Systems and methods for providing continuous recording of repeating programming
First Claim
1. In a video recording system that is configured to receive television programming and that includes a recording medium for preserving video data that represents the television programming, a method for selectively maintaining a most recent version of a repeating television program, comprising:
- receiving input from a viewer identifying a repeating program for which a most recent version is to be maintained, wherein the repeating program corresponds with multiple versions of the repeating program that are broadcast to the video recording system, each of the multiple versions providing more current information than a previously broadcast version of the repeating program;
receiving and recording, in entirety, a full and recent version of the repeating program at the video recording system;
receiving and recording a more recent version of the repeating program at the video recording system; and
upon determining that the more recent version is a full version of the repeating program, automatically discarding the recent broadcast version; and
upon determining that the more recent version is not a full version of the repeating program, automatically discarding the more recent broadcast version.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for continuously and selectively recording a repeating program to provide a viewer instant access to a recent version of the repeating program without having to wait until the next start time, and to allow the viewer to only view the specific segments of the repeating program that the viewer desires to watch. Programming information used to control the recording of the repeating programs is obtained from an electronic programming guide (“EPG”). Alternatively, the programming information, such as information relating to emergency warnings, is not scheduled and thus is not included in a programming guide. Repeating programs may be divided into segments and an overlay may be used to allow a viewer to quickly and easily view a segment of interest. The recording can be performed by home entertainment systems that include one tuner or systems that include multiple tuners. When a plurality of tuners are available, a viewer may use one tuner to watch or record programming, while at the same time the other tuners may be used to perform the continuous recording of repeating programs.
97 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a video recording system that is configured to receive television programming and that includes a recording medium for preserving video data that represents the television programming, a method for selectively maintaining a most recent version of a repeating television program, comprising:
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receiving input from a viewer identifying a repeating program for which a most recent version is to be maintained, wherein the repeating program corresponds with multiple versions of the repeating program that are broadcast to the video recording system, each of the multiple versions providing more current information than a previously broadcast version of the repeating program;
receiving and recording, in entirety, a full and recent version of the repeating program at the video recording system;
receiving and recording a more recent version of the repeating program at the video recording system; and
upon determining that the more recent version is a full version of the repeating program, automatically discarding the recent broadcast version; and
upon determining that the more recent version is not a full version of the repeating program, automatically discarding the more recent broadcast version. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 28)
receiving and recording a full version of the repeating program that is more recent than the recent version; and
discarding the recent version.
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10. In a recording system that includes a tuner for receiving television programming and a recording medium for recording data associated with the television programming, wherein the data includes video and audio components, and wherein the television programming includes a repeating program, a method for recording the repeating program so as to provide a viewer instant access to the repeating program, the method comprising the acts of:
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identifying a start time of a first repeating program and a second repeating program;
recording a current version of said first repeating program on the recording medium if a previous version of said first repeating program saved on the recording medium is less recent than a previous version of said second repeating program saved on the recording medium; and
recording a current version of said second repeating program on the recording medium if a previous version of said second repeating program saved on the recording medium is less recent than a previous version of said first repeating program saved on the recording medium;
receiving input from a viewer requesting access to one of said first repeating program and said second repeating program; and
in response to said viewer input, initiating playback and display of a recent broadcast version of one of said first repeating program and said second repeating program on a display device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A recording system for association with a home entertainment system that may be implemented to continuously record a repeating television program, the recording system comprising:
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a recorder for recording video data on one or more recording media, a receiver for receiving broadcast programming that is broadcast over one or more channels, and a tuner for tuning to a channel over which a repeating program is broadcast, the recording system being configured to perform a method for selectively maintaining a most recent version of the repeating television program, the method comprising;
receiving input from a viewer identifying a repeating program for which a most recent version is to be maintained, wherein the repeating program corresponds with multiple versions of the repeating program that are broadcast to the video recording system, each of the multiple versions providing more current information than a previously broadcast version of the repeating program;
receiving and recording a recent versions of the repeating television program at the video recording system;
receiving and recording a more recent version of the repeating program at the video recording system; and
upon determining that the more recent version is a full version of the repeating program, automatically discarding the recent broadcast version; and
upon determining that the more recent version is not a full version of the repeating program, automatically discarding the more recent broadcast version. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A computer program product for implementing within a home entertainment system a method for recording a repeating program so as to provide a viewer instant access to the repeating program, wherein the computer system includes a client and a plurality of servers, the computer program product comprising:
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one or more computer readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for selectively maintaining a most recent version of the repeating television program, the method comprising;
receiving input from a viewer identifying a repeating program for which a most recent version is to be maintained, wherein the repeating program corresponds with multiple versions of the repeating program that are broadcast to the video recording system, each of the multiple versions providing more current information than a previously broadcast version of the repeating program;
receiving and recording a recent versions of the repeating television program at the video recording system;
receiving and recording a more recent version of the repeating program at the video recording system; and
upon determining that the more recent version is a full version of the repeating program, automatically discarding the recent broadcast version; and
upon determining that the more recent version is not a full version of the repeating program, automatically discarding the more recent broadcast version. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29)
receiving and recording a full version of the repeating program that is more recent than the recent version; and
discarding the recent version.
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Specification