Device and method for storing a plurality of overlapping recordings of a same digital video and/or audio stream

• US 9,924,219 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings SAS (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Le Garjan, Bruno, Adam, Franck, McCleary, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Mishawn
• Application Number:
  US14/651,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20150312621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 386278, 386291, 386295, 725134
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• 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 21/4334 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

In storing of a plurality of overlapping recordings of a same digital video and/or audio stream, resource optimization is obtained through reuse of allocated resources when multiple record actions are operated on a same digital video and/or audio stream.

Claims

1. A method for storing a plurality of overlapping recordings of a same digital video and/or audio stream in a memory, wherein said method comprises storing said plurality of overlapping recordings of said same digital video and/or audio stream as a single segmented recording, where said single segmented recording comprises a plurality of non-overlapping segments, each of the non-overlapping segments including a respective part of said digital video and/or audio stream, said method comprising:

receiving a first request for a first recording of said same digital video and/or audio stream, creating a first recording segment and recording of said same digital video and/or audio stream in said first recording segment for storage in the memory;

during said first recording, receiving a second request for a second recording of said same digital video and/or audio stream, upon receipt of said second request, closing the first recording segment and creating of a second recording segment and continuing recording said same digital video and/or audio stream in said second recording segment for storage in the memory; and

receiving a third request for stopping said second recording of said same digital video and/or audio stream, upon receipt of said third request, closing the second recording segment, creating a third recording segment and continuing recording of said same digital video and/or audio stream in said third recording segment for storage in the memory;

said first recording including said first, second, and third segments, and said second recording including said second segment, and said second request for recording is a request for time shifting a visualization of said digital video and/or audio stream, and said third request for stopping of said second recording is a request for resuming said visualization.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said each segment is a file, and said creating is a file opening operation.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said each segment is a memory segment, and said creating is a placement of an index at an end of said each segment in a memory storing a memory segment.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises, per said each segment, a storing of a time stamp related to said same digital video and/or audio stream.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises, per said each segment, a storing of information relating said each segment to a user at an origin of a request for recording.

6. A device for storing a plurality of overlapping recordings of a same digital video and/or audio stream, characterized in that said device comprises:

a memory configured to store said plurality of overlapping recordings of said same digital video and/or audio stream as a single segmented recording, wherein said single segmented recording comprises a plurality of non-overlapping segments, each of the non-overlapping segments including a respective part of said digital video and/or audio stream;

a network interface configured to receive a first request for a first recording of said same digital video and/or audio stream, a central processing unit configured to create a first recording segment and said memory being further configured to store said same digital video and/or audio stream in said first recording segment;

said network interface being further configured to receive a second request for a second recording of said same digital video and/or said audio stream, upon receipt of said second request, said central processing unit being further configured to close the first recording segment and create a second recording segment and to continue recording said same digital video and/or audio stream in said second recording segment and said memory being further configured to store said second recording segment; and

said network interface being further configured to receive a third request for stopping said second recording of said same digital video and/or audio stream, upon receipt of said third request, said central processing unit being further configured to close the second recording segment, create a third recording segment and continue recording of said same digital video and/or audio stream in said third recording segment and said memory being further configured to store said third recording segment;

said second request for recording is a request for time shifting a visualization of said digital video and/or audio stream, and said third request for stopping of said second recording is a request for resuming said visualization.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said central processing unit is further configured to store said each segment as a file.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein said central processing unit is further configured to place an index in said memory when creating said each segment.

9. The device according to of claim 6, wherein said central processing unit is further configured to store, per said each segment, a time stamp related to said same digital video and/or audio stream.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein said central processing unit is further configured to store, per said each segment, information relating a segment to a user at an origin of a request for recording.

11. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device is a home gateway.

12. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device is a Set Top Box.

13. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device is a high definition television.

14. The device according to claim 6, wherein the device is a smartphone.