Recording of multiple television channels

• US 9,854,291 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Minnick, Danny Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERORAZIO, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US15/143,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20160249089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 725 12
• 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

Various arrangements for recording multiple television channels are presented. A plurality of sets of television channels may be identified. An interface may be output for presentation, the interface presenting indications of each of the plurality of sets of television channels and a plurality of input elements associated with the plurality of sets of television channels. User input may be received via one or more of the plurality of input elements indicative of one or more sets of television channels of the plurality of sets of television channels to be recorded. Dates and times at which the one or more sets of television channels are to be recorded may be determined. The one or more sets of television channels may be recorded at the determined dates and the determined times.

Claims

1. A method for recording multiple television channels, the method comprising:

identifying, by a television receiver, a plurality of transponder groups, wherein;

each transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups comprises a plurality of television channels that are received by the television receiver as part of a same transponder stream;

the plurality of transponder groups comprises a first transponder group containing a first plurality of television channels received on a first transponder stream; and

the plurality of transponder groups comprises a second transponder group containing a second plurality of television channels received on a second transponder stream;

outputting, by the television receiver, an interface for presentation, the interface presenting an indication of each transponder group within the plurality of transponder groups and a plurality of input elements, wherein;

an input element of the plurality of input elements is associated with each transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups; and

the indication for each transponder group within the plurality of transponder groups comprises a listing of the plurality of television channels that are included in the transponder group;

receiving, by the television receiver, one or more user selections, via one or more of the plurality of input elements, indicative of one or more transponder groups of the plurality of transponder groups to be recorded, wherein a single selection of a first input element corresponding to the first transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups selects the first plurality of television channels for recording;

determining, by the television receiver, dates and times at which the one or more transponder groups are to be recorded; and

recording, by the television receiver, the one or more transponder groups at the determined dates and the determined times.

2. The method for recording multiple television channels of claim 1, wherein identifying the plurality of transponder groups comprises:

receiving, by the television receiver, from a television service provider, indications of television channels that are transmitted using the first transponder stream and the second transponder stream.

3. The method for recording multiple television channels of claim 1, wherein identifying the plurality of transponder groups comprises:

analyzing, by the television receiver, a stored table to determine television channels that are transmitted using the same transponder stream.

4. The method for recording multiple television channels of claim 1, wherein determining the dates and the times at which the one or more of the plurality of transponder groups are to be recorded comprises:

receiving the dates and the times from a television service provider via a television programming distribution network.

5. The method for recording multiple television channels of claim 1, wherein determining the dates and the times at which the one or more of the plurality of transponder groups are to be recorded comprises:

receiving, by the television receiver, user input indicating the user desires to set the dates and the times; and

in response to the user input indicating the user desires to set the dates and the times, outputting, by the television receiver, a second interface that permits a user to specify the dates and the times.

6. The method for recording multiple television channels of claim 1, wherein the one or more user selections indicates that the first transponder group is to be recorded and recording the first transponder group comprises:

receiving, by the television receiver, the first plurality of television channels of the first transponder group concurrently using only a first tuner.

7. The method for recording multiple television channels of claim 6, wherein the one or more user selections further indicates that the second transponder group is to be recorded and recording the second transponder group comprises:

receiving, by the television receiver, the second plurality of television channels of the second transponder group concurrently using only a second tuner.

8. The method for recording multiple television channels of claim 7, wherein the first transponder group and the second transponder group are recorded during an overlapping period of time.

9. A system for recording multiple television channels, the system comprising:

a plurality of tuners that are tunable to different frequency bands to receive transponder streams of television channels;

one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

identify a plurality of transponder groups, wherein;

each transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups comprises a plurality of television channels that are received as part of a same transponder stream;

the plurality of transponder groups comprises a first transponder group containing a first plurality of television channels received on a first transponder stream; and

the plurality of transponder groups comprises a second transponder group containing a second plurality of television channels received on a second transponder stream;

output an interface for presentation, the interface presenting an indication of each transponder group within the plurality of transponder groups and a plurality of input elements, wherein;

an input element of the plurality of input elements is associated with each transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups; and

the indication for each transponder group within the plurality of transponder groups comprises a listing of the plurality of television channels that are included in the transponder group;

receive one or more user selections, via one or more of the plurality of input elements indicative of one or more transponder groups of the plurality of transponder groups to be recorded, wherein a single selection of a first input element corresponding to the first transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups selects the first plurality of television channels for recording;

determine dates and times at which the one or more transponder groups are to be recorded; and

record the one or more transponder groups at the determined dates and the determined times.

10. The system for recording multiple television channels of claim 9, wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to identify the plurality of transponder groups comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive from a television service provider, indications of television channels that are transmitted using the first transponder stream and the second transponder stream.

11. The system for recording multiple television channels of claim 9, wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to identify the plurality of transponder groups comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

analyze a stored data arrangement to determine television channels that are transmitted using the same transponder stream.

12. The system for recording multiple television channels of claim 9, wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to determine the dates and the times at which the one or more of the plurality of transponder groups are to be recorded comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive the dates and the times from a television service provider via a television programming distribution network.

13. The system for recording multiple television channels of claim 9, wherein the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to determine the dates and the times at which the one or more of the plurality of transponder groups are to be recorded comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive user input indicating the user desires to set the dates and the times; and

in response to the user input indicating the user desires to set the dates and the times, output a second interface that permits a user to specify the dates and the times.

14. The system for recording multiple television channels of claim 9, wherein the one or more user selections indicates that the first transponder group is to be recorded and the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to record the first transponder group comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive the first plurality of television channels of the first transponder group concurrently using only a first tuner of the plurality of tuners.

15. The system for recording multiple television channels of claim 14, wherein the one or more user selections further indicates that the second transponder group is to be recorded and the processor-readable instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to record the second transponder group comprise processor-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

receive the second plurality of television channels of the second transponder group concurrently using only a second tuner of the plurality of tuners.

16. The system for recording multiple television channels of claim 15, wherein the first transponder group and the second transponder group are recorded during an overlapping period of time.

17. A non-transitory processor-readable medium comprising processor-readable instructions that cause one or more processors to:

identify a plurality of transponder groups, wherein;

each transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups comprises a plurality of television channels that are received as part of a same transponder stream;

the plurality of transponder groups comprises a first transponder group containing a first plurality of television channels received on a first transponder stream; and

the plurality of transponder groups comprises a second transponder group containing a second plurality of television channels received on a second transponder stream;

output an interface for presentation, the interface presenting an indication of each transponder group within the plurality of transponder groups and a plurality of input elements, wherein;

an input element of the plurality of input elements is associated with each transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups; and

the indication for each transponder group within the plurality of transponder groups comprises a listing of the plurality of television channels that are included in the transponder group;

receive one or more user selections via one or more of the plurality of input elements indicative of one or more transponder groups of the plurality of transponder groups to be recorded, wherein a single selection of a first selection of a first input element corresponding to the first transponder group of the plurality of transponder groups selects the first plurality of television channels for recording;

determine dates and times at which the one or more transponder groups are to be recorded; and

record the one or more transponder groups at the determined dates and the determined times.

18. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to identify the plurality of transponder groups comprise processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to:

receive from a television service provider, an indication of television channels that are transmitted using the same transponder stream.

19. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to identify the plurality of transponder groups comprise processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to:

analyze a stored data arrangement to determine television channels that are transmitted using the same transponder stream.

20. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the processor-readable instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to determine the dates and the times at which the one or more of the plurality of transponder groups are to be recorded comprise processor-readable instructions that cause the one or more processors to:

receive the dates and the times from a television service provider.