Synchronized personal video recorders

• US 7,114,172 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Lord, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, James A.
• Application Number:
  US09/894,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386/68, 386/45, 386/70, 386/46, 386/125, 386/126, 725/131, 725/88, 725/133, 725/89, 725/139, 725/37, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153, 725/109, 725/110, 725/80, 348/552
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders in two or more locations. A broadcast program is received and recorded on a personal video recorder on a first personal video recorder. Thus, at least one program will be stored in memory in the first personal video recorder. A second personal video recorder having a common program residing in its memory is selected. A signal is then transmitted to or from the first personal video recorder to simultaneously initiate a start sequence in each of the first and second personal video recorders. The start signal may be transmitted over the Internet or by other communication means such as telephone lines.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing the video output of a first personal video recorder with at least one second personal video recorder comprising the steps of:

selecting at a given one of the first and at least one second recorders a common program that resides in memory of each of the recorders;

transmitting a signal from one of the first and at least one second recorder to the other of the first and at least one second personal video recorder to simultaneously initiate a start sequence for playback of the common program in each of the first and at least one second personal video recorder; and

transmitting a system status signal at a predetermined rate after a command from the first personal video recorder to the at least one second personal video recorder.

2. The method for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving at least a portion of a broadcast program.

3. The method for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 2, further comprising the step of recording the at least a portion of a broadcast program on the first and at least one second personal video recorder.

4. The method for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of recording at least a portion of a broadcast program in a personal video recorder.

5. The method for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted over the Internet.

6. The method for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting at least one second personal video recorder having at least one program stored in memory in the at least one second personal video recorder.

7. The method for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of simultaneously and synchronously viewing the common program in two different locations.

8. The method for synchronizing the video output of personal recorders as recited in claim 1, wherein the first personal video recorder is controlled by a remote control device.

9. The method (or synchronizing the video output of personal recorders as recited in claim 8, wherein control signals transmitted to the first personal video recorder by the remote control device also control the at least one second personal video recorders.

10. A system for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders comprising:

at least two personal video recorders having at least one common program scored in memory associated with each of the at least two personal video recorders; and

a communication means operatively connected to the at least two personal video recorders for;

transmitting a signal from one of the at least two personal video recorders to the other of the at least two personal video recorders to simultaneously initiate a start sequence for playback of the common program in each of the two personal video recorders; and

transmitting a system status signal at a predetermined rate after a command from the first personal video recorder to the at least one second personal video recorder.

11. The system for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 10 wherein the communication means is an Internet network.

12. The system for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 10 wherein the communication means is a telephone network.

13. The system for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 10 further comprising a television operatively connected to the personal video recorders.

14. The system for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 10 further comprising a remote control device for transmitting control signals to the personal video recorders.

15. In association with a first personal video recorder, an apparatus for synchronizing the video output of the first personal video recorder with at least a second personal video recorder, wherein each of the first and the second personal video recorder has a common program stored in memory associated therewith, the apparatus comprising:

a control device associated with a processor and operative to;

transmit a signal from the first personal video recorder to the second personal video recorder for simultaneously initiating a start sequence in each of the first and second personal video recorders; and

transmit a system status signal at a predetermined rate after a command from the first personal video recorder to the at least one second personal video recorder.

16. The apparatus for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 15 wherein the signal is transmitted over the Internet.

17. The apparatus for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 15, wherein the signal is transmitted over telephone lines.

18. The apparatus for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 15 wherein control signals transmitted to the first personal video recorder by the control device also control the second personal video recorder.

19. The apparatus for synchronizing the video output of personal video recorders as recited in claim 15 further comprising a television operatively connected to the first and second personal video recorders.