Program guide system for recording television programs

• US 6,141,488 A
• Filed: 09/05/1997
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Knudson, Edward B., Davis, Bruce L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F.
• Application Number:
  US08/924,239
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 386/46, 386/92, 386/48
• US Class Current: 386/292
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/4334 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 21/45 Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/4753 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 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.

Claims

1. An interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

means for receiving the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

means for selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;

means for receiving a plurality of television channels from the distribution facility;

means for tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and

means for directing the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.

2. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for directing the video recorder to record a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.

3. A method for using an interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

receiving the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;

receiving a plurality of television channels from the distribution facility with tuning circuitry;

tuning the tuning circuitry from the channel for the first selected program to the channel for the second selected program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and

directing the video recorder to record the first and second selected programs and a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.

4. The method defined in claim 3 further comprising directing the video recorder to record a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.

5. An interactive program guide system in which television program guide information is provided to a distribution facility for distribution to user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:

communication circuitry configured to receive the television program guide information from the distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

a remote control that allows a user to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;

tuner circuitry configured to receive a plurality of television channels from the distribution facility; and

control circuitry configured, in response to the user selecting the first and second consecutive programs, to (1) tune the tuner circuitry from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program and (2) direct the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program.

6. The interactive program guide system defined in claim 5 wherein the control circuitry is configured, in response to the user selecting the first and second consecutive programs, to direct the video recorder to record a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program.

7. An interactive program guide system with which an interactive television program guide is provided, comprising user television equipment having tuning circuitry and a video recorder, wherein the user television equipment is configured to:

receive television program guide information from a distribution facility for use in the interactive television program guide;

allow a user to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;

receive a plurality of television channels from the distribution facility using the tuning circuitry;

tune the tuning circuitry from the channel for the first selected program to the channel for the second selected program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and

direct the video recorder to record the first and second selected programs and a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to the user selecting the first and second consecutive programs.

8. The system defined in claim 7 wherein the user television equipment is configured to direct the video recorder to record a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to the user selecting the first and second consecutive programs.