Systems and methods for interactive program guides with personal video recording features

• US 20080184297A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Reichardt, M. Scott, Thomas, William L., Baumgartner, Joseph P., Gaydou, Danny R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10962 wherein both recording and playback take place simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23406 involving management of server-side video buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• 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 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 21/47217 : 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 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• 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 21/632 : using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode

Abstract

Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented. Other PVR related features are also provided.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of buffering programs, comprising:

displaying a first program from a first channel;

creating a first buffer that is associated with the first program;

displaying a second program from a second channel in response to receiving a user request to tune to the second channel;

creating a second buffer that is associated with the second program;

buffering the first program to the first buffer; and

buffering the second program to the second buffer, wherein the buffering of the first program and the buffering of the second program occur in parallel.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

tuning to a third channel;

creating a third buffer for a third program on the third channel;

determining that the third program is the first program; and

combining the third buffer with the first buffer.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

tuning to a third channel;

determining that a third program on the third channel is the first program; and

buffering the third program to the first buffer.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein creating the first buffer or the second buffer comprises allocating a buffer size to the first buffer or the second buffer, the buffer size being determined based on an amount of time remaining in the first program or the second program.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein creating the first buffer or the second buffer comprises creating a straight buffer for buffering the first program or the second program.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein creating the first buffer or the second buffer comprises allocating storage space on a personal video recorder, wherein the personal video recorder is included on user equipment.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein creating the first buffer or the second buffer comprises allocating storage space on a remote server.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a user input to save the second program as a recording; and

in response to receiving the user input, storing at least a segment of the second program from the second buffer as part of the recording for the second program.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the second buffer is created in response to receiving the user request to tune to the second program.

11. A system for buffering programs, comprising:

a display device;

a user input device;

a storage device; and

an interactive application implemented at least partially on user equipment and configured to;

display on the display device a first program from a first channel;

create a first buffer on the storage device that is associated with the first program;

receive from the user input device a user request to tune to a second channel;

display a second program from the second channel in response to receiving the user request;

create a second buffer on the storage device that is associated with the second program;

buffer the first program to the first buffer; and

buffer the second program to the second buffer, wherein the first program and second program are buffered in parallel.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactive application is further configured to:

tune to a third channel;

create a third buffer on the storage device for a third program on the third channel;

determine that the third program is the first program; and

combine the third buffer with the first buffer.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactive application is further configured to:

tune to a third channel;

determine that a third program on the third channel is the first program; and

buffer the third program to the first buffer.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactive application is further configured to allocate a buffer size to the first buffer or the second buffer, the buffer size being determined based on an amount of time remaining in the first program or the second program.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactive application is further configured to create a straight buffer on the storage device for buffering the first program or the second program.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a personal video recorder included in the user equipment, wherein the interactive application is further configured to allocate storage space on the personal video recorder for the first buffer or the second buffer.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactive application is further configured to allocate storage space on a remote server for the first buffer or the second buffer.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactive application is further configured to:

receive a user input from the user input device to save the second program as a recording; and

store at least a segment of the second program from the second buffer as part of the recording for the second program in response to receiving the user input.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the second buffer is created in response to receiving the user request to tune to the second program.

20. A method of buffering programming content using user equipment, comprising:

receiving a first program with the user equipment;

determining that the first program is of a first type;

configuring a first buffer in response to determining that the first program is of the first type; and

buffering the first program in the first buffer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein configuring the first buffer comprises:

assigning at least one of a first quality and a first size to the first buffer, wherein the at least one of the first quality and the first size is associated with the first type.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a second program;

determining that the second program is of a second type, wherein the second type is different from the first type;

configuring a second buffer in response to determining that the second program is of the second type; and

buffering the second program in the second buffer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein configuring the second buffer comprises:

assigning at least one of a second quality and a second size to the second buffer, wherein;

the at least one of the second quality and the second size are associated with the second type; and

the at least one of the second quality and the second size is different from at least one of a first quality and a first size associated with the first buffer.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the first type comprises at least one of a program category and genre.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a user request to associate a particular buffering configuration with the first type, wherein configuring the first buffer further comprises configuring the first buffer using the particular buffering configuration.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a third program with the user equipment;

determining whether the third program is of the first type; and

buffering the third program to a third buffer based on whether the third program is of the first type.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

establishing a default buffering configuration; and

in response to determining that the third program is not of the first type, configuring the third buffer using the default buffering configuration.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

in response to determining that the third program is of the first type, configuring the third buffer using a third buffering configuration that is the same as a first buffering configuration used for the first buffer.

29. A system for buffering programming content, comprising:

user equipment comprising a storage device and configured to;

receive a first program with the user equipment;

determine that the first program is of a first type;

configure a first buffer on the storage device in response to determining that the first program is of the first type; and

buffer the first program in the first buffer.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

assign at least one of a first quality and a first size to the first buffer, wherein the at least one of the first quality and the first size is associated with the first type.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

receive a second program;

determine that the second program is of a second type, wherein the second type is different from the first type;

configure a second buffer on the storage device in response to determining that the second program is of the second type; and

buffer the second program in the second buffer.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

assign at least one of a second quality and a second size to the second buffer, wherein;

the at least one of the second quality and the second size are associated with the second type; and

the at least one of the second quality and the second size is different from at least one of a first quality and a first size associated with the first buffer.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the first type comprises at least one of a program category and genre.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the user equipment further comprises a user input device, and wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

receive a user request from the user input device to associate a particular buffering configuration with the first type; and

configure the first buffer using the particular buffering configuration.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

receive a third program;

determine whether the third program is of the first type; and

buffer the third program to a third buffer on the storage device based on whether the third program is of the first type.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

establish a default buffering configuration; and

in response to determining that the third program is not of the first type, configure the third buffer using the default buffering configuration.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the user equipment is further configured to:

in response to determining that the third program is of the first type, configure the third buffer using a third buffering configuration that is the same as a first buffering configuration used for the first buffer.