Advanced recording options for interactive media guidance application systems

• US 8,909,032 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Knee, Robert A., Spiegel, Reed S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, EILEEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/973,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20130336636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• US Class Current: 386/297
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00 Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/93 Regeneration of the television signal or of selected parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode

Abstract

Systems and methods for advanced recording options in interactive media guidance applications pertaining to whether a program includes commercials, has a particular aspect ratio, is a director'"'"'s cut, or is unrated. The interactive media guidance application receives a user input to search for and record a program with one or more recording attributes, including an input designating that an attribute be required, preferred, or preferred in multiple copies. In one method, the interactive media guidance application retrieves media guidance information data for the program from memory, determines if the program has the desired recording attribute, and if so, records the program. In another method, the interactive media guidance application records the first available program which has all required recording attributes, and then continues to search for and record more-preferred versions.

Claims

1. A method for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

receiving a user selection of media content for storing, the selection specifying a user preference to store the media content with or without commercials;

retrieving media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user selection of the media content for storing, automatically determining, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the media content matches the user preference; and

when the version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically storing the version of the media content on a storage device in accordance with the user selection,

when no version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, searching updated media guidance data for the version of the media content that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

3. A method for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

receiving a user selection of media content for storing, the selection specifying a user preference to store the media content with a particular aspect ratio;

retrieving media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user selection of the media content for storing, automatically determining, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the media content matches the user preference; and

when the version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically storing the version of the media content on a storage device in accordance with the user selection,

when no version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, searching updated media guidance data for the version of the media content that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

5. A method for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

receiving a user selection of media content for storing, the selection specifying a user preference to store a director'"'"'s cut of the media content;

retrieving media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user selection of the media content for storing, automatically determining, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the media content matches the user preference; and

when the version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically storing the version of the media content on a storage device in accordance with the user selection,

when no version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, searching updated media guidance data for the version of the media content that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

7. A method for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

receiving a user selection of media content for storing, the selection specifying a user preference to store a rated or unrated version of the media content;

retrieving media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user selection of the media content for storing, automatically determining, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the media content matches the user preference; and

when the version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically storing the version of the media content on a storage device in accordance with the user selection,

when no version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, searching updated media guidance data for the version of the media content that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

9. A method for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

receiving a user input from a user input device identifying media content to be stored and allowing the user to select a first storing attribute as being either required, preferred, or preferred in multiple copies, and allowing the user to select a second storing attribute as being preferred, or preferred in multiple copies;

retrieving media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user input identifying the media content to be stored, automatically determining, from the media guidance application data, whether any versions of the media content have all required storing attributes in accordance with the user input;

determining, from the media guidance application data, whether any versions of the media content have one or more preferred storing attributes in accordance with the user input;

in response to the determination that a version of the media content has all required storing attributes, automatically storing on a storage device at least one version of the media content with all required storing attributes in accordance with the user input; and

in response to the determination that a version of the media content has one or more preferred storing attributes, automatically storing on a storage device at least one additional version of the media content with all required storing attributes and at least one preferred storing attribute of equal or greater preference when compared to any prior stored version or versions of the media content.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising deleting any prior stored version of media content with preferred storing attributes of equal or lesser preference.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising deleting any prior stored version of media content with the same variant of storing attribute which is preferred in multiple copies, and with preferred storing attributes of equal or lesser preference.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the user identification of the second storing attribute as being preferred, comprises allowing a user to rank the relative preference of a preferred storing attribute if more than one storing attribute is preferred.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the interactive media guidance application continues searching for and storing versions of the media content with all required storing attributes, and at least one preferred storing attribute of equal or greater preference when compared to any prior stored version or versions, until the interactive media guidance application stores a version of the media content which possesses all required storing attributes and all preferred storing attributes.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the preferred storing attributes indicates that the user prefers media content version that does or does not include commercials.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the preferred storing attributes indicates that the user prefers multiple copies of media content, comprising at least one version which includes commercials and at least one version which does not include commercials.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the preferred storing attributes indicates that the user prefers that the media content version have a particular aspect ratio.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the preferred storing attributes indicates that the user prefers multiple copies of media content, comprising at least one version with each available aspect ratio.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the preferred storing attributes indicates that the user prefers that the media content version is or is not a director'"'"'s cut.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the preferred storing attributes indicates that the user prefers multiple copies of media content, comprising at least one version which is a director'"'"'s cut and at least one version which is not a director'"'"'s cut.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein one of the preferred storing attributes indicates that the user prefers that the media content version is or is not unrated.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein one of the preferred storing attributes indicates that the user prefers multiple copies of media content, comprising at least one version which is unrated and at least one version which is not unrated.

23. A system for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

a user input device;

a storage device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive, with the user input device, a user selection of media content for storing, the selection specifying a user preference to store the media content with or without commercials;

retrieve media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user selection of the media content for storing, automatically determine, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the media content matches the user preference; and

when the version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically storing the version of the media content on the storage device in accordance with the user selection,

when no version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, search updated media guidance data for the version of the media content that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

25. A system for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

a user input device;

a storage device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive, with the user input device, a user selection of media content for storing, the selection specifying a user preference to store the media content with particular aspect ratio;

retrieve media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user selection of the media content for storing, automatically determine, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the media content matches the user preference; and

when the version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically storing the version of the media content on the storage device in accordance with the user selection,

when no version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, search updated media guidance data for the version of the media content that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

27. A system for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

a user input device;

a storage device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive, with the user input device, a user selection of media content for storing, the selection specifying a user preference to store a director'"'"'s cut of the media content;

retrieve media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user selection of the media content for storing, automatically determine, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the media content matches the user preference; and

when the version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically store the version of the media content on the storage device in accordance with the user selection,

when no version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, search updated media guidance data for the version of the media content that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

29. A system for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

a user input device;

a storage device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive, with the user input device, a user selection of media content for storing, the selection specifying a user preference to store a rated or unrated version of the media content;

retrieve media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user selection of the media content for storing, automatically determine, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the media content matches the user preference; and

when the version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically store the version of the media content on the storage device in accordance with the user selection,

when no version of the media content is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, search updated media guidance data for the version of the media content that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

31. A system for storing media content with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

a user input device;

a storage device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive a user input from the user input device identifying media content to be stored and allowing the user to select a first storing attribute as being either required, preferred, or preferred in multiple copies, and allowing the user to select a second storing attribute as being preferred, or preferred in multiple copies;

retrieve media guidance information data for the media content from memory;

following receipt of the user input identifying the media content to be stored, automatically determine, from the media guidance application data, whether any versions of the media content have all required storing attributes in accordance with the user input;

determine, from the media guidance application data, whether any versions of the media content have one or more preferred storing attributes in accordance with the user input;

in response to the determination that a version of the media content has all required storing attributes, automatically store on the storage device at least one version of the media content with all required storing attributes in accordance with the user input; and

in response to the determination that a version of the media content has one or more preferred storing attributes, automatically store on the storage device at least one additional version of the media content with all required storing attributes and at least one preferred storing attribute of equal or greater preference when compared to any prior stored version or versions of the media content.

32. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to delete any prior stored version of media content with preferred storing attributes of equal or lesser preference.

33. The system of claim 32, the control circuitry further configured to delete any prior stored version of media content with the same variant of storing attribute which is preferred in multiple copies, and with preferred storing attributes of equal or lesser preference.

34. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user identification designating a rank indicating the relative preference of a preferred storing attribute if more than one storing attribute is preferred.

35. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to continue searching for and storing versions of the media content with all required storing attributes, and at least one preferred storing attribute of equal or greater preference when compared to any prior stored version or versions, until the interactive media guidance application stores a version of the media content which possesses all required storing attributes and all preferred storing attributes.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the interactive media guidance application is implemented on a set-top box.

37. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device designating that the user prefers media content version that does or does not include commercials.

38. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device indicating that the user prefers multiple copies of media content, comprising at least one version which includes commercials and at least one version which does not include commercials.

39. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device designating that the user prefers media content version that has a particular aspect ratio.

40. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device indicating that the user prefers multiple copies of media content, comprising at least one version with each available aspect ratio.

41. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device designating that the user prefers media content version that is or is not a director'"'"'s cut.

42. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device indicating that the user prefers multiple copies of media content, comprising at least one version which is a director'"'"'s cut and at least one version which is not a director'"'"'s cut.

43. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device designating that the user prefers media content version that is or is not unrated.

44. The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device indicating that the user prefers multiple copies of media content, comprising at least one version which is unrated and at least one version which is not unrated.