System and method for time shifting at least a portion of a program
DCFirst Claim
1. A digital video recorder (DVR) for time shifting at least one video program, said video program being transmitted over a data distribution system, comprising:
- a tuner for receiving a plurality of video programs, wherein (i) said plurality of video programs are transmitted at the same time on a single channel within said data distribution system, (ii) said tuner can be tuned to said single channel to receive said plurality of video programs, and (iii) at least one of said plurality of video programs includes at least first, second and third portions, wherein said second portion as transmitted is configured to follow said first portion, and said third portion as transmitted is configured to follow said second portion;
a memory device for storing said plurality of video programs, allowing said one of said plurality of video programs to be played back at a later time;
a controller configured to receive commands from a user of said DVR, wherein a first command changes said DVR from a first playback state to a second playback state, a second command initiates playback of said one of said plurality of video programs from said memory device, and a third command instructs said DVR to receive and store said plurality of video programs; and
at least one processor configured to (i) provide said one of said plurality of video programs in its entirety to a display device in response to receiving said second command during a first period of time, (ii) provide said one of said plurality of video programs in its entirety to said display device in response to receiving said second command during a second period of time if said DVR is in said first playback state, and (iii) provide only a portion of said one of said plurality of video programs to said display device in response to receiving said second command during said second period of time if said DVR is in said second playback state, said portion of said one of said plurality of video programs including at least said first and third portions of said one of said plurality of video programs, wherein said third portion is provided to said display device immediately following said first portion if said second command is received during said second period of time and said DVR is in said second playback state;
wherein said second period of time is a period of time after said first period of time.
1 Assignment
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided for time shifting a video program. In one embodiment of the present invention, a receiver, which may be configured to function as both a receiver and a DVR, is configured to receive a video program having both primary and secondary portions. The receiving device is further configured to play both portions of the video program if the program is being watched (a) during a first period of time or (b) during a second period of time and a user desires to watch both portions, and to play only the primary portions if the program is being watched during the second period of time and the user desires to watch only the primary portions. By doing this, the user can avoid the secondary portions when those portions have a diminished value to the user, the content owner, the content provider and/or advertisers.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A digital video recorder (DVR) for time shifting at least one video program, said video program being transmitted over a data distribution system, comprising:
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a tuner for receiving a plurality of video programs, wherein (i) said plurality of video programs are transmitted at the same time on a single channel within said data distribution system, (ii) said tuner can be tuned to said single channel to receive said plurality of video programs, and (iii) at least one of said plurality of video programs includes at least first, second and third portions, wherein said second portion as transmitted is configured to follow said first portion, and said third portion as transmitted is configured to follow said second portion; a memory device for storing said plurality of video programs, allowing said one of said plurality of video programs to be played back at a later time; a controller configured to receive commands from a user of said DVR, wherein a first command changes said DVR from a first playback state to a second playback state, a second command initiates playback of said one of said plurality of video programs from said memory device, and a third command instructs said DVR to receive and store said plurality of video programs; and at least one processor configured to (i) provide said one of said plurality of video programs in its entirety to a display device in response to receiving said second command during a first period of time, (ii) provide said one of said plurality of video programs in its entirety to said display device in response to receiving said second command during a second period of time if said DVR is in said first playback state, and (iii) provide only a portion of said one of said plurality of video programs to said display device in response to receiving said second command during said second period of time if said DVR is in said second playback state, said portion of said one of said plurality of video programs including at least said first and third portions of said one of said plurality of video programs, wherein said third portion is provided to said display device immediately following said first portion if said second command is received during said second period of time and said DVR is in said second playback state; wherein said second period of time is a period of time after said first period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for time shifting at least one video program transmitted to a digital video recorder (DVR) over a data distribution system, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of video programs, wherein said plurality of video programs are transmitted as the same time and are received by a single tuner in said DVR, and at least one of said plurality of video programs includes at least first, second and third portions, wherein said second portion as transmitted is configured to follow said first portion, and said third portion as transmitted is configured to follow said second portion; receiving a third command from at least one user of said DVR, said third command indicating a desire to use said single tuner to receive said plurality of video programs and to store said plurality of video programs on at least one memory device in said DVR; storing said plurality of video programs on said at least one memory device in said DVR in response to receiving said third command from said at least one user of said DVR; receiving a second command from said at least one user of said DVR, said second command indicating a desire to playback at least a portion of said one of said plurality of video programs; receiving a first command from said at least one user of said DVR, said first command indicating a playback state of said DVR; and providing said at least a portion of said one of said plurality of video programs to a display device in response to receiving said second command from said at least one user of said DVR; wherein said step of providing said at least a portion of said one of said plurality of video programs to said display device further comprises (i) providing said one of said plurality of video programs to said display device in response to receiving said second command during a first period of time, (ii) providing said one of said plurality of video programs to said display device in response to receiving said second command during said second period of time if said DVR is in said first playback state, and (iii) providing only a portion of said one of said plurality of video programs to said display device in response to receiving said second command during said second period of time if said DVR is in said second playback state, said portion of said one of said plurality of video programs including at least said first and third portions of said video program, wherein said third portion is provided to said display device immediately following said first portion if said second command is received during said second period of time and said DVR is in said second playback state; wherein said second period of time is a period of time after said first period of time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A digital video recorder (DVR) for time shifting at least one of a plurality of video programs, said one of said plurality of video programs consisting of first, second and third portions, wherein said second portion as transmitted is configured to follow said first portion, and said third portion as transmitted is configured to follow said second portion, comprising:
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a first tuner for receiving data on said plurality of video programs, wherein said data on one of said plurality of video programs is transmitted together with said data on other ones of said plurality of video programs, so that said first tuner receives said data on said one of said plurality of video programs at the same time that it receives data on said other ones of said plurality of video programs; at least one memory device for storing said data on said plurality of video programs, including at least said one of said plurality of video programs; a controller for receiving commands including at least a first command for setting a playback state of said DVR, a second command for initiating a playback of said one of said plurality of video programs from said memory device, and a third command for initiating said reception and said storage of said data on said plurality of video programs; and at least one processor for (i) providing said first, second and third portions of said one of said plurality of video programs respectively to a display device in response to receiving said second command during a first portion of time, (ii) providing said first, second and third portions of said one of said plurality of video programs respectively to said display device in response to receiving said second command during a second period of time if said DVR is in a first playback state, and (iii) providing said first and third portions of said one of said plurality of video programs respectively to said display device in response to receiving said second command during said second period of time if said DVR is in a second playback state, wherein said third portion is provided to said display device immediately following said first portion if said second command is received during said second period of time and said DVR is in said second playback state. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification