Multimedia signal processing system

• US 9,788,049 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockett, David, Heaton, Kurtis G., Barton, James M., Kao, Jean Swey, Chow, Ching Tong, McInnis, Roderick James, Goodman, Andrew Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/029,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20140016912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 386248, 386226, 386241, 386245, 386246, 386323, 386324, 386326, 386341
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• 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 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• 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 21/4532 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7925 : for more than one standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/87 : Regeneration of colour television signals H04N9/80 takes precedence

Abstract

A multimedia signal processing system utilizes an easily manipulated, low-cost storage and display system that allows the user to view a television program and instantly review previous scenes within the program. The invention also allows the user to store selected programs while simultaneously watching or reviewing another. A versatile system architecture enables providing the invention in multiple configurations, each adapted to receive input signals from a different source. At the highest level, the system includes an input section and an output section. Across all configurations, the output section remains substantially the same, while the input section varies according to the signal type and the source. Thus, several configurations are provided, each one requiring only minor system board modifications. The system architecture thus simplifies the design and manufacturing challenge presented by producing units to serve different markets, such as digital satellite, digital cable and analog cable.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of media stream data portions via at least one input source;

identifying media streams in the plurality of media stream data portions;

associating each portion of media stream data received with its respective media stream by tagging each portion of media stream data with associative tags;

processing media stream data from media streams in parallel, a media processor switching between processing media stream data from a first media stream to processing media stream data from a second media stream, the media processor in communication with a CPU;

running system software on the CPU, the system software including at least an operating system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a media stream further comprises:

distinguishing media streams using address information contained in the media stream data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating each portion of media stream data with its respective media stream further comprises:

assigning tags to each portion of media stream data that associates each portion of media stream data with its media stream of origin.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a processed media stream on at least one storage device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reloading a media processor state associated with the first media stream to the media processor when the media processor switches back to processing media stream data from the first media stream allowing the media processor to resume processing the first media stream.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving a plurality of media stream data portions via at least one input source;

identifying media streams in the plurality of media stream data portions;

associating each portion of media stream data received with its respective media stream by tagging each portion of media stream data with associative tags;

processing media stream data from media streams in parallel, a media processor switching between processing media stream data from a first media stream to processing media stream data from a second media stream, the media processor in communication with a CPU;

running system software on the CPU, the system software including at least an operating system.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the step of identifying a media stream further comprises:

distinguishing media streams using address information contained in the media stream data.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the step of associating each portion of media stream data with its respective media stream further comprises:

assigning tags to each portion of media stream data that associates each portion of media stream data with its media stream of origin.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to carry out the step of:

storing a processed media stream on at least one storage device.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the one or more sequences of instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to carry out the step of:

reloading a media processor state associated with the first media stream to the media processor when the media processor switches back to processing media stream data from the first media stream allowing the media processor to resume processing the first media stream.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a media stream data receiver that receives a plurality of media stream data portions via at least one input source;

a media stream identification subsystem that identifies media streams in the plurality of media stream data portions;

a media stream data association subsystem that associates each portion of media stream data received with its respective media stream by tagging each portion of media stream data with associative tags;

a CPU, the CPU running system software, the system software including at least an operating system;

a multi channel media stream processor, the multi channel media stream processor processes media stream data from media streams in parallel, the multi channel media stream processor in communication with the CPU.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the media stream identification subsystem distinguishes media streams using address information contained in the media stream data.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the media stream data association subsystem assigns tags to each portion of media stream data that associates each portion of media stream data with its media stream of origin.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a media stream storing subsystem that stores a processed media stream on at least one storage device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a processor state monitor that monitors and saves state of the multi channel media stream processor as the multi channel media stream processor switches from processing media stream data from a first media stream to processing media stream data from a second media stream, when the multi channel media stream processor switches back to processing media stream data from the first media stream, a multi channel media stream processor state associated with the first media stream is reloaded to the multi channel media stream processor and the multi channel media stream processor resumes processing the first media stream.