Unified Recording and Pause Buffer Format
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- storing in memory as a single virtual stream, a plurality of recorded programs together with content from a currently tuned broadcast program, the content from the currently tuned broadcast program stored in a front section of the stream, the front section of the stream effectively operable as a pause buffer, wherein at least two of the recorded programs overlap within the virtual stream;
enabling a user to pause and resume play of the content in the pause buffer; and
enabling the user to playback the one or more recorded programs from the virtual stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unified recording format allows both recorded programs and paused buffered broadcasts to be stored in memory as a common virtual stream. As content is received on a channel, it is placed into the virtual stream with newer content at the start of the stream and progressively aging content migrating farther downstream. A front section of the stream effectively operates as a pause buffer, as the currently tuned broadcast program is recorded in this section and is responsive to pause/resume commands. Recorded programs are also stored as part of the same virtual stream. Pointers are used to identify the boundaries of the pause buffer, as well as the beginning and end of each recorded program in the virtual stream.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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storing in memory as a single virtual stream, a plurality of recorded programs together with content from a currently tuned broadcast program, the content from the currently tuned broadcast program stored in a front section of the stream, the front section of the stream effectively operable as a pause buffer, wherein at least two of the recorded programs overlap within the virtual stream; enabling a user to pause and resume play of the content in the pause buffer; and enabling the user to playback the one or more recorded programs from the virtual stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A digital video recording system comprising:
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a memory; and a stream manager stored in the memory, the stream manager being configured to; manage a virtual stream to capture recorded programs and broadcast programs in a single stream, the broadcast programs captured in a pause buffer portion of the virtual stream, and omit a portion of a first broadcast program while recording a second broadcast program. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions stored on the computer storage medium that, when executed by a processor, direct a digital video recording system to perform operations including:
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receiving broadcast programs from one or more broadcast channels; storing a current broadcast program in a first section of an arbitrary-length virtual stream; and maintaining a plurality of previous broadcast programs in a second section of the virtual stream, wherein the previous broadcast programs maintained in the second section of the virtual stream are recorded temporally before the current broadcast programs being stored in the first section of the virtual stream and wherein at least two of the previous broadcast programs overlap within the virtual stream. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification