Program episodes recording
First Claim
1. A method implemented by a client device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the client device, a viewer request to record episodes of a program at a selected broadcast start time and day;
creating a program event to record the episodes of the program, wherein creating the program event comprises generating an episode record chart, an episode exclude chart and a history chart for the program;
establishing a time window that includes a first time period before the selected broadcast start time of the episodes of the program and a second time period after the selected broadcast start time of the episodes, wherein the first and second time periods are consecutive to form the time window centered about the selected broadcast start time;
listing days and times at which episodes of the program will be recorded in the episode record chart for the program;
determining, by the client device, from program guide information additional episodes of the program scheduled for broadcast within the time window having broadcast start times within the time window at times other than the selected broadcast start time;
listing the additional episodes having broadcast start times within the time window at times other than the selected broadcast start time in an episode exclude chart, wherein the episode exclude chart lists broadcast days and times of the additional episodes scheduled for broadcast within the time window that will not be recorded;
maintaining the history chart for the program by including information comprising;
whether an episode of the program was recorded at a scheduled broadcast time;
whether the episode of the program was broadcast as scheduled but not recorded; and
whether the episode of the program was not broadcast as scheduled and not recorded;
determining from the program guide information that an episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast at a new broadcast time earlier or later than the selected broadcast start time;
referring to the history chart to determine that one or more episodes have been previously recorded at the new broadcast time, and not broadcast and recorded at the selected broadcast start time; and
designating, by the client device, the new broadcast time as a new selected broadcast start time for recording future episodes of the program.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A client device for a television-based entertainment system receives a viewer request to record episodes of a program and generates an episode record chart that designates a start time to record the episodes on one or more broadcast dates. The client device establishes a time window that can include a first time period before the designated start time to record the episodes and a second time period after the designated start time to record the episodes. The client device determines whether additional episodes of the program are scheduled for broadcast within the time window, which may include on any broadcast channel one or more days of the week, and if so, generates an episode exclude chart that designates one or more episode broadcast times on one or more days of the week to identify the additional episodes of the program that will not be recorded.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method implemented by a client device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the client device, a viewer request to record episodes of a program at a selected broadcast start time and day; creating a program event to record the episodes of the program, wherein creating the program event comprises generating an episode record chart, an episode exclude chart and a history chart for the program; establishing a time window that includes a first time period before the selected broadcast start time of the episodes of the program and a second time period after the selected broadcast start time of the episodes, wherein the first and second time periods are consecutive to form the time window centered about the selected broadcast start time; listing days and times at which episodes of the program will be recorded in the episode record chart for the program; determining, by the client device, from program guide information additional episodes of the program scheduled for broadcast within the time window having broadcast start times within the time window at times other than the selected broadcast start time; listing the additional episodes having broadcast start times within the time window at times other than the selected broadcast start time in an episode exclude chart, wherein the episode exclude chart lists broadcast days and times of the additional episodes scheduled for broadcast within the time window that will not be recorded; maintaining the history chart for the program by including information comprising; whether an episode of the program was recorded at a scheduled broadcast time; whether the episode of the program was broadcast as scheduled but not recorded; and whether the episode of the program was not broadcast as scheduled and not recorded; determining from the program guide information that an episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast at a new broadcast time earlier or later than the selected broadcast start time; referring to the history chart to determine that one or more episodes have been previously recorded at the new broadcast time, and not broadcast and recorded at the selected broadcast start time; and designating, by the client device, the new broadcast time as a new selected broadcast start time for recording future episodes of the program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method implemented by a client device, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the client device, a viewer request to record episodes of a program at a selected start time; establishing a time window that includes a first time period before the selected start time and a second time period after the selected start time, wherein the first and second time periods are consecutive to form the time window about the selected broadcast start time; determining, by the client device, from program guide information additional episodes of the program that are scheduled for broadcast within the time window at broadcast times other than the selected start time on the same day of the week and on other days of the week as the selected start time; determining from the program guide information that an episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast at a new broadcast time earlier or later than the selected start time; referring to a history chart to determine that one or more episodes have been previously recorded at the new broadcast time, and not broadcast and recorded at the selected broadcast start time, wherein the history chart maintains recording history information for the program by including information comprising; whether an episode of the program was recorded at a scheduled broadcast time; whether the episode of the program was broadcast as scheduled but not recorded; and whether the episode of the program was not broadcast as scheduled and not recorded; and designating, by the client device, the new broadcast time as a new selected start time for recording future episodes of the program. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Computer storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing system, direct the computing system to perform a method, comprising:
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receiving a viewer request to record episodes of a program at a selected start time; generating an episode record chart associated with the program, the episode record chart designating, for one or more weeks, a start time to record the episodes on one or more days of the one or more weeks; generating an episode exclude chart associated with the program, the episode exclude chart designating one or more episode broadcast times on one or more days of the week to identify additional episodes of the program that will not be recorded; establishing a time window that includes a first time period before the selected start time and a second time period after the selected start time; determining from program guide information additional episodes of the program that are scheduled for broadcast on any channel within the time window at broadcast times other than the selected start time; determining from the program guide information that an episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast at a new broadcast time earlier or later than the selected start time; referring to a history chart to determine that one or more episodes have been previously recorded at the new broadcast time, and not broadcast and recorded at the selected broadcast start time, wherein the history chart maintains recording history information for the program by including information comprising; whether an episode of the program was recorded at a scheduled broadcast time; whether the episode of the program was broadcast as scheduled but not recorded; and whether the episode of the program was not broadcast as scheduled and not recorded; and designating the new broadcast time as a new selected start time for recording future episodes of the program. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A client device, comprising:
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a memory; a processor coupled to the memory; an electronic program guide maintained in the memory and executed on the processor; a recording application configured to; receive a request to record episodes of a program, the request corresponding to a program title in the electronic program guide; create a program event to designate a selected start time and one or more days of the week to record the episodes of the program, wherein creating the program event comprises generating an episode record chart, an episode exclude chart, and a history chart; establish a time window that includes a first time period before the selected start time and a second time period after the selected start time, wherein the first and second time periods are consecutive about the selected start time; determine from the electronic program guide additional episodes of the program scheduled for broadcast within the time window having broadcast times within the time window at times other than the selected start time; determine from the program guide that an episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast at a new broadcast time earlier or later than the selected start time; refer to the history chart to determine that one or more episodes have been previously recorded at the new broadcast time, and not broadcast and recorded at the selected broadcast start time, wherein the history chart maintains recording history information for the program by including information comprising; whether an episode of the program was recorded at a scheduled broadcast time; whether the episode of the program was broadcast as scheduled but not recorded; and whether the episode of the program was not broadcast as scheduled and not recorded; and designate the new broadcast time as a new selected start time for recording future episodes of the program. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification