Successive initialization of television channel recording

• US 9,489,981 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• 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, Sokald, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Topgyal, Gelek W
• Application Number:
  US13/786,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20130243405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 386292-296
• 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

In various arrangements, a television receiver system for successive initialization of television channel recording is presented. The system may include a control processor, configured to determine a plurality of television channels are configured to begin recording at a same time. The control processor may transmit a first request for recording of a first television channel of the plurality of television channels. The system may include a tuning management processor, configured to configure a first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request. The tuning management processor may also transmit an acknowledgement to the control processor following the first recording of the first television channel being configured. The control processor may, in response to receiving the acknowledgement, transmit, to the tuning management processor, a second request for recording of a second television channel of the plurality of television channels.

Claims

1. A television receiver system for successive initialization of television channel recording, the television receiver system comprising:

a control processor, configured to;

determine a plurality of television channels are configured to begin recording at a same time based on a first stored timer and a second stored timer stored by the television receiver system;

transmit, to a tuning management processor, a first request for recording of a first television channel of the plurality of television channels based on the first stored timer; and

in response to the control processor receiving an acknowledgement that was transmitted by the tuning management processor in response to the first recording of the first television channel being configured, transmit, to the tuning management processor, a second request for recording of a second television channel of the plurality of television channels based on the second stored timer;

the tuning management processor, configured to;

configure a first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request;

transmit the acknowledgement to the control processor in response to the first recording of the first television channel being configured; and

cause the first television channel to be recorded to a file.

2. The television receiver system for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 1, the television receiver system further comprising:

a tuner, wherein each television channel of the plurality of television channels is tuned to using the tuner.

3. The television receiver system for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 2, wherein the tuning management processor being configured to configure the first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request comprises the tuning management processor being configured to:

tune the tuner to a frequency of a transponder stream, wherein the plurality of television channels are transmitted as part of the transponder stream; and

initiate a first packet identifier filter for a first packet identifier to capture program data from the transponder stream, wherein the program data indicates packet identifiers of video streams and audio streams of the plurality of television channels.

4. The television receiver system for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 3, wherein the tuning management processor being configured to configure the first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request comprises the tuning management processor being configured to:

use the program data captured using the first packet identifier filter to determine a second packet identifier and a third packet identifier associated with the first television channel; and

initiate a second packet identifier filter to capture audio data and video data from the transponder stream for the first television channel, wherein

the second packet identifier filter filters based on the second packet identifier and the third packet identifier.

5. The television receiver system for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 4, wherein the tuning management processor is further configured to:

configure a second recording of the second television channel in response to the second request, wherein configuring the second recording of the second television channel comprises the tuning management processor being configured to;

use the program data captured using the first packet identifier filter to determine a fourth packet identifier and a fifth packet identifier associated with the second television channel; and

initiate a third packet identifier filter to capture audio data and video data from the transponder stream for the second television channel, wherein the third packet identifier filter filters using the fourth packet identifier and the fifth packet identifier.

6. The television receiver system for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 5, wherein the tuning management processor is further configured to:

transmit a second acknowledgement to the control processor following the second recording of the second television channel being configured.

7. The television receiver system for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 1, wherein the television receiver system is configured to receive an indication of the plurality of television channels to be simultaneously recorded for a period of time from a television service provider via satellite.

8. A method for successive initialization of television channel recording, the method comprising:

determining, by a control processor of a television receiver, a plurality of television channels are configured to begin recording at a same time based on a first timer and a second timer stored by the television receiver;

transmitting, by the control processor to a tuning management processor of the television receiver, a first request for reception of a first television channel of the plurality of television channels based on the first timer; and

configuring, by the tuning management processor, a first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request;

causing, by the tuning management processor, the first television channel to be recorded to a file;

transmitting, by the tuning management processor to the control processor, an acknowledgement to the control processor in response to the first recording of the first television channel being configured; and

in response to the control processor receiving the acknowledgement that was transmitted by the tuning management processor to the control processor in response to the first recording of the first television channel being configured, transmitting, by the control processor to the tuning management processor, a second request for reception of a second television channel of the plurality of television channels based on the second timer.

9. The method for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 8, the method further comprising:

tuning, using a tuner of the television receiver, to each television channel of the plurality of television channels.

10. The method for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 9, wherein configuring the first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request comprises:

tuning the tuner to a frequency of a transponder stream, wherein

the plurality of television channels are transmitted as part of the transponder stream; and

initiating a first packet identifier filter for a first packet identifier to capture program data from the transponder stream, wherein

the program data indicates packet identifiers of video streams and audio streams of the plurality of television channels.

11. The method for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 10, wherein configuring the first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request comprises:

using the program data captured using the first packet identifier filter to determine a second packet identifier and a third packet identifier associated with the first television channel; and

initiating a second packet identifier filter to capture audio data and video data from the transponder stream for the first television channel, wherein

the second packet identifier filter filters based on the second packet identifier and the third packet identifier.

12. The method for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 11, further comprising:

configuring a second recording of the second television channel in response to the second request, wherein

configuring the second recording of the second television channel comprises;

using the program data captured using the first packet identifier filter to determine a fourth packet identifier and a fifth packet identifier associated with the second television channel; and

initiating a third packet identifier filter to capture audio data and video data from the transponder stream for the second television channel, wherein

the third packet identifier filter filters using the fourth packet identifier and the fifth packet identifier.

13. The method for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting, by the tuning management processor, a second acknowledgement to the control processor following the second recording of the second television channel being configured.

14. The method for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, by the television receiver, an indication of the plurality of television channels to be simultaneously recorded for a period of time from a television service provider via satellite.

15. An apparatus for successive initialization of television channel recording, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining a plurality of television channels are configured to begin recording at a same time based on a first timer and a second timer stored by the apparatus;

means for transmitting a first request for reception of a first television channel of the plurality of television channels based on the first timer; and

means for configuring a first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request;

means for causing the first television channel to be recorded to a file;

means for transmitting an acknowledgement from a second processing means to a first processing means following the first recording of the first television channel being configured; and

means for transmitting, by the first processing means, in response to receiving the acknowledgement from the second processing means that was transmitted in response to the first recording of the first television channel being configured, a second request for reception of a second television channel of the plurality of television channels based on the second tuner.

16. The apparatus for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 15, the apparatus further comprising:

means for tuning to each television channel of the plurality of television channels.

17. The apparatus for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 16, wherein the means for configuring the first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request comprises:

means for tuning to a frequency of a transponder stream, wherein

the plurality of television channels are transmitted as part of the transponder stream; and

means for initiating a first packet identifier filter for a first packet identifier to capture program data from the transponder stream, wherein

the program data indicates packet identifiers of video streams and audio streams of the plurality of television channels.

18. The apparatus for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 17, wherein the means for configuring the first recording of the first television channel in response to the first request comprises:

means for using the program data captured using the first packet identifier filter to determine a second packet identifier and a third packet identifier associated with the first television channel; and

means for initiating a second packet identifier filter to capture audio data and video data from the transponder stream for the first television channel, wherein

the second packet identifier filter filters based on the second packet identifier and the third packet identifier.

19. The apparatus for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 18, further comprising:

means for configuring a second recording of the second television channel in response to the second request, wherein

the means for configuring the second recording of the second television channel comprises;

means for using the program data captured using the first packet identifier filter to determine a fourth packet identifier and a fifth packet identifier associated with the second television channel; and

means for initiating a third packet identifier filter to capture audio data and video data from the transponder stream for the second television channel, wherein

the third packet identifier filter filters using the fourth packet identifier and the fifth packet identifier.

20. The apparatus for successive initialization of television channel recording of claim 19, further comprising:

means for transmitting a second acknowledgement following the second recording of the second television channel being configured.