Program guide system for recording television programs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:
- means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
means for selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;
means for receiving a plurality of television channels;
means for tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and
means for directing the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:
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means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
means for selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;
means for receiving a plurality of television channels;
means for tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and
means for directing the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to selecting the first and second consecutive programs. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment configured to implement an interactive television program guide on user equipment, comprising:
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communications circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
tuner circuitry configured to receive a plurality of television channels; and
control circuitry configured to provide a user with an opportunity to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive program guide, and (a) to tune the tuner circuitry from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program and (b) to direct a video recorder to record the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A method for using an interactive program guide system in which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:
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receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;
receiving a plurality of television channels;
tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and
directing the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A machine readable medium comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:
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receiving television program guide information for use in an interactive television program guide;
providing a user with an opportunity to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on different channels from the interactive television program guide;
receiving a plurality of television channels;
tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and
recording the first and second programs and a trailing buffer segment immediately following the second program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided, comprising:
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means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
means for selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on first and second television channels, respectively, wherein the first and second television channels are different;
means for tuning to the first channel at a predetermined amount of time prior to a scheduled start time of the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs; and
means for tuning from the first channel to the second channel immediately following a scheduled end time of the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An interactive program guide system comprising user equipment configured to implement an interactive television program guide on user equipment, comprising:
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communications circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide; and
control circuitry configured to provide a user with an opportunity to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on first and second television channels, respectively, wherein the first and second television channels are different, and (a) to tune tuner circuitry to the first channel at a predetermined amount of time prior to a scheduled start time of the first program and (b) to tune the tuner circuitry from the first channel to the second channel immediately following a scheduled end time of the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for recording television programs, comprising:
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receiving television program guide information for use in an interactive television program guide;
selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on first and second television channels, respectively, wherein the first and second television channels are different;
tuning to the first channel at a predetermined amount of time prior to a scheduled start time of the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs; and
tuning from the first channel to the second channel immediately following a scheduled end time of the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A machine readable medium for recording television programs comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:
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receiving television program guide information for use in an interactive television program guide;
selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on first and second television channels, respectively, wherein the first and second television channels are different;
tuning to the first channel at a predetermined amount of time prior to a scheduled start time of the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs; and
tuning from the first channel to the second channel immediately following a scheduled end time of the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:
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means for receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
means for selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;
means for receiving a plurality of television channels;
means for tuning from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and
means for directing the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.
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22. An interactive program guide system including user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:
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communication circuitry configured to receive television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
a remote control that allows a user to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive program guide;
tuning circuitry configured to receive a plurality of television channels; and
control circuitry configured, in response to the user selecting the first and second consecutive programs, to (1) tune the tuning circuitry from the channel for the first program to the channel for the second program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program and (2) direct the video recorder to record the first and second programs and a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program.
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23. A method for recording programs using user equipment with which an interactive television program guide is provided and which includes a video recorder and a television, comprising:
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receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
selecting first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from the interactive television program guide;
receiving a plurality of television channels with tuning circuitry;
tuning the tuning circuitry from the channel for the first selected program to the channel for the second selected program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and
directing the video recorder to record the first and second selected programs and a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.
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24. A machine-readable medium for implementing an interactive television program guide comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for:
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receiving television program guide information for use in the interactive television program guide;
providing a user with an opportunity to select first and second consecutive programs for recording on different television channels from an interactive television program guide;
directing tuning circuitry to tune from a channel for the first selected program to a channel for the second selected program immediately following the scheduled completion of the first program; and
directing a video recorder to record the first and second selected programs and a leading buffer segment immediately prior to the first program in response to the selecting of the first and second consecutive programs.
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Specification