Record and replay television device and method

A television receiver device, comprising:

• a television receiver receiving a television signal and producing a digital video output therefrom;
• a video display for displaying video images;
• a video scaling device that scales the digital video output to a scaled size suitable for display in a picture-in-picture (PIP) display window of the display;
• a memory coupled to the video scaling device for receiving and storing the scaled digital video from the video scaling device, the memory being of such size to store N seconds of scaled video, where N is approximately 5-10;
• a remote command receiver that receives commands from a remote commander;
• an interface for connection of at least one video recording device;
• a processor that determines that receives “record” and “play” commands from the remote command receiver directed to the television receiver device, wherein:
• upon receipt of a record command, the processor enables recording of the scaled video from the video scaling device to the memory;
• upon receipt of a playback command, the processor enables slow motion playback of the N seconds of scaled video from the memory to the PIP window on the display;
• wherein upon receipt of the play command, the processor enables playback of the scaled video from the memory by opening the PIP window and causing the N seconds of scaled video to be multiplexed or overlaid on a main video signal;
• and
• wherein the processor closes the PIP window after the playback of the N seconds of scaled video from the memory to the PIP window on the display.

A method of controlling operation of a television receiver device, comprising in combination:

• determining that there remote control commands for “record” and “play” are directed to the television receiver device;
• checking a remote control receiver for receipt of either “record” or “play” command;
• when a record command is received by the remote control receiver, storing N seconds of scaled video to a memory residing in the television receiver device;
• and
• when a play command is received by the remote control receiver, playing out the N seconds of scaled video from the memory in a picture-in-picture (PIP) window.