Intelligent scheduled recording and program reminders for recurring events

• US 6,549,929 B1
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc. (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): VOELTZ, EMANUEL T
• Application Number:
  US09/324,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 725/28, 725/39, 725/109, 709/102
• US Class Current: 718/102
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A user interface using program scheduling information for selecting programs and determining whether to schedule an event based on the program scheduling information associated with the selected program. The event is scheduled if the program name is in a predetermined time slot of the program scheduling information. Accordingly, if the program name is not in the predetermined time slot, the interface will not schedule an event, such as a recording or a program reminder, for the selected program. Further, if the interface determines the program name resides in a different time slot within the program scheduling information, the event will be rescheduled using the new time slot associated with the selected program within the program scheduling information.

Claims

1. A method, in a system having program scheduling information, comprising the following steps:

selecting a program from said program scheduling information;

verifying that said program has not already been stored in said system; and

if it is verified that said program has not already been stored in said system, then comparing a program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information; and

if it is verified that said program has not already been stored in said system, determining whether to schedule at least one event for said selected program for at least one predetermined time slot based upon results of comparing said program identifier for said selected to said program scheduling information.

2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining step further includes scheduling at least one event for said predetermined time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier in said predetermined time slot.

3. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one event is a periodic recurring event, said periodic recurring event including a periodic recurring function.

4. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one event is a record event, said record event including a record function.

5. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one event is a remind event, said remind event including a remind function.

6. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining step further includes rescheduling at least one event for at least one new time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier in at least one time slot different than said predetermined time slot.

7. The method, as recited in claim 6, further including notifying a user of said rescheduling of at least one event.

8. The method, as recited in claim 6, wherein said rescheduling further includes rescheduling at least one event within the same day as said predetermined time slot.

9. The method, as recited in claim 6, wherein said rescheduling includes rescheduling at least one event for the same channel as said predetermined time slot.

10. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining step further includes canceling said at least one event based upon results of comparing said program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information.

11. The method, as recited in claim 10, further includes notifying a user that said at least one event has been canceled.

12. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said program scheduling information comprises a program day, a program date, a program identifier, a program channel, a program air time and a program duration.

13. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein said program scheduling information further consists of one or more of the following:

recurrence period;

episode description;

episode number;

closed caption information;

ratings information;

web address information;

hyperlinks;

internet information;

simulcast information;

audio format information;

subtitle information;

original film format information;

multiple view angle information;

or

foreign subtitle information.

14. The method, as recited in claim 1, further including the step of selecting at least one event for said selected program.

15. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein said program scheduling information is stored within an electronic program guide database.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a program from said program scheduling information occurs is accomplished through audio input.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the audio input occurs from a voice transmitted through a phone.

32. The method of claim 12, wherein said program scheduling

information further consists of one or more of the following:

closed caption information;

simulcast information;

audio format information;

subtitle information;

original film format information;

multiple viewing angle information;

or

foreign subtitle information.

34. The method of claim 12, wherein said scheduling information further includes audio format information.

16. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably coupled to said processor; and

a user interface comprising program scheduling information configured for enabling a user to select a program from said program scheduling information; and

said system capable of comparing a program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information, verifying if the program has already been stored in the system; and

, if it is verified that the program has not already been stored in the system, determining whether to schedule at least one event for said selected program for at least one predetermined time slot based upon results of comparing said program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information.

17. The system, as defined in claim 16, further comprising:

a display means capable of displaying a cursor, and

a cursor control device capable of controlling said cursor on said display means.

18. The system, as recited in claim 17, wherein said user interface is further configured for enabling, the user to schedule at least one event for said predetermined time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier in said predetermined time slot.

19. The system, as recited in claim 18, wherein said user interface is further configured to include a periodic recurring event having an associated periodic recurring function.

20. The system, as recited in claim 18, wherein said user interface is further configured to include a record event having an associated record function.

21. The system, as recited in claim 18, wherein said user interface is further configured to include a remind event having an associated remind function.

22. The system, as recited in claim 18, wherein said user interface is further configured to reschedule said at least one event for at least one new time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier in at least one time slot different than said predetermined time slot.

23. The system, as recited in claim 22, wherein said user interface is further configured to notify the user of said rescheduling of said at least one event.

24. The system, as recited in claim 18, wherein said user interface is further configured to include canceling said at least one event based upon said results of comparing said program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information.

25. The system, as recited in claim 24, wherein said user interface is further configured to notify the user of said cancellation of said at least one event.

26. The system, as recited in claim 16, wherein said program scheduling information comprising a program day, a program date, a program identifier, a program channel, a program air time and a program duration.

27. The system, as recited in claim 26, wherein said program scheduling information further consists of one or more of the following:

recurrence period;

episode description;

episode number;

closed caption information;

ratings information;

web address information;

hyperlinks;

internet information;

simulcast information;

audio format information;

subtitle information;

original film format information;

multiple view angle information;

or

foreign subtitle information.

35. The method of claim 16, wherein the memory includes a CD/DVD jukebox.

28. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions, said program of instructions implementing the following:

taking a selected program from program scheduling information;

comparing a program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information;

verifying if the program has already been stored;

if it is verified that the program has not already been stored in the system, determining whether to schedule at least one event for said program for at least one predetermined time slot based upon results of comparing said program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information; and

if it is verified that the program has not already been stored in the system, scheduling at least one event for said predetermined time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier in said predetermined time slot or rescheduling at least one event for at least one new time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier in at least one time slot different than said predetermined time slot.

29. A signal embodied in a propagation medium, said signal comprising:

at least one instruction capable of selecting a program from program scheduling information;

at least one instruction capable of comparing a program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information;

at least one instruction capable of verifying if the selected program has already been stored;

at least one instruction configured to determine whether to schedule at least one event for said program for at least one predetermined time slot based upon results of comparing said program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information, and

at least one instruction configured to reschedule at least one event for at least one new time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier in at least one time slot different than said predetermined time slot.

33. The method of 12, wherein said program scheduling information further consists of one or more of the following:

closed caption information;

subtitle information;

or

foreign subtitle information.

36. A method, in a system having program scheduling information, comprising:

selecting a program from said program scheduling information;

comparing a program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information;

determining whether to schedule at least one event for said selected program for at least one predetermined time slot based upon results of comparing said program identifier for said selected program scheduling information;

rescheduling the at least one event for at least one new time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier is in at least one time slot and not in said predetermined time slot; and

notifying a user if the at least one event is rescheduled.

37. A system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory operably coupled to said processor; and

a user interface comprising program scheduling information configured for enabling a user to select a program from said program scheduling information; and

said system capable of comparing a program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information, determining whether to schedule at least one event for said selected program for at least one predetermined time slot based upon results of comparing said program identifier for said selected program to said program scheduling information, rescheduling the at least one event for at least one new time slot if said program scheduling information indicates said program identifier is in at least one time slot and not in said predetermined time slot, and notifying the user if the at least one event is rescheduled.