Systems and methods for interactive program guides with personal video recording features
First Claim
1. A system for buffering programs, the system comprising:
- control circuitry configured to;
buffer a first scheduled program currently being received;
receive a first user request to receive a second scheduled program;
based on the first user request, receive the second scheduled program and buffer the second scheduled program in parallel with the buffering of the first scheduled program;
receive a second user request to record the second scheduled program;
based on the second user request, record the second scheduled program on a remote server accessible to multiple users outside of a network associated with the control circuitry;
during the buffering of the first scheduled program;
receive a third user request to pause the second scheduled program at a given time point;
pause the second scheduled program while continuing to record the second scheduled program on the remote server;
receive a fourth user request to resume the second scheduled program; and
based on the fourth user request and the buffering of the second scheduled program, cause the second scheduled program to be continued from the given time point by retrieving the buffered second scheduled program while continuing to record the second scheduled program on the remote server.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, schedule recordings to a PVR, configure recordings, view a list of scheduled recordings, configure recording settings, or select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented.
108 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for buffering programs, the system comprising:
control circuitry configured to; buffer a first scheduled program currently being received; receive a first user request to receive a second scheduled program; based on the first user request, receive the second scheduled program and buffer the second scheduled program in parallel with the buffering of the first scheduled program; receive a second user request to record the second scheduled program; based on the second user request, record the second scheduled program on a remote server accessible to multiple users outside of a network associated with the control circuitry; during the buffering of the first scheduled program; receive a third user request to pause the second scheduled program at a given time point; pause the second scheduled program while continuing to record the second scheduled program on the remote server; receive a fourth user request to resume the second scheduled program; and based on the fourth user request and the buffering of the second scheduled program, cause the second scheduled program to be continued from the given time point by retrieving the buffered second scheduled program while continuing to record the second scheduled program on the remote server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for buffering programs, the method comprising:
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buffering a first scheduled program currently being received; receiving a first user request to receive a second scheduled program; based on the first user request, receiving the second scheduled program and buffering the second scheduled program in parallel with the buffering of the first scheduled program; receiving a second user request to record the second scheduled program; based on the second user request, recording the second scheduled program on a remote server accessible to multiple users outside of a network associated with the control circuitry; during the buffering of the first scheduled program; receiving a third user request to pause the second scheduled program at a given time point; pausing the second scheduled program while continuing to record the second scheduled program on the remote server; receiving a fourth user request to resume the second scheduled program; and based on the fourth user request and the buffering of the second scheduled program, causing the second scheduled program to be continued from the given time point by retrieving the buffered second scheduled program while continuing to record the second scheduled program on the remote server. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification