Buffering content
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- using a first pause buffer to record a first portion of first content being carried on a first logical channel and simultaneously using a second pause buffer to record a second portion of second content being carried on a second logical channel different from the first logical channel;
determining, by a computing device, a channel change from the first logical channel to the second logical channel;
in response to determining the channel change, determining whether the second logical channel is at a commercial break at a time of the channel change; and
in response to determining that the second logical channel is at the commercial break, outputting the second portion of the second content, wherein the second portion comprises a portion of the second content before the commercial break.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates generally to buffering and presenting content. Multiple pause buffers may be created and maintained so that users can jump within the content of a channel. If buffered content is not available, the user may be offered similar content that is available as on-demand content, or as other recorded content, for example, stored on a digital video recorder. If a commercial is playing when the new channel is selected, a buffered portion corresponding to an earlier portion of the content may be presented instead of the commercial.
8 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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using a first pause buffer to record a first portion of first content being carried on a first logical channel and simultaneously using a second pause buffer to record a second portion of second content being carried on a second logical channel different from the first logical channel; determining, by a computing device, a channel change from the first logical channel to the second logical channel; in response to determining the channel change, determining whether the second logical channel is at a commercial break at a time of the channel change; and in response to determining that the second logical channel is at the commercial break, outputting the second portion of the second content, wherein the second portion comprises a portion of the second content before the commercial break. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20)
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10. A method, comprising:
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simultaneously buffering a first portion of first content output on a first logical channel and buffering a second portion of second content output on a second logical channel different from the first logical channel; receiving, by a computing device, a signal requesting a change from the first logical channel to the second logical channel; determining whether there is a commercial block on the second logical channel in response to the receiving the signal; and in response to determining that there is a commercial block on the second logical channel, establishing a transmission session, between the computing device and an interface at a remote premise or a device associated with the interface, for providing the second portion of the second content, wherein the second portion comprises a segment of the second content before the commercial block. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21)
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16. A method, comprising:
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simultaneously buffering, in a first buffer, first content provided on a first logical channel and buffering, in a second buffer, second content provided on a second logical channel different from the first logical channel; receiving, at a computing device, a request to change channels from the first logical channel to the second logical channel; determining whether the second logical channel is providing a commercial break at a time of receiving the request; and in response to determining that the second logical channel is providing the commercial break at the time of receiving the request, outputting a portion of the second content from the second buffer, wherein the portion starts at a predetermined period of time preceding the commercial break. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification