Field upgradeable recording device

• US 6,654,546 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc. (Masimo Corporation)
• Inventors: Self, Matthew, Carhart, Tom, Levin, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/412,994
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.585, H04/N.5781, 360/125, 360/126, 360/124, 360/105, 360/106, 360/95, 360/52, 360/45, 360/46, 360/1, 360/40, 360/4, 369/13.56, 369/30.01, 369/30.03
• US Class Current: 386/299
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing

Abstract

A method and apparatus providing for field upgrade of storage capacity in a recording device. The recording device is manufactured with a storage unit having a storage capacity of X (where X may be, for example, 5 GB). Access to the full storage capacity of the storage unit is limited at the time of manufacture and a user of the device may upgrade the device to gain access to additional storage capacity of the storage unit.

Claims

1. A method of providing for field upgrade of storage capacity in a recording device comprising:

a) manufacturing the recording device with a storage unit having a capacity X;

b) limiting access by the recording device to less than the full storage capacity of the storage unit at the time of manufacture; and

c) allowing a user of the device to upgrade the device to gain access to additional storage capacity of the storage unit.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the storage unit is a disk drive.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user is required to pay an additional charge in order to gain access to additional storage capacity of the storage unit.

4. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein the recording device records video signals.

5. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein the user upgrades the device over a communication connection with a service.

6. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein the user upgrades the device over a telephonic communication connection with a service.

7. The method as recited by claim 6 wherein the telephonic communication connection is provided over a modem.

8. A method of selling a recording devices comprising:

a) selling a first line of recording devices having a storage capacity of X for price M;

b) selling a second line of recording devices having a storage capacity of X for price N, N is less than M, the second line of recording devices limiting access to less than the full storage capacity of the device.

9. The method as recited by claim 8 wherein the second line of recording devices allow for field upgrade of their storage capacity.

10. The method as recited by claim 9 wherein a charge is made for field upgrades of the second line of recording devices.

11. The method as recited by claim 10 wherein the charge for upgrade of the second line of recording devices is greater than M minus N.

12. The method as recited by claim 9 wherein the recording device records video signals.

13. The method as recited by claim 9 wherein the field upgrades are accomplished using a communication connection with a service.

14. The method as recited by claim 9 wherein the field upgrades are accomplished using a telephonic communication connection with a service.

15. The method as recited by claim 9 wherein the telephonic communication connection is provided over a modem.

16. A recording device comprising:

a) means for receiving information to be recorded;

b) storage means for storing the information, the storage means having a capacity X;

c) control means for controlling access to the storage means so that less than the full capacity of the storage means may be accessed by the recording device.

17. The recording device as recited by claim 16 wherein the storage means is a disk drive.

18. The recording device as recited by claim 16 wherein the means for receiving information is a video input.

19. The recording device as recited by claim 16 wherein control means comprises a program which when executed on a processor controls access to the storage means.

20. The recording device as recited by claim 16 further comprising a communication connection to a service which can modify the control means to allow access to additional storage capacity of the storage means.

21. The recording device as recited by claim 16 wherein the communication connection is a telephonic connection.

22. The recording device as recited by claim 16 wherein the communication connection is a telephonic connection over a modem.

23. A recording device comprising:

a) a disk drive having capacity X;

b) a processor;

c) a stored program which when executed by the processor controls access to the disk drive such that the processor may access either the full capacity X of the disk drive if the stored program is operating in a first mode or less than the full capacity X of the disk drive if the stored program is operating in a second mode.

24. The recording device as recited by claim 23 wherein the stored program may be altered to operate in the first mode if it was originally programmed to operate in the second mode.

25. The recording device as recited by claim 23 wherein the program may be altered by a service over a communication connection with the recording device.

26. The recording device as recited by claim 23 wherein the program may be altered by a service over a telephonic communication connection with the recording device.

27. The recording device as recited by claim 23 wherein the recording device further comprises a telephonic connection.

28. The recording device as recited by claim 23 wherein the recording device further comprises a modem.

29. The recording device as recited by claim 23 wherein the recording device records video signals on the disk.