Multi-program playback status display

• US 9,177,606 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Kirby, Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US14/467,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20140363139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Various arrangements are described that may cause a recording of a television channel to be stored. The recording of the television channel may include a plurality of television programs. A graphical playback status element may be displayed via a display device. The graphical playback status element may indicate a start point for each television program of the plurality of television programs within the recording of the television channel.

Claims

1. A system for managing playback of stored television programs, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory 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;

cause a plurality of recordings of television channels to be recorded, wherein each recording of the plurality of recordings of the television channels comprises a plurality of television programs;

cause a plurality of channel-specific identifiers to be presented via a display device such that the plurality of channel-specific identifiers are presented simultaneously, wherein each channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers represents the television channel from which one of the plurality of recordings was recorded;

simultaneously with presentation of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, cause a graphical playback status element for a recording of a television channel from the plurality of recordings of television channels to be presented aligned with a channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, the graphical playback status element comprising;

a start point for a television program of the plurality of television programs within the recording of the television channel, wherein;

the channel-specific identifier represents the television channel from which the recording of the television channel was recorded.

2. The system for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 1, wherein the start point for the television program of the plurality of television programs is denoted by a graphical showcard that presents graphical poster art indicative of the television program.

3. The system for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive user input selecting a second channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers being presented simultaneously via the display device.

4. The system for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 3, wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

simultaneously with presentation of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, cause a second graphical playback status element to be presented aligned with the second channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, the second graphical playback status element comprising;

a second start point for a second television program of a second plurality of television programs within a second recording of a second television channel of the plurality of television channels.

5. The system for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 4, wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

cease presenting the graphical playback status element in response to the user input selecting the second channel-specific identifier.

6. The system for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the graphical playback status element to be presented aligned with the channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers further comprises processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the graphical playback status element to be presented horizontally aligned with the channel-specific identifier.

7. The system for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 6, wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the plurality of channel-specific identifiers to be presented via the display device such that the plurality of channel-specific identifiers are presented simultaneously further comprises processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the plurality of channel-specific identifiers to be presented vertically aligned with each other.

8. A method for managing playback of stored television programs, the method comprising:

recording, by a television receiver, a plurality of recordings of television channels, wherein each recording of the plurality of recordings of the television channels comprises a plurality of television programs;

outputting, by the television receiver, a plurality of channel-specific identifiers to be presented via a display device such that the plurality of channel-specific identifiers are presented simultaneously, wherein each channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers represents the television channel from which one of the plurality of recordings was recorded;

simultaneously with presentation of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, outputting, by the television receiver, a graphical playback status element for a recording of a television channel from the plurality of recordings of television channels to be presented aligned with a channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, the graphical playback status element comprising;

a start point for a television program of the plurality of television programs within the recording of the television channel, wherein;

the channel-specific identifier represents the television channel from which the recording of the television channel was recorded.

9. The method for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 8, wherein the start point for the television program of the plurality of television programs is denoted by a graphical showcard that presents graphical poster art indicative of the television program.

10. The method for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 8, wherein the method further comprising:

receiving, by the television receiver, user input selecting a second channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers being presented simultaneously via the display device.

11. The method for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 10, the method further comprising:

simultaneously with presentation of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, outputting, by the television receiver, a second graphical playback status element to be presented aligned with the second channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, the second graphical playback status element comprising;

a second start point for a second television program of a second plurality of television programs within a second recording of a second television channel of the plurality of television channels.

12. The method for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 11, the method further comprising:

ceasing, by the television receiver, to output for presentation the graphical playback status element in response to the user input selecting the second channel-specific identifier.

13. The method for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 8, wherein outputting the graphical playback status element to be presented aligned with the channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers further comprises outputting the graphical playback status element for presentation in horizontal alignment with the channel-specific identifier.

14. The method for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 13, wherein outputting the plurality of channel-specific identifiers to be presented via the display device such that the plurality of channel-specific identifiers are presented simultaneously further comprises outputting the plurality of channel-specific identifiers for presentation vertically aligned with each other.

15. A non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing playback of stored television programs comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:

cause a plurality of recordings of television channels to be recorded, wherein each recording of the plurality of recordings of the television channels comprises a plurality of television programs;

cause a plurality of channel-specific identifiers to be presented via a display device such that the plurality of channel-specific identifiers are presented simultaneously, wherein each channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers represents the television channel from which one of the plurality of recordings was recorded;

simultaneously with presentation of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, cause a graphical playback status element for a recording of a television channel from the plurality of recordings of television channels to be presented aligned with a channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, the graphical playback status element comprising;

a start point for a television program of the plurality of television programs within the recording of the television channel, wherein;

the channel-specific identifier represents the television channel from which the recording of the television channel was recorded.

16. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 15, wherein the start point for the television program of the plurality of television programs is denoted by a graphical showcard that presents graphical poster art indicative of the television program.

17. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 15, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

receive user input selecting a second channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers being presented simultaneously via the display device.

18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

simultaneously with presentation of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, cause a second graphical playback status element to be presented aligned with the second channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers, the second graphical playback status element comprising;

a second start point for a second television program of a second plurality of television programs within a second recording of a second television channel of the plurality of television channels.

19. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 18, wherein the processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

cease presenting the graphical playback status element in response to the user input selecting the second channel-specific identifier.

20. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for managing playback of stored television programs of claim 15, wherein the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to cause the graphical playback status element to be presented aligned with the channel-specific identifier of the plurality of channel-specific identifiers comprise processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to cause the graphical playback status element to be presented horizontally aligned with the channel-specific identifier and cause the plurality of channel-specific identifiers to be presented vertically aligned with each other.