Program episodes recording

• US 7,581,238 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Thomas H., Potrebic, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US10/131,849
• Time in Patent Office: 2,679 Days
• Field of Search: 725/58, 725/61, 725/39, 386/83
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

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.

Claims

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. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

following generating the episode exclude chart and listing the additional episodes, recognizing a special episode of the program scheduled for broadcast within the time window, wherein the special episode is determined utilizing the episode record chart, episode exclude chart, and history chart by determining from the program guide information that the special episode is scheduled for broadcast in the time window and is not included in the episode exclude chart; and

recording the special episode of the program when the special episode is broadcast.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

shifting the time window to be centered on the new selected broadcast start time; and

rebuilding the episode exclude chart to represent the shifted time window corresponding to the new selected broadcast start time.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the episode exclude chart designates one or more episode broadcast times to identify the additional episodes of the program that will not be recorded on the same day of the week as the selected broadcast start time.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, the episode exclude chart designates one or more episode broadcast times to identify the additional episodes of the program that will not be recorded on days of the week other than the day of the selected broadcast start time.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein establishing comprises establishing the time window with the first time period being two hours before the selected broadcast start time of the episode of the program and the second time period being two hours after the selected broadcast start time of the episode.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising requesting an input from a viewer as to whether an additional episode of the program scheduled for broadcast within the time window is to be recorded.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising,

if the viewer'"'"'s request to record the episodes of the program at the selected broadcast start time corresponds to an episode scheduled for broadcast on a weekend day, determining whether an additional episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast within the time window on any broadcast channel on a weekday;

when an additional episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast within the time window on a weekday, requesting viewer input as to whether to record the additional episode of the program; and

adding the additional episode of the program to the episode exclude chart and excluding from recording the additional episode when the additional episode is not selected by the viewer to be recorded.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

if the viewer'"'"'s request to record the episodes of the program at the selected broadcast start time corresponds to an episode scheduled for broadcast during a television program provider primetime, excluding all additional episodes not scheduled for broadcast during primetime from being recorded, and

adding the additional episodes to the episode exclude chart.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising recording the episodes of the program that are not excluded by inclusion in the episode exclude chart when the episodes that are not included in the episode exclude chart are broadcast.

11. One or more computer storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method of claim 1.

12. 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 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.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

listing the additional episodes having broadcast times within the time window at times other than the selected start time in an episode exclude chart, wherein the episode exclude chart shows broadcast dates and times of the additional episodes scheduled for broadcast within the time window that will not be recorded;

recognizing a special episode of the program scheduled for broadcast within the time window, wherein the special episode is determined utilizing the episode record chart, episode exclude chart, and history chart; and

recording the special episode of the program when the special episode is broadcast.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

shifting the time window to be centered on the new selected start time; and

rebuilding the episode exclude chart to represent the shifted time window corresponding to the new selected start time.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

if the viewer'"'"'s request to record the episodes of the program at the selected start time corresponds to an episode scheduled for broadcast on a weekend day, determining whether an additional episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast within the time window on any broadcast channel on a weekday;

when an additional episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast within the time window on a weekday, requesting viewer input as to whether to record the additional episode of the program; and

adding the additional episode of the program to the episode exclude chart and excluding from recording the additional episode when the additional episode is not selected by the viewer to be recorded.

16. One or more computer storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method of claim 12.

17. Computer storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing system, direct the computing system to perform a method, comprising:

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.

18. The computer storage media as recited in claim 17, further comprising, if the viewer request to record the episodes of the program at the selected time corresponds to an episode scheduled for broadcast during a television program provider primetime, designating in the episode exclude chart all additional episode broadcast times not scheduled for broadcast during primetime on one or more days of the week.

19. The computer storage media as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

recognizing that an episode of the program is not scheduled to be broadcast at the selected start time designated in the episode record chart; and

labeling a corresponding time slot corresponding to the episode in a recording history for viewer-notification to notify the viewer that the episode of the program was not broadcast at the selected start time.

20. The computer storage media as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

wherein the episode exclude chart shows broadcast days and times of the additional episodes scheduled for broadcast within the time window that will not be recorded;

subsequently to generating the episode exclude chart, recognizing a special episode of the program, wherein the special episode is recognized by determining from the program guide information that the special episode is scheduled for broadcast in the time window and is not included in the episode exclude chart;

recording the special episode of the program when the special episode is broadcast.

21. The computer storage media as recited in claim 17, wherein establishing comprises establishing the time window with the first time period being two or less hours before the selected start time and the second time period being two or less hours after the selected start period.

22. The computer storage media as recited in claim 17, further comprising, if the viewer request to record the episodes of the program corresponds to an episode scheduled for broadcast on a weekend day, determining whether an additional episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast within the time window on any broadcast channel on a weekday.

23. A client device, comprising:

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.

24. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the episode record chart designates one or more start times to record the episodes on one or more broadcast dates.

25. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the episode record chart designates, for one or more weeks, a start time to record the episodes on one or more days of the one or more weeks.

26. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the episode exclude chart designates one or more additional episode broadcast times to identify additional episodes of the program that will not be recorded on the same of the week as the selected start time.

27. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the episode exclude chart designates one or more additional episode broadcast times on one or more days of the week to identify additional episodes of the program that will not be recorded on the one more days of the week other than a day of the week of the selected start time.

28. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the recording application is further configured to:

generate the episode exclude chart listing the additional episodes having broadcast times within the time window at times other than the selected broadcast start time in the episode exclude chart, wherein the episode exclude chart shows broadcast days and times of the additional episodes scheduled for broadcast within the time window that will not be recorded;

subsequently to generating the episode exclude chart, recognizing a special episode of the program scheduled for broadcast within the time window, wherein the special episode is determined from the program guide to be scheduled for broadcast at a time in the time window and the special episode is not included in the episode exclude chart; and

recording the special episode of the program when the special episode is broadcast.

29. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the recording application is further configured to:

shift the time window to be centered on the new selected start time; and

rebuild the episode exclude chart to represent the shifted time window corresponding to the new selected start time.

30. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the recording application is further configured to establish the time window with the first time period being two or less hours before the selected start time and the second time period being two or less hours after the selected start time.

31. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the recording application is further configured to:

receive a request to record an episode that corresponds to a program title in the electronic program guide scheduled for broadcast on a weekend day; and

determine from the electronic program guide whether an additional episode of the program is scheduled for broadcast within the time window on any broadcast channel on a weekday.

32. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the recording application is further configured to:

receive a request to record an episode that corresponds to a program title in the electronic program guide scheduled for broadcast during a television program provider primetime; and

exclude all additional episodes not scheduled for broadcast within the primetime time window on a television program provider channel one or more days of the week from being recorded by adding all the additional episodes in the episode exclude chart.

33. A client device as recited in claim 23, wherein the recording application is further configured to record the episodes of the program that are not excluded by inclusion in the episode exclude chart when the episodes are broadcast.