Navigating to a particular program or specific time increment in a personal video recorder

• US 7,272,296 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2002
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benderloch Technologies LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Mears, Mark Gilmore, Johnson, Carolynn Rae
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thai Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOPGYAL, GELEK W
• Application Number:
  US10/202,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20040018000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 386/1, 386/83, 386/116, 386/125, 348/906, 348/512, 348/513, 725/39, 725/55, 725/56, 725/92, 358/908, 358/909, 345/721, 345/720
• US Class Current: 386/297
• 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 21/4334 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 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A method and a system for accessing recorded video programming, which can be displayed while the programming is being recorded to a storage medium (148). Program information can be automatically stored in a memory location. The program information can be determined by accessing an on-line program guide and monitoring a user video channel selection. The program information can include a program identifier (315) and a recording time (310). At least a portion of the program information can be displayed in a time-line (300) and sub-divided into a plurality of time increments (320, 325, 330). Responsive to a user input, playback of a portion of the programming corresponding to a user selection can begin. The user selection can be a selected portion of the program information that has been marked by the user. The user selection also can be identified by a recording time, which can include a start time and a stop time.

Claims

1. A method for playing recording video programming, characterized by the steps of:

displaying a first time line which is sub-divided into a first plurality of equal time length increments and a second time line which is sub-divided into a second plurality of equal time length increments wherein said first and second time lines are displayed at the same time, and the first plurality and second plurality of time increments are different time lengths;

playing back recorded programming from a storage medium, wherein when the first time line is selected, said programming is either jumped ahead or backwards by a time increment corresponding to said first time line in response to a user command, and

playing back said recorded programming, wherein when the second time line is selected, said programming is either jumped ahead or backward by a time increment corresponding to said second time line in response to said command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a cursor is displayed relative to said first time line, if selected, or said second time line, if selected, corresponding to the time duration elapsed for said recorded programming.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to a user command, a displayed cursor moves from said first time line to said second time line.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein either the first time line or the second time line is capable of being marked by a user command.

5. A video device comprising:

a storage medium that stores programming;

a memory location that stores information relation to said programming;

a user interface presenting a first time line which is sub-divided into a plurality of time increments of equal lengths and a second time line which is sub-divided into a second plurality of time increments of equal lengths, wherein said first and second time lines are displayed at the same time, and the plurality and second plurality of time increments are of different time lengths, wherein when said programming is played back, an amount of time said programming is either jumped ahead or backward, in response to a command, corresponds to the time length increment corresponding to a time line that is currently selected.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a cursor is displayed relative to said first time line, if selected, or said second time line, if selected, corresponding to the time duration elapsed for said recorded programming.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein in response to a user command, a displayed cursor moves from said first time line to said second time line.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein either the first time line or the second time line is capable of being marked by a user command.