Signal distribution system with interrupt processing and trick play functionality
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a roaming server of head end equipment, a signal of an incoming interrupt from an interrupt source, the incoming interrupt being directed to an interface device served by the head end equipment;
directing, from the roaming server to the interface device, the incoming interrupt for presentation on a user interface screen, the presentation providing an activatable pause control;
receiving, at the roaming server from the interface device, an instruction to pause live programming currently being provided by the interface device responsive to activation of the activatable pause control;
responsive to receiving the instruction to pause programming, initiating at the roaming server recording of the programming and instructing a media server to start a stream of the programming;
responsive to at least one of the initiating recording of the programming and the starting the stream of the programming, causing at least one of the roaming server and the media server to provide information associated with the stream to the interface device such that the interface device reconfigures the user interface screen to comprise one or more activatable trick play function controls for controlling presentation of the stream;
receiving, at the roaming server from the interface device, a request to resume live programming; and
responsive to receiving the request to resume live programming, sending from the roaming server to the interface device the live programming and instructing the media server to stop the stream.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for recording programming content in a signal distribution system are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, an interrupt is received, which may be associated with an incoming telephone call, email message, alarm or other type of message, and a corresponding interrupt indicator is presented on a user interface screen of a device such as television, laptop computer, mobile telephone, etc. Also presented on the user interface screen of the device is an activatable pause control that if activated initiates recording of a portion of the programming content that would otherwise be presented via the device absent activation of the pause control. Various trick play functions, such as pause, play, forward and rewind, may be provided utilizing the recorded portion of the programming content.
39 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a roaming server of head end equipment, a signal of an incoming interrupt from an interrupt source, the incoming interrupt being directed to an interface device served by the head end equipment; directing, from the roaming server to the interface device, the incoming interrupt for presentation on a user interface screen, the presentation providing an activatable pause control; receiving, at the roaming server from the interface device, an instruction to pause live programming currently being provided by the interface device responsive to activation of the activatable pause control; responsive to receiving the instruction to pause programming, initiating at the roaming server recording of the programming and instructing a media server to start a stream of the programming; responsive to at least one of the initiating recording of the programming and the starting the stream of the programming, causing at least one of the roaming server and the media server to provide information associated with the stream to the interface device such that the interface device reconfigures the user interface screen to comprise one or more activatable trick play function controls for controlling presentation of the stream; receiving, at the roaming server from the interface device, a request to resume live programming; and responsive to receiving the request to resume live programming, sending from the roaming server to the interface device the live programming and instructing the media server to stop the stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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head end equipment comprising at least one roaming server; the roaming server being configured; to receive a signal of an incoming interrupt from an interrupt sources, the incoming interrupt being directed to an interface device served by the head end equipment; to direct the incoming interrupt to the interface device for presentation on a user interface screen, the presentation providing an activatable pause control; to receive from the interface device an instruction to pause live programming currently being provided by the interface device responsive to activation of the activatable pause control; responsive to receiving the instruction to pause programming, to initiate recording of the programming and to instruct a media server to start a stream of the programming; responsive to at least one of the initiating recording of the programming and the starting the stream of the programming, to cause at least one of the roaming server and the media server to provide information associated with the stream to the interface device such that the interface device reconfigures the user interface screen to comprise one or more activatable trick play function controls for controlling presentation of the stream; to receive from the interface device a request to resume live programming; and responsive to receiving the request to resume live programming, to send from the roaming server to the interface device the live programming and instructing to instruct the media server to stop the stream. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving, at an interface device from a roaming server of head end equipment, an incoming interrupt from an interrupt source for presentation on a user interface screen, the presentation providing an activatable pause control; sending, from the interface device to the roaming server, an instruction to pause live programming currently being provided by the interface device to a presentation device responsive to activation of the activatable pause control, wherein the instruction to pause live programming causes the roaming server to initiate recording of the programming and to instruct a media server to start a stream of the programming; receiving, at the interface device from at least one of the roaming server and the media server, information associated with the stream responsive to at least one of the initiating recording of the programming and the starting the stream of the programming; reconfiguring, at the interface device, the user interface screen to comprise one or more activatable trick play function controls for controlling presentation of the stream; sending, from the interface device to the roaming server, a request to resume live programming; and receiving, at the interface device from the roaming server, the live programming; wherein the request to resume live programming causes the interface device to instruct the media server to stop the stream. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification