Multi-user video hard disk recorder

• US 6,564,005 B1
• Filed: 01/28/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/239,247
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/83, 386/95, 386/111, 386/112, 386/125, 386/94, 345/327
• US Class Current: 386/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• 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 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• 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 multi-user system, method, and computer-usable medium facilitate time-shifting of television program viewing for users. Each user is identified by an associated user profile, and a program schedule, including a list of desired programs to be recorded, is maintained for each user. The television programs are recorded and stored on a hard disk, or other nonvolatile storage, for later viewing by the users. The television programs are preferably stored in a compressed format. Each user can log into the system, at his convenience, and view any of the television programs that have been recorded for him. There is no shuffling through numerous videocassette tapes or skipping over other users'"'"' recorded programs to find a desired television program. An option may be used to specify how long to save a recorded television program before it can be erased and overwritten with another program. A master user or users, such as a parent or parents, can add a new user to the system by setting up a new user profile. The master user may set options or restrictions for the new user. If a permanent copy of a television program is desired, it can be written to another medium, such as a compact disk, a DVD, or a videocassette tape.

Claims

1. A method for recording and playing television programs for a plurality of users, comprising:

creating a plurality of user profilers for the plurality of users, wherein each user profile contains one or more recording options and one or more playback options for a corresponding user;

creating a plurality of program schedules, wherein each program schedule contains data regarding one or more selected television programs to be recorded for a corresponding user;

recording the selected television programs as they air according to a corresponding user profile, wherein said recording includes saving the selected television programs in a nonvolatile storage;

in response to a play request from a first user, displaying a play list, wherein the play list contains one or more available television programs that have been saved for the first user; and

in response to a play list selection from the first user, playing a selected one of the television programs that have been saved for the first user on the nonvolatile storage according to the first user profile.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the play list selection from the first user, determining if playing the selected television program for the first user violates any of the playback options in a first user profile; and

in response to said determining, if playing the selected television program does not violate any of the playback options in the first user profile, then playing the selected television program.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said creating a plurality of program schedules further comprises:

receiving a request from the first user to record a desired television program;

in response to said receiving, determining if recording the desired television program for the first user violates any of the recording options in the first user profile;

in response to said determining, if recording the desired television program does not violate any of the recording options in the first user profile, then adding data regarding the desired television program to the first user'"'"'s program schedule.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user profiles are created in response to one or more requests from a master user.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the recording options include a number of television hours that may be recorded within a designated time period.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the recording options include a content restriction, wherein the content restriction determines a type of television program that may be recorded.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the playback options include a playback time restriction, wherein the playback time restriction indicates a time period in which television programs may be played.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a play request from a second user;

in response to said receiving, determining if a current time is within the time period in which television programs may be played for the second user; and

in response to said determining, if the current time is within the time period in which television programs may be played for the second user, then displaying the play list.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said recording further comprises:

receiving a television program signal into a tuner;

separating the television program signal into an audio signal and a video signal;

digitizing the audio signal into a digitized audio signal;

digitizing the video signal into a digitized video signal;

compressing the digitized audio signal into a compressed, digitized audio signal;

compressing the digitized video signal into a compressed, digitized audio signal; and

saving the compressed, digitized audio signal and the compressed, digitized video signal as one or more files on a hard disk.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said playing further comprises:

obtaining the files associated with the selected television program from the hard disk;

decompressing the compressed, digitized video signal into an uncompressed, digitized video signal;

decompressing the compressed, digitized audio signal into an uncompressed, digitized audio signal;

converting the uncompressed, digitized video signal into an analog video signal;

converting the uncompressed, digitized audio signal into an analog audio signal;

playing the analog video signal on a video display screen; and

playing the analog audio signal through a speaker.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said recording further comprises:

receiving a television program signal from a satellite, wherein the television program signal includes a compressed, digital audio signal and a compressed, digital video signal; and

saving the compressed, digital audio signal and the compressed, digital video signal as one or more files on a hard disk.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a save request from a third user to save a particular television program to a selected alternate storage; and

in response to said receiving, saving the particular television program in the selected alternate storage.

36. A method according to claim 4, wherein the master user sets the recording and playback options for one or more of the user profiles.

13. A multi-user video recording system, comprising:

means for receiving television program signals;

a nonvolatile storage;

means for creating a plurality of user profiles, for the plurality of users wherein each user profile contains one or more recording options and one or more playback options for a corresponding user;

means for creating a plurality of program schedules, wherein each program schedule contains data regarding one or more selected television programs to be recorded for a corresponding user;

means for recording the selected television programs as they air, according to a corresponding user profile wherein said means for recording includes means for saving the selected television programs in said nonvolatile storage;

means for displaying a first play list, wherein the first play list contains one or more available television programs that have been saved for a first user; and

means for playing a selected one of the television programs that have been saved for the first user or the nonvolatile storage according to the first user profiles.

14. A system according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for determining if playing the selected television program for the first user violates any of the playback options in a first user profile.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein said means for creating a plurality of program schedules further comprises:

means for receiving a request from the first user to record a desired television program;

means for determining if recording the desired television program for the first user violates any of the recording options in the first user profile; and

means for adding data regarding the desired television program to the first user'"'"'s program schedule.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the user profiles are created in response to one or more requests from a master user.

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein the recording options include a number of television hours that may be recorded within a designated time period.

18. A system according to claim 13, wherein the recording options include a content restriction, wherein the content restriction determines a type of television program that may be recorded.

19. A system according to claim 13, wherein the playback options include a playback time restriction, wherein the playback time restriction indicates a time period in which television programs may be played.

20. A system according to claim 13, wherein said means for recording further comprises:

means for separating a received television program signal into an audio signal and a video signal;

means for digitizing the audio signal into a digitized audio signal;

means for digitizing the video signal into a digitized video signal;

means for compressing the digitized audio signal into a compressed, digitized audio signal;

means for compressing the digitized video signal into a compressed, digitized audio signal; and

means for saving the compressed, digitized audio signal and the compressed, digitized video signal as one or more files on a hard disk.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said playing further comprises:

means for obtaining the files associated with the selected television program from the hard disk;

means for decompressing the compressed, digitized video signal into an uncompressed, digitized video signal;

means for decompressing the compressed, digitized audio signal into an uncompressed, digitized audio signal;

means for converting the uncompressed, digitized video signal into an analog video signal;

means for converting the uncompressed, digitized audio signal into an analog audio signal;

a video display screen for playing the analog video signal; and

a speaker for playing the analog audio signal.

22. A system according to claim 13, wherein said means for recording further comprises:

a tuner/video capture circuit for separating a received television program signal into an audio signal and a video signal, and for digitizing the video signal into a digitized video signal;

a compression circuit for compressing the digitized video signal into a compressed, digitized video signal;

a sound support circuit for digitizing the audio signal into a digitized audio signal, and for compressing the digitized audio signal into a compressed, digitized audio signal; and

means for saving the compressed, digitized audio signal and the compressed, digitized video signal on a hard disk as one or more MPEG-2 files.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said means for receiving television program signals comprises an antenna connected to said tuner/video capture circuit.

24. A system according to claim 22, wherein said means for receiving television program signals comprises a cable connected to said tuner/video capture circuit.

25. A system according to claim 13, wherein said means for receiving television program signals comprises a satellite receiver, for receiving the television program signals from a satellite, wherein the television program signals include compressed, digital audio signals and compressed, digital video signals.

26. A system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an alternate storage;

means for receiving a save request from a third user to save a particular television program to said alternate storage; and

means for saving the particular television program in said alternate storage.

37. A system according to claim 16, further comprising means for the master user to set the recording and playback options for one or more of the user profiles.

38. A computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising means for the master user to set the recording and playback options for one or more of the user profiles.

27. A computer program product on computer-usable media, for use in recording and playing television programs for a plurality of users, comprising:

means for creating a plurality of user profiles for the plurality of used wherein each user profile contains one or more recording options and one or more playback options for a corresponding user;

means for creating a plurality of program schedules, wherein each program schedule contains data regarding one or more selected television programs to be recorded for a corresponding user;

means for causing the selected television programs to be recorded as they air according to a corresponding user profile and, wherein the selected television programs are saved in a nonvolatile storage;

means for displaying a play list, wherein the play list is displayed in response to a play request from a first user, and wherein the play list contains one or more available television programs that have been saved for the first user; and

means for playing a selected one of the television programs that have been saved for the first user on the nonvolatile storage according to the first user profile.

28. A computer program product according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for determining if playing the selected television program for the first user violates any of the playback options in a first user profile.

29. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said means for creating a plurality of program schedules further comprises:

means for receiving a request from the first user to record a desired television program;

means for determining if recording the desired television program for the first user violates any of the recording options in the first user profile; and

means for adding data regarding the desired television program to the first user'"'"'s program schedule.

30. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the user profiles are created in response to one or more requests from a master user.

31. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the recording options include a number of television hours that may be recorded within a designated time period.

32. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the recording options include a content restriction, wherein the content restriction determines a type of television program that may be recorded.

33. A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the playback options include a playback time restriction, wherein the playback time restriction indicates a time period in which television programs may be played.

34. A computer program product according to claim 33, further comprising:

means for receiving a play request from a second user; and

means for determining if a current time is within the time period in which television programs may be played for the second user.

35. A computer program product according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for receiving a save request from a third user to save a particular television program to a selected alternate storage; and

means for saving the particular television program in the selected alternate storage.