Independent buffer positions for a networked personal video recording system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for recording media, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least one media stream;
storing at least a portion of said media stream in at least one personal video recording (“
PVR”
) media server, the storing comprising buffering the media stream and maintaining a write position for the buffering;
coupling a plurality of clients, capable of displaying said media stream, to said PVR media server;
generating a first buffer position to identify a location within said media stream for playback of said media stream at a first client; and
generating a second buffer position to identify a location within said media stream for playback of said media stream at a second client, said second buffer position being independent from said first buffer position;
receiving input from a first user at the first client to select a buffer position of another client;
displaying, at the first client, a list of clients that maintain a buffer position for the media stream;
receiving input from the first user to select the second buffer position; and
transferring the media stream to the first client, so as to deliver the media stream by using the selected second buffer position of the second client.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A networked personal video recording (“PVR”) system couples a plurality of clients to one or more PVR media servers over a network. One or more PVR media servers include television tuners to tune television signals. A storage medium buffers the television signals to implement PVR functionality. For example, the PVR media server records television programs for clients. Clients are assigned to television tuners, and the clients display television programs received at the assigned tuner. The network transfers the buffered television signals to the clients.
63 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for recording media, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least one media stream; storing at least a portion of said media stream in at least one personal video recording (“
PVR”
) media server, the storing comprising buffering the media stream and maintaining a write position for the buffering;coupling a plurality of clients, capable of displaying said media stream, to said PVR media server; generating a first buffer position to identify a location within said media stream for playback of said media stream at a first client; and generating a second buffer position to identify a location within said media stream for playback of said media stream at a second client, said second buffer position being independent from said first buffer position; receiving input from a first user at the first client to select a buffer position of another client; displaying, at the first client, a list of clients that maintain a buffer position for the media stream; receiving input from the first user to select the second buffer position; and transferring the media stream to the first client, so as to deliver the media stream by using the selected second buffer position of the second client. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A PVR-media server comprising:
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at least one input for receiving at least one media stream; a storage medium for storing at least a portion of said media stream, the storage medium configured for buffering the media stream, the PVR-media server configured for maintaining a write position for the buffering; at least one output for coupling a plurality of clients, capable of displaying said media stream, to said PVR media server; said PVR-media server for generating a first buffer position to identify a location within said media stream for a first client and for generating a second buffer position to identify a location within said media stream for a second client, said second buffer position being independent from said first buffer positions, the PVR-media server further configured for receiving input from a first user at a first client to select a buffer position of another client, for displaying, at the first client, a list of clients that maintain a buffer position for the media stream, for receiving input from the first user to select the second buffer position, and for transferring the media stream to the first client, so as to deliver the media stream by using the selected second buffer position of the second client. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for presenting a media stream, the system comprising:
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a plurality of clients, coupled to a first PVR media server, for presenting said media stream; the first PVR-media server comprising; an input for receiving at least one media stream; a storage medium for storing at least a portion of said media stream, the storage medium configured for buffering the media stream, the first PVR media server configured for maintaining a write position for the buffering; a media controller for generating a first buffer position to identify a location within said media stream for a first client and for generating a second buffer position to identify a location within said media stream for a second client, said second buffer position being independent from said first buffer position; and a network, coupling said first PVR-media server to said clients, for delivering said media stream to a first client by using said first buffer position, and for delivering said media stream to a second client by using said second buffer position, the first PVR-media server further configured for receiving input from a first user at the first client to select a buffer position of another client, for displaying, at the first client, a list of clients that maintain a buffer position for the media stream, for receiving input from the first user to select the second buffer position, and for transferring the media stream to the first client, so as to deliver the media stream by using the selected second buffer position of the second client. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification