Multiple output digital video recording system

• US 8,526,781 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M., McInnis, Roderick James, Moskowitz, Alan S., Goodman, Andrew Martin, Chow, Ching Tong, Kao, Jean Swey
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/430,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20090208185A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 386/200, 386/235, 386/241
• US Class Current: 386/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42615 involving specific demultiplexing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 : of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/4341 : Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 : involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 : by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 21/4884 : for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 : involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• 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 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals

Abstract

A multimedia time warping system allows a user to store selected multimedia data streams while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing other multimedia data. Data streams are converted to digital streams for internal transfer and manipulation. A parser and event buffer decouple the CPU from having to parse the digital stream. Video segments are stored on a storage device and when data is requested for display, its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts them into display output signals and delivers the display output signals to a display.

Claims

1. A method for a digital video recorder, comprising the steps of:

tuning to a specific multimedia program from a broadcast signal that includes a plurality of multimedia programs;

storing a plurality of multimedia programs in digital form on at least one storage device;

wherein at least one previously recorded multimedia program is selected from the at least one storage device;

simultaneously retrieving for play back a video segment from the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and a video segment from a multimedia program whose storage is in progress using video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the multimedia program whose storage is in progress to cause delivery of selected video segments to an output subsystem, the digital video recorder automatically generating video segment identifying information for specific video segments in multimedia programs; and

wherein the simultaneously retrieving for play back step allows playback rate and direction of each multimedia program to be controlled individually and simultaneously to perform at least one of;

fast forward, rewind, pause, or play functions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the output subsystem converts the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and the multimedia program whose storage is in progress into display output signals.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

inserting on-screen displays into a display output signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein playback rate and direction of a multimedia program commands are received from a remote control.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the retrieving for play back step sends a multimedia program to a multimedia device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

creating custom sequences of video and/or audio output; and

wherein the creating step allows any number of video and/or audio segments of multimedia programs to be lined up and combined and stored on the at least one storage device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

accepting analog and/or digital multimedia program signals using a plurality of input signal tuners; and

wherein each of the tuners is individually tuned to a specific multimedia program.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

synchronizing video and audio components of a multimedia program for proper playback.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein an input signal tuner receives at least one of:

software updates or data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the playing back step plays back the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and the multimedia program whose storage is in progress in a picture in a picture format to a display device.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the tuning step tunes to the specific multimedia program in response to a command received from a remote control.

11. An apparatus for a digital video recorder, comprising:

at least one input tuner, the at least one input tuner tunable to a specific multimedia program from a broadcast signal that includes a plurality of multimedia programs;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that stores a plurality of multimedia programs in digital form on at least one storage device;

wherein at least one previously recorded multimedia program is selected from the at least one storage device;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that simultaneously retrieves for play back a video segment from the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and a video segment from a multimedia program whose storage is in progress using video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the multimedia program whose storage is in progress to cause delivery of selected video segments to an output subsystem, the digital video recorder automatically generating video segment identifying information for specific video segments in multimedia programs; and

wherein the simultaneously retrieving for play back subsystem allows playback rate and direction of each multimedia program to be controlled individually and simultaneously to perform at least one of;

fast forward, rewind, pause, or play functions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the output subsystem converts the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and the multimedia program whose storage is in progress into display output signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that inserts on-screen displays into a display output signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein playback rate and direction of a multimedia program commands are received from a remote control.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a multimedia device, wherein the retrieving for play back subsystem sends a multimedia program to the multimedia device.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that creates custom sequences of video and/or audio output; and

wherein the creating subsystem allows any number of video and/or audio segments of multimedia programs to be lined up and combined and stored on the at least one storage device.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of input signal tuners;

wherein the tuners accept analog and/or digital multimedia program signals; and

wherein each of the tuners is individually tuned to a specific multimedia program.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that synchronizes video and audio components of a multimedia program for proper playback.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein an input signal tuner receives at least one of:

software updates or data.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the playing back subsystem plays back the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and the multimedia program whose storage is in progress in a picture in a picture format to a display device.

32. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one input tuner tunes to the specific multimedia program in response to a command received from a remote control.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for a digital video recorder, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

tuning to a specific multimedia program from a broadcast signal that includes a plurality of multimedia programs;

storing a plurality of multimedia programs in digital form on at least one storage device;

wherein at least one previously recorded multimedia program is selected from the at least one storage device;

simultaneously retrieving for play back a video segment from the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and a video segment from a multimedia program whose storage is in progress using video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the multimedia program whose storage is in progress to cause delivery of selected video segments to an output subsystem, the digital video recorder automatically generating video segment identifying information for specific video segments in multimedia programs; and

wherein the simultaneously retrieving for play back step allows playback rate and direction of each multimedia program to be controlled individually and simultaneously to perform at least one of;

fast forward, rewind, pause, or play functions.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the output subsystem converts the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and the multimedia program whose storage is in progress into display output signals.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising:

inserting on-screen displays into a display output signal.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein playback rate and direction of a multimedia program commands are received from a remote control.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the retrieving for play back step sends a multimedia program to a multimedia device.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

creating custom sequences of video and/or audio output; and

wherein the creating step allows any number of video and/or audio segments of multimedia programs to be lined up and combined and stored on the at least one storage device.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

accepting analog and/or digital multimedia program signals using a plurality of input signal tuners; and

wherein each of the tuners is individually tuned to a specific multimedia program.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising:

synchronizing video and audio components of a multimedia program for proper playback.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein an input signal tuner receives at least one of:

software updates or data.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the playing back step plays back the at least one selected previously recorded multimedia program and the multimedia program whose storage is in progress in a picture in a picture format to a display device.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the tuning step tunes to the specific multimedia program in response to a command received from a remote control.