Method and system for displaying a series of recordable events

• US 9,253,463 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goodwin, Mark D., Rodgers, Deborah E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shibru, Helen
• Application Number:
  US13/890,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20130251349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 386/248, 386/293, 386296-297, 386/282
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4334 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/482 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• 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 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

A method and system for displaying identifiers for one or more series of recordable events is described. A system, such as the system of a digital video recorder, may receive a set of recordable events data, such as a listing of all television shows to be broadcast over a two-week period. The system analyzes the set of recordable events data for determining one or more sets of recordable events, where each set includes recordable events having the same title. The system analyzes each set of recordable events to determine sub-sets of recordable events based on relationships between the recordable events of each sub-set. The system displays an identifier for each sub-set of a given set of recordable events when the given set of recordable events is selected for display. A user may select to record a sub-set of recordable events by selecting the identifier that represents the sub-set.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, at a computer-readable data storage device, a recordable events data set including descriptors of a plurality of different recordable events, wherein the descriptors include a first recordable event descriptor, a second recordable event descriptor, and a third recordable event descriptor;

analyzing, at a processor, the recordable events data set to determine a set of multiple recordable events described, in part, by the first recordable event descriptor, wherein the set of multiple recordable events includes some but not all of the plurality of different recordable events;

analyzing, at the processor, a portion of the recordable events data set to determine a first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and a second subset of the set of multiple recordable events, wherein each recordable event of the first subset is further described, in part, by the second recordable event descriptor but not by the third recordable event descriptor, and wherein each recordable event of the second subset is further described, in part, by the third recordable event descriptor but not by the second recordable event descriptor, wherein the portion of the recordable events data pertains to the set of multiple recordable events;

providing for by the processor, prior to the processor receiving a selection of any of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and the second subset of multiple recordable events, a display device displaying, simultaneously, an identifier of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and an identifier of the second subset of the set of multiple recordable events, wherein the identifier of the first subset represents multiple recordable events of the set of multiple recordable events, and wherein the identifier of the second subset represents multiple recordable events of the set of multiple recordable events.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, at the computer-readable data storage device, program instructions executable by the processor,

wherein the processor executes the program instructions to analyze the recordable events data set.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, at the processor, a selection to record the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events; and

providing for, by the processor, storage of at least one recordable event in response to receiving the selection to record the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events,

wherein the recordable events data set pertains to a given period of time, and

wherein the at least one recordable event is transmitted, for subsequent storage, during the given period of time.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing for, by the processor, storage of at least one other recordable event in response to receiving the selection to record the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events, wherein the at least one other recordable event is transmitted, for subsequent storage, after occurrence of the given period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing for, by the processor, the display device displaying an identifier of the set of multiple recordable events.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein displaying the identifier of the set of multiple recordable events comprises displaying the first recordable event descriptor,

wherein displaying the identifier of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events comprises displaying the second recordable event descriptor, and

wherein displaying the identifier of the second subset of the set of multiple recordable events comprises displaying the third recordable event descriptor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the processor, a selection of the first recordable event descriptor,

wherein determining the set of multiple recordable events occurs in response to receiving the selection of the first recordable event descriptor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the selection of the first recordable event descriptor includes receiving one or more alpha-numeric characters of the first recordable event descriptor.

9. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first recordable event descriptor is a title of a television show,

wherein the second recordable event descriptor is a television channel descriptor, and

wherein the third recordable event descriptor is a time-slot descriptor or a day(s)-of-the-week descriptor.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the processor, a third subset of recordable events within the set of multiple recordable events, wherein each recordable event of the third subset of recordable events is described, in part, by the second recordable event descriptor and a fourth recordable descriptor, but not by a fifth recordable event descriptor, and wherein each recordable event of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events is described, in part, by the fifth recordable event descriptor, but not the fourth recordable event descriptor; and

providing for, by the processor, the display device displaying an identifier of the third subset of recordable events.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the first recordable event descriptor is a title of a television show,

wherein the second recordable event descriptor is a television channel descriptor,

wherein the fourth recordable event descriptor is a first time-slot descriptor;

and

wherein the fifth recordable event descriptor is a second time-slot descriptor different than the first time-slot descriptor.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable program instructions executable by a processor to perform operations comprising:

storing, at the computer-readable medium, a recordable events data set including descriptors of a plurality of different recordable events, wherein the descriptors include a first recordable event descriptor, a second recordable event descriptor, and a third recordable event descriptor;

analyzing, at the processor, the recordable events data set to determine a set of multiple recordable events described, in part, by the first recordable event descriptor, wherein the set of multiple recordable events includes some but not all of the plurality of different recordable events;

analyzing, at the processor, a portion of the recordable events data set to determine a first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and a second subset of the set of multiple recordable events, wherein each recordable event of the first subset is further described, in part, by the second recordable event descriptor but not by the third recordable event descriptor, and wherein each recordable event of the second subset is further described, in part, by the third recordable event descriptor but not by the second recordable event descriptor, wherein the portion of the recordable events data pertains to the set of multiple recordable events;

providing for by the processor, prior to the processor receiving a selection of any of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and the second subset of multiple recordable events, a display device displaying, simultaneously, an identifier of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and an identifier of the second subset of the set of multiple recordable events, wherein the identifier of the first subset represents multiple recordable events of the set of multiple recordable events, and wherein the identifier of the second subset represents multiple recordable events of the set of multiple recordable events.

13. A system comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable data storage device storing program instructions executable by the processor and a recordable events data set including descriptors of a plurality of different recordable events, wherein the descriptors include a first recordable event descriptor, a second recordable event descriptor, and a third recordable event descriptor,

wherein the program instructions are executable to cause the processor to analyze the recordable events data set to determine a set of multiple recordable events described, in part, by the first recordable event descriptor, wherein the set of multiple recordable events includes some but not all of the plurality of different recordable events,

wherein the program instructions are executable to cause the processor to analyze a portion of the recordable events data set to determine a first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and a second subset of the set of multiple recordable events, wherein each recordable event of the first subset is further described, in part, by the second recordable event descriptor but not by the third recordable event descriptor,

wherein each recordable event of the second subset is further described, in part, by the third recordable event descriptor but not by the second recordable event descriptor, and

wherein the portion of the recordable events data pertains to the set of multiple recordable events, and

a user interface configured to provide, prior to the processor receiving a selection of any of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and the second subset of multiple recordable events, data for displaying, simultaneously, an identifier of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and an identifier of the second subset of the set of multiple recordable events, wherein the identifier of the first subset represents multiple recordable events of the set of multiple recordable events, and wherein the identifier of the second subset represents multiple recordable events of the set of multiple recordable events.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the user interface provides the data for displaying the identifier of the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and the identifier of the second subset of the set of multiple recordable events to a display device.

15. The system of claim 13,

wherein the processor is configured to receive a selection to record the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events and to provide for storage of at least one recordable event in response to receiving the selection to record the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events,

wherein the recordable events data set pertains to a given period of time, and

wherein the at least one recordable event is stored into the data storage device during the given period of time.

16. The system of claim 15,

wherein the processor is configured to cause the data storage device to store at least one other recordable event in response to receiving the selection to record the first subset of the set of multiple recordable events, and

wherein the at least one recordable event is stored into the data storage device after occurrence of the given period of time.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is within a digital video recorder connectable to the display device.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive a recordable events data set including data regarding each recordable event of the set of recordable events and data regarding other recordable events and a selected recordable event to be stored within the data storage device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the communications interface comprises at least one of a cable television interface, a radio frequency interface, a land-line telephone system telephone line, and an Internet connection.

20. The system of claim 13,

wherein the program instructions are executable to cause the processor to determine a third subset of recordable events within the set of multiple recordable events,

wherein each recordable event of the third subset of recordable events is described, in part, by the second recordable event descriptor and a fourth recordable descriptor, but not by a fifth recordable event descriptor,

wherein each recordable event of the first subset is further described, in part, by the fifth recordable event descriptor, but not by the fourth recordable event descriptor;

and

wherein the program instructions are executable to cause the processor to provide for displaying an identifier of the third subset of recordable events.