Digital Video Recorder that Enables Recording at a Selected Resolution

• US 20140153907A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Farah, Jeffrey Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,363,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/297
• 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 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• 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 21/47214 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 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode

Abstract

A particular method includes receiving a request to record television programming at a digital video recorder. The request specifies a recording resolution. The method includes receiving the television programming at a first resolution at the digital video recorder and determining whether the first resolution matches the recording resolution. The method includes converting the television programming at the first resolution to the recording resolution with the digital video recorder in response to determining that the first resolution is different than the recording resolution. The method also includes storing, via the digital video recorder, the television programming at the recording resolution at a storage device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to record television programming at a digital video recorder, wherein the request specifies a recording resolution;

receiving the television programming at the digital video recorder;

determining a first resolution of the received television programming;

comparing the first resolution of the received television programming to the recording resolution specified by the request to record the television programming;

when the first resolution is different than the recording resolution, converting the television programming at the first resolution to the recording resolution with the digital video recorder; and

storing, via the digital video recorder, the television programming at the recording resolution at a storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording resolution is selected via a graphical interface that enables user selection of a particular resolution from a plurality of available resolutions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital video recorder is a network digital video recorder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the first resolution is based on an amount of received data used to produce a particular portion of the television programming.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the television programming at the first resolution to the recording resolution comprises performing a down conversion when the recording resolution is lower than the first resolution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the television programming at the first resolution to the recording resolution comprises performing an up conversion when the recording resolution is higher than the first resolution.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a remote control device and wherein the request is received in response to user input via a graphical interface to record television programming that is being sent to a display device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the graphical interface displays an option to change a default resolution.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the television programming is selected via an electronic program guide.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the first resolution is based on a number of horizontal lines that are used to render a frame of the television programming, a type of scanning of the television programming, a rate of display delivery of the television programming, or any combination thereof.

4. (canceled)

11. A device comprising:

an interface to receive television programming;

a processor coupled to the interface; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a request to record the television programming;

sending a graphical interface to a display device in response to the request, wherein the graphical interface enables entry of user input to set a recording resolution for the television programming;

determining a first resolution of the received television programming;

comparing the first resolution of the received television programming to the recording resolution specified by the user input;

converting the television programming from the first resolution to the recording resolution in response to determining that the recording resolution is different than the first resolution; and

storing the television programming at the recording resolution at a storage device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the recording resolution is a resolution for playback via a mobile communication device, and wherein the operations further comprise sending a copy of the television programming to the mobile communication device from the storage device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the recording resolution is lower than a standard definition resolution.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein converting the television programming from the first resolution to the recording resolution comprises converting the television programming from the first resolution to a lower resolution.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein converting the television programming from the first resolution to the recording resolution comprises converting the television programming from the first resolution to a higher resolution.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the first resolution is a three-dimensional resolution, and wherein the recording resolution is a two-dimensional resolution.

17. A computer-readable storage device comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to record television programming at a digital video recorder;

sending a graphical interface to a display device in response to the request, wherein the graphical interface prompts a user to set a recording resolution for the television programming;

receiving the television programming at a first resolution at the digital video recorder;

determining a first resolution of the received television programming;

comparing the first resolution of the received television programming to the recording resolution;

converting the television programming at the first resolution to the television programming at the recording resolution with the digital video recorder in response to determining that the first resolution is different than the recording resolution; and

storing the television programming at the recording resolution at a storage device.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the determination of the first resolution is based on a content source of the television programming.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the request is associated with an account serviced by a television service provider, wherein the content source is the television service provider, and wherein the first resolution is based on a service level agreement associated with the account.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the request is associated with an account serviced by a television service provider, wherein the content source is a channel provided by the television service provider, and wherein the first resolution is based on a resolution associated with the channel.