INTERACTIVE TELEVISION PROGRAM GUIDE WITH SIMULTANEOUS WATCH AND RECORD CAPABILITIES
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may use the program guide to watch one program while simultaneously recording another program without interrupting the recording or viewing process. This interactive television program guide system also allows a user the to utilize all or some of the program guide features while in the watch and record mode depending on the embodiment that is being implemented. Further, this watch and record system may be implemented using a multiple tuner set-top box or a single tuner set-top box with a RF bypass or digital switch. In addition to a set-top box, the system may be implemented using a satellite receiver, an advanced television with a processor and memory, or a computer. The various implementations provide a very versatile watch and record environment for the user.
8 Citations
219 Claims
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1-199. -199. (canceled)
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200. User television equipment that allows a user to watch one television program on a viewing device while simultaneously recording another television program, said user television equipment comprising:
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a digital storage device; a first tuner coupled to said viewing device; a second tuner coupled to said digital storage device; and an interactive television program guide implemented on said user television equipment, said interactive television program guide configured to; cause said viewing device to display a program guide display; receive a user selection to watch a first television program indicated on said program guide display; receive a user selection to record a second television program indicated on said program guide display; cause said first tuner to tune to a channel corresponding to said first television program in order to cause said first television program to be displayed by said viewing device; and cause said second tuner to tune to a channel corresponding to said second television program in order to cause said second television program to be recorded by said digital storage device, wherein broadcast times of said first television program and said second television program overlap such that said first television program is displayed by said viewing device at the same time that said second television program is recorded by said digital storage device. - View Dependent Claims (201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209)
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210. A method for using an interactive television program guide to allow a user to watch one television program on a viewing device while another program is simultaneously recorded by a digital storage device, said method comprising:
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causing said viewing device to display a program guide display with said interactive television program guide; receiving a user selection to watch a first television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; receiving a user selection to record a second television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; causing a first tuner coupled to said viewing device to tune to a channel corresponding to said first television program in order to cause said first television program to be displayed by said viewing device; and causing a second tuner coupled to said digital storage device to tune to a channel corresponding to said second television program in order to cause said second television program to be recorded by said digital storage device, wherein broadcast times of said first television program and said second television program overlap such that said first television program is displayed by said viewing device at the same time that said second television program is recorded by said digital storage device. - View Dependent Claims (211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219)
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Specification