Interactive television program guide with simultaneous watch and record capabilities

• US 8,621,512 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Lemmons, Thomas R., Marshall, Connie T., Allison, Donald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Bian
• Assistant Examiner(s): IDOWU, OLUGBENGA O
• Application Number:
  US13/280,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20120151526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 5/7755 the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

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.

Claims

1. A method for resolving a conflict when multiple operations are performed using multiple tuners controlled by an interactive television program guide, the method comprising:

receiving a request to perform a tuning operation;

determining that neither a first tuner nor a second tuner are available to perform the requested tuning operation, wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are both capable of performing the tuning operation; and

in response to the determination, displaying an alert that provides a user with an opportunity to direct the interactive television program guide to cancel a function of the second tuner to permit the second tuner to perform the requested tuning operation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user selection to not cancel the function of the second tuner; and

in response to the user selection to not cancel the function of the second tuner, continuing to perform the function of the second tuner.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user selection to cancel the function of the second tuner; and

in response to the user selection to cancel the function of the second tuner, canceling the function of the second tuner and performing the requested tuning operation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the requested tuning operation, the function of the second tuner, and a function of the first tuner each comprises a tuning function selected from the group consisting of viewing television programming, recording television programming, and performing a secondary tuner function.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the secondary tuner function comprises a tuning function selected from the group consisting of providing a picture-in-picture signal, collecting program guide data, browsing the Internet, and playing a music channel.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a function of the first tuner is viewing a first television program, the function of the second tuner is performing a secondary tuner function, and the requested tuning operation is recording a second television program.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a function of the first tuner is viewing a first television program, the function of the second tuner is recording a second television program, and the requested tuning operation is performing a secondary tuner function.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a function of the first tuner is viewing a first television program, the function of the second tuner is recording a second television program, and the requested tuning operation is viewing a third television program.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the alert provides the user with the opportunity to direct the interactive television program guide to cancel the function of the second tuner when the function of the second tuner is viewing a television program, and provides the user with the opportunity to direct the interactive television program guide to cancel a function of the first tuner when the function of the first tuner is viewing the television program.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying the alert comprises displaying a display screen using the interactive television program guide that provides the user with a first option to continue to perform the function of the second tuner, and with a second option to cancel the function of the second tuner to perform the requested tuning operation.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the user selects to cancel the function of the second tuner to permit the second tuner to perform the requested tuning operation using a remote control.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are included in a single device.

13. A system for resolving a conflict when multiple operations are performed using multiple tuners controlled by an interactive television program guide, the system comprising:

a first tuner;

a second tuner; and

an interactive television program guide implemented on the system, wherein the interactive television program guide is operative to;

receive a request to perform a tuning operation;

determine that neither the first tuner nor the second tuner are available to perform the requested tuning operation, wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are both capable of performing the tuning operation; and

in response to the determination, display an alert that provides a user with an opportunity to direct the interactive television program guide to cancel a function of the second tuner to permit the second tuner to perform the requested tuning operation.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the interactive television program guide is further operative to:

receive a user selection to not cancel the function of the second tuner; and

in response to the user selection to not cancel the function of the second tuner, continue to perform the function of the second tuner.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the interactive television program guide is further operative to:

receive a user selection to cancel the function of the second tuner; and

in response to the user selection to cancel the function of the second tuner, cancel the function of the second tuner and perform the requested tuning operation.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the requested tuning operation, the function of the second tuner, and a function of the first tuner each comprises a tuning function selected from the group consisting of viewing television programming, recording television programming, and performing a secondary tuner function.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the secondary tuner function comprises a tuning function selected from the group consisting of providing a picture-in-picture signal, collecting program guide data, browsing the Internet, and playing a music channel.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein a function of the first tuner is viewing a first television program, the function of the second tuner is performing a secondary tuner function, and the requested tuning operation is recording a second television program.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein a function of the first tuner is viewing a first television program, the function of the second tuner is recording a second television program, and the requested tuning operation is performing a secondary tuner function.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein a function of the first tuner is viewing a first television program, the function of the second tuner is recording a second television program, and the requested tuning operation is viewing a third television program.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the alert provides the user with the opportunity to direct the interactive television program guide to cancel the function of the second tuner when the function of the second tuner is viewing a television program, and provides the user with the opportunity to direct the interactive television program guide to cancel a function of the first tuner when the function of the first tuner is viewing the television program.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein the displaying the alert comprises displaying a display screen using the interactive television program guide that provides the user with a first option to continue to perform the function of the second tuner, and with a second option to cancel the function of the second tuner to perform the requested tuning operation.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein the user selects to cancel the function of the second tuner to permit the second tuner to perform the requested tuning operation using a remote control.

24. The system of claim 13 wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are included in a single device.