Method and apparatus for selecting among multiple tuners
AssigneeRovi Technologies Corporation
InventorsPeter J. Potrebic, Geoffrey R. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system or method selects among multiple tuners to tune a particular channel. A request is received to tune a first channel. In response to this request, a first tuner is assigned to tune the first channel. A request is received to tune a second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is not being recorded, the first tuner is assigned to tune the second channel. If the program tuned by the first tuner is being recorded, the second tuner is assigned to tune the second channel.
Claims20
A set-top box device for receiving signals via the Internet, comprising:
- a plurality of receivers configured to receive content from a plurality of sources;
- a storage configured to store recording data from the plurality of sources;
- and
- a receiver controller coupled to the plurality of receivers, the receiver controller configured to:
- receive a first request to record a first program on a first source of the plurality of sources;
- assign, in response to the first request, a first receiver of the plurality of receivers to receive from the first source and record the first program, the recording having a first priority;
- receive a second request to record to a second program on a second source of the plurality of sources;
- determine, in response to the second request, that each of the plurality of receivers is non-idle;
- transmit a query from the first receiver to a second receiver of the plurality of receivers for a second priority associated with recording the second program;
- determine, based on a result of the query, that recording the first program is associated with a lower priority than recording the second program;
- and
- assign the first receiver to receive from the second source and record the second program.
A set-top box device for receiving signals via the Internet, comprising:
- a first receiver and a second receiver, each receiver configured to receive from one of a plurality of sources;
- and
- a controller coupled to the first receiver and the second receiver, the controller configured to:
- receive a first request to record a first source of the plurality of sources;
- assign, in response to the first request, the first receiver to record the first source, the recording having a first priority;
- receive a second request to record a second source of the plurality of sources;
- transmit a query from the first receiver to a second receiver of the plurality of receivers for a second priority associated with recording the second source;
- determine, based on a result of the query, a task engaged by the second receiver is associated with a lower priority than recording the first source;
- and
- assign the second receiver to record the second source.
A set-top box device for receiving signals via the Internet, comprising:
- a plurality of receivers configured to receive from one of a plurality of sources;
- and
- a controller coupled to the plurality of receivers, the controller configured to:
- receive a first request to record a first source of the plurality of sources;
- assign, in response to the first request, a first receiver of the plurality of receivers to record the first source, the recording having a first priority;
- receive a second request to record a second source of the plurality of sources;
- determine, in response to the second request, that each of the plurality of receivers is engaged in a task;
- transmit a query from the first receiver to each other receiver of the plurality of receivers for a priority associated with a respective task associated with each of the plurality of receivers;
- determine, based on a result of the query, that the task engaged in by the first receiver is associated with a lowest priority amongst the tasks engaged in by each of the plurality of receivers;
- and
- assign the first receiver to record the second source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.