Method and apparatus for fast forwarding and rewinding in a video recording device

• US 7,509,020 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2001
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shannon, Doug, Wood, Anthony, Woodward, Donald Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier; Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/013,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,706 Days
• Field of Search: 386/124, 386/125, 386/45, 386/46, 386/105, 386/106, 386/68, 386/69
• US Class Current: 386/343
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

A method and apparatus providing for “instant replays” and “quick skip” functionality in a media playback device. In the case of an instant replay, under user control, the media playback moves temporally backwards. In the case of quick skip, under user control, the media playback moves temporally forward. In one embodiment, the temporal movement is based on a predetermined time (e.g., move back 5 seconds, move forward 30 seconds). In another embodiment, the temporal movement is based on scene change analysis.

Claims

1. A method of media playback comprising:

playing back a media at a first point of access;

during media playback at the first point of access, receiving a user interface command from a user, wherein the first point of access is determined by when the user interface command is received;

in response to receipt of the user interface command, temporally shifting the media playback to a second point of access, the second point of access a fixed offset from the first point of access; and

playing back the media at the second point of access.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second point of access is temporally ahead of the first point of access.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second point of access is temporally behind the first point of access.

4. The method of claim 1, the media comprising a video media.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed offset is user selectable.

6. An apparatus for media playback comprising:

a user interface for receiving a user interface command;

a storage media; and

a processor coupled with the user interface and the storage media, the processor to (1) play back the media at a first point of access, (2) receive the user interface command, wherein the first point of access is determined by when the user interface command is received, (3) in response to receipt of the user interface command, temporally shift the media playback to a second point of access, the second point of access a fixed offset from the first point of access, and (4) play back the media at the second point of access.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second point of access is temporally ahead of the first point of access.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second point of access is temporally behind the first point of access.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, the storage media comprising a randomly accessible storage media.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fixed offset is user selectable, the user interface to receive selected values of the fixed offset from a user.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a memory coupled with the processor.

12. An article of manufacture for media playback comprising:

a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program that, when accessed by a machine, causes the machine to;

play back a media at a first point of access;

receive a user interface command, wherein the first point of access is determined by when the user interface command is received;

in response to receipt of the user interface command, temporally shift the media playback to a second point of access, the second point of access a fixed offset from the first point of access; and

play back the media at the second point of access.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the second point of access is temporally ahead of the first point of access.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the second point of access is temporally behind the first point of access.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 12, the media comprising video media.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein the fixed offset is user selectable.