Method and apparatus for buffering an incoming information signal for subsequent recording

• US 6,363,440 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Carrie A., Stepp, George Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US09/191,681
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 710/52, 710/45, 710/25, 710/6, 348/731
• US Class Current: 710/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

A method and system for storing an information signal for subsequent recording are disclosed. An incoming information signal is received, and a starting point in the information signal is identified. At least a portion of the information signal is stored in a memory as it is received, including the identified starting point. A command to record the information signal is received subsequent to the starting point of the information signal, and the information signal is recorded from the memory beginning with the starting point such that the information signal is recorded in its entirety. If the information signal is not recorded, the information signal will continue to be saved until the capacity of the memory is reached at which point the information signal may be recorded over the previously saved information signal. An end point of an information signal may be identified as the starting point of a new information signal desired to be recorded.

Claims

1. A method for storing an information signal for subsequent recording, comprising:

receiving an incoming information signal;

identifying a starting point in the information signal;

storing at least a portion of the information signal in a memory as it is received including the identified starting point;

receiving a command to record the information signal, the recording command occurring subsequent to the starting point of the information signal; and

recording the information signal from the memory beginning with the starting point of the information signal such that the information signal may be recorded in entirety.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of compressing the incoming information signal before storing the information signal to the memory thereby increasing the portion of the information signal stored in the memory.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of decompressing the recorded information signal and then reproducing the information signal.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether an endpoint of the information signal is reached, and, in the event an endpoint of the information signal is reached, terminating recording of the information signal.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising, in the event the endpoint of the information signal is an undesired break in the information signal, ceasing said storing and said recording steps during the undesired break and then resuming said buffering and said storing steps upon completion of the undesired break.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storing step includes the step of buffering the information signal to an information storage medium.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recording step includes the step of recording the information signal to an information storage medium.

27. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of receiving an incoming information signal comprises receiving a streaming digital signal.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the streaming digital signal is streamed over the Internet.

29. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory is integrated in a recording device for recording the information signal.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said step of recording the information signal comprises recording the information signal to the memory.

31. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory is remote from a recording device for recording the information signal.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the recording device for recording the information signal includes a second memory suitable for recording of the information signal.

8. A program of instructions storable on an medium readable by an information handling system for causing the information handling system to execute steps for storing an information signal for subsequent recording, the steps comprising:

receiving an incoming information signal;

identifying a starting point in the information signal;

storing at least a portion of the information signal in a memory as it is received including the identified starting point;

receiving a command to record the information signal, the recording command occurring subsequent to the starting point of the information signal; and

recording the information signal from the memory beginning with the starting point of the information signal such that the information signal may be recorded in entirety.

9. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of compressing the incoming information signal before storing the information signal to the memory thereby increasing the portion of the information signal stored in the memory.

10. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of decompressing the recorded information signal and then reproducing the information signal.

11. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the step of determining whether an endpoint of the information signal is reached, and, in the event an endpoint of the information signal is reached, terminating recording of the information signal.

12. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 11, further comprising, in the event the endpoint of the information signal is an undesired break in the information signal, ceasing said storing and said recording steps during the undesired break and then resuming said buffering and said storing steps upon completion of the undesired break.

13. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, wherein said storing step includes the step of buffering the information signal to an information storage medium.

14. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, wherein said recording step includes the step of recording the information signal to an information storage medium.

33. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of receiving an incoming information signal comprises receiving a streaming digital signal.

34. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 33, wherein the streaming digital signal is streamed over the Internet.

35. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, wherein the memory is integrated in a recording device for recording the information signal.

36. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 35, wherein said step of recording the information signal comprises recording the information signal to the memory.

37. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 8, wherein the memory is remote from a recording device for recording the information signal.

38. A program of instructions as claimed in claim 37, wherein the recording device for recording the information signal includes a second memory suitable for recording of the information signal.

15. An information handling system for storing an information signal for subsequent recording, comprising:

a processor for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;

a memory, coupled to said processor, for storing the program of instructions;

a receiver for receiving the information signal from a start time;

a buffer operatively coupled to said receiver for storing at least a portion of the information signal, said processor identifying a start portion of the information signal corresponding to the start time;

a recording storage device for recording the information signal; and

a recording control interface coupled to the information handling system for receiving a recording input command subsequent to the start time, causing said recording storage device to start recording from said buffer beginning from the start portion of the information signal.

16. An information handling system as claimed in claim 15, said recording control interface including a recording control device.

17. An information handling system as claimed in claim 15, said buffer comprising a hard disk drive of the information handling system.

18. An information handling system as claimed in claim 15, said recording storage device including a hard disk drive of the information handling system.

19. An information handling system as claimed in claim 15, said information signal being a video signal.

20. An information handling system as claimed in claim 15, the program of instructions executed by said processor causing said processor to compress the information signal stored by said buffer.

39. An information handling system as claimed in claim 15, said information signal being a streaming digital signal.

40. An information handling system as claimed in claim 39, wherein the streaming digital signal is streamed over the Internet.

21. An information handling system for storing an information signal for subsequent recording, comprising:

means for executing a program of instructions on the information handling system;

means, coupled to said executing means, for storing the program of instructions;

means for receiver the information signal from a start time;

means, operatively coupled to said receiving means, for storing at least a portion of the information signal, said executing means identifying a start portion of the information signal corresponding to the start time;

means for recording the information signal; and

means, coupled to the information handling system, for receiving a recording input command, subsequent to the start time, causing said recording means to start recording from said information signal storage means beginning from the start portion of the information signal.

22. An information handling system as claimed in claim 21, said recording means including a means for providing a control input to the information handling system.

23. An information handling system as claimed in claim 21, said information signal storing means comprising a hard disk drive of the information handling system.

24. An information handling system as claimed in claim 21, said recording means including a hard disk drive of the information handling system.

25. An information handling system as claimed in claim 21, said information signal being a video signal.

26. An information handling system as claimed in claim 21, the program of instructions executed by said executing means causing said executing means to compress the information signal stored by said information signal storing means.

41. An information handling system as claimed in claim 21, said information signal being a streaming digital signal.

42. An information handling system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the streaming digital signal is streamed over the Internet.