Playback of audio/video content with control codes

• US 9,467,749 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lang, Richard A., Walters, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/083,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20160212499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 197 Days
• Field of Search: 386/291, 386/293, 386/296, 386/343, 386/345, 386/347, 386/350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/47217 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• 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 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A system and method for time-shifted viewing of broadcast television programs is disclosed. Simultaneous recording and playback are provided by using buffer storage as the source and destination of compressed or uncompressed digital video/audio programs, Full VCR-like control is provided for all playback within the buffer storage, Playback and control of recorded programs may be initiated by the user at any time after initiation of the broadcast program with simultaneous continuous recording of the ongoing live broadcast. Larger archival storage and removable is also provided for storing and building a library of programs. Viewer playback control data may be stored as part of the program or used as edit points prior to archival. Numerous options are provided for features such as continuous automatic recording in a circular buffer fashion, program archival, editing, Internet interfaces, multiple-channel recording and more.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing a media content stream in one or more temporary storage devices as the media content stream is being received from a content source;

causing display of the media content stream stored in the one or more temporary storage devices;

while the media content stream is being displayed, receiving one or more viewer commands to fast forward through one or more portions of the media content stream;

storing the media content stream in one or more long term storage devices without the one or more portions of the media content stream that the viewer fast forwarded through.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more portions of the media content stream correspond to one or more commercials.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a remote control device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a touch pad device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received through voice control.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more temporary storage devices configured to store a media content stream as the media content stream is being received from a content source;

a display processor configured to display the media content stream stored in the one or more temporary storage devices;

a command input receiver configured to receive one or more viewer commands to fast forward through one or more portions of the media content stream while the media content stream is being displayed;

one or more long term storage devices configured to store the media content stream without the one or more portions of the media content stream that the viewer fast forwarded through.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more portions of the media content stream correspond to one or more commercials.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a remote control device.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a touch pad device.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received through voice control.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media, storing one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of:

storing a media content stream in one or more temporary storage devices as the media content stream is being received from a content source;

causing display of the media content stream stored in the one or more temporary storage devices;

while the media content stream is being displayed, receiving one or more viewer commands to fast forward through one or more portions of the media content stream;

storing the media content stream in one or more long term storage devices without the one or more portions of the media content stream that the viewer fast forwarded through.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the one or more portions of the media content stream correspond to one or more commercials.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a remote control device.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a touch pad device.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the one or more viewer commands are received through voice control.