Multiple outlet digital video recording system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017270973-A9
Application number	US-201514613336-A
Country	US
Kind code	A9
Filing date	Feb 3, 2015
Priority date	Jul 30, 1998
Publication date	Sep 21, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multimedia time warping system allows a user to store selected multimedia data streams while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing other multimedia data. Data streams are converted to digital streams for internal transfer and manipulation. A parser and event buffer decouple the CPU from having to parse the digital stream. Video segments are stored on a storage device and when data is requested for display, its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts them into display output signals and delivers the display output signals to a display.

First claim

1 . A method for a digital video recorder, comprising:
receiving a first multimedia program from a first input tuner and a second multimedia program from a second input tuner; as the first multimedia program and second multimedia program are being received, storing the first multimedia program and the second multimedia program in digital form on at least one storage device; simultaneously retrieving for play back a video segment from the first multimedia program whose storage is in progress and the second multimedia program whose storage is in progress using video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the first multimedia program whose storage is in progress and video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the second multimedia program whose storage is in progress to cause delivery of selected video segments to an output subsystem, the digital video recorder automatically generating video segment identifying information for specific video segments in multimedia programs; and wherein the simultaneously retrieving for play back step allows playback rate and direction of each multimedia program to be controlled individually and simultaneously to perform at least one of: fast forward, rewind, pause, or play functions.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the output subsystem converts video segments for the first multimedia program whose storage is in progress and the second multimedia program whose storage is in progress into display output signals.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
inserting on-screen displays into a display output signal.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein playback rate and direction of a multimedia program commands are received from a remote control.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the retrieving for play back step sends a multimedia program to a multimedia device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating custom sequences of video and/or audio output; and wherein the creating step allows any number of video and/or audio segments of multimedia programs to be lined up and combined and stored on the at least one storage device.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
receiving digital multimedia program signals using a plurality of input tuners; and wherein each of the input tuners among the plurality of input tuners individually receives a specific multimedia program.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of:
synchronizing video and audio components of a multimedia program for proper playback.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an input tuner receives at least one of: software updates or data.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the simultaneously retrieving for play back step plays back the first multimedia program whose storage is in progress and the second multimedia program whose storage is in progress in a picture in a picture format to a display device.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an input tuner receives a specific multimedia program in response to a command received from a remote control.

12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for a digital video recorder, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:
receiving a first multimedia program from a first input tuner and a second multimedia program from a second input tuner; as the first multimedia program and second multimedia program are being received, storing the first multimedia program and the second multimedia program in digital form on at least one storage device; simultaneously retrieving for play back a video segment from the first multimedia program whose storage is in progress and the second multimedia program whose storage is in progress using video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the first multimedia program whose storage is in progress and video segment identifying information generated by the digital video recorder for at least one video segment in the second multimedia program whose storage is in progress to cause delivery of selected video segments to an output subsystem, the digital video recorder automatically generating video segment identifying information for specific video segments in multimedia programs; and wherein the simultaneously retrieving for play back step allows playback rate and direction of each multimedia program to be controlled individually and simultaneously to perform at least one of: fast forward, rewind, pause, or play functions.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the output subsystem converts video segments for the first multimedia program whose storage is in progress and the second multimedia program whose storage is in progress into display output signals.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , further comprising:
inserting on-screen displays into a display output signal.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein playback rate and direction of a multimedia program commands are received from a remote control.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the retrieving for play back step sends a multimedia program to a multimedia device.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , further comprising:
creating custom sequences of video and/or audio output; and wherein the creating step allows any number of video and/or audio segments of multimedia programs to be lined up and combined and stored on the at least one storage device.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving digital multimedia program signals using a plurality of input tuners; and wherein each of the input tuners among the plurality of input tuners individually receives a specific multimedia program.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising:
synchronizing video and audio components of a multimedia program for proper playback.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein at least one input tuner receives at least one of: software updates or data.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the simultaneously retrieving for play back step plays back the first multimedia program whose storage is in progress and the second multimedia program whose storage is in progress in a picture in a picture format to a display device.

22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein an input tuner receives a specific multimedia program in response to a command received from a remote control.

23 . A digital video recorder, comprising:
a first input tuner; a second input tuner; wherein a first multimedia program is received from the first input tuner and a second multimedia program is received from the second input tuner; storing logic, implemented at least partially in hardware, that, as the first multimedia program and second multimedia program are being received, stores the first multimedia program and the second multimedia program in digital form on at least one storage device; content retrieval logic, implemented at least partially in hardware,

Assignees

• Tivo Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Barton James M
• Mcinnis Roderick James
• Moskowitz Alan S
• Goodman Andrew Martin
• Chow Ching Tong
• Kao Jean Sway

Classifications

• H04N9/7921

  for more than one processing mode · CPC title

• H04N5/783

  Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate · CPC title

• H04N5/781

  on disks or drums · CPC title

• H04N21/4147

  PVR [Personal Video Recorder] (H04N5/76 takes precedence {; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40}) · CPC title

• H04N21/472

  End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content {(end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612)} · CPC title