Providing audience flow in a personal television device

• US 7,035,528 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1999
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Britton, Layne
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/412,993
• Time in Patent Office: 2,394 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 386/92, 386/46, 386/1, 386/52, 386/55, 386/4, 386/95, 725/10, 725/9, 725/22, 725/87, 725/86
• US Class Current: 386/291
• 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 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A method and apparatus for encouraging audience flow. In the described embodiment, a user selects a program for recording. In addition to recording the selected program, the recording device records an additional program. In certain embodiments, the additional program may be the program that is broadcast immediately following the requested program. In other embodiments, the two programs may be linked (for example, by linking codes in a program guide).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) accepting first viewer input for recording a first program; and

b) recording the first program and a second program responsive to the first viewer input

wherein the first program is recorded in a personal channel and the second program is recorded in a hidden channel.

2. A video playback device comprising:

a) storage means for storing programs for playback;

b) selection means for allowing selection by a viewer of a first program for recording; and

c) control means for controlling the video playback device to record a second program responsive to the viewer selection of the first program for recording wherein the second program is linked to the first program.

3. A video recorder comprising:

a) an input for receiving a video signal, the video signal comprising a plurality of programs;

b) a storage device for storing selected ones of the plurality of programs;

c) a processor; and

d) a stored program for controlling the processor, the stored program including first instructions for accepting user input for selection of a first program to be stored and second instructions for causing a second program to be recorded responsive to the user input

wherein the second program is linked to the first program.

4. A method for encouraging audience flow comprising:

a) accepting viewer input for selection of a first program for recording;

b) recording a second program responsive to selection of the first program for recording

wherein the second program is linked with the first program.

5. The method as recited by claim 4 wherein the second program is broadcast before the first program.

6. The method as recited by claim 4 wherein the second program is broadcast after the first program.