| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 386296000 | Automatic program events (e.g., profile, etc.) | 55 |
| 20100296797 | VIDEO SYSTEM - A video system ( | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100310237 | System and Method of Recording Programs of Favorite Channels - Systems and methods for recording of channels are provided. In a particular method, a first window of the plurality of windows is designated to display a first program of a first channel and a second window of the plurality of windows is designated to display a second program of a second channel. The first channel and the second channel are each included in a set of channels. The method also includes automatically recording the first program associated with the first channel while the first program is in progress and automatically recording the second program associated with the second channel while the second program is in progress. The method further includes sending a start of program option to a display device. In response to a selection of the start of program option, a recorded displayed program in progress is automatically replayed from a beginning of the displayed program at the display device. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100310238 | ACCESS TO INTERNET DATA THROUGH A TELEVISION SYSTEM - A television system provides access to Internet data simultaneously with a displayed television program. Data units including data address sites available through a networked computer system such as the Internet are embedded in a television signal along with a television program. Information representing the data address site, such as an icon or descriptive text, is displayed simultaneously with the television program on the television. If the user selects the data address site, a data retrieval terminal in two-way communication with the network and associated with the television establishes a connection with the network and requests the data corresponding to the selected data address site. The retrieved information is then formatted for display. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20110008019 | TELEVISION PROGRAM SELECTION SYSTEM, RECOMMENDATION METHOD AND RECORDING METHOD - The present invention relates to a television program selection system, a recommendation method for recommending a selected television program and a recording method for recording a selected television program. Therefore, in a storage face data of one or more users and preference data associated to the face data are stored, wherein said preference data indicating preferences of the user. A camera captures an image of a user. A recommendation device then searches the attribute data of television programs currently available and selects in case that the captured image corresponds to one of the stored face data at least one television program having attribute data matching the associated stored preference data for display, recommendation, recording or other processes. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110008020 | RELATED SCENE ADDITION APPARATUS AND RELATED SCENE ADDITION METHOD - The related scene addition apparatus capable of extracting a related scene even when information on a moving image content having no information related to each scene, such as text information, has been retrieved includes: an operation record storage unit ( | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110069940 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING USERS WITHIN DETECTION REGIONS OF MEDIA DEVICES - Systems and methods are presented for detecting users within a range of a media device. A detection region may be defined that is within the range of the media device and smaller than the range. The detection region may be stored. It may be determined whether a user is within the detection region. The media device may be activated and settings associated with the user may be applied when a user is within the detection region. In some embodiments, settings associated with a user may be compared to provided media content when the user is within the detection region. The content may change when the settings conflict with the media content. Reminders may be provided to or directed to a plurality of users within the range of the media device. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110085781 | CONTENT RECORDER TIMING ALIGNMENT - A portion of audio content is captured from a network, and a time of occurrence of the captured portion of audio content is determined. An audio fingerprint is generated based on the captured portion of audio content. The generated audio fingerprint is matched to a program scheduled to be recorded. Based on the time of occurrence of the captured portion of audio content, a determination is made as to whether the program is running on-schedule. In one aspect, if it is determined that the program is not running on-schedule, an adjusted recording start time and/or an adjusted recording end time is calculated. In another aspect, if it is determined that the program is running on-schedule, the program is recorded according to a predetermined recording start time and/or a predetermined recording end time. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110129201 | CUSTOMIZED PLAYBACK OF BROADCAST MEDIA - One embodiment provides a method of providing a controlled, customized playback of broadcast media, such as satellite radio or television. A subset of preferred channels is identified from a set of available broadcast channels. Each broadcast channel provides streaming content including media segments and, optionally, segment tags marking the beginning and end of each media segment. Complete media segments of the streamed content from the preferred channels are received and stored. A plurality of queues is maintained. The received content from each channel is placed in one of the queues in the order received. A customized playback sequence is generated. In generating the customized playback sequence, the queued media segments are selected according to channel-selection criteria, and each media segment is played back in its entirety. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110135281 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING FILES ON A DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER - Described herein are techniques for managing files of a digital video recorder. Responsive to a request to record content, a DVR identifies and stores information identifying the originator of a recording request. The identifying information may then be presented to a user to identify the origin of a recording timer or a recorded file. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110135282 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING BROADCAST VIDEO WITH A SECONDARY AUDIO SOURCE - Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing a video source with a secondary audio source. For example, in one embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving a broadcast signal from a first source, the broadcast signal includes a video component and a first audio component. The method further includes receiving a second audio component from a second source, the second audio component providing audio corresponding to the video component of the broadcast. The method outputs the video component and the second audio component while suppressing the output of the first audio component. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110142421 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING POWER OF DIGITAL BROADCASTING RECEIVER - An apparatus and a method for managing power of a digital broadcasting receiver are provided. The apparatus includes a user setting unit for requesting power setting of the digital broadcasting receiver according to data input through a user interface, a pattern recognition unit for recognizing a use pattern through data input according to use of the digital broadcasting receiver, and for requesting power setting of the digital broadcasting receiver according to the recognized use pattern, and a power setting unit for setting the power of the digital broadcasting receiver by a request of the user setting unit and the pattern recognition unit. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110150431 | ENERGY-EFFICIENT MEDIA EQUIPMENT DEVICE - Method and systems for operating a media equipment device having at least a full-power mode and an off-power mode are provided. A voltage supply to the media equipment device may be controlled by the media equipment device itself or by an external power management unit to automatically power-off the media equipment device, and power the device back on a future time. Prior to powering off the media equipment device, a portion of program schedule information stored in the volatile memory of the media equipment device may be mirrored to nonvolatile memory and may be restored on a priority basis after the media equipment device is powered back up. An external power management unit for controlling the media equipment device may also automatically detect and identify devices in the home based on a power signature of the device and manage the operation of the device based on the identification. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110194841 | VIDEO RECORDER HAVING USER EXTENDED AND AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDED TIME SLOTS - The present invention is directed to a video recorder having user extended and automatically extended time slots. An embodiment of the present invention includes a set top box having an internal storage device, such as a hard drive where broadcasts are transferred from a broadcast input source to the storage device. The set top box is connected to an output device such as a television, which displays a graphical user interface (GUI) and an interactive program guide (IPG). The user has the option to extend a chosen time slot, in which a show is scheduled to be transferred to the storage device. The time slot may be extended before the show, after the show, or both. The system also implements an automatic extension of the time slot by default, which is used to ensure that the data is completely captured to the system, in case the broadcast and the set top box are slightly out of sync, the broadcaster unexpectedly begins a show's broadcast slightly early or late, or the show unexpectedly runs longer than the IPG indicates. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110305441 | Multi-Room Recorder - Scheduling may be provided. First, a first request to record a first program content may be received. The first request may be received from a first device and initiated by a first user. Next, in response to the received first request, a first entry may be added to a scheduling list. The first entry may correspond to the first request. Then, the first program content may be recorded according to the first entry in the scheduling list. In response to recording the first program content, a first indication may then be added to a recording list. The first indication may indicate that the first program content has been recorded. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110311205 | RECORDING OF SPORTS RELATED TELEVISION PROGRAMMING - A video recording system that controls recording of television programming relating to sporting events to better match the intent of a user who specified programming for recording. The system merges data from an electronic program guide and sports data, such as from a news feed, to determine values of recording parameters, such as start and stop time and channel. User input may specify a player, team, league or other sports entity for which sporting events are to be recorded. The system may use the sports data to identify sporting events involving the specified sports entity and then access an electronic program guide to determine a channel on which to record the sporting events. When the user specifies a sporting event to record, sports data may be used to track progress of the event and dynamically adjust an ending time of the recording to ensure that the full event is recorded. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20120020651 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECORDING CONTENT - Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for switching streams in response to detecting a start trigger are presented. A program's start trigger indicating that the program is upcoming may be detected on a first stream, and in response to detecting the start trigger on the first stream, a second stream containing the program may be switched to. The program may be a video program. Segment triggers may be detected and may be used to selectively record and/or delete segments of the program according to a priority scheme. Multiple start triggers may be detected at decreasing time intervals. The existence of a recording conflict may be determined based on a program's start trigger and a user may be alerted of the recording conflict. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120033950 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING AGGREGATIONS OF EPISODES OF SERIES PROGRAMMING IN ORDER - A viewer of an episode of a series such as a television series may wish to access episodes of the series that the viewer missed when they were originally broadcast. Interactive applications may receive the viewer's indication of interest to record missed episodes of the incomplete series, which may include instructions regarding recording options for including the missed episodes in a series aggregation. Interactive applications may identify the episodes to be included in the series aggregation, and record the missed episodes, which may then be stored and organized to create a series aggregation, in the order that they were first broadcast with episodes that the viewer may already have available. Interactive applications may present the episodes of the series aggregation in the order that they were originally broadcast, by providing the viewer with options on how to access the episodes. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120070131 | DSL VIDEO SERVICE WITH MEMORY MANAGER - A digital video recorder (DVR) has a memory manager to determine a particular date and a particular video program in a download schedule for which the DVR will reach a low memory condition based on the download schedule and an amount of unoccupied memory space in the DVR. The DVR outputs a display signal to indicate the particular date and the particular video program. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120114312 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE AVAILABILITY OF A MEDIA CONTROLLER - Method and system for determining the availability of a media controller to record a program in the future. A media controller receives a request to schedule the recording of a program during a particular time slot. The media controller obtains an availability probability of the media controller during the time slot. The media controller determines, based on the availability probability, whether the media controller is available to record the program. The availability probability may be based on previous usage data that identifies previous usage associated with the media controller. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120288258 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUALITY MARKING OF A RECORDING - Systems and methods for identifying a recorded video program are provided. The method may include recording a video and identifying the video as lacking desirable recording attributes. A future occurrence of a transmission of the video may be automatically selected in response to the identification of the video as lacking desirable recording properties. The future occurrence of the transmission of the video may be automatically re-recorded. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120288259 | Apparatus And Method For Recording Content - Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for switching streams in response to detecting a start trigger are presented. A program's start trigger indicating that the program is upcoming may be detected on a first stream, and in response to detecting the start trigger on the first stream, a second stream containing the program may be switched to. The program may be a video program. Segment triggers may be detected and may be used to selectively record and/or delete segments of the program according to a priority scheme. Multiple start triggers may be detected at decreasing time intervals. The existence of a recording conflict may be determined based on a program's start trigger and a user may be alerted of the recording conflict. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20130051773 | Automatically Recording Supplemental Content - A content provider transmits instructions to a content receiver to record multiple instances of content. The instances of content are included in the same frequency band of a broadcast transmitted by the content provider via a first communication link and scrambled utilizing the same control word. The content provider determines to supplement the multiple instances of content and transmits an instruction to record a supplemental instance of content from a second content provider via a second communication link. The content receiver receives the instructions and accordingly receives, descrambles, and stores the multiple instances of content and the supplemental instance of content. In some implementations, the first communication link may be a satellite communication link and the second communication link may be a different type of communication link such as a terrestrial broadcast communication link and/or an Internet protocol communication link. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130058632 | SELECTIVELY RECORDING MEDIA CONTENT - An implementation of the subject matter described in this specification provides systems and methods for selectively recording media content. User preference data associated with media content may be stored, and a recording status associated with a media content item may be determined. A recording status indicates whether the media content item will be recorded by a digital recording device. A location associated with a user may also be determined, and the recording status associated with the media content item may be changed based at least in part on the determined location. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130129321 | RECORDING OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMING - A video recording system that controls recording of television programming relating to sporting events to better match the intent of a user who specified programming for recording. The system merges data from an electronic program guide and sports data, such as from a news feed, to determine values of recording parameters, such as start and stop time and channel. User input may specify a player, team, league or other sports entity for which sporting events are to be recorded. The system may use the sports data to identify sporting events involving the specified sports entity and then access an electronic program guide to determine a channel on which to record the sporting events. When the user specifies a sporting event to record, sports data may be used to track progress of the event and dynamically adjust an ending time of the recording to ensure that the full event is recorded. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130136423 | IDENTIFYING SERIES CANDIDATES FOR DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER - Embodiments that relate to defining series for digital video recording are disclosed. One embodiment provides a method including receiving selection of a set of one or more video content series for which to automatically schedule recording updates, wherein each video content series is of a series type selected from a plurality of series types and each series type utilizes a corresponding update module selected from a plurality of update modules. The method further comprises receiving a trigger configured to trigger an updating of one or more series types, and for each video content series to be updated based upon the trigger received, obtaining a list of candidate video items for potential scheduling by executing the corresponding update module. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130136424 | ADAPTING DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING BASED UPON FEEDBACK - Embodiments related to the use of feedback to adapt digital video recording are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, on a computing device, a method of adapting an identification and scheduling of video items for recording based on usage. The method comprises detecting a trigger to perform a series update, and determining one or more video items to record as a part of a series by providing input to a series update module that returns candidate video items for inclusion in the series. The method further comprises scheduling zero or more of the candidate video items for recording, receiving feedback related to video item playback of one or more video items that were recorded based upon the scheduling, and based upon the feedback, adapting the input provided to the series update module for a later series update. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130136425 | GROUP BASED RECORDING SCHEDULE - According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is recognized that a threshold number of members in a trend group intend to view a content item. The content item is automatically added, for each member in the trend group, to a recording schedule of that member of the trend group. The recording schedule of each member of the trend group is maintained at a recording schedule service and indicates content items to be recorded by a content recording device. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130136426 | WEB FEED BASED RECORDING SCHEDULE - According to one aspect of this disclosure, a request is received to add content items indicated by a third-party web feed to a recording schedule. One or more of the content items indicated by the third-party web feed may be automatically added to the recording schedule. The recording schedule may indicate content items to be recorded by an electronic content recording device from a content provider. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130148945 | METHOD FOR PERFORMING SCHEDULE CONTROL OF A MULTICHANNEL BROADCASTING PROGRAM RECEIVER, AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUS - A method for performing schedule control of a multichannel broadcasting program receiver includes: retrieving viewing plan information from outside the multichannel broadcasting program receiver, for use of determining a program viewing plan for a user, wherein the viewing plan information indicates at least one source viewing plan recommended by at least one other user/service provider; and when it is detected that a current time matches a start time of a specific program indicated by the program viewing plan, triggering the multichannel broadcasting program receiver to turn on a main power of the multichannel broadcasting program receiver, allowing the specific program to be watched/recorded. An associated apparatus is also provided. For example, the apparatus may include a portion of the multichannel broadcasting program receiver, such as a control circuit of the multichannel broadcasting program receiver. In another example, the apparatus may include the whole of the multichannel broadcasting program receiver. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130243401 | AUTOMATICALLY RECORDING SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT - A content provider transmits instructions to a content receiver to record multiple instances of content. The instances of content are included in the same frequency band of a broadcast transmitted by the content provider via a first communication link and scrambled utilizing the same control word. The content provider determines to supplement the multiple instances of content and transmits an instruction to record a supplemental instance of content from a second content provider via a second communication link. The content receiver receives the instructions and accordingly receives, descrambles, and stores the multiple instances of content and the supplemental instance of content. In some implementations, the first communication link may be a satellite communication link and the second communication link may be a different type of communication link such as a terrestrial broadcast communication link and/or an Internet protocol communication link. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130266293 | USER-SPECIFIED EVENT-BASED REMOTE TRIGGERING OF A CONSUMER DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING DEVICE - A method, digital video recording (DVR) device/system and computer program provide a mechanism for recording video content associated with unpredictable events. A user specifies particular event classifications, keywords, or other control parameters from which the occurrence of an event can be determined, and when such event is detected, the DVR is triggered to record content from a specified channel/location. The events can be detected from feeds such as RSS feeds, websites, video content scans or other mechanisms. The event detection may be provided by a remote service that is accessible for user-configuration via a network, or the event detection may be performed in a DVR device or local computer system. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130272683 | ADJUSTING RECORDER TIMING - A portion of audio content of a multimedia program, such as a television program, is captured from a network. An audio fingerprint is generated based on the portion of audio content, and the audio fingerprint is matched to one of multiple theme song fingerprints stored in a database. An expected theme song time offset associated with the matched theme song fingerprint is retrieved from the database. It is determined whether the program is running on-schedule, based on the time the portion of audio content occurred, a scheduled start time of the program, and/or the expected theme song time offset. If it is determined that the program is running off-schedule, an adjusted start time and/or an adjusted end time of the program are calculated. The program is recorded by a recorder based on the adjusted start time and/or the adjusted end time. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130279886 | MEDIA RECORDER THAT SELECTS WHEN TO RECORD MEDIA CONTENT THAT IS AVAILABLE AT MULTIPLE TIMES - A particular method includes receiving program data designating media content to be recorded at a media recorder. An electronic program guide accessible to the media recorder includes multiple scheduled delivery times for the media content. The method includes receiving delay data. The delay data enables delayed recording of the media content and specifies at least one delay recording condition. The method includes determining an onset time to begin recording the media content based on the multiple scheduled delivery times for the media content and based on the at least one delay recording condition. The method also includes scheduling the media content to be recorded at the media recorder beginning at the onset time. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130294754 | Distributed Database Management System - A distributed database management system provides a central database resident on a server that contains database objects. Objects, e.g., program guide data, to be replicated are gathered together into distribution packages called “slices,” that are transmitted to client devices. A slice is a subset of the central database which is relevant to clients within a specific domain, such as a geographic region, or under the footprint of a satellite transmitter. The viewer selects television programs and Web content from displayed sections of the program guide data which are recorded to a storage device. The program guide data are used to determine when to start and end recordings. Client devices periodically connect to the server using a phone line and upload information of interest which is combined with information uploaded from other client devices for statistical, operational, or viewing models. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20140079374 | Optically Readable Codes in a Content Delivery System - A method, apparatus, and software are provided for using an optically-readable code such as a quick-response (QR) code. The optically-readable code may represent a uniform resource identifier (URI) including parameters that represent a query, such as a query for content and/or other data. The query results may be used to command a content consumption device to record or otherwise obtain an item of content. The optically-readable code may additionally or alternatively be determined based upon a status of the device, such as what content, or portion thereof, is currently being displayed, and/or what error condition is being experienced. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140126890 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC RECORDING ACCORDING TO USER PREFERENCES - A method and apparatus searches a program for automatic recording according to user preferences, which include entries entered by a user and entries automatically added by the apparatus according to a recording habit of the user. A user can assign a priority to a user entered entry and the apparatus can assign a priority to an automatically entered entry, but the priority of an automatically entered entry can be modified by the user. The apparatus searches program information of programs in an electronic program guide having a match to any of the entries and selects a matched program for automatic recording. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140133839 | COMMUNITY-BASED RECOMMENDATION ENGINE - A community-based recommendation engine is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide community-based recommendation engine comprises a recommendation detector and a decision module. The recommendation detector is configured to receive, at a viewer's system, a recommendation for a content item from a contact of a viewer. The decision module may be configured to determine an action to be performed at the viewer's system, based on the recommendation and on one or more rules, accept the recommendation as an instruction to perform the action, and initiate the action at the viewer's system. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140186012 | CONTENT-BASED HIGHLIGHT RECORDING OF TELEVISION PROGRAMMING - A media device for content-based highlight handling of television programming may be provided. Criteria of interest corresponding to user input may be processed. Idle tuner(s) not being used to receive any television channels for presentation or recording may be identified. A television channel identified based at least in part on the criteria of interest may be tuned to with an idle tuner. Content received at the media device may be processed. Update data associated with a subject matter of the content may be received separately from the television channel. A portion of the content that corresponds to the criteria may be identified based at least in part on the criteria of interest and the update data. A portion of a television program may be recorded and/or marked. The portion of the television program may correspond to the portion of the content identified based at least in part on the criteria. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140199051 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC RECORDING ACCORDING TO USER PREFERENCES - A method and apparatus searches a program for automatic recording according to user preferences, which include channel names or genres entered by a user and keywords entered by a user. The method and apparatus allows the user to enter a recording score threshold, searches programs in an electronic program guide having a match on one of the entered keywords, channel names, and genres, and for each matched program, computes a match score and if the match score is above the threshold, automatically selects the matched program for automatic recording. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140233921 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit adapted to acquire preference information representing a user's preference based on an operation given by the user regarding content; a selecting unit adapted to select content and to designate the selected content as an object for copying; and a copying unit adapted to copy the selected content to another information processing apparatus. Further, if the object for copying is copied by the copying unit, the acquiring unit updates the preference information associated with the content of the copied object for copying. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140255011 | MULTIMEDIA DEVICE AND PROMPT METHOD FOR SCHEDULED PROGRAMS - A multimedia device in communication with a communication device of a user is provided. The multimedia device sends a message to the communication device to remind the user that a selected scheduled program is about to start. The message includes at least a recording option and a watching option. The communication device transmits a recording instruction or a watching instruction to the multimedia device according to the user's choice, and the multimedia device records the scheduled program or tunes in to the scheduled program as chosen by the user. A prompt method for selected scheduled programs is also provided. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140270714 | METHODS AND APPARATUS THAT FACILITATE CONTROLLING MULTIPLE DEVICES - Methods and apparatus for controlling a home alarm and supporting various control functions including STB recording functions are described. In some embodiments, e.g., where the STB is a DOCSIS capable device, communications between the control panel and STB is through a gateway and/or server which allow the IP based control panel to interact with the STB via a communications network and other devices located external to the customer premise where the control panel is located. In embodiments where the STB supports IP capability, communication between the control panel and STB is via a home network. In some embodiments upon selecting an alarm activation option a user is provided an opportunity to select at least one of: recordings, which are scheduled for deletion, to be preserved, or suggestions for programs for recording. Upon alarm deactivation, a list of new recordings made in user's absence and a missed call log is presented. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140270715 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPDATING TELEVISION RECORDING TIMERS - The present invention allows the user to correctly record every episode of a recurring program by updating the timing of the record for the instances of the recurring program. In addition, the present invention allows the user to record multiple episodes of a television program shown on one or more channels, regardless of when these episodes will play. The present invention also ensures that identical episodes are not recorded. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20150055938 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERNET ACCESS TO A PERSONAL TELEVISION SERVICE - Systems and methods for remote access to personal television service are disclosed. A remote personal TV service center provides centralized program guide information. Users may access the personal TV service center through a digital video recorder which is connected to the personal TV service center via telephone modem or a network server. Users may access the personal TV service center through a remote computer terminal or a personal digital assistant which is connected to a computer network. A user selects program events and programs the digital video recorder using a graphical user interface installed in the digital video recorder in case of local programming, or using a similar GUI which is incorporated into the Web pages presented to remote users by a Web server in case of remote programming. The media stream stored in one digital video recorder may be transferred to another digital video recorder. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150131974 | MULTIMEDIA CONTENT SEARCH AND RECORDING SCHEDULING SYSTEM - Techniques described herein enable searching for multimedia content and for downloading or scheduling the recording of the multimedia content. The multimedia content may have been previously stored on one or more databases. The client device may download or schedule the recording of multimedia content in one step, for example, in one touch. When desired multimedia content is not available, the multimedia content is added to the client device's wish list. When the client device's does not have a wish list, the client device's wish list may be created on the spot. During the scheduling of the recording, a tag associated with the multimedia content is checked to determine whether the multimedia content is live or delayed. When the tag indicates the multimedia content is live or delayed, the client device prompts with a suggestion to add extra time to the end of the recording of the multimedia content. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150319480 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECORDING CONTENT FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE WHEN PREVIOUS CONTENT RUNS OVER - Systems and methods for recording content from a different source when previous content runs over are provided. A recording of a first media asset from a first content source is scheduled. The first media asset is scheduled for transmission from the first content source at a start time following a scheduled transmission end time of a second media asset from the first content source. Transmission of the second media asset from the first content source is determined to run past the scheduled end time. A determination is made, based on a visual component and/or an audible component of the second media asset, that transmission of the first media asset at the start time from the first content source has been changed to a second content source. The recording of the first media asset is modified to record the first media asset at the start time from the second content source. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150326908 | METHODS AND APPARATUS THAT FACILITATE CONTROLLING MULTIPLE DEVICES - Methods and apparatus for controlling a home alarm and supporting various control functions including STB recording functions are described. In some embodiments, e.g., where the STB is a DOCSIS capable device, communications between the control panel and STB is through a gateway and/or server which allow the IP based control panel to interact with the STB via a communications network and other devices located external to the customer premise where the control panel is located. In embodiments where the STB supports IP capability, communication between the control panel and STB is via a home network. In some embodiments upon selecting an alarm activation option a user is provided an opportunity to select at least one of: recordings, which are scheduled for deletion, to be preserved, or suggestions for programs for recording. Upon alarm deactivation, a list of new recordings made in user's absence and a missed call log is presented. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150326924 | REAL-TIME DVR PROGRAMMING - Techniques for real-time DVR programming employ secure instant message protocol in a DVR environment. An embodiment sends an instant message to the DVR which causes the DVR to open a new secure connection with the service provider for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider. Another embodiment uses an already established connection with an instant message server for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20160006977 | RECORDING EVENTS IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for recording events occurring in a virtual world. In one embodiment, properties of events previously recorded and/or attended by a user may be identified. Recording criteria for the user may be derived from the identified properties. Upon identifying an event satisfying the recording criteria, the event may be recorded. The recorded event may be played back at the convenience of the user. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160007051 | COORDINATION OF VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING - Approaches described herein provide coordination of audio and/or video recording to minimize any gaps in coverage. In one approach, users of a distributed set of recording devices are invited to join a community with other similar users via a networked application in a loosely collaborative way. The recording coordination application substantially continuously monitors the state of the recording activities and coordinates the community of users to reduce any gaps in coverage. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160057482 | RECORDING VIDEO CONTENT IN RELEVANT SEGMENTS OF A TELEVISION PROGRAM BASED ON IDENTIFYING KEYWORDS IN ON-SCREEN TEXT, CLOSED CAPTIONING TEXT AND/OR PROGRAM AUDIO - A method, digital video recorder device and computer program product for recording program content. The digital video recorder (DVR) receives a selection of a television program or a television channel to record video content as well as the time period to record the video content in the selected television program or in the television program airing on the selected television channel from a user. Furthermore, the DVR receives keyword(s) to trigger the recording of the video content in the television program from the user. The DVR monitors the television program or the television channel for keyword(s) entered by the user in on-screen text, closed captioning text and/or program audio. In response to detecting one or more of these keyword(s) in the on-screen text, closed captioning text and/or program audio, the DVR records the video content in the television program for the selected period of time. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160100212 | SAVING ADDRESSABLE COMMERCIALS TO PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER - A media content processing system includes a memory device, and input port, and a processing device. The input port receives a media content signal that includes at least one addressable commercial content instance and at least one non-commercial content instance. The processing device is programmed to process the media content signal, record the addressable commercial content instance independent of the non-commercial content instance, and store the recorded addressable commercial content instance in the memory device. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160112755 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECORDING AND PLAYING BACK PROGRAMS HAVING DESIRABLE RECORDING ATTRIBUTES - Systems and methods for recording multiple copies of a program are provided. The method may include receiving a user instruction to record a program. A determination may be made to record multiple copies of the program. In response to the determination, multiple copies of the program may be recorded. A user instruction to display the recorded program may be received. A copy of the program may be played back. The user may switch to another copy of the recorded program if the original copy lacks desirable recording attributes, or the interactive television application may automatically switch to another copy of the program. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160142761 | INTUITIVE TIMER - A method for determining a program of interest to a user and setting a timer to automatically record the program of interest. The method can interpret user inputs and watching habits, such as whether or not a user is present, to determine if a program being displayed for a user is a program of interest to the user. Once a program of interest is identified, a timer is set to record the next scheduled broadcast of the program of interest for the user. The user can then be notified, either before or after the timer is activated, that the automatic timer was set to record the program, and the user given the option of whether or not to keep the timer or recording. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160156958 | RECORDING AND TIME-DELAYED PLAYBACK OF MEDIA ITEMS | 06-02-2016 |
