System for time-shifting events in a multi-channel convergence system

• US 6,507,951 B1
• Filed: 01/05/1998
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amiga Development LLC
• Inventors: Wugofski, Theodore D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALCE, JASON P
• Application Number:
  US09/002,580
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/38, 725/39, 725/47, 725/48, 725/59, 725/80, 725/133, 348/553, 348/555, 348/570, 348/554, 348/558, 348/705, 348/706
• US Class Current: 725/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• 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 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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

Abstract

An architecture for convergence systems is disclosed. The architecture includes a hardware component providing a convergence environment. A channel map services component includes a listing of receivers of programming associated with the convergence environment and a listing of channels associated with the receivers. A content services component includes a listing of programming events associated with the channels of the receivers. The content services component also includes a listing of the times of programming events. A TV services component uses the channel map services component, and the content services component to control the hardware component of the convergence environment to manage the hardware component of the convergence environment. The TV services component controls the audio/video multiplexer to reroute programing signals from receivers to outputs of the audio/video multiplexer and various devices attached to the outputs, at various times. When a conflict resolution requires time-shifting of one of the programming events, the TV services component may inform the user and seek input regarding the time-shift solution. Conflicts are resolved with minimal user intervention.

Claims

1. A computerized convergence system comprising:

a system audio/video multiplexer;

a plurality of programming receivers communicatively coupled to inputs of said system audio/video multiplexer, said plurality of programming receivers each producing one or more programming signals;

a plurality of outputs communicatively coupled to said system audio/video multiplexer;

a multiplexer controller communicatively coupled to said system audio/video multiplexer, said multiplexer controller controlling the connections of each one of the programming receivers to each one of the plurality of outputs;

a TV services component interfacing with the multiplexer controller, said TV services component determining the programming signals associated with each of said programming receivers and controlling said multiplexer controller to connect selected programming signals to the outputs communicatively coupled to the system audio/video multiplexer, at a first time and at a second time.

2. The computerized system of claim 1 wherein the TV services component controls the multiplexer controller to connect selected programming signals to the outputs based on the time and on availability of the selected programing signals to the programming receiver and based on the availability of the hardware communicatively coupled to the output.

3. The computerized system of claim 2, wherein said TV services component is communicatively coupled to a state database, said state database including information regarding which program sources are selected into the various outputs at the first time and at the second time.

4. The computerized system of claim 1 further comprising:

a state database for determining which program sources are selected into the various outputs,

a channel map database which assigns logical channel numbers to a channel of a program receiver and a source of programming,

a content services component for determining the availability of selected programming signals to one or more programming receivers, wherein said TV services component is communicatively coupled to the state database, the channel map database, and the content services component, said TV services component

determining a conflict condition where there are requests for two programming signals from a first programming receiver;

searching the content services component for an alternative source of programming signals from a second programming receiver at a second time; and

connecting the second programming receiver to the selected output by changing the state database to reflect the second time.

5. A method for controlling a convergence system having a first receiver and a second receiver communicatively coupled to a multiplexer and inputting program signals to said multiplexer, and having a plurality of devices communicatively coupled to said multiplexer, the outputs of said multiplexer inputting programming signals to said devices, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a conflict condition at a first time where there are requests for a first programming signal and a second programming signal from a first programming receiver;

searching for an alternative source of programming signals from a second programming receiver, said alternative source of programming signals occurring at a second time; and

connecting the second programming receiver to the selected device at the second time to resolve the conflict.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of searching for an alternative source of programming signals further comprises the step of searching for additional sources of the first programming signal and the second programming signal using an electronic program guide.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of searching for an alternative source of programming signals further comprises the step of determining if the receivers attached to the multiplexer correspond to the additional sources of the first programming signal and the second programming signal.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of searching for an alternative source of programming signals further comprises the steps of:

determining the additional receivers attached to the multiplexer; and

searching the additional receivers for the first programming signal and the second programming signal using an electronic program guide.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of connecting the second programming receiver to the selected device to resolve the conflict is done under software control of the multiplexer.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of assuring that the input source of programming and the connection to the output is available at the delayed time.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of replacing the start time of associated time-shifted program from a first time to a second time.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of updating the source and the channel of the source to the alternate source of the time-shifted program.

13. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of informing the user of the conflict and a solution that includes time-shifting a program from a first time to a second time.

14. A computerized convergence system comprising:

a hardware component providing a convergence environment;

a channel map services component providing a listing of receivers of programming associated with the convergence environment and a listing of channels associated with the receivers;

an content services component further comprising;

a listing of programming events;

a listing of times associated with programming events; and

a listing of programming sources and associated channels; and

,

a TV services component communicatively coupled to the channel map services component, and the content services component, and interfacing with the hardware component of the convergence environment to manage the hardware component of the convergence environment, said TV services component shifting the start times of programming events.

15. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein the TV services component further comprises a TV state database that associates the inputs of the hardware component to the outputs of the hardware component at a first time and at a second time.

16. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein the TV services component further comprises a database which associates start times for various programming events to inputs of the hardware component and to the outputs of the hardware component.

17. The computerized system of claim 14, further comprising an application programming interface, wherein the application programming interface is communicatively coupled to the television services component.