US 2003/0198462 A1 · Conflict Manager for a Video Recorder

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a conflict manager for a personal video recorder. An embodiment of the present invention includes a set-top box having an internal hard drive or other storage device where broadcasts are transferred 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 IPG displays a list of broadcasts that are available by tuning to different channels. The GUI allows the user to navigate the IPG, for instance, by viewing different times and dates for broadcasts. The GUI also allows the user to activate a video recorder within the set-top box, by navigating the IPG and selecting broadcasts to later transfer to the storage device. The user may select multiple broadcasts to transfer, may repeatedly transfer the same program, or may repeatedly transfer the same program in a series. When a conflict arises the present invention is configured to automatically or manually resolve the conflict.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A video recorder comprising:

an input mechanism configured to receive a broadcast signal;
a storage device configured to store said broadcast signal;
an output mechanism configured to display said broadcast signal by obtaining said broadcast signal from said storage device;
a transfer mechanism configured to obtain a portion of said broadcast signal at an appropriate time and to transfer said portion of said broadcast signal to said storage device based on a user input;
and
a conflict manager configured to determine in advance when said transfer mechanism will be unable to obtain said portion of said broadcast signal and to perform a conflict resolution process in response.

3 more elements

A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein comprising:
computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to receive a broadcast signal;
computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store said broadcast signal in a storage device;
computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to display said broadcast signal by accessing said storage device;
computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to transfer said broadcast signal by obtaining a portion of said broadcast signal from said storage device at an appropriate time based on a user input;
and
computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to manage conflicts by determining in advance when it will not be possible to obtain said portion of said broadcast signal and performing a conflict resolution process in response.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Conflict Manager for a Video Recorder

Life of this patent

Conflict Manager for a Video Recorder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40