Communicating a channel-change event from a set top box to a digital video recorder
AssigneeKeen Personal Media, Inc.
InventorsWilliam B. Boyle, William P. Price
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A digital video recorder (DVR) for use with a monitor and a set top box (STB) is disclosed. The STB demodulates program data by tuning to at least one of a plurality of channels and comprises a DVR interface. The DVR comprises a local memory for storing the program data received from the STB, and a STB interface for communicating with the DVR interface. The DVR further comprises a DVR controller for communicating control data to direct the STB to tune to a selected channel, and for receiving a channel-change event from the STB in connection with the STB changing the tuned channel.
Claims8
A digital video recorder (DVR) for use with a monitor and a set top box (STB), the STB for demodulating program data by tuning to at least one of a plurality of channels, the STB comprising a DVR interface, the DVR comprising
- (a) a local memory for storing the program data received from the STB;
- (b) a STB interface for communicating with the STB over the DVR interface;
- and
- (c) a DVR controller for;
- communicating control data to direct the STB to tune to a selected channel;
- and
- receiving a channel-change event from the STB in connection with the STB changing the tuned channel,
- wherein the channel-change event is received by the DVR when a user directs the STB to change the tuned channel and before the STB changes the tuned channel.
A Set Top Box (STB) for use with a monitor and a digital video recorder (DVR), the DVR comprising a STB interface, the STB comprising:
- (a) a tuner for demodulating program data by tuning to at least one of a plurality of channels, wherein the program data is communicated to the DVR for recording;
- (b) a DVR interface for communicating with the DVR over the STB interface;
- and
- (c) a STB controller for:
- receiving control data from the DVR for directing the STB to tune to a selected channel;
- and
- communicating a channel-change event to the DVR in connection with the STB changing the tuned channel,
- wherein the STB communicates the channel-change event to the DVR when a user directs the STB to chance the tuned channel and before the STB changes the tuned channel.
A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium for use in a digital video recorder (DVR), the DVR for use with a monitor and a set top box (STB), the STB for demodulating program data by tuning to at least one of a plurality of channels, the DVR comprising a local memory, the computer program comprising code segments for:
- (a) receiving the program data from the STB;
- (b) storing the program data in the local memory;
- (c) communicating control data to direct the STB to tune to a selected channel;
- and
- (d) receiving a channel-change event from the STB in connection with the STB changing the tuned channel,
- wherein the channel-change event is received by the DVR when a user directs the STB to change the tuned channel and before the STB changes the tuned channel.
A computer program embodied on a computer readable storage medium for use in a set top box (STB), the STB for use with a monitor and a digital video recorder (DVR), the computer program comprising code segments for:
- (a) demodulating program data by tuning to at least one of a plurality of channels;
- (b) communicating the program data to the DVR for recording;
- (c) receiving control data from the DVR for directing the STB to tune to a selected channel;
- and
- (d) communicating a channel-change event to the DVR in connection with the STB changing the tuned channel,
- wherein the STB communicates the channel-change event to the DVR when a user directs the STB to change the tuned channel and before the STB changes the tuned channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.