System and method for recording and reproducing broadcasting programs

• US 7,369,749 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ichioka, Hidetoshi, Asazu, Hideki, Ishida, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/863,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20020009283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,541 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/83, 386/95, 386/68, 386/69
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• 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 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• 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 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape

Abstract

There is provided a system for recording and/or reproduction of broadcasting programs permits the facilitation of selection and management of recorded videos in the manner of following the operations of general AV equipment such as televisions and video decks, in which virtual channels are assigned according to categories defined by a user, and programs corresponding to the categories are recorded into the virtual channels, and since the recorded programs are set in array on a time base for simultaneous reproduction on each virtual channel, the user may happen to watch various recorded programs only by switching over the channels from one to another or continuing to reproduce recorded programs in a single channel after application of power at any time, which results in quite passive style only sufficient for the user to watch the recorded programs.

Claims

1. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs received or programmed to be received, comprising:

program sorting means for sorting said programs into categories according to a predetermined rule;

virtual channel management means for assigning virtual channels to respective categories, and for setting said programs, sorted into said categories, in sequential order on the assigned virtual channels;

program recording means for recording said programs in the respective categories on the assigned virtual channels or programming a recording schedule thereof;

user operation means for accepting user-based channel select operation and/or program search operation on said virtual channels; and

program presentation means for extracting a corresponding program for reproduction from a selected virtual channel in response to user operations accepted through said user operation means,

wherein time base for display of each virtual channel advances when the virtual channels are not displayed.

2. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein an entry of the categories of said virtual channels is made according to user profiles or user instructions.

3. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channels include a virtual channel for an array of programs, which are not included in a category.

4. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said program sorting means sorts said programs into categories according to EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) or user instructions.

5. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein the reproduction start order of the programs on the virtual channels is in conformity with a priority established in accordance with at least one of an on-the-air program order, user profiles and user instructions.

6. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means shifts reproduction start positions on the virtual channels being selected and non-selected with the lapse of real time.

7. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said user operation means accepts program search operations including pause, fast forward and rewind of reproduction positions on the virtual channels.

8. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said user operation means accepts operations of specifying a program preservative status, inclusively of deletion, preservation and reservation, for subsequent watching, relating to specific programs on the virtual channels.

9. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means manages the preservative status of the programs set in array on the virtual channels.

10. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means identifies each program set in array on the virtual channels as one watched by the user or not.

11. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means locates the programs on the virtual channels according to a specified preservative status with respect to each of the recorded programs.

12. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means locates a program, identified as one watched, in a period of a near past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

13. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means locates a program, identified as one programmed to be deleted, in a period of a remote past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

14. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means locates a program, identified as one preserved, in a period of a slightly remote past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

15. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means locates a program, identified as one programmed to be recorded, in a period of a future, provided that a point on and after a date is required, on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

16. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means locates a program, identified as one remaining recorded without being watched, in a period of a future available time on the associated virtual channel.

17. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means locates a program, identified as one in process of reservation, in a period of a future available time on the associated virtual channel preferentially.

18. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means displays scheduling of programs on each virtual channel and a viewing status and a preservative status of each program in a form of being readily identified.

19. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means locates a series of programs on a same virtual channel continuously.

20. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means shifts a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being selected to a period of a future or a past on a time base in response to fast forward or rewind instructions supplied through said user operation means.

21. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means inhibits fast forward operation for a program corresponding to one earlier than a date.

22. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1,

wherein said virtual channel management means shifts a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being selected to a period of a future or a past on a time base in response to fast forward or rewind instructions supplied through said user operation means, while setting a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of not being selected so as to follow the lapse of real time.

23. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1, further comprising

real channel management means for assigning real channels to programs,

wherein said program presentation means removes the recorded program for reproduction from the virtual channel selected through said user operation means in response to the selection of said virtual channel, while presenting the program on the real channel selected through said user operation means in response to the selection of said real channel.

24. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 23,

wherein said user operation means accepts a channel select operation without a distinction between the real channels and the virtual channels.

25. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 1, further comprising:

management means for managing reproduction information relating to programs paused on each virtual channel.

26. A system for recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 25,

wherein said management means displays a list of paused programs for accepting the user selection on the list, and starts reproduction of the corresponding recorded program in response to the user selection.

53. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein time base for display of each virtual channel advances when the virtual channels are not displayed.

54. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the time advances independently and continuously on each virtual channel for the period of time when other virtual channels are selected.

27. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs received or programmed to be received, comprising:

a program sorting step of sorting the programs into categories according to a predetermined rule;

a virtual channel management step of assigning virtual channels to respective categories, and of setting said programs, sorted into said categories, in sequential order on the assigned virtual channels;

a program recording step of recording the programs in the respective categories on the assigned virtual channels or programming a recording schedule thereof;

a user operation step of accepting a user-based channel select operation and/or a program search operation on the virtual channels;

a program presentation step of extracting a corresponding program for reproduction from a selected virtual channel in response to the user operation accepted through said user operation step; and

advancing a time base for display of each virtual channel when the virtual channels are not displayed.

28. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein an entry of categories of the virtual channels is made according to user profiles and/or user instructions.

29. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channels include a virtual channel for an array of programs, which are not included in a category.

30. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said program sorting step sorts the programs according to EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) or user instructions.

31. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein the reproduction start order of the programs on the virtual channels is in conformity with a priority established in accordance with at least one of program order, user profiles and user instructions.

32. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step shifts reproduction start positions on the virtual channels being selected and non-selected in response to the lapse of real time.

33. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said user operation step accepts program search operations including pause, fast forward and rewind of reproduction positions on the virtual channels.

34. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said user operation step accepts operations of specifying a recorded program preservative status, inclusively of deletion, preservation and reservation, for subsequent viewing, of specific programs on the virtual channels.

35. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step manages a preservative status of programs set in array on the virtual channels.

36. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step identifies the programs set in array on the virtual channels as one watched by the user or not.

37. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step locates the programs on the virtual channels in response to a specified preservative status with respect to each of the recorded programs.

38. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step locates a program, identified as one watched, in a period recently past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

39. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step locates a program, identified as one programmed to be deleted, in a period past on the time base on the associated virtual channel.

40. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step locates a program, identified as one preserved, in a period of a recently remote past on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

41. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step locates a program, identified as one programmed to be recorded, in a period of a future, provided that a point on and after a date is required, on a time base on the associated virtual channel.

42. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step locates a program, identified as one remaining recorded without being watched, in a period of a future available time on the associated virtual channel.

43. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step locates a program, identified as one in process of reservation, in a period of a future available time on the associated virtual channel.

44. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step displays scheduling of programs on each virtual channel and a watching status and a preservative status of each program in a form of readily identified.

45. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step locates a series of programs on a same virtual channel continuously.

46. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step shifts a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being selected to a period of a future or a past on a time base in response to fast forward or rewind instructions.

47. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step inhibits fast forward operation for a program corresponding to one earlier than a schedule date.

48. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27,

wherein said virtual channel management step shifts a reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being selected to a period of a future or a past on a time base in response to fast forward or rewind instructions, while setting the reproduction start position on the virtual channel in a process of being non-selected to follow the lapse of real time.

49. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27, further comprising:

a real channel management step of assigning real channels to programs, said program presentation step deletes the recorded program for reproduction from the virtual channel selected in response to a selection of said virtual channel, while presenting the program on the real channel selected in response to the selection of said real channel.

50. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 49,

wherein said user operation step accepts a channel select operation without distinction between the real channels and the virtual channels.

51. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 27, further comprising:

a management step of managing reproduction information relating to paused programs on each virtual channel.

52. A method of recording and/or reproducing programs according to claim 51,

wherein said management step displays a list of paused programs for accepting user selection on said list, and starts the reproduction of the corresponding recorded program in response to the user selection.

55. The method as claimed in claim 27,

wherein the time base for display of each virtual channel advances when the virtual channels are not displayed.

56. The method as claimed in claim 27,

wherein the time advances independently and continuously on each virtual channel for the period of time when other virtual channels are selected.