BUFFERING OF PRIOR DISPLAYED TELEVISION CHANNELS UPON ACCESSING A DIFFERENT CHANNEL

• US 20090196568A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Banker, Robert O., Rodriguez, Arturo A., Kaminski, Dariusz S., Gutknecht, Valerie G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/353
• 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/47214 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• 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 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for managing a time-shift buffer (TSB) that is used for buffering video presentations. One such method includes receiving user input identifying a storage capacity for the TSB and modifying a storage capacity of the TSB such that it is at least substantially equal to the storage capacity identified by the user input.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to buffered data, the method comprising:

receiving first data corresponding to successive portions of a first video signal, the first video signal corresponding to a first television program;

processing the first data for presentation at a display device;

while the first data is presented at the display device, receiving an input corresponding to a request for third data corresponding to successive portions of a second video signal, the second video signal corresponding to a second television program;

accessing the third data;

processing the third data for presentation at the display device; and

buffering second data corresponding to successive portions of the first video signal while the third data is presented based on a defined threshold of presentation of the first television program, the first video signal corresponding to the first television program.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling access by a user to the buffered second data responsive to a user request.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising presenting a configuration interface that enables the access.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data is buffered or accessible only if the first television program is presented for display for the defined threshold of presentation according to predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the defined threshold is user defined.