Apparatus and method using compressed codes for television program record scheduling

An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

• a video cassette recorder;
• means for entering into said video cassette recorder compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• said video cassette recorder comprising:
• means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,
• means for storing said combinations of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,
• a clock with an output as a function of time,
• means for recording said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and
• means for comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• wherein said video cassette recorder begins recording after the predetermined relationship is found to exist according to the date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination;
• means for channel selection;
• means for transmitting channel select commands to said means for channel selection after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the channel command of said temporally earliest in time combination wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said video cassette recorder;
• and
• wherein said video cassette recorder stops recording following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

• a cable box;
• means for entering into said cable box compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• said cable box comprising:
• means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,
• means for storing said combinations of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,
• a clock with an output as a function of time,
• means for reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and
• means for comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• means for recording;
• means for transmitting record on commands to said means for recording after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combinations wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said cable box;
• means for channel selection;
• wherein said means for transmitting transmit channel select commands to said means for channel selection after the predetermined relation is found to exist wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said cable box;
• and
• wherein said means for transmitting transmit record off commands to said means for recording following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

• a satellite receiver;
• means for entering into said satellite receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• said satellite receiver comprising:
• means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,
• means for storing said combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,
• a clock with an output as a function of time,
• means for reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and
• means for comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• means for recording;
• means for transmitting record on commands to said means for recording after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination, wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said satellite receiver;
• means for channel selection;
• wherein said means for transmitting transmit channel select commands to said means for channel selection after the predetermined relation is found to exist wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said satellite receiver;
• and
• wherein said means for transmitting transmit record off commands to said means for recording following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

A method of permitting programs to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

• providing a television receiver having a means for transmitting signals and a clock with an output as a function of time;
• entering into said television receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands;
• providing a memory;
• storing each said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into said memory;
• recording said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;
• comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• transmitting channel and record on commands from said television receiver after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;
• selecting the channel;
• recording the program;
• measuring length of time from transmitting record on command;
• and
• transmitting record off commands from said television receiver when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

A method of permitting programs to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

• providing a video cassette recorder having a means for transmitting signals and a clock with an output as a function of time;
• entering into said video cassette recorder compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands;
• providing a memory;
• storing each said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into said memory;
• reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;
• comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• transmitting channel commands from said video cassette recorder after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;
• selecting the channel;
• recording the program when predetermined relation is found to exist;
• measuring length of time from start of recording;
• and
• stopping recording when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

A method of permitting programs to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

• providing a cable box having a means for transmitting signals and a clock with an output as a function of time;
• entering into said cable box compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands;
• providing a memory;
• storing each said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into said memory;
• reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;
• comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• transmitting channel and record on commands from said cable box after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;
• selecting the channel;
• recording the program;
• measuring length of time from transmitting record on command;
• and
• transmitting record off commands from said cable box when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

A method of permitting program to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

• providing a satellite receiver having a means for transmitting signals and a clock with an output as a function of time;
• entering into said satellite receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands;
• providing a memory;
• storing each said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into said memory;
• reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;
• comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• transmitting channel and record on commands from said satellite receiver after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;
• selecting the channel;
• recording the program;
• measuring length of time from transmitting record on command;
• and
• transmitting record off commands from said satellite receiver when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

• a television receiver;
• means for entering into said television receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• said television receiver comprising:
• means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,
• means for storing said combinations of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,
• a clock with an output as a function of time,
• means for reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and
• means for comparing said ate and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time program entry in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• means for transmitting channel select and record on commands to a recorder after the predetermined relationship is found to exist according to the channel, date and time-of-day command of said temporally earliest in time combination, wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said television receiver;
• and
• wherein said means for transmitting transmits record off commands following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

A method of permitting programs to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

• providing a television receiver having a decoder, a memory, means for transmitting signals to the recorder and a clock with an output as a function of time;
• entering into said television receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
• decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands with said decoder;
• storing each said combination of said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into said memory;
• reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;
• comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
• transmitting channel select and record on commands from said television receiver to the recorder after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the channel, date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination;
• and
• transmitting record off commands from said television receiver to the recorder following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.