US 2008/0086743 A1 · Enhanced personal video recorder

Abstract

A personal video recorder coupled to a server provides a capability to record one or more missed portions of a TV program. The personal video recorder provides a way for a user to record the full content of a TV program even though the personal video recorder was not activated at the beginning of the TV program. The personal video recorder is coupled through a network to a server associated with a storage system, which records the entire TV program. The user, upon deciding to record the TV program after the TV program has started, requests the personal video recorder to obtain the missed beginning portion. The personal video recorder signals the server through the network with the TV program ID and the time at which recording started. The server responds with an address and data range, which the personal video recorder uses to download the missed portion of the TV program.

Claims46

Dependent claims

A personal video recording system, comprising:

a) a storage system for recording a broadcast TV program from beginning to end;
b) a personal video recorder coupled by a network to a server;
c) said personal video recorder records said TV program starting at a point where viewing of the TV program commences;
d) a viewer of the TV program requests the personal video recorder to obtain a missed portion of the TV program;
e) the personal video recorder communicates with the server through said network to request the missed portion;
and
f) the server responds to the personal video recorder with an address and range of data by which the personal video recorder uses to download through the network the missed portion of the TV program from the storage system, and stores the missed portion in the personal video recorder.

4 more elements

A method of recording a complete TV program commencing after a beginning of the TV program, comprising:

a) coupling a personal video recorder through a network to a server;
b) registering the personal video recorder with the server;
b) recording a TV program on a storage system associated with the server;
c) watching said TV program by a viewer;
d) initiating a recording the TV program on the personal video recorder;
e) determining a need to record a missed portion of the TV program;
f) requesting the personal video recorder to obtain said missed portion;
g) providing to the server through said network a program identifier and a time of the missed portion;
f) receiving from said server an address and range of requested video data representing the missed portion;
g) downloading from said storage system the missed portion of the TV program;
h) checking integrity of the missed portion downloaded from the storage system;
i) requesting a retransmission of the missed portion if the integrity check fails and returning to step g);
j) storing said missed portion of the TV program in the personal video recorder if the integrity check is good;
and
k) erasing the TV program from the storage system after a predetermined amount of time beyond completion of TV program broadcast;

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Enhanced personal video recorder

Life of this patent

Enhanced personal video recorder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims46