic program guide data;

displaying an electronic program guide that uses the electronic program guide data; and

recording, onto a removable memory device, video content selected using the electronic program guide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the video content recording apparatus comprises firmware storing an electronic program guide client, and wherein the electronic program guide data is stored as a file that is recognizable by the electronic program guide client as containing electronic program guide data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the electronic program guide data to the removable memory device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electronic program guide data is provided to the removable memory device via a host device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electronic program guide data is downloaded from a website using the host device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic program guide data comprises one or more of the following:

broadcast date, channel number, channel name, start time, end time, title, synopsis, actor, director, year of production, genre, parental control information, and duration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the removable memory device that stores the electronic program guide data is different from the removable memory device that the video content recording apparatus records video content onto.

8. A method for using a video content recording apparatus, the method comprising:

with a video content recording apparatus;

receiving a removable memory device storing a scheduled recording file; and

recording, onto a removable memory device, video content specified by the scheduled recording file.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the scheduled recording file is stored in a manner that makes it recognizable by the video content recording apparatus as being a scheduled recording file.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing the scheduled recording file to the removable memory device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the scheduled recording file is provided to the removable memory device via a host device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the scheduled recording file is downloaded from a website using the host device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the scheduled recording file is provided to the removable memory device via a wireless device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless device comprises a mobile phone.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the scheduled recording file is provided to the removable memory device by sending a short message service (SMS) message to the wireless device.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the scheduled recording file comprises one or more of the following:

broadcast date, channel number, channel name, start time, end time, title, synopsis, actor, director, year of production, genre, parental control information, and duration.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the removable memory device that stores the scheduled recording file is different from the removable memory device that the video content recording apparatus records video content onto.

18. A method for using a video content recording apparatus with an electronic program guide, the method comprising:

with a video content recording apparatus;

receiving electronic program guide data;

displaying an electronic program guide that uses the electronic program guide data; and

recording, onto a removable memory device, video content selected using the electronic program guide.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the video content recording apparatus receives the electronic program guide data from a removable memory device storing the electronic program guide data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the video content recording apparatus receives the electronic program guide data from a storage device in communication with the video content recording apparatus over a network.