Systems and methods using multiple tuners

• US 6,804,824 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yaksick, Jeffrey D., Smith, Geoffrey R., Potrebic, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BELIVEAU, SCOTT E
• Application Number:
  US09/607,045
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 348/720, 348/731, 348/732, 348/569, 725/27, 725/41, 725/38
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8549 Creating video summaries, e.g. movie trailer retrieval in video databases by using presentations in form of a video summary G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

The present invention enhances a user experience by using multiple tuners to simultaneously tune multiple channels. The multiple tuners channels included in programming content, so that a user is able to rapidly tune the channels without having to wait. Other features include the ability to simultaneously record conflicting programs. Each tuner can tune to a separate channel and either display and/or record that channel. The multiple tuners also allow a snapshot of recent channels to be maintained and updated such that a user can be apprised of the current content of those channels without having to separately tune each channel.

Claims

1. In a set top box receiving programming content, the programming content having a plurality of channels, a method of allowing a user to preview channel content while reducing tuning latency, the method comprising the acts of:

tuning a first channel with a first tuner, the first channel being selected by a user from the plurality of channels;

with a second tuner, maintaining an updated preview of one or more of the plurality of channels which are not currently tuned, the updated preview representing current content of the one or more channels;

displaying the updated preview of the one or more channels for user selection so that the user is able to quickly review the current content of the one or more channels simultaneously without having to select and tune each of those channels individually;

based on at least a display arrangement of the updated preview of the one or more channels and any received user input relative to the display arrangement, predicting user selection of a second channel which is not currently tuned; and

tuning the second channel for viewing with the second tuner prior to user selection of the second channel so that when the second channel is selected, delay associated with tuning the second channel is reduced because the second tuner already tunes the second channel for viewing.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising acts of:

receiving user input selecting the second channel;

displaying the second channel; and

tuning a next channel using the first tuner while the second channel is displayed to the user.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the act of tuning the next channel is initiated prior to receiving user input selecting the next channel.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the next channel is predicted by selecting, from the plurality of channels, a channel that is incrementally related to the second channel.

5. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the next channel is predicted by selecting, from the plurality of channels, a channel that is decrementally related to the second channel.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the act of tuning, by the first and second tuners, alternate channels as the user sequentially cycles through the plurality of channels.

7. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the programming content is encoded in a digital format, and wherein the acts of tuning a second channel, receiving user input selecting the second channel, and displaying the second channel are conducted such that the second channel is displayed immediately and without latency upon receiving the user input.

8. In a system receiving programming content including a plurality of channels encoded in a digital format, a method of reducing latency when tuning a channel, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving the plurality of channels at the set top box;

tuning a first channel with a first tuner;

periodically tuning, with a second tuner, one or more of the plurality of channels included in the programming;

storing a preview of the one or more channels periodically tuned with the second tuner, the preview representing current content for the one or more channels when the one or more channels are not otherwise tuned;

displaying the preview of the one or more channels so that a user can review the current content of the one or more channels simultaneously, without having to select and tune each of the one or more channels individually;

based on at least a display arrangement of the preview of the one or more channels and any received user input relative to the display arrangement, predicting user selection of a second channel which is not currently tuned; and

tuning the second channel for viewing with the second tuner prior to user selection of the second channel so that if the second channel is selected, delay otherwise associated with tuning the second channel is reduced because the second tuner already tunes the second channel for viewing.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising an act of sequentially tuning, with at least the first and second turners, the plurality of channels included in the programming content, wherein a current channel included in the plurality of channels is tuned by the first tuner and a next channel is tuned by the second tuner in alternating fashion, the next channel being tuned prior to receiving user input instructing the set top box to select the next channel, and wherein channels that cannot be displayed are skipped.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the channels that cannot be displayed include scrambled channels and channels that the user is not authorized to view.

11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the act of sequentially tuning further comprises the act of predicting, by the set top box, the next channel selected by the user, wherein the next channel is selected by user input provided by the user.

12. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the second channel is predicted according to user input as a selector is moved among the preview of each of the one or more channels.

13. For a set top box receiving programming content, the programming content having a plurality of channels, a computer program product comprising one or more computer readable media carrying computer executable instructions that implement a method of allowing a user to preview channel content while reducing tuning latency, the method comprising the acts of:

tuning a first channel with a first tuner, the first channel being selected by a user from the plurality of channels;

with a second tuner, maintaining an updated preview of one or more of the plurality of channels that either have been recently viewed or are predicted to be viewed in the future, but are not currently tuned, the updated preview representing current content of the one or more channels;

displaying the updated preview of the one or more channels for user selection so that the user is able to quickly review the current content of the one or more channels simultaneously without having to select and tune each of those channels individually;

based on at least a display arrangement of the updated preview of the one or more channels and any received user input relative to the display arrangement, predicting user selection of a second channel which is not currently tuned; and

tuning the second channel for viewing with the second tuner prior to user selection of the second channel so that when the second channel is selected, delay associated with tuning the second channel is reduced because the second tuner already tunes the second channel for viewing.

14. A computer program product as defined in claim 13, the method further comprising acts of:

receiving user input selecting the second channel;

displaying the second channel; and

tuning a next channel using the first tuner while the second channel is displayed to the user.

15. A computer program product as defined in claim 14, wherein the act of tuning the next channel is initiated prior to receiving user input selecting the next channel.

16. A computer program product as defined in claim 14, wherein the next channel is predicted by selecting, from the plurality of channels, a channel that is incrementally related to the second channel.

17. A computer program product as defined in claim 14, wherein the next channel is predicted by selecting, from the plurality of channels, a channel that is decrementally related to the second channel.

18. A computer program product as defined in claim 13, further comprising the act of tuning, by the first and second tuners, alternate channels as the user sequentially cycles through the plurality of channels.

19. A computer program product as defined in claim 14, wherein the programming content is encoded in a digital format, and wherein the acts of tuning a second channel, receiving user input selecting the second channel, and displaying the second channel are conducted such that the second channel is displayed immediately and without latency upon receiving the user input.