Method and system for electronic capture of user-selected segments of a broadcast data signal

• US 7,423,662 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Unger, Robert Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/196,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/95, 386/83, 386/112, 386/125, 386/126
• US Class Current: 346/46
• 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 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Abstract

A personal video recorder (PVR) includes a “bookmark” feature with which a user can specify and capture segments of an audiovisual program, for example, a television broadcast, that contain information or content that the user wishes to record for later access. A dedicated button on the PVR or a remote control sends a “bookmark” command to the PVR which causes it to record a predetermined number of proceeding and following seconds of the program content. The preceding video signal is taken from a buffer in the PVR, with succeeding video being recorded as it is passed through the PVR to a connected television set. Each captured clip is indexed and labeled for subsequent retrieval.

Claims

1. A personal video recorder having a user-controlled data capture function, the recorder comprising:

an input for receiving an audiovisual signal and an output for outputting said audiovisual signal;

a dynamic buffer for buffering said audiovisual signal, said buffer retaining a portion of said audiovisual signal after that portion has been output by said recorder;

a non-volatile data storage unit, separate from said buffer; and

a processor that receives input from a user input device;

wherein, upon receipt of a user command input through said user input device, said processor records a segment of said audiovisual signal in said data storage unit, said segment of said audiovisual signal comprising;

a first predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said dynamic buffer; and

a second predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal output by said recorder after receipt of said user command;

wherein said first and second predetermined amounts are together only a segment of an audiovisual program and not an entire program.

2. The recorder of claim 1, wherein said processor associates an identifying label with each said segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit.

3. The recorder of claim 2, wherein said processor generates an index of segments of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit using said identifying label of each said segment.

4. The recorder of claim 1, wherein said data storage unit is a hard drive.

5. The recorder of claim 1, wherein said user input device comprises a remote control unit and said recorder comprises a receiver for receiving input from said remote control unit.

6. The recorder of claim 5, wherein said user input device comprises a plurality of remote control units, each of which can issue said user command to said recorder.

7. The recorder of claim 6, wherein said processor records an indication with each segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit as to which remote control unit ordered recording of that segment.

8. The recorder of claim 1, wherein said first and second predetermined amounts are set by user input through said user input device.

9. The recorder of claim 1, wherein said second predetermined amount is determined by a length of time during which a user actuates a button on said user input device for issuing said user command.

10. The recorder of claim 1, further comprising a disk drive for receiving removable data storage disks, wherein said processor transfers recorded segments from said data storage unit to said disk drive under control of said user input device.

11. A method of capturing data with a personal video recorder having a user-controlled data capture function, the recorder comprising:

an input for receiving an audiovisual signal and an output for outputting said audiovisual signal;

a dynamic buffer for buffering said audiovisual signal, said buffer retaining a portion of said audiovisual signal after that portion has been output by said recorder; and

a data storage unit;

said method comprising, upon receipt of a user command, recording a segment of said audiovisual signal in said data storage unit, said segment of said audiovisual signal comprising;

a first predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said dynamic buffer, wherein said first predetermined amount is less than all of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said dynamic buffer; and

a second predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal output by said recorder after receipt of said user command;

wherein said first and second predetermined amounts are together only a segment of an audiovisual program and not an entire program.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising associating an identifying label with each said segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising generating an index of segments of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit using said identifying label of each said segment.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said user input device comprises a plurality of remote control units, each of which can issue said user command to said recorder, said method further comprising recording an indication with each segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit as to which remote control unit ordered recording of that segment.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising setting said first and second predetermined amounts by user input through a user input device of said recorder.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining said second predetermined amount as a length of time during which a user actuates a button on a user input device of said recorder for issuing said user command.

17. A personal video recorder having a user-controlled data capture function, the recorder comprising:

input means for receiving an audiovisual signal and output means for outputting said audiovisual signal;

a dynamic buffer means for buffering said audiovisual signal, said dynamic buffer means retaining a portion of said audiovisual signal after that portion has been output by said recorder;

a data storage means; and

a processor means that receives input from a user input means;

wherein, upon receipt of a user command input through said user input means, said processor means records a segment of said audiovisual signal in said data storage means, said segment of said audiovisual signal comprising;

a first predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said dynamic buffer means, wherein said first predetermined amount is less than all of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said dynamic buffer; and

a second predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal output by said recorder after receipt of said user command;

wherein said first and second predetermined amounts are together only a segment of an audiovisual program and not an entire program.

18. The recorder of claim 17, further comprising:

means for associating an identifying label with each said segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage means; and

means for indexing segments of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage means using said identifying label of each said segment.

19. The recorder of claim 17, wherein said user input means comprise at least one remote control unit and said recorder comprises a receiving means for receiving input from said remote control unit.

20. The recorder of claim 19, wherein said user input means comprise a plurality of remote control units, each of which can issue said user command to said recorder, wherein said processor means records an indication with each segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage means as to which remote control unit ordered recording of that segment.

21. The recorder of claim 17, further comprising means for setting said first and second predetermined amounts.

22. The recorder of claim 17, further comprising means for transmitting said segments of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage means from said recorder.

23. A personal video recorder comprising:

an input for receiving an audiovisual signal and an output for outputting said audiovisual signal;

a buffer for buffering said audiovisual signal, said buffer retaining a portion of said audiovisual signal after that portion has been output by said recorder;

a data storage unit; and

a processor that receives input from a user input device;

wherein, upon receipt of a user command input through said user input device, said processor records a segment of said audiovisual signal in said data storage unit, said segment of said audiovisual signal comprising;

a first predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said buffer; and

a second predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal output by said recorder after receipt of said user command; and

wherein said processor associates an identifying label with each said segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit such that segments taken from a single audiovisual program can be distinguished.

24. The recorder of claim 23, wherein said processor generates an index of segments of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit using said identifying label of each said segment.

25. The recorder of claim 23, wherein said identifying label comprises a date stamp.

26. The recorder of claim 23, wherein said identifying label comprises an amount of time elapsed into a program being carried by said audiovisual signal.

27. The recorder of claim 23, wherein said identifying label comprises a name of a program carried by said audiovisual signal, said name being taken from an electronic programming guide.

28. The recorder of claim 23, wherein said identifying label is input by a user using said user input device.

29. A personal video recorder comprising:

an input for receiving an audiovisual signal and an output for outputting said audiovisual signal;

a buffer for buffering said audiovisual signal, said buffer retaining a portion of said audiovisual signal after that portion has been output by said recorder;

a data storage unit; and

a processor that receives input from a user input device;

wherein, upon receipt of a user command input through said user input device, said processor records a segment of said audiovisual signal in said data storage unit, said segment of said audiovisual signal comprising;

a first predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said buffer; and

a second predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal output by said recorder after receipt of said user command;

wherein said segment is only a fraction of an audiovisual program and not an entire program;

wherein said user input device comprises a remote control unit having a dedicated button for issuing said user command to record said segment of said audiovisual signal such that, upon actuation of said dedicated button, said processor records said first predetermined amount in said data storage unit and records said second predetermined amount in said data storage unit and then automatically stops recording having captured said segment.

30. The recorder of claim 29, wherein said user input device comprises a plurality of remote control units, each of which can issue said user command to said recorder.

31. The recorder of claim 30, wherein said processor records an indication with each segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit as to which remote control unit ordered recording of that segment.

32. The recorder of claim 30, wherein said plurality of remote control units comprise a main remote control unit and one or more secondary remote control units, wherein a secondary remote control unit has less control over said recorder than said main remote control unit.

33. The recorder of claim 32, wherein a secondary remote control unit can only issue said user command to record a segment of said audiovisual signal.

34. The recorder of claim 29, said remote control unit further comprising a dedicated button for issuing said user command to record a segment of said audiovisual signal.

35. The recorder of claim 29, wherein said processor associates an identifying label with each said segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit.

36. The recorder of claim 29, wherein said first and second predetermined amounts are set by user input through said user input device.

37. The recorder of claim 29, further comprising a disk drive for receiving removable data storage disks, wherein said processor transfers recorded segments from said data storage unit to said disk drive under control of said user input device.

38. A method of operating a personal video recorder comprising:

buffering said audiovisual signal by retaining a portion of said audiovisual signal in a buffer after that portion has been output by said recorder;

receiving a user command input through a user input device; and

,

in response to said user command, recording a segment of said audiovisual signal in a data storage unit, said segment of said audiovisual signal comprising;

a first predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said buffer; and

a second predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal output by said recorder after receipt of said user command; and

associating an identifying label with each said segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit such that segments taken from a single audiovisual program can be distinguished.

39. A method of operating a personal video recorder comprising:

buffering said audiovisual signal by retaining a portion of said audiovisual signal in a buffer after that portion has been output by said recorder;

receiving a user command input through a user input device; and

,

in response to said user command, recording a segment of said audiovisual signal in a data storage unit, said segment of said audiovisual signal comprising;

a first predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said buffer; and

a second predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal output by said recorder after receipt of said user command, wherein said recording automatically stops upon capture of said second predetermined amount;

wherein said segment is only a fraction of an audiovisual program and not an entire program; and

issuing said user command with a remote control unit, said recorder comprising a receiver for receiving input from said remote control unit, wherein said remote control unit further comprises a dedicated button for issuing said user command to record a segment of said audiovisual signal.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving user commands to record segments of said audiovisual signal from a plurality of remote control units; and

recording an identifier with each recorded segment identifying which remote control unit order recording of that recorded segment.

41. A personal video recorder that processes an audiovisual signal comprising:

a buffer for buffering said audiovisual signal by retaining a portion of said audiovisual signal after that portion has been output by said recorder;

means for receiving a user command; and

in response to said user command, means for recording a segment of said audiovisual signal in a data storage unit, said segment of said audiovisual signal comprising;

a first predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal retained in said buffer; and

a second predetermined amount of said portion of said audiovisual signal output by said recorder after receipt of said user command; and

means for associating an identifying label with each said segment of said audiovisual signal recorded in said data storage unit such that segments taken from a single audiovisual program can be distinguished.

42. A method of operating a personal video recorder that processes an audiovisual signal and selectively records said audiovisual signal in a data storage unit, said method comprising:

retrieving an audiovisual program stored on said data storage unit in said recorder;

outputting said audiovisual program to playback that recorded audiovisual program;

receiving a user command through a user input device; and

,

in response to said user command, storing a separate recording of a segment of said audiovisual program that is being played from said data storage unit, said segment comprising a first predetermined amount of said audiovisual program output prior to receipt of said user command and a second predetermined amount of said audiovisual program output after receipt of said user command.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said first and second predetermined amounts are set by a user with said user input device.