Data Transcoding

• US 20100054327A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Echostar UK Holdings Ltd (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Capless, Jonathan A.
• Application Number:
  US12/201,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20100054327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/4335 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 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A system and method for transcoding data, such as an audiovisual program, audio data or video data, from a first format to a second format. Systems may accept a first data file and transcode it to create a second data file in a different format. Transcoding may occur at a time other than the time at which the system receives the data file. The later transcoding time may be user-selected. The system may generate an icon or other indicator to signify the data has been marked for later transcoding.

Claims

1. A method for transcoding a file, comprising:

receiving a file;

storing the file on a storage device associated with a set-top box;

receiving an indication from a user that the file is to be transcoded at a selected time;

transcoding the file to produce a transcoded file at the selected time; and

storing the transcoded file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transcoded file is stored on a second storage device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second storage device is intermittently coupled with the set-top box.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second storage device is contained within a portable electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication includes at least one transcoding parameter specified by the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one transcoding parameter is chosen from the group comprising:

a transcoding start time;

an output file size; and

an output device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the operation of:

in response to receiving the indication from the user, marking the entry in the menu with a second icon to indicate the transcoded file is to be produced

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the operation of:

after transcoding the file, marking an entry in a menu with a first icon to indicate the transcoded file has been produced.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a transcoding time is specified by the user; and

in the event a transcoding time is not specified by the user, transcoding the file to produce the transcoded file at a default time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a transcoding time is specified by the user; and

in the event a transcoding time is not specified by the user, transcoding the file to produce the transcoded file upon powering down the set-top box.

11. A transcoding apparatus, comprising:

at least one tuner operative to receive a signal;

at least one decoder connected to the at least one tuner and configured to decode the signal into a data set;

at least one storage device connected to the at least one decoder and configured to digitally store the data set;

at least one processor configured to transcode the data set to create a transcoded data set, further configured to cause an icon to be displayed on a display, the icon indicating the data set is to be transcoded.

12. The transcoding apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one storage device is removably coupled to the at least one decoder.

13. The transcoding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transcoded data set is stored on the storage device.

14. The transcoding device of claim 11, further comprising a receiver operative to receive at least one transcoding parameter from a remote, the at least one transcoding parameter specifying a format of the transcoded data set.

15. The transcoding device of claim 11, wherein the processor is operative to delete the data set from the storage device upon creation of the transcoded data set.

16. The transcoding apparatus of claim 11, wherein the icon indicates that the data set is to be transcoded at the selected time.

17. The menu of claim 16, wherein:

the second state of the transcoding field comprises displaying a first icon; and

the third state of the transcoding field comprises displaying a second icon.

18. The menu of claim 17, further comprising a transcoding sub-menu accessible and displayed upon selection of the at least one program by a user, the transcoding sub-menu comprising at least one selectable parameter corresponding to the transcoded file.

19. The menu of claim 18, wherein the at least one selectable parameter controls at least one aspect of the transcoded file.

20. The menu of claim 19, wherein the at least one selectable parameter is chosen from the group comprising:

a transcoding time;

an output file size; and

an output device.

16-1. An electronic menu for an electronic program guide, comprising:

a listing showing a program;

a transcoding field displayed on the listing and corresponding to the program, the transcoding field in a first state if the listing is not selected by a user;

wherein

the transcoding field is in a second state in the event the listing is selected by the user for transcoding;

the transcoding field is in a third state in the event the corresponding program is transcoded to produce a transcoded file; and

the electronic menu is operative to be displayed on a display.