Transfer of television programs from channel-specific files to program-specific files

• US 9,043,843 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Templeman, Mark, Yang, Yunfeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/793,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20130247111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 725/47, 725/58, 725/52, 725/134, 725/142, 386/296
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/026 on discs G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• 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 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/83 Generation or processing of protective or descriptive data associated with content; Content structuring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• 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 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 : Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 : Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 : Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/797 : for recording the signal in a plurality of channels, the bandwidth of each channel being less than the bandwidth of the signal H04N9/804, H04N9/81, H04N9/82 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/87 : Regeneration of colour television signals H04N9/80 takes precedence

Abstract

A television receiver including a tuner and one or more processors may be presented. The television receiver may be configured to tune the tuner to a television channel. The television receiver may be configured to create and store an omnibus channel file containing a plurality of television programs broadcast consecutively on the television channel over a period of time. The television receiver may be configured to, after a predefined period of time, select the omnibus channel file for deletion. The television receiver may be configured to determine a television program to receive extended storage. The television receiver may be configured to store a portion of the omnibus channel file as an individual program file, wherein the portion of the omnibus channel file corresponds to the television program. The television receiver may be configured to, after storing the portion of the omnibus channel file, delete the omnibus channel file.

Claims

1. A television receiver, comprising:

a tuner;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

tune the tuner to a television channel;

create and store an omnibus channel file comprising a plurality of television programs broadcast consecutively on the television channel over a period of time;

after a predefined period of time, select the omnibus channel file for deletion;

determine a television program of the plurality of television programs that is to receive extended storage;

store a segmented bookmark file that identifies a plurality of segments within the omnibus channel file identified by a television service provider as corresponding to the television program;

determine the segmented bookmark file is stored for the television program to receive extended storage;

store a portion of the omnibus channel file as a separate individual program file such that information from the segmented bookmark file is used to define the start and end of the portion stored to the separate individual program file from the omnibus channel file, wherein the portion of the omnibus channel file corresponds to the television program of the plurality of television programs; and

after storing the portion of the omnibus channel file as the separate individual program file, delete the omnibus channel file.

2. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

receive a user-provided indication that requests extended storage of the television program of the plurality of television programs, wherein;

the processor-readable instructions, which are configured to cause the one or more processors to determine the television program of the plurality of television programs that is to receive extended storage, use the user-provided indication in performing the determination.

3. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein:

the processor-readable instructions, which are configured to cause the one or more processors to record the omnibus channel file containing the plurality of television programs broadcast consecutively on the television channel over the period of time to the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, are further configured to cause the omnibus channel file to be recorded to a first folder of the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

the processor-readable instructions, which are configured to cause the one or more processors to store the portion of the omnibus channel file as the individual program file, are further configured to cause the individual program file to be stored to a second folder of the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

4. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, which are configured to cause the one or more processors to tune the tuner to the television channel, are further configured to cause the tuner to tune to a transponder stream comprising packetized data for a plurality of television channels that comprises the television channel;

the processor-readable instructions further comprise additional processor-readable instructions which are configured to cause the one or more processors to;

record omnibus channel files for each television channel of the plurality of television channels over the period of time.

5. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

maintain a catalog database stored by the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the catalog database indicates;

a plurality of omnibus channel files stored by the television receiver; and

a plurality of television program identifiers, wherein each television program identifier of the plurality of television program identifiers corresponds to a television program that is stored within the plurality of omnibus channel files.

6. The television receiver of claim 5, wherein:

the catalog database further indicates a plurality of byte offsets, wherein each byte offset is linked to a television program identifier of the plurality of television program identifiers; and

each byte offset indicates a number of bytes preceding a designated start point of a television program within an omnibus channel file of the plurality of omnibus channel files, wherein the designated start point is based on an electronic programming guide event transition.

7. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

while recording the omnibus channel file, when an electronic programming guide event transition corresponding to the television program occurs, determine a byte offset within the omnibus channel file corresponding to the television program using a file size determination of the omnibus channel file.

8. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

create a non-segmented omnibus bookmark file linked with the omnibus channel file, wherein the non-segmented omnibus bookmark file indicates;

electronic programming guide information for each television program within the omnibus channel file; and

packet identifiers for audio and video streams within the omnibus channel file.

9. The television receiver of claim 8, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

delete the non-segmented omnibus bookmark file from the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium when deleting the omnibus channel file from the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

10. The television receiver of claim 8, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

after creating the non-segmented omnibus bookmark file, create a segmented bookmark file, wherein;

the segmented bookmark file identifies a plurality of segments within the omnibus channel file identified by a television distribution service provider.

11. The television receiver of claim 10, wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is defined based on a positive frame offset and a negative frame offset from a frame that corresponds to a string of characters being present in closed captioning data.

12. A method for storing a television program, comprising:

tuning, by a television receiver, a tuner to a television channel;

creating and storing, by the television receiver, an omnibus channel file comprising a plurality of television programs broadcast consecutively on the television channel over a period of time to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;

after a predefined period of time, selecting, by the television receiver, the omnibus channel file for deletion;

determining, by the television receiver, the television program of the plurality of television programs that is to receive extended storage;

storing, by the television receiver, a segmented bookmark file that identifies a plurality of segments within the omnibus channel file identified by a television service provider as corresponding to the television program;

determining, by the television receiver, the segmented bookmark file is stored for the television program to receive extended storage;

storing, by the television receiver, a portion of the omnibus channel file as a separate individual program file such that information from the segmented bookmark file is used to define the start and end of the portion stored to the separate individual program file from the omnibus channel file, wherein the portion of the omnibus channel file corresponds to the television program of the plurality of television programs; and

after storing the portion of the omnibus channel file as the separate individual program file, deleting, by the television receiver, the omnibus channel file.

13. The method for storing the television program of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, by the television receiver, a user-provided indication that requests extended storage of the television program of the plurality of television programs, wherein;

determining the television program of the plurality of television programs that is to receive extended storage uses the user-provided indication in performing the determination.

14. The method for storing the television program of claim 12, wherein

recording the omnibus channel file containing the plurality of television programs broadcast consecutively on the television channel over the period of time to the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprises causing the omnibus channel file to be recorded to a first folder of the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;

and

storing the portion of the omnibus channel file as the individual program file comprises causing the individual program file to be stored to a second folder of the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

15. The method for storing the television program of claim 12, wherein tuning the tuner to the television channel comprises tuning to a transponder stream comprising packetized data for a plurality of television channels that comprises the television channel;

the method further comprising;

recording omnibus channel files for each television channel of the plurality of television channels over the period of time.

16. The method for storing the television program of claim 12, further comprising:

maintaining, by the television receiver, a catalog database, wherein the catalog database indicates;

a plurality of omnibus channel files stored by the television receiver; and

a plurality of television program identifiers, wherein each television program identifier of the plurality of television program identifiers corresponds to a television program that is stored within the plurality of omnibus channel files.

17. The method for storing the television program of claim 16, wherein

the catalog database further indicates a plurality of byte offsets, wherein each byte offset is linked to a television program identifier of the plurality of television program identifiers;

and

each byte offset indicates a number of bytes preceding a designated start point of a television program within an omnibus channel file of the plurality of omnibus channel files, wherein the designated start point is based on an electronic programming guide event transition.

18. The method for storing the television program of claim 12, further comprising:

while recording the omnibus channel file, when an electronic programming guide event transition corresponding to the television program occurs, determining a byte offset within the omnibus channel file corresponding to the television program using a file size determination of the omnibus channel file.

19. The method for storing the television program of claim 12, further comprising:

creating, by the television receiver, a non-segmented omnibus bookmark file linked with the omnibus channel file, wherein the non-segmented omnibus bookmark file indicates;

electronic programming guide information for each television program within the omnibus channel file; and

packet identifiers for audio and video streams within the omnibus channel file.

20. The method for storing the television program of claim 19, further comprising:

deleting, by the television receiver, the non-segmented omnibus bookmark file from the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium when deleting the omnibus channel file from the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

21. The method for storing the television program of claim 19, further comprising:

after creating the non-segmented omnibus bookmark file, creating, by the television receiver, a segmented bookmark file, wherein;

the segmented bookmark file identifies a plurality of segments within the omnibus channel file identified by a television distribution service provider.