Recording device and recording method allowing recording over time limit

• US 8,229,279 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Kawanishi, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Q, Tran Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhao, Daquan
• Application Number:
  US11/868,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20080260356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 386/239, 386/248, 386/249, 386/250, 386/251, 386/278, 386/286, 386/290, 725/32, 725/36, 725/42
• US Class Current: 386/278
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A recording control unit records program data for a second time period, from the time point the second time period before the lapse of a first time period from the start of recording, not only under a first title but also at a start portion of a second title. A combining unit identifies identical CM portions in the program data recorded redundantly under the first and second titles, connects the portion immediately preceding the start of the identified CM portion of the first title to the portion immediately succeeding the end of the identified CM portion of the second title, to form one title. An editing unit edits the program data to make shorter the length of the combined title, when the time of program data recorded under the combined title exceeds the first time period.

Claims

1. A recording device in which time of program data to be recorded under one title is limited within a first time period, comprising:

a receiving unit receiving the program data from a broadcast station;

an operation input unit receiving a user operation;

a storage unit having areas for storing at least two titles, and storing said received program data as data of either title;

a recording control unit for recording, when the user sets programmed recording of a recording time longer than said first time period, the program data for said first time period from the start of recording time-sequentially under a first title, and recording the program data within said first time period minus a second time period, from the time point when said first time period elapsed from the start of recording, time-sequentially under a second title;

a combining unit combining said first title and said second title to form one combined title; and

an editing unit for making shorter the length of said combined title, if the time of program data recorded under said combined title exceeds said first time period;

wherein said recording control unit records program data for said second time period from the time point the second time period before the lapse of said first time period from said start of recording, not only under said first title but also at a start portion of said second title;

the program data received by said receiving unit includes CM portions, with time interval between said CM portions being equal to or shorter than said second time period;

said combining unit identifies identical CM portions in the program data recorded redundantly under said first title and said second title, and forms said combined title by connecting a portion immediately preceding the start of said identified CM portion in said first title to a portion immediately succeeding the end of said identified CM portion in said second title;

said editing unit identifies a CM portion of said combined title, removes said identified CM portion and closes up the removed portion; and

said editing unit further removes, when the user designates a portion to be cut of said combined title through said operation input unit, said designated portion from said combined title and closes up said removed portion.

2. A recording device in which time of program data to be recorded under one title is limited within a first time period, comprising:

a receiving unit receiving the program data from a broadcast station;

an operation input unit receiving a user operation;

a storage unit having areas for storing at least two titles, and storing said received program data as data of either title;

a recording control unit for recording, when the user sets programmed recording of a recording time longer than said first time period, the program data for said first time period from the start of recording time-sequentially under a first title, and recording the program data within said first time period minus a second time period, from the time point when said first time period elapsed from the start of recording, time-sequentially under a second title;

a combining unit combining said first title and said second title to form one combined title; and

an editing unit for making shorter the length of said combined title, if the time of program data recorded under said combined title exceeds said first time period;

wherein said recording control unit records program data for said second time period from the time point the second time period before the lapse of said first time period from said start of recording, not only under said first title but also at a start portion of said second title;

the program data received by said receiving unit includes CM portions, with time interval between said CM portions being equal to or shorter than said second time period; and

said combining unit identifies identical CM portions in the program data recorded redundantly under said first title and said second title, and forms said combined title by connecting a portion immediately preceding the start of said identified CM portion in said first title to a portion immediately succeeding the end of said identified CM portion in said second title.

3. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein

said editing unit identifies a CM portion of said combined title, removes said identifies CM portion and closes up the removed portion.

4. The recording device according to claim 2, wherein

said editing unit removes, when the user designated a portion to be cut of said combined title through said operation input unit, said designated portion from said combined title and closes up said removed portion.

5. A method of recording in a recording device in which time of program data to be recorded under one title is limited within a first time period, wherein

said recording device includes a storage unit having areas for storing at least two titles, and storing said received program data as data of either title;

said method comprising the steps of;

receiving, from a broadcast station, program data including CM portions, with time interval between said CM portions being equal to or shorter than a second time period;

recording, when the user sets programmed recording of a recording time longer than said first time period, the program data to a time point the second time period before the lapse of said first time period from the start of recording, time-sequentially under a first title;

recording the program data for said second time period, from the time point the second time period before the lapse of said first time period from the start of recording, time-sequentially under the first title and time-sequentially under a second title;

recording, from the time point when said first time period elapsed from the start of recording, the program data within said first time period minus the second time period, time-sequentially under said second title;

identifying identical CM portions in the program data recorded redundantly under said first title and said second title, and forming one combined title by connecting a portion immediately preceding the start of said identified CM portion in said first title to a portion immediately succeeding the end of said identified CM portion in said second title; and

editing to make shorter the length of said combined title, if the time of program data recorded under said combined title exceeds said first time period;

wherein at said editing step, a CM portion of said combined title is identified, said identified CM portion is removed and the removed portion is closed up, and when the user designates a portion to be cut of said combined title, said designated portion is removed from said combined title and said removed portion is closed up.

6. A method of recording in a recording device in which time of program data to be recorded under one title is limited within a first time period, wherein

said recording device includes a storage unit having areas for storing at least two titles, and storing said received program data as data of either title;

said method comprising the steps of;

receiving, from a broadcast station, program data including CM portions, with time interval between said CM portions being equal to or shorter than a second time period;

recording, when the user sets programmed recording of a recording time longer than said first time period, the program data to a time point the second time period before the lapse of said first time period from the start of recording, time-sequentially under a first title;

recording the program data for said second time period, from the time point the second time period before the lapse of said first time period from the start of recording, time-sequentially under the first title and time-sequentially under a second title;

recording, from the time point when said first time period elapsed from the start of recording, the program data within said first time period minus the second time period, time-sequentially under said second title;

identifying identical CM portions in the program data recorded redundantly under said first title and said second title, and forming one combined title by connecting a portion immediately preceding the start of said identified CM portion in said first title to a portion immediately succeeding the end of said identified CM portion in said second title; and

editing to make shorter the length of said combined title, if the time of program data recorded under said combined title exceeds said first time period.

7. The method of recording according to claim 6, wherein

at said editing step, a CM portion of said combined title is identified, said identified CM portion is removed and the removed portion is closed up.

8. The method of recording according to claim 6, wherein

at said editing step, when the user designated a portion to be cut of said combined title, said designated portion is removed from said combined title and said removed portion is closed up.