System and method for time-shifted program viewing

• US RE43,325 E1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Walters, Eric H., Lang, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/560,060
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 386/200, 386/231, 386/234, 386/248, 386/262, 386/291, 386/299
• US Class Current: 386/299
• 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 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42219 Remote control device emulator integrated in a peripheral device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• 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 21/47217 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• 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 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A system and method for time-shifted viewing of broadcast television programs is disclosed. Simultaneous recording and playback are provided by using buffer storage as the source and destination of compressed or uncompressed digital video/audio programs. Full VCR-like control is provided for all playback within the buffer storage. Playback and control of recorded programs may be initiated by the user at any time after initiation of the broadcast program with simultaneous continuous recording of the ongoing live broadcast. Larger archival storage and removable is also provided for storing and building a library of programs. Viewer playback control data may be stored as part of the program or used as edit points prior to archival. Numerous options are provided for features such as continuous automatic recording in a circular buffer fashion, program archival, editing, Internet interfaces, multiple-channel recording and more.

Claims

1. A method for time-shifted viewing of audio/video programs comprising:

receiving one or more audio/video programs from one or more sources, wherein the one or more audio/video programs are associated with data about the programs, the data about the programs provided over a network connection;

storing each of the one or more audio/video programs as program data in one or more cyclic buffers, whereupon being filled the one or more cyclic buffers begin replacing the oldest of the program data with the newest program data in a digital storage device; and

simultaneously providing playback control of the program data independently from storing the one or more audio/video programs, wherein time-shifted viewing is delayed viewing of the one or more audio/video programs currently being received from the one or more sources, the viewing of which may be initiated and controlled simultaneously with the storing of the one or more audio/video programs, and wherein one or more device configuration settings may be configured via a user interface over the network connection, wherein the network connection comprises an Internet protocol connection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the program data from the one or more cyclic buffers to one or more storage devices for archival of the program data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the playback control comprises random access play, stop, pause, rewind, and fast-forward functions.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising capturing the playback control as viewing habit data.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising storing the viewing habit data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data about the programs comprises plot summary data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data about the programs comprises rating data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data about the programs comprises cast data.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the device configuration setting comprises a record timer.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the device configuration setting comprises a video quality setting.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the device configuration setting comprises tuning to a particular channel.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the receipt of the one or more audio/video programs from the one or more sources occurs simultaneously.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digital storage medium comprises one or more cyclic buffers.

28. The method according to claim 1, further comprising replacing the oldest program data with the newest program data.

32. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing each of the one or more audio/video programs as program data in one or more cyclic buffers;

and

replacing the oldest program data with the newest program data when the one or more cyclic buffers become filled.

3. A system for time-shifted viewing of audio/video programs comprising:

an input for receiving one or more audio/video programs from one or more sources, wherein the one or more audio/video programs are associated with data about the programs, the data about the programs provided over a network connection;

one or more cyclic buffersa digital storage device for storing the one or more programs as program data in a cyclical fashion whereupon being filled, said cyclic buffers begin replacing the oldest program data with the newest program data and aresaid digital storage device being operable for simultaneously reading and writing of program data; and

a playback control interface for providing playback control of the program data independently from the storing of the program data, wherein time-shifted viewing is delayed viewing of the one or more programs currently being receiving received from the one or more sources, the viewing of which may be initiated and controlled simultaneously with the storing of the one or more audio/video programs, and wherein one or more device configuration settings may be configured via a user interface over the network connection, wherein the network connection comprises an Internet protocol connection.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a storage device comprising semi-permanent memory for storage of the one or more audio/video programs.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein the playback control interface includes control for random access play, stop, pause, rewind, and fast-forward functionality.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the playback control functionality is associated with viewing habit data.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising memory configured to store the viewing habit data.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein the data about the programs comprises plot summary data.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein the data about the programs comprises rating data.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein the data about the programs comprises cast data.

21. The system of claim 3, wherein the device configuration setting comprises a record timer.

22. The system of claim 3, wherein the device configuration setting comprises a video quality setting.

23. The system of claim 3, wherein the device configuration setting comprises tuning to a particular channel.

25. The system of claim 3, wherein the input is configured to simultaneously receive the one or more audio/video programs.

29. The system according to claim 3, wherein the digital storage device comprises one or more cyclic buffers.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said digital storage device replaces the oldest program data with the newest program data when the digital storage device is filled.

17. A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon at least one program, the at least one program being executable by a computer processor to perform a method for time-shifted viewing of audio/video programs comprising:

receiving one or more audio/video programs from one or more sources, wherein the one or more audio/video programs are associated with data about the programs, the data about the programs provided over a network connection;

storing each of the one or more audio/video programs as program data in one or more cyclic buffers, whereupon being filled the one or more cyclic buffers begin replacing the oldest of the program data with the newest program data in a digital storage medium; and

simultaneously providing playback control of the data independently from storing the one or more audio/video programs, wherein time-shifted viewing is delayed viewing of the one or more audio/video programs currently being received from the one or more sources, the viewing of which may be initiated and controlled simultaneously with the storing of the one or more audio/video programs, and wherein one or more device configuration settings may be configured via a user interface over the network connection, wherein the network connection comprises an Internet protocol connection.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the receipt of the one or more audio/video programs from the one or more sources occurs simultaneously.

31. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the digital storage medium comprises one or more cyclic buffers.

33. A method for time-shifted viewing of audio/video programs comprising:

receiving one or more audio/video programs from one or more sources, wherein the one or more audio/video programs are associated with data about the programs, the data about the programs provided over a network connection;

storing each of the one or more audio/video programs as program data in one or more digital storage devices; and

simultaneously providing playback control of the program data independently from storing the one or more audio/video programs, wherein time-shifted viewing is delayed viewing of the one or more audio/video programs currently being received from the one or more sources, the viewing of which may be initiated and controlled simultaneously with the storing of the one or more audio/video programs, and wherein one or more device configuration settings may be configured via a user interface over the network connection, wherein the network connection comprises an Internet connection.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the digital storage devices comprise one or more cyclic buffers.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising replacing the oldest program data with the newest program data when the digital storage devices are filled.