VIDEO RECORDING SYSTEM, VIDEO RECORDING APPARATUS, AND VIDEO RECORDING METHOD

• US 20090245758A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: TAKEYAMA, Shinji, MOTOMURA, Naohisa, KODAMA, Satomi
• Granted Patent: US 8,687,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/291
• 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 21/4334 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A content can be recorded for certain in a video recording system including a video recording apparatus and a video recording and transmitting apparatus. The video recording apparatus includes: a recording control unit that starts recording the content when a period of time indicated by scheduled recording information starts; and a message transmitting unit that transmits recording-state information to the video recording and transmitting apparatus at regular intervals. The video recording and transmitting apparatus includes: a recording-state monitoring unit that determines whether or not the continued reception of a signal has been suspended during the period of time; and a recording control unit that starts recording the content when the recording-state monitoring unit determines that the continued reception of the signal has been suspended.

Claims

1. A video recording system for recording a content that has been broadcasted or distributed, said video recording system comprising

a first video recording apparatus and a second video recording apparatus that are connected to each other via a network,

said first video recording apparatus including:

a recording registration unit configured to accept scheduled recording information indicating a period of time during which the content is to be recorded;

a first recording control unit configured to start recording the content when the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information starts;

a scheduled information transmitting unit configured to transmit relay-recording scheduled information to said second video recording apparatus, the relay-recording scheduled information notifying said second video recording apparatus of the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information; and

a signal transmitting unit configured to continue to transmit a signal to said second video recording apparatus during the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information, and

said second video recording apparatus including;

a receiving unit configured to receive the relay-recording scheduled information and the signal that have been transmitted from said first video recording apparatus;

a partner-recording-state monitoring unit configured to determine whether or not said receiving unit has suspended the continued reception of the signal during a period of time indicated by the relay-recording scheduled information; and

a second recording control unit configured to start recording the content when said partner-recording-state monitoring unit determines that said receiving unit has suspended the continued reception of the signal.

2. The video recording system according to claim 1,

wherein said first video recording apparatus further includes

a first own recording state monitoring unit configured to monitor a recording state of said first video recording apparatus, and

said signal transmitting unit is configured to continue to transmit the signal by transmitting, at regular intervals, recording-state information indicating the recording state identified through monitoring of said first own recording state monitoring unit.

3. The video recording system according to claim 2,

wherein said partner-recording-state monitoring unit included in said second video recording apparatus is further configured to transmit continued recording inquiry information for inquiring the recording state of said first video recording apparatus to said first video recording apparatus at regular intervals, and

said signal transmitting unit included in said first video recording apparatus is configured to transmit the recording-state information each time said signal transmitting unit receives the continued recording inquiry information.

4. The video recording system according to claim 2,

wherein said partner-recording-state monitoring unit included in said second video recording apparatus is further configured to register a listener with said first video recording apparatus, the listener notifying said second video recording apparatus of the recording state of said first video recording apparatus, and

said signal transmitting unit included in said first video recording apparatus is configured to transmit the recording-state information at regular intervals using the listener.

5. The video recording system according to claim 2, further comprising

a playing apparatus configured to play the content, said playing apparatus being connected to said first video recording apparatus and said second video recording apparatus via the network,

said playing apparatus including:

a scheduled recording unit configured to transmit the scheduled recording information to said first video recording apparatus;

a network control unit configured, when the content is divided into a first section and a second section so that said first video recording apparatus records the first section and said second video recording apparatus records the second section, to request said first video recording apparatus to transfer the first section and request said second video recording apparatus to transfer the second section to obtain the divided content; and

a service managing unit configured to play the divided content.

6. The video recording system according to claim 5,

wherein said first video recording apparatus further includes

a relay-recording content managing unit configured, when the content is divided into the first section and the second section so that said first video recording apparatus records the first section and said second video recording apparatus records the second section, to generate a list indicating information of the first and second sections of the divided content, and to transmit the list to said playing apparatus.

7. The video recording system according to claim 2,

wherein said first video recording apparatus further includes

a checking unit configured to transmit video-recording availability inquiry information to said second video recording apparatus, and to check whether or not said second video recording apparatus can record the content, based on a response from said second video recording apparatus to the recording availability inquiry information, the recording availability inquiry information inquiring whether or not the content can be recorded during the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information,

said second video recording apparatus further includes

a relay-recording control unit configured to determine whether or not said second recording control unit can record the content during the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information upon receipt of the recording availability inquiry information, and to transmit recording availability response information to said first video recording apparatus in response to the recording availability inquiry information, the recording availability response information indicating a result of the determination, and

said scheduled information transmitting unit included in said first video recording apparatus is configured to transmit the relay-recording scheduled information to said second video recording apparatus when said checking unit determines that the content can be recorded.

8. The video recording system according to claim 7,

wherein said checking unit included in said first video recording apparatus is configured to check whether or not the content can be recorded at a scheduled recording time when said recording registration unit accepts the scheduled recording information, and at a pre-recording time that is after the scheduled recording time and before start of the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information,

said scheduled information transmitting unit is configured to transmit the relay-recording scheduled information in the case where said checking unit determines that the content can be recorded at the scheduled recording time,

said second video recording apparatus further includes

a recording device setting unit configured, when said receiving unit receives the relay-recording scheduled information, to temporarily reserve resources necessary for use in recording the content by setting a priority to the resources, and

said recording device setting unit is configured to formally reserve the resources by giving a higher priority to the resources that have been temporarily reserved, when said checking unit included in said first video recording apparatus determines at the pre-recording time that the content can be recorded.

9. The video recording system according to claim 8,

wherein said signal transmitting unit included in said first video recording apparatus is configured to transmit the recording-state information indicating that the recording is completed to said second recording apparatus in the case where said first own recording state monitoring unit identifies a state in which the recording is completed when the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information ends, and

said recording device setting unit included in said second video recording apparatus is configured to release the resources that have been temporarily reserved, when said second video recording apparatus receives the recording-state information indicating that the recording is completed.

10. The video recording system according to claim 8, further comprising

a third video recording apparatus connected to the network,

wherein said scheduled information transmitting unit is configured to transmit the relay-recording scheduled information to said third video recording apparatus when said checking unit determines at the pre-recording time that the content cannot be recorded.

11. The video recording system according to claim 7, further comprising

a third video recording apparatus connected to the network,

wherein said checking unit included in said first video recording apparatus is further configured to transmit the recording availability inquiry information to said third video recording apparatus, and to check whether or not the content can be recorded based on a response from said third video recording apparatus to the recording availability inquiry information, and

said scheduled information transmitting unit included in said first video recording apparatus is configured to transmit the relay-recording scheduled information to said second video recording apparatus when said checking unit determines that said third video recording apparatus cannot record the content and said second video recording apparatus can record the content.

12. The video recording system according to claim 2, further comprising

a third video recording apparatus connected to the network,

wherein said second video recording apparatus further includes:

a next-generation scheduled information transmitting unit configured to transmit the relay scheduled recording information to said third video recording apparatus;

a next-generation recording start information transmitting unit configured to transmit recording start information to said third video recording apparatus, the recording start information indicating that said second recording control unit has started recording the content; and

a next-generation signal transmitting unit configured to continue to transmit the signal to said third video recording apparatus during a period of time between a time when said second recording control unit has started recording the content and a time when the period of time indicated by the relay scheduled recording information ends, and

said third video recording apparatus including;

a next-generation receiving unit configured to receive the relay-recording scheduled information and the signal that have been transmitted from said second video recording apparatus;

a next-generation partner-recording-state monitoring unit configured to determine whether or not said next-generation receiving unit has suspended the continued reception of the signal during a period of time between a time when said third video recording apparatus has received the recording start information and a time when the period of time indicated by the relay scheduled recording information ends; and

a next-generation recording control unit configured to start recording the content when said next-generation partner-recording-state monitoring unit determines that said next-generation receiving unit has suspended the continued reception of the signal.

13. The video recording system according to claim 2,

wherein said signal transmitting unit included in said first video recording apparatus is configured to transmit the recording-state information indicating that the recording is interrupted to said second video recording apparatus, when said first own recording state monitoring unit identifies a state in which the recording is interrupted, and

said second recording control unit included in said second video recording apparatus is further configured to start recording the content when said second video recording apparatus receives the recording-state information indicating that the recording is interrupted.

14. The video recording system according to claim 13,

wherein said second video recording apparatus further includes:

a second own recording state monitoring unit configured to monitor a recording state of said second recording control unit; and

a relay-recording control unit configured to determine whether or not the recording state of said first video recording apparatus returns from a state being interrupted to a recording possible state based on the recording-state information transmitted from said signal transmitting unit included in said first video recording apparatus, and to transmit relay-recording-state information to said first video recording apparatus when the recording state returns to the recording possible state, the relay-recording-state information indicating that a state identified by said second own recording state monitoring unit is a state being recorded.

15. The video recording system according to claim 2,

wherein said signal transmitting unit included in said first video recording apparatus is configured to transmit the recording-state information indicating that the recording is completed to said second video recording apparatus when said first own recording state monitoring unit identifies a state in which the recording ends when the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information ends, and

said second video recording apparatus further includes

a relay-recording control unit configured to abandon the relay-recording scheduled information received by said receiving unit when said second video recording apparatus receives the recording-state information indicating that the recording is completed.

16. A method for recording a content that has been broadcasted or distributed using a first video recording apparatus and a second video recording apparatus that are connected to each other via a network, said method comprising:

in the first video recording apparatus;

accepting scheduled recording information indicating a period of time during which the content is to be recorded;

starting recording the content when the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information starts;

transmitting relay-recording scheduled information to the second video recording apparatus, the relay-recording scheduled information notifying the second video recording apparatus of the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information; and

continuing to transmit a signal to the second video recording apparatus during the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information; and

in the second video recording apparatus;

receiving the relay-recording scheduled information and the signal that have been transmitted from the first video recording apparatus;

determining whether or not the continued reception of the signal has been suspended during a period of time indicated by the relay-recording scheduled information; and

starting recording the content when it is determined in said determining that the continued reception of the signal has been suspended.

17. A video recording apparatus in a video recording system for recording a content that has been broadcasted or distributed, the video recording system including said video recording apparatus and an other video recording apparatus that are connected to each other via a network, said video recording apparatus comprising:

a recording registration unit configured to accept scheduled recording information indicating a period of time during which the content is to be recorded;

a recording control unit configured to start recording the content when the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information starts;

a scheduled information transmitting unit configured to transmit relay-recording scheduled information to the other video recording apparatus, the relay-recording scheduled information notifying the other video recording apparatus of the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information; and

a signal transmitting unit configured to continue to transmit a signal to the other video recording apparatus during the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information.

18. A video recording apparatus in a video recording system for recording a content that has been broadcasted or distributed, the video recording system including said video recording apparatus and an other video recording apparatus that are connected to each other via a network, the other video recording apparatus:

accepting scheduled recording information indicating a period of time during which the content is to be recorded;

starting recording the content when the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information starts;

transmitting relay-recording scheduled information to the other video recording apparatus, the relay-recording scheduled information notifying the other video recording apparatus of the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information; and

continuing to transmit a signal to the other video recording apparatus during the period of time indicated by the scheduled recording information, said video recording apparatus comprising;

a receiving unit configured to receive the relay-recording scheduled information and the signal that have been transmitted from the other video recording apparatus;

a partner-recording-state monitoring unit configured to determine whether or not said receiving unit has suspended the continued reception of the signal during a period of time indicated by the relay-recording scheduled information; and

a recording control unit configured to start recording the content when said partner-recording-state monitoring unit determines that said receiving unit has suspended the continued reception of the signal.