Apparatus for timer recording of a program and method for timer recording of a program

• US 6,754,436 B1
• Filed: 03/23/1999
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Motoyoshi, Noboru, Shinagawa, Yasufumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHIEU, PO LIN
• Application Number:
  US09/274,363
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386/83, 348/734, 725/58, 455/185.1, 455/186.1
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/18 Driving; Starting; Stopping; Arrangements for control or regulation thereof G11B15/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A program timer-recording apparatus and a program timer-recording method times-activated record a desired program by operating less general-purpose keys. A recording apparatus includes a tuner unit (1), a tuner control unit (4), a VTR unit (13), a VTR control unit (5), a timer control unit (6), a key (2), a remote controller (3), a monitor (14) and a fluorescent display tube (15). The timer control unit (6) includes an easy timer-recording setting start unit (7) energized by data entered by a key to start an easy timer-recording setting mode to thereby effect an easy timer-recording input display, a present time setting unit 8 energized by data entered by the key to indicate a value concerning easy timer-recording on the easy timer-recording input display and which determines the value concerning easy-timer recording, a start time setting unit (9), an end time setting unit (10), a channel number setting unit (11) and a timer-recording memory unit (12) for memorizing a set value determined by the setting unit, whereby a program may be recorded by a simple operation.

Claims

1. A recording apparatus including a built-in display, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted by a broadcast station;

a recording means for recording said broadcast signal;

timer setting means for setting a timer for recording a desired program carried by said broadcast signal; and

a control unit for controlling said recording means so that said recording means records said desired program in response to said setting of said timer setting means by a user, wherein said recording apparatus operates in one of a normal timer setting mode and an easy timer setting mode, wherein

when the user selects the easy timer setting mode, said timer is set using a menu displayed on said built-in display based on input of a present time, a start time, an end time, and a channel number of said desired program to be recorded, and

the user is always prompted by said menu displayed on said built-in display to input said present time when said recording apparatus is in the easy timer setting mode.

2. The recording apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said normal timer setting mode sets said timer by using a day of the week, a start time, an end time and a channel number of said desired program and said easy timer setting mode sets said timer by using the present time, the start time, the end time and the channel number of said desired program.

3. The recording apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said timer setting means includes input means for entering predetermined data and display means for displaying a predetermined display in response to said predetermined data entered with said input means.

4. The recording apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said input means includes a set key and said easy timer setting mode is started by depressing said set key.

5. The recording apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said input means includes an up-key and a value displayed on said display means is sequentially incremented in response to a number of times said up-key is depressed.

6. The recording apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said input means includes a down-key and a value displayed on said display means is sequentially decremented in response to a number of times said down-key is depressed.

7. The recording apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said input means includes a rotary element and a value displayed on said display means is one of sequentially incremented and sequentially decremented in response to a rotation of said rotary element.

8. The recording apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said input means includes a digital key and said display means displays a numeral value in response to a depression of said digital key.

9. The recording apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein a value displayed by said display means is determined by depressing said set key during a display in said easy timer setting mode.

10. A recording method for receiving a broadcast signal transmitted by a broadcast station and for recording said broadcast signal in a recording apparatus including a built-in display, said recording method comprising:

a timer setting step for enabling a user to set a timer for recording a desired program carried by said broadcast signal;

a recording step for recording said desired program in response to said setting at said timer setting step, wherein said timer setting step includes a normal timer setting mode and an easy timer setting mode, wherein

when the user selects said easy timer setting mode, said timer is set using a menu displayed on said built-in display based on an input of a present time, a start time, an end time, and a channel number of said desired program, and

the user is always prompted by said menu displayed on said built-in display to input said present time when said recording apparatus is in the easy timer setting mode.

11. The recording method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said normal timer setting mode sets said timer by using a day of week, said start time, said end time and said channel number of said desired program and said easy timer setting mode sets said timer by using said present time, said start time, said end time and said channel number of said desired program.

12. The recording method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said timer setting step includes an input step for entering predetermined data for setting said timer and a display step for displaying a predetermined value in response to said predetermined data entered at said input step.

13. The recording method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said easy timer setting mode is started by depressing a set key at said input step.

14. The recording method as set forth in claim 12, wherein a value displayed at said display step is sequentially incremented in response to a number of times an up-key is depressed at said input step.

15. The recording method as set forth in claim 12, wherein a value displayed at said display step is sequentially decremented in response to a number of times a down-key is depressed at said input step.

16. The recording method as set forth in claim 12, wherein a value displayed at said display step is one of sequentially incremented and sequentially decremented in response to a rotation of a rotary element at said input step.

17. The recording method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said display step displays a numeral value in response to a depression of a digital key at said input step.

18. The recording method as set forth in claim 13, wherein a value displayed at said display step is determined by depressing said set key during a display in said easy timer setting mode.