EPG realignment

• US 9,349,412 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Templeman, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles N
• Application Number:
  US14/589,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20150121430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 39, 725/47, 725/57, 725/89, 725 92- 95
• 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

Arrangements detailed may cause a television channel received via the tuner to be recorded for a period of time to create a channel-specific file. The channel-specific file may include multiple television programs. User input that requests playback of a first television program of the plurality of television programs from the channel-specific file may be received. A front-end adjustment time period for playback of the first television program may be determined. A start time from which playback commences in the channel-specific file may be at least partially based on the front-end adjustment time period and a scheduled start time of the television program.

Claims

1. A television receiver that synchronizes electronic programming guide information with playback of a television program recording, the television receiver comprising:

one or more tuners;

one or more processors;

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;

record, from the one or more tuners, a plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs to a single file, wherein;

the plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs comprises a first television program and a second television program, and

the second television program was recorded to the file from a second timeslot immediately following a first timeslot of the first television program;

after recording the plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs to the single file, receive input requesting the recorded second television program be output for presentation;

determine a front-end adjustment period for playback of the second television program from the single file, wherein the front-end adjustment period immediately precedes a scheduled start time of the second television program, the scheduled start time of the second television program being based on stored electronic programming guide information;

in response to the input requesting the second television program be output for presentation, commence output of content from the single file for presentation to a display device starting with the beginning of the front-end adjustment period; and

while outputting content from during the front-end adjustment period, output for presentation electronic programming guide information associated with the second television program, while not outputting electronic programming guide information associated with the first television program.

2. The television receiver for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, via the tuner, an indication of a duration to use as the front-end adjustment time period.

3. The television receiver for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, via user input, an indication of a duration to use as the front-end adjustment time period.

4. The television receiver for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 1, wherein the electronic programming guide information associated with the second television program that is output for presentation comprises a title of the second television program.

5. The television receiver for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

determine a back-end adjustment period for playback of the second television program from the single file, wherein the back-end adjustment period immediately follows a scheduled end time of the second timeslot for the second television program, the scheduled end time of the second time slot being based on the electronic programming guide information for the second television program; and

output content corresponding to the back-end adjustment period from the single file for presentation to a display device.

6. The television receiver for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 5, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

during output of content during the back-end adjustment period, output for presentation EPG information associated with the second television program, while not outputting EPG information associated with a third television program, wherein output of the EPG information associated with the second television program during the back-end adjustment period occurs after the second time slot.

7. The television receiver for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 6, wherein the content output during the back-end adjustment period corresponds to the third television program.

8. The television receiver for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 1, wherein output of the EPG information associated with the second television program during output of the content during the front-end adjustment period occurs during the first time slot while the first television program is being output for presentation.

9. The television receiver for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 1, wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive, via the tuner, the EPG information for each television program of the plurality of the consecutively broadcast television programs.

10. A method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of a television program recording, the method comprising:

recording, by a television receiver, a plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs to a single file, wherein;

the plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs comprises a first television program and a second television program, and

the second television program was recorded to the file from a second timeslot immediately following a first timeslot of the first television program;

after recording the plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs to the single file, receiving, by the television receiver, input requesting the recorded second television program be output for presentation;

determining, by the television receiver, a front-end adjustment period for playback of the second television program from the single file, wherein the front-end adjustment period immediately precedes a scheduled start time of the second television program, the scheduled start time of the second television program being based on stored electronic programming guide information;

in response to the input requesting the second television program be output for presentation, commencing, by the television receiver, output of content from the single file for presentation to a display device starting with the beginning of the front-end adjustment period; and

while outputting content from during the front-end adjustment period, outputting, by the television receiver, for presentation, electronic programming guide information associated with the second television program, while not outputting electronic programming guide information associated with the first television program.

11. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 10, the method comprising:

receiving, via a tuner of the television receiver, an indication of a duration to use as the front-end adjustment time period.

12. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 10, the method comprising:

receiving, by the television receiver, via user input, an indication of a duration to use as the front-end adjustment time period.

13. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 10, wherein the electronic programming guide information associated with the second television program that is output for presentation comprises a title of the second television program.

14. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, by the television receiver, a back-end adjustment period for playback of the second television program from the single file, wherein the back-end adjustment period immediately follows a scheduled end time of the second timeslot for the second television program, the scheduled end time of the second time slot being based on the electronic programming guide information for the second television program; and

outputting, by the television receiver, content corresponding to the back-end adjustment period from the single file for presentation to a display device.

15. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 14, further comprising:

during output of content during the back-end adjustment period, outputting, by the television receiver, for presentation, EPG information associated with the second television program, while not outputting EPG information associated with a third television program, wherein output of the EPG information associated with the second television program during the back-end adjustment period occurs after the second time slot.

16. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 15, wherein the content output during the back-end adjustment period corresponds to the third television program.

17. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 10, wherein outputting the EPG information associated with the second television program during output of the content during the front-end adjustment period occurs during the first time slot.

18. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 17, wherein outputting the EPG information associated with the second television program during output of the content during the front-end adjustment period occurs while the first television program is being output for presentation.

19. The method for synchronizing electronic programming guide information with playback of the television program recording of claim 10, the method comprising:

receiving, by a tuner of the television receiver, the EPG information for each television program of the plurality of the consecutively broadcast television programs.

20. A non-transitory processor-readable medium that synchronizes electronic programming guide information with playback of a television program recording, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:

record a plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs to a single file, wherein;

the plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs comprises a first television program and a second television program, and

the second television program was recorded to the file from a second timeslot immediately following a first timeslot of the first television program;

after recording the plurality of consecutively broadcast television programs to the single file, receive input requesting the recorded second television program be output for presentation;

determine a front-end adjustment period for playback of the second television program from the single file, wherein the front-end adjustment period immediately precedes a scheduled start time of the second television program, the scheduled start time of the second television program being based on stored electronic programming guide information;

in response to the input requesting the second television program be output for presentation, commence output of content from the single file for presentation to a display device starting with the beginning of the front-end adjustment period; and

while content from during the front-end adjustment period is being output, output for presentation electronic programming guide information associated with the second television program, while not outputting electronic programming guide information associated with the first television program.