Program viewing apparatus and method

• US 6,901,209 B1
• Filed: 06/08/1995
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pixel Instruments Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pixel Instruments Corporation
• Inventors: Cooper, J. Carl, Anderson, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, DANG T
• Application Number:
  US08/486,000
• Time in Patent Office: 3,645 Days
• Field of Search: 381/29, 381/30, 381/33, 381/34, 381/35, 381/36, 381/37, 381/38, 381/39, 381/40, 348/384, 348/385, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/10, 348/467, 348/473, 348/714, 370/118, 370/73, 375/240, 375/253, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/161.3, 455/186.1, 455/161.2, 455/166.2, 709/247, 725/134, 725/148, 386/83.1, 386109111-112, 386/33, 386125-126, 386/415, 386/68, 386/21, 386/113, 369/14, 369/15, 369/60
• US Class Current: 386/294
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/04 Time compression or expansion
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00007 Time or data compression or expansion audio compression based on psychoacoustics G10L19/00; data processing for reproducing audio data at different playback speeds G10L21/04; video compression H04N19/00; data compression per se H03M7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/662 using a time/frequency relationship, e.g. time compression or expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

The present disclosure teaches a method and apparatus for allowing a user to select and view one or multiple programs at random whenever he desires and to suspend viewing in the middle of a program to accommodate an interruption and to continue viewing after the interruption without missing any of the program. In addition, previously stored programs may be viewed at accelerated or decelerated speed, or repeated or portions reviewed, to allow the user to review such in other than real time.

Claims

1. I claim an improved access system for multiple television programs delivered in compressed form on one or more delivery channels,

said access system including at least one of the multiple programs being delivered without a user'"'"'s specific request,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information that may be distinct from a listing of the programs allowing access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain run time of presentation for a user who may desire a run time that can be different,

said access system further including:

means for recording at least two of the multiple programs in a data random access capable storage medium at the user'"'"'s location, means for the user to select a particular program from the data storage medium at the user'"'"'s location and means to decompress said particular television program for use by the user before or after storage, which use can include display of a particular program including at least some of said substantive displayable information, and

means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for a different run time of presentation.

2. I claim the access system of claim 1 characterized in that there is one storage medium for storing multiple programs delivered on a schedule over which the user has no control.

3. I claim the access system of claim 1 characterized in that the programs are stored in a compressed format.

4. I claim the access system of claim 1 characterized by the addition of program information delivered to and stored at the user'"'"'s location and means to access said program information,

the addition of means to store at least two of the multiple programs in compressed form in a random access capable storage at the particular user'"'"'s location and means at the particular user'"'"'s location to selectively access and decompress the programs at that location respectively,

said access including displaying the programs, which displaying can include the program including said at least some substantive displayable information.

5. I claim the access system of claim 4 characterized by the addition of data manager means to allow a user to access the program.

6. I claim a system having multiple television programs delivered in a compressed form on one or more delivery media together with program identification data to a user at a given user location,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information that may be distinct from a listing of the program identification data,

the system including:

means at the given user location to record program identification data for the multiple programs and at least one of the multiple programs being selectively recorded in response to the user'"'"'s input,

the recorded program having frequency related information with a certain run time of presentation for a user who may desire a run time that can be different,

means at the same given user location to access the recorded program identification data for the multiple programs, means at the same given user location to process the recorded program identification data to allow selective access to at least two of the multiple programs,

means for the user to record in a random access capable storage and use said at least two of the multiple programs at the user location, which use of such programs can include display of the program including said at least some substantive displayable information, and

means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for a different run time of presentation.

7. I claim the system of claim 6 characterized in that the multiple programs and program identification data are delivered contemporaneously and by the addition of means to delay the programs to allow processing of the program identification data.

8. I claim the system of claim 6 characterized by the addition of data manager means to process the program identification data.

9. I claim the access system of claim 6 characterized by the addition of data manager means to allow the user to access the programs.

10. I claim an improved system for delivering multiple television programs in a compressed form via one or more delivery channels from a site to a particular user'"'"'s location without the particular user'"'"'s control,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information that may be distinct from a listing of the programs allowing access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

said improvement including:

the addition of means to store at least two of the multiple programs in compressed form in a random access capable storage at the particular user'"'"'s location and at least one of the multiple programs being selectively recorded in response to the user'"'"'s input,

the recorded program having frequency related information with a certain run time of presentation for a user who may desire a run time that can be different,

means at the particular user'"'"'s location to selectively access and decompress the programs at that location respectively,

said access including displaying the programs, which displaying can include the program including said at least some substantive displayable information, and

means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for a different run time of presentation.

11. I claim the access system of claim 10 characterized in that said means to store the programs includes an optical storage medium.

12. I claim the access system of claim 10 characterized in that said means to store the programs includes computer memory.

13. I claim the access system of claim 10 characterized in that the programs are compressed in MPEG and means to selectively decompress said MPEG signals.

14. I claim a multiple program access system having a program television material storage capability in a random access capable storage with a limited capacity, the improvement including:

means to store at least two of the multiple programs in the storage having a limited capacity at a user location, overwrite means to automatically overwrite previously stored program material including at least some program material which has not been previously accessed based on determinable criteria developed from a known set of priorities,

said known set of priorities which includes at least one priority other than updating of existing program materials,

means to pass the programs through a circuit producing a frequency artifact,

and means to selectively bypass the frequency artifact producing circuit.

15. I claim the system of claim 14 characterized in that said overwrite means includes consideration of available storage.

16. I claim the system of claim 14 characterized in that said overwrite means includes consideration of the time the program material was stored.

17. I claim the system of claim 14 wherein there are multiple users having a priority and characterized in that said overwrite means includes consideration of the multiple user'"'"'s priority.

18. I claim a multiple program access system having a program television material storage capability for programs, the multiple programs subject to an access, storage, and/or retrieval date, the improvement including:

a decompression circuit and a circuit producing a frequency artifact,

means to store at least two of the multiple programs in the program material storage area at a user location, the storage area having a random access capability,

means to automatically allow access for storage of programs in previously utilized program material storage area upon occurrence of a certain event other than the accessing one of the stored multiple programs in such program material storage area, with at least one of said multiple programs including at least some of said substantive displayable information,

a frequency artifact modifier circuit,

means to pass the programs through the decompression circuit and through said frequency artifact modifier circuit, and means to selectively bypass the frequency artifact modifier circuit.

19. I claim the access system of claim 18 characterized in that said certain event is the arrival of a certain time subsequent to the time of a particular program'"'"'s storage.

20. I claim a multiple television program access system having an ability to reproduce an accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time of presentation for a user requiring a different run time of presentation,

the improvement including:

means to store at least two multiple programs at the user location in program data storage, said storage having a random access capability,

means to select the accessible program from program data including the at least two multiple programs and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to automatically compensate for the different run time of presentation and thus the certain run time of presentation of the accessible program to the different run time.

21. I claim the access system of claim 20 wherein the different run time is determined by the user'"'"'s interruption of access to the programs.

22. I claim the access system of claim 21 characterized in that said accessible program would normally terminate at a time certain and

characterized in that said automatic means alters the different run time so as to terminate said accessible program at the same time as said time certain.

23. I claim an access system for multiple television programs delivered in compressed form across one or more delivery channels,

the multiple programs include at least one program delivered without a given user'"'"'s request therefor and a listing which may be separate of the programs allowing access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

a program data stream, said program data stream including at least some substantive displayable information,

said access system including:

means at the given user'"'"'s location to select a particular program from said program data stream without off location contact using the listing,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time of playback for a user desiring a different run time,

means to record said selected program with another program in a random access capable multiple program data storage media at the given user'"'"'s location, means to selectively decompress said selected program for display, said display which can include display of the program including said at least some substantive displayable information, and

means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for the different run time of presentation.

24. I claim the system of claim 23 characterized in that program identification data is also delivered for those programs delivered without a given user'"'"'s request,

the multiple programs and program identification data being delivered substantially contemporaneously and by the addition of means to delay the programs to allow processing of the program identification data.

25. I claim the system of claim 24 characterized by the addition of data manager means to process the program identification data.

26. I claim an access system having a storage area for multiple television programs having substantive displayable information, the programs subject to access, storage, and/or retrieval by a listing,

the improvement including:

means at a user location to record at least part of at least two multiple programs having substantive displayable information in a program material random access capable storage area,

means at the user location to access at least part of a given program having substantive displayable information from the program material storage area so as to select reproduction thereof,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain predetermined run time of presentation for a user utilizing a different run time of presentation,

means at the user location to record programs having substantive displayable information at the same time as said reproduction which recording can include the remainder of said given program and/or another program in the storage area,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for the different run time of presentation.

27. I claim an access system having a decompression circuit and a frequency artifact producing circuit, the improvement of means to record in program data storage and display at least two multiple television programs at a user location, a frequency artifact modifier circuit,

means to pass the programs through the decompression circuit and then through said frequency artifact modifier circuit, and means to selectively bypass the frequency artifact modifier circuit when the frequency artifact producing circuit is inactive.

28. I claim the access system of claim 27 characterized in that the decompression decoder is a MPEG decoder.

29. I claim the access system of claim 27 characterized in that the artifact modifier circuit is a frequency converter.

30. I claim an access system having multiple channels of substantive displayable information and access information for delivery of multiple television programs to a remote location, at least one of the multiple television programs having frequency related information with a certain intended first length of time of presentation for uses by a user desiring a different length and second run time of presentation,

the improvement including:

a data manager, said data manager being located at said remote location,

said data manager having a memory for storing the access information relative to the delivered information including information relative to at least one delivered upcoming program,

means for said data manager to selectively control access to the substantive displayable information on the multiple channels for presentation of said programs which can include the display of said at least one delivered upcoming program and the recording of at least two of the multiple programs in a random access capable program material storage at said remote location,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for the different and second length of presentation.

31. I claim the access system of claim 30 characterized by the addition of a data storage for the channels of information.

32. I claim the access system of claim 30 characterized by the addition of program information relative to the multiple channels of information and means for said data manager to utilize such program information.

33. I claim the access system of claim 30 characterized by the addition of other services and means for said data manager to access said other services.

34. I claim an improved access system for a particular user to access multiple television programs delivered in compressed form via one or more delivery channels,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information,

said access system including program information delivered separate from said substantive displayable information to the particular user at the given location,

means for recording at least two of the multiple programs in a compressed format in a random access capable program data storage medium at the given location with at least one of the multiple programs being selectively recorded in response to the user'"'"'s input,

said selectively recorded program having frequency related information with a certain run time of presentation for a user who may desire a run time that can be different,

means at the given location for the particular user to access said program information and to select a particular program for presentation at the given location,

means to decompress said particular program for display which can include the display of said at least some substantive displayable information, and

means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information on said particular program to compensate for a different run time of presentation.

35. I claim the access system of claim 34 characterized by the addition of data manager means to allow the user to access the program.

36. I claim a system having multiple television programs transmitted in a compressed form via a transmission media with program identification data transmitted to a particular user at a given location,

at least one of the programs including at least some substantive displayable information that may be other than the program identification data,

the system including means at the given location for the particular user to directly access the program identification data,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time for a first length of presentation for a user desiring a different run time for a second length of presentation,

means to delay the programs to allow processing of the program identification data, means to process the program identification data at the given location,

data manager means at the given location to process the program identification data and to allow the particular user to selectively access the programs at the given location, which access can include the display of said at least some substantive displayable information and the recording of at least two of the multiple programs in a program material storage area at the given location,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for the different length of run time of presentation.

37. I claim an improved system for a multiplicity of television programs transmitted in a compressed form on one or more transmission channels,

a listing of the programs to allow the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof also being transmitted,

characterized by the addition including:

means to store at least two of said multiplicity of programs in their compressed form at a given location,

at least one of said multiplicity of programs including at least some substantive displayable information,

said means to store the programs including a random access capable optical storage medium which storage can include said at least some substantive displayable information,

means to selectively access a program using the listing and decompress the program from said means to store at least two of said multiplicity of programs in program data storage at said given location for display,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time of presentation at a first speed for a user who may desire a different run time of presentation at a second speed,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for the different run time of presentation.

38. I claim the access system of claim 37 characterized in that the programs are compressed in MPEG and means to selectively decompress said MPEG signals.

39. I claim the access system of claim 37 characterized in that there are a number of sets of multiplicity programs that can be selectively stored.

40. I claim an improved access system for multiple substantive displayable television programs delivered via one or more delivery channels to a user location, a listing of the programs allowing the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof also delivered,

said access system including:

a random access capable program data storage at the user location, said program data storage recording at least two selected ones of the multiple delivered programs,

a user control, said user control selectively retrieving said selected ones of the multiple delivered programs from said program data storage using the listing,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended length of time of presentation for a user desiring a different length of time of presentation,

means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for the different length of time of presentation,

and said program data storage simultaneously recording other selected portions of the multiple delivered programs as said selected portion of a substantive displayable program is being selectively retrieved by said user control.

41. I claim the access system of claim 40 characterized in that said selected portion and at least one of said other selected portions are from the same program.

42. I claim the access system of claim 40 characterized in that said selected portion and at least on of said other selected portions are from different programs.

43. I claim an improved access system for multiple substantive displayable television programs delivered via one or more delivery channels to a user location, a listing of the programs allowing the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof also delivered,

said access system including:

a random access capable program data storage at the user location, said program data storage recording at least two selected ones of the multiple delivered programs, said selected portion and at least one of said other selected portions are from the same program,

a user control, said user control selectively retrieving said selected ones of the multiple delivered programs from said program data storage using the listing,

said program data storage simultaneously recording other selected portions of the multiple delivered programs as said selected portion of a substantive displayable program is being selectively retrieved by said user control,

said program having a normal presentation conclusion time from initial retrieval and characterized in that the retrieval of said selected portion can be selectively interrupted by the user for a period,

any retrieval of said selected portion can be accelerated to compensate for said period, and said acceleration allowing the program to end at the normal presentation conclusion time.

44. I claim the access system of claim 43 wherein the program has a frequency and characterized by a frequency shift means,

and said frequency shift means altering the frequency of any accelerated portion to be substantially equal to the frequency of the program.

45. I claim an improved access system for multiple television programs transmitted via one or more transmission channels, and a listing of the programs allowing the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

said access system including:

a data manager, said data manager being located at a particular user'"'"'s given location,

a data stream, said data stream passing via a delivery channel for recording in said data manager,

a user control, said user control allowing access to the data in said data manager using the listing of programs,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain first run time of presentation for a user who may desire a second and different run time of presentation,

a random access capable program data storage at the particular user'"'"'s given location, said program data storage recording at least two of the multiple programs transmitted on the transmission channel without any active selection by the user,

at least one of said programs including at least some substantive displayable information,

means for the user at said given location to use data in said data manager to retrieve selected portions of the programs in said multiple program data storage via the listing thereof, which retrieval can include the display of said at least some substantive displayable information,

and means to alter the run time of presentation of the accessible program to the different run time.

46. I claim the access system of claim 45 characterized in that said data stream includes information of upcoming substantive programs.

47. I claim the access system of claim 45 characterized in that said user control can be selectively programmed to automatically record programs in said program data storage based on the data in said data manager.

48. I claim the access system of claim 45 characterized in that substantially all of the programs transmitted on a transmission channel at transmitted without any user'"'"'s control.

49. I claim the access system of claim 48 characterized in that the programs are substantially continually transmitted.

50. I claim the access system of claim 45 characterized in that said program data storage can record programs and the user can retrieve a program from said program data storage at the same time.

51. I claim an improved access system for multiple television programs transmitted via one or more transmission channels, and a listing of the programs allowing the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

said access system including:

a data manager, said data manager being located at a particular user'"'"'s given location,

a data stream, said data stream passing via a delivery channel for recording in said data manager,

a user control, said user control allowing access to the data in said data manager using the listing of programs,

a random access capable program data storage at the particular user'"'"'s given location, said program data storage recording at least two of the multiple programs transmitted on the transmission channel without any active selection by the user,

at least one of said programs including at least some substantive displayable information,

means for the user at said given location to use data in said data manager to retrieve selected portions of the programs in said multiple program data storage via the listing thereof, which retrieval can include the display of said at least some substantive displayable information,

the program of which said selected portion is a part, having a normal presentation conclusion time from initial retrieval and characterized in that the retrieval of said selected portion can be selectively suspended by the user for a period of time,

any retrieval of said selected portion can be automatically accelerated to compensate for said period of time,

and said acceleration allowing the program to end at the normal presentation conclusion time.

52. I claim the access system of claim 51 wherein the program has an original frequency and characterized by frequency shift means,

said frequency shift means altering the frequency of any accelerated portion to be substantially equal to the original frequency of the program.

58. I claim the access system of claim 52 characterized in that a select means is programmed to record transmitted programs in said program data storage according to a selection algorithm.

60. I claim the access system of claim 58 characterized in that said select means is programmed to discard or record over previously recorded programs in said program data storage including not retrieved programs according to a known set of priorities.

61. I claim the access system of claim 60 characterized in that said known set of priorities includes the available recording room in said program data storage.

62. I claim the access system of claim 60 characterized in that said known set of priorities are ranked in an order of preference.

63. I claim the access system of claim 60 characterized in that said known set of priorities may be changed from time to time.

53. I claim an improved access system for multiple television programs transmitted on one or more transmission channels, said access system including:

a data manager, said data manager being located at a particular user'"'"'s given location,

a data stream, said data stream passing via a delivery channel for access at the direction of said data manager,

a user control, said user control allowing access to the data in said data manager,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended playback time of presentation for a user requiring a different playback time of presentation,

a random access capable program data storage at the particular user'"'"'s given location, said program data storage recording at least two of the multiple programs transmitted on the transmission channel without any active selection of individual ones of the specific programs by the user,

at least one of said programs including at least some substantive displayable information other than listing data,

select means at said given location for said data manager to use the listing data in said data manager to automatically record selected portions of the transmitted multiple programs in said program data storage, which recording can include said at least some substantive displayable information,

and means to alter the time of presentation of the accessible program to a different playback time.

54. I claim the access system of claim 53 characterized in that said select means is programmed to discard programs recorded in said program data storage including programs not yet retrieved according to a known set of priorities.

55. I claim the access system of claim 54 characterized in that said known set of priorities includes the available recording room in said program data storage.

56. I claim the access system of claim 54 characterized in that said known set of priorities are ranked in an order of preference.

57. I claim the access system of claim 53 characterized in that said known set of priorities may be changed from time to time.

59. I claim the access system of claim 57 characterized in that a selection algorithm includes one or more of consideration of the desirability of the program to the user,

the number of users for a program, the time of the program, the relation of the program to programs previously stored, the content of the program, the particular channel for the program and/or the availability of removable storage.

64. I claim a method for accessing multiple television programs delivered in compressed form on one or more delivery channels,

said method including delivering at least one of the multiple programs without a user'"'"'s specific request,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information that may be distinct from a listing of the programs allowing access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof, said method further including:

recording at least two of the multiple programs in a random access capable data storage medium at the user'"'"'s location, selecting a particular program from the multiple programs in the data storage medium at the user'"'"'s location and decompressing said particular program for use by the user before or after storage, which use can include displaying of a particular program including at least some of said substantive displayable information,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended playback time of presentation for a user requiring a different and faster playback time of presentation,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for the different and faster playback time of presentation.

65. I claim the method of claim 64 characterized by storing multiple programs delivered on a schedule over which the user has no control in one storage medium.

66. I claim the method of claim 64 characterized by storing the programs in a compressed format.

67. I claim the method of claim 64 characterized by the addition of delivering and storing program information at the user'"'"'s location and accessing said program information.

68. I claim the method of claim 67 characterized by the addition of using a data manager means to access the program.

69. I claim a method for accessing multiple television programs delivered in a compressed form on one or more delivery media together with program identification data to a user at a given user location,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information that may be distinct from a listing of the program identification data,

the method including:

recording at the given user location program identification data for the multiple programs,

accessing at the same given user location the recorded program identification data for the multiple programs,

processing at the same given user location the recorded program identification data to selectively access to at least two of the multiple programs,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended speed of presentation for a user requiring a different speed of presentation,

using said at least two of the multiple programs, which use of such programs can include display of the program including said at least some substantive displayable information and recording of at least two of the multiple programs in a random access capable program data storage at the given user location,

and means to alter the certain speed of presentation of the accessible program to the different speed.

70. I claim the method of claim 69 characterized in that the multiple programs and program identification data are delivered contemporaneously and by the addition of delaying the programs to allow processing of the program identification data.

71. I claim the method of claim 69 characterized by the addition of processing the program identification data by a data manager means.

72. I claim the method of claim 69 characterized by the addition of accessing the programs by a data manager means.

73. I claim an improved method for delivering multiple television programs in a compressed form via one or more delivery channels from a site to a particular user'"'"'s location without the particular user'"'"'s control,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information that may be distinct from a listing of the programs allowing access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

said improved method including:

the storing at least two of the multiple programs in compressed form in a random access capable program data storage at the particular user'"'"'s location and selectively accessing and decompressing a program at that particular user'"'"'s location respectively,

said accessing including displaying the programs, which displaying can include the program including said at least some substantive displayable information,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time of presentation for a user requiring a different run time of presentation,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for the different run time of presentation.

74. I claim the method of claim 73 characterized in that said storing the programs includes an optical storage medium.

75. I claim the method of claim 73 characterized in that said storing the programs includes computer memory.

76. I claim the method of claim 73 characterized by compressing the programs in MPEG and selectively decompressing said MPEG signals.

77. I claim a multiple program access method having a storage capability with a limited capacity, the improvement including:

the storage being random access capable

storing at least two of the multiple programs in the program material storage having a limited capacity, at least one of the multiple programs being accessible, the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain run time of presentation for a user who may desire a run time that can be different,

automatically overwriting previously stored program material including at least some program material which has not been previously accessed based on determinable criteria developed from a known set of priorities,

said known set of priorities which includes at least one priority other than updating of existing program materials, and

means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for a different run time of presentation.

78. I claim the method of claim 77 characterized in that said overwriting includes consideration of available storage.

79. I claim the method of claim 77 characterized in that said overwriting includes consideration of the time the program material was stored.

80. I claim the method of claim 77 wherein there are multiple users having a priority and characterized in that said overwriting includes consideration of the multiple user'"'"'s priority.

81. I claim a multiple television program access method having a storage capability for programs, the multiple programs subject to an access, storage, and/or retrieval date,

the improvement including:

storing at least two of the multiple programs in the random access capable storage area at a given user location, and automatically allowing access for storage of programs in previously utilized storage area upon occurrence of a certain event other than the accessing one of the stored multiple programs in such storage area, with at least one of said multiple programs including at least some of a substantive displayable information,

passing the programs through a decompression circuit and through a circuit modifying a frequency artifact, and means to selectively bypass the circuit modifying a frequency artifact.

82. I claim the access method of claim 81 characterized in that said certain event is the arrival of a certain time subsequent to the time of a particular program'"'"'s storage.

83. I claim a multiple program access method having an ability to reproduce an accessible television program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time of presentation from storage of at least two of the multiple programs, for a user requiring a different run time of presentation,

the improvement including:

selecting the accessible program from the at least two multiple programs in storage at the user location and altering the frequency of the frequency related information of such program to automatically compensate for the different run time of presentation and thus the certain run time of presentation of the accessible program to the different run time.

84. I claim the access method of claim 83 wherein the different run time is determined by the user'"'"'s interruption of access to the programs.

85. I claim the access method of claim 84 characterized in that said accessible program would normally terminate at a time certain and

characterized in that said altering the different run time so as to terminate said accessible program at the same time as said time certain.

86. I claim an access method for multiple television programs delivered in compressed form across one or more delivery channels,

the multiple programs include at least one program delivered without a given user'"'"'s request therefor and a listing which may be separate of the programs allowing access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

a program data stream, said program data stream including at least some substantive displayable information,

said access method including:

selecting at the given user'"'"'s location a particular program from said program data stream without off location contact using the listing,

recording said selected program in a random access capable multiple program data storage media with another program at the given user'"'"'s location,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended length of presentation for a user requiring a second and different length of presentation,

selectively decompressing said selected program for displaying, said displaying which can include display of the program including said at least some substantive displayable information,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to automatically compensate for the different length of presentation.

87. I claim the method of claim 86 characterized in that program identification data is also delivered for those programs delivered without a given user'"'"'s request,

the multiple programs and program identification data being delivered substantially contemporaneously and by the addition of delaying the programs to allow processing of the program identification data.

88. I claim the method of claim 87 characterized by the addition of processing the program identification data by a data manager means.

89. I claim an access method having a storage area for multiple television programs having substantive displayable information, the programs subject to access, storage, and/or retrieval at a user location by a listing,

the improvement including:

recording at least part of two multiple programs having substantive displayable information in the random access capable multiple program storage area at the user location,

accessing at least part of a given program having substantive displayable information from the multiple program storage area so as to select reproduction thereof,

recording programs having substantive displayable information at the same time as said reproduction which recording can include the remainder of said given program and/or another program in the storage area,

a decompression circuit, a frequency artifact producing circuit, and a frequency artifact modifier circuit,

means to pass the programs through the decompression circuit and through said frequency artifact modifier circuit, and means to selectively bypass the frequency artifact modifier circuit when the frequency artifact producing circuit is inactive.

90. I claim an access method having a decompression circuit and a frequency artifact producing circuit,

the improvement of storing at least two multiple programs in a program material storage area at a user location, passing a program through the decompression circuit and then passing it through a frequency artifact modifier circuit,

and selectively bypassing the frequency artifact modifier circuit when the frequency artifact producing circuit is inactive.

91. I claim the access method of claim 90 characterized in that the decompression decoder is a MPEG decoder.

92. I claim the access method of claim 90 characterized in that the artifact modifier circuit is a frequency converter.

93. I claim an access method having multiple channels of substantive displayable information and access information for delivery of multiple television programs to a remote location,

the method including:

a data manager,

storing the access information relative to the delivered information including information relative to at least one delivered upcoming program in the memory of a data manager located at said remote location,

and selectively controlling access to the substantive displayable information on the multiple channels for presentation of said programs which can include the display of said at least one delivered upcoming program at said remote location using said data manager and the recording of at least two of the multiple programs in a random access capable program data storage at the remote locations

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended first speed of presentation,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for a different speed of presentation.

94. I claim the access method of claim 93 characterized by the addition of storing the channels of information.

95. I claim the access method of claim 93 characterized by the addition of program information relative to the multiple channels of information and utilizing such program information in the data manager.

96. I claim the access method of claim 93 characterized by the addition of other services and accessing said other services by said data manager.

97. I claim an improved access method for a particular user to access multiple television programs delivered in compressed form via one or more delivery channels,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information,

said access method including delivery program information separate from said substantive displayable information to the particular user at the given location,

recording at least two of the multiple programs in a compressed format in a random access capable data storage medium at the given location,

accessing by the particular user at the given location said program information and selecting a particular program for presentation at the given location,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time of presentation at a first speed,

decompressing said particular program for display which can include the display of said at least some substantive displayable information,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for a different run time of presentation.

98. I claim the access method of claim 97 characterized by the addition of allowing the user to access the program through the data manager means.

99. I claim a method having multiple programs transmitted in a compressed form via a transmission media with program identification data transmitted to a particular user at a given location,

at least one of the programs including at least some substantive displayable information that may be other than the program identification data,

the method including the particular user directly accessing the program identification data at the given location,

delaying the programs to allow processing of the program identification data, processing the program identification data at the given location,

and processing the program identification data and allowing the particular user to selectively access the programs at the given location by a data manager means at the given location, which access can include displaying said at least some substantive displayable information and the recording of at least two of the multiple programs in a random access capable program data storage at the given location,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time of presentation at a certain frequency,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to compensate for a different run time of presentation.

100. I claim an improved method for a multiplicity of television programs transmitted in a compressed form on one or more transmission channels,

listing the programs to allow the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof also being transmitted,

characterized by the addition including:

storing at least two of said multiplicity of programs in their compressed form in a random access capable program data storage at a given location,

at least one of said multiplicity of programs including at least some substantive displayable information,

said storing the programs including an optical storage medium which storage can include said at least some substantive displayable information,

selectively accessing a program using the listing and decompressing the program from said means to store at least two of said multiplicity of programs in the program data storage at said given location for display,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended first run time of presentation,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information.

101. I claim the access method of claim 100 characterized in that the programs are compressed in MPEG and selectively decompressing said MPEG signals.

102. I claim the access method of claim 100 characterized in that there are a number of sets of multiplicity programs that are selectively stored.

103. I claim an improved access method for substantive displayable television programs delivered via one or more delivery channels to a particular location,

listing the programs allowing the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof also delivered,

said access method including:

recording at least two selected ones of the multiple delivered programs in a random access capable program data storage at the particular location,

selectively retrieving a selected one of the delivered program from said multiple program data storage using the listing by a user control,

simultaneously recording other selected portions of the delivered program in said program data storage as said selected portion of a substantive displayable program is being selectively retrieved by said user control,

a circuit producing a frequency artifact, a frequency artifact modifier circuit,

and means to sass the programs through said circuit producing a frequency artifact and then through said frequency artifact modified circuit.

104. I claim the access method of claim 103 characterized in that said selected portion and at least one of said other selected portions are from the same program.

105. I claim the access method of claim 103 characterized in that said selected portion and at least on of said other selected portions are from different programs.

106. I claim an improved access method for substantive displayable television programs delivered via one or more delivery channels to a particular location,

a listing the programs allowing the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof also delivered,

said access method including:

recording at least two selected ones of the multiple delivered programs in a random access capable program data storage at the particular location, said selected portion and at least one of said other selected portions being from the same program,

selectively retrieving a selected one of the delivered program from said multiple program data storage using the listing by a user control,

simultaneously recording other selected portions of the delivered programs in said program data storage as said selected portion of a substantive displayable program is being selectively retrieved by said user control,

the program of which said selected portion is a part having a normal presentation conclusion time from initial retrieval,

and characterized in that the retrieving said selected portion can be selectively interrupted by the user for a period,

any retrieving of said selected portion can be accelerated to compensate for said period, and said acceleration allowing the program to end at the normal presentation conclusion time.

107. I claim the access method of claim 106 wherein the program has a frequency and characterized by altering the frequency of any accelerated portion to be substantially equal to the frequency of the program.

108. I claim an improved access method for multiple television programs transmitted via one or more transmission channels, and a listing of the programs allowing the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

said access method including:

passing a data stream via a delivery channel for recording in a data manager located at a particular user'"'"'s given location,

accessing the data in said data manager using the listing of programs,

recording at least two of the multiple programs transmitted on the transmission channel without any active selection by the user in a random access capable multiple program data storage at said particular user'"'"'s given location,

at least one of said programs including at least some substantive displayable information,

retrieving selected portions of the programs in said multiple program data storage at said given location via the listing thereof in said data manager, which retrieval can include the display of said at least some substantive displayable information,

the accessible program having frequency related information with a certain intended run time of presentation at a first speed for a user requiring a different run time of presentation at a second speed,

and means to alter the frequency of the frequency related information to automatically compensate for the different run time of presentation and thus the certain run time of presentation of the accessible program to the different run time.

109. I claim the access method of claim 108 characterized in that said data stream includes information of upcoming substantive programs.

110. I claim the access method of claim 108 characterized by selectively programming said user control to automatically record programs in said program data storage based on the data in said data manager.

111. I claim the access method of claim 108 characterized by transmitting substantially all of the programs transmitted on a transmission channel without any user'"'"'s control.

112. I claim the access method of claim 111 characterized in that the programs are substantially continually transmitted.

113. I claim the access method of claim 108 characterized in that said program data storage can record programs and the user retrieving a program from said program data storage at the same time.

114. I claim an improved access method for multiple television programs transmitted via one or more transmission channels, and a listing of the programs allowing the access, storage, and/or retrieval thereof,

said access method including:

passing a data stream via a delivery channel for recording in a data manager located at a particular user'"'"'s given location,

accessing the data in said data manager using the listing of programs,

recording at least of the multiple programs transmitted on the transmission channel without any active selection by the user in a random access capable multiple program data storage at said particular user'"'"'s given location,

at least one of said programs including at least some substantive displayable information,

retrieving selected portions of the programs in said multiple program data storage at said given location via the listing thereof in said data manager, which retrieval can include the display of said at least some substantive displayable information,

the program of which said selected portion is a part having a normal presentation conclusion time from initial retrieval, the retrieving of said selected portion having the capability of being selectively suspended by the user for a period of time,

automatically accelerating any retrieving of said selected portion to compensate for said period of time,

and said accelerating allowing the program to end at the normal presentation conclusion time.

115. I claim the access method of claim 114 wherein the program has an original frequency and characterized by altering the frequency of any accelerated portion by a frequency shift means to be substantially equal to the original frequency of the program.

121. I claim the access method of claim 115 characterized by programming said select means to record transmitted programs in said program data storage according to a selection algorithm.

123. I claim the access method of claim 121 characterized in that said selecting discards or records over previously recorded programs in said program data storage including not retrieved programs according to a known set of priorities.

124. I claim the access method of claim 123 characterized in that said known set of priorities includes the available recording room in said program data storage.

125. I claim the access method of claim 123 characterized in that said known set of priorities are ranked in an order of preference.

126. I claim the access method of claim 123 characterized in that said known set of priorities may be changed from time to time.

116. I claim an improved access method for multiple programs transmitted on one or more transmission channels, said access system including:

passing a data stream via a delivery channel for access at the direction of a data manager located at a particular user'"'"'s given location,

allowing access to the data in said data manager by a user control,

recording at least two of the multiple programs transmitted on the transmission channel in a random access capable multiple program data storage without any active selection of individual ones of the specific programs by the user at said given location,

at least one of said multiple programs including at least some substantive displayable information other than listing data,

automatically recording selected portions of the transmitted programs in said multiple program data storage at said given location using the listing data in said data manager, which recording can include said at least some substantive displayable information,

a decompression circuit,d a frequency artifact producing circuit, and a frequency artifact modifier circuit,

means to pass the programs through the decompression circuit, the frequency artifact producing circuit, and said frequency artifact modifier circuit,

and means to selectively bypass the frequency artifact modifier circuit when the frequency artifact producing circuit is inactive.

117. I claim the access method of claim 116 characterized by programming said selection to discard programs recorded in said program data storage including programs not yet retrieved according to a known set of priorities.

118. I claim the access method of claim 117 characterized in that said known set of priorities includes the available recording room in said program data storage.

119. I claim the access method of claim 117 characterized in that said known set of priorities are ranked in an order of preference.

120. I claim the access method of claim 116 characterized in that said known set of priorities may be changed from time to time.

122. I claim the access method of claim 120 characterized in that said selection algorithm includes one or more of consideration of the desirability of the program to the user,

the number of users for a program, the time of the program, the relation of the program to programs previously stored, the content of the program, the particular channel for the program and/or the availability of removable storage.