Method and apparatus for catch-up video viewing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for permitting a viewer to view previously recorded material and catch-up with a real time viewing of a program on a viewing device, comprising:
- a storing mechanism configured for simultaneously recording and playing back digital video and audio streams;
a controller configured for controlling said storing mechanism to record and play back the digital video and audio streams, said controller calculates an initial optimum accelerated playback speed comprising a catch-up speed to play back a portion of the video and audio streams that were not viewed, said initial optimum catch-up speed based upon a time in which the video and audio streams were unviewed so as to permit viewing at the catch-up speed that allows a viewer to catch-up to a real time viewing of the program, wherein said catch-up speed calculated by the controller includes taking into account a time period for commercials that are bypassed upon viewing at the catch-up speed; and
a playback mechanism operatively coupled between said storing mechanism and the viewing device configured for controlling a playback speed of the video and audio streams provided to the viewing device from said storage mechanism in accordance with the accelerated playback speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for catching-up on viewing a program on a viewing device. The apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a storing mechanism configured for simultaneously recording and playing back digital video and audio streams. A controller is configured to control the storing mechanism to record and play back the digital video and audio streams. The controller is also configured to determine an accelerated playback speed that allows a viewer to catch-up to a real time viewing of the program. A playback mechanism operatively coupled between the storing mechanism and the viewing device is configured to control a playback speed of the video and audio streams provided to the viewing device from the storage mechanism in accordance with the accelerated playback speed.
55 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for permitting a viewer to view previously recorded material and catch-up with a real time viewing of a program on a viewing device, comprising:
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a storing mechanism configured for simultaneously recording and playing back digital video and audio streams;
a controller configured for controlling said storing mechanism to record and play back the digital video and audio streams, said controller calculates an initial optimum accelerated playback speed comprising a catch-up speed to play back a portion of the video and audio streams that were not viewed, said initial optimum catch-up speed based upon a time in which the video and audio streams were unviewed so as to permit viewing at the catch-up speed that allows a viewer to catch-up to a real time viewing of the program, wherein said catch-up speed calculated by the controller includes taking into account a time period for commercials that are bypassed upon viewing at the catch-up speed; and
a playback mechanism operatively coupled between said storing mechanism and the viewing device configured for controlling a playback speed of the video and audio streams provided to the viewing device from said storage mechanism in accordance with the accelerated playback speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for permitting a viewer to catch-up to real time viewing of a program while viewing previously recorded material from said program on a viewing device, comprising the steps of:
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recording the program, when a first time instance is identified corresponding to a viewer not viewing the program;
calculating an accelerated playback speed comprising an initial optimum catch-up speed to play back a portion of the program in which the view did not view the program, said initial optimum catch-up speed calculated by a time period of the non-viewing so as to permit viewing at the optimum catch-up speed that allows a viewer to catch-up to a real time viewing of the program, said time period being based on at least a difference between the first time instance and a second time instance when the viewer is ready to resume viewing of the program so as to determine the initial optimum catch-up speed, wherein said catch-up speed calculated by the controller includes taking into account a time period for commercials that are bypassed upon viewing at the catch-up speed; and
playing back a portion of the program at the accelerated viewing speed while recording a subsequent portion of the program, until the viewer is caught-up to the real time viewing of the program. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for catching-up on viewing a program on a viewing device, comprising:
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first, second, and third magnetic tapes configured for storing video and audio streams thereon;
a playback mechanism configured for playing back the video and audio streams from said first, second, and third magnetic tapes on the viewing device;
a recording mechanism configured for recording the video and audio streams to said first, second, and third magnetic tapes;
a rewinding mechanism configured for rewinding said first, second, and third magnetic tapes; and
a controller configured for calculating an initial optimum accelerated playback speed comprising a catch-up speed so as to play back a portion of the video and audio streams that were not viewed/listened thereto, said initial optimum catch-up speed based upon a time in which the video and audio streams were unviewed so as to permit viewing at an accelerated playback speed that allows a viewer to catch-up to a real time viewing of the program, and for controlling said recording, playback, and rewinding mechanisms to cycle between recording, playback, and rewinding modes, respectively, until the viewer is caught up to the real time viewing of the program, wherein said controller controls said playback mechanism to playback the video and audio streams in accordance with the accelerated playback speed, and wherein said catch-up speed calculated by the controller includes taking into account a time for commercials that are bypassed upon viewing at the catch-up speed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for catching-up on viewing a program on a viewing device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) recording the program on a first magnetic tape, when a first time instance is identified corresponding to a viewer not viewing the program;
(b) recording the program on a second magnetic tape and rewinding the first magnetic tape, when a second time instance is identified corresponding to the viewer being ready to resume viewing of the program;
(c) calculating an accelerated viewing speed comprising an initial optimum catch-up speed to play back a portion of the video and audio streams that were not viewed, said initial optimum catch-up speed based upon a time in which the video and audio streams were unviewed so as to permit viewing at the catch-up speed so that the viewer can catch-up to a real time viewing of the program, the speed being based on at least a difference between the first and second time instances, wherein said catch-up speed calculated by the controller includes taking into account a time for commercials that are bypassed upon viewing at the catch-up speed;
(d) recording on a third magnetic tape, rewinding the second magnetic tape, and playing back the recorded program from the first magnetic tape;
(e) recording on the first magnetic tape, rewinding the third magnetic tape, and playing back the recorded program from the second magnetic tape;
(f) recording on the second magnetic tape, rewinding the first magnetic tape, and playing back the recorded program from the third magnetic tape;
(g) determining whether the viewer is caught up to the real time viewing of the program; and
(h) returning to step (d), when the viewer is not caught up to the real time viewing of the program. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification