US 8,542,984 B1 · Advanced recording options for interactive media guidance application systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for advanced recording options in interactive media guidance applications pertaining to whether a program includes commercials, has a particular aspect ratio, is a director's cut, or is unrated. The interactive media guidance application receives a user input to search for and record a program with one or more recording attributes, including an input designating that an attribute be required, preferred, or preferred in multiple copies. In one method, the interactive media guidance application retrieves media guidance information data for the program from memory, determines if the program has the desired recording attribute, and if so, records the program. In another method, the interactive media guidance application records the first available program which has all required recording attributes, and then continues to search for and record more-preferred versions.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A method for recording programs with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

receiving a user selection of a program for recording, the selection specifying a user preference to record the program with or without commercials;
retrieving media guidance information data for the program from memory;
following receipt of the user selection of the program for recording, automatically determining, from the media guidance application data, whether a version of the program matches the user preference;
and
when the version of the program is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, automatically scheduling a recording of the version of the program on a recording device in accordance with the user selection,
when no version of the program is determined from the media guidance data to match the user preference, searching updated media guidance data for the version of the program that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

3 more elements

A method for recording programs with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

receiving a user input from a user input device identifying a program to be recorded and allowing the user to select a first recording attribute as being either required, preferred, or preferred in multiple copies, and allowing the user to select a second recording attribute as being preferred, or preferred in multiple copies;
retrieving media guidance information data for the program from memory;
following receipt of the user input identifying the program to be recorded, automatically determining, from the media guidance application data, whether any versions of the program have all required program attributes in accordance with the user input;
determining, from the media guidance application data, whether any versions of the program have one or more preferred program attributes in accordance with the user input;
in response to the determination that a version of the program has all required program attributes, automatically recording on a recording device at least one version of the program with all required program attributes in accordance with the user input;
and
in response to the determination that a version of the program has one or more preferred program attributes, automatically recording on a recording device at least one additional version of the program with all required program attributes and at least one preferred program attribute of equal or greater preference when compared to any prior recorded version or versions of the program.

4 more elements

A system for recording programs with an interactive media guidance application comprising:

a user input device;
a recording device;
and
control circuitry configured to:
receive a user input from the user input device identifying a program to be recorded and allowing the user to select a first recording attribute as being either required, preferred, or preferred in multiple copies, and allowing the user to select a second recording attribute as being preferred, or preferred in multiple copies;
retrieve media guidance information data for the program from memory;
following receipt of the user input identifying the program to be recorded, automatically determine, from the media guidance application data, whether any versions of the program have all required program attributes in accordance with the user input;
determine, from the media guidance application data, whether any versions of the program have one or more preferred program attributes in accordance with the user input;
in response to the determination that a version of the program has all required program attributes, automatically record on the recording device at least one version of the program with all required program attributes in accordance with the user input;
and
in response to the determination that a version of the program has one or more preferred program attributes, automatically record on the recording device at least one additional version of the program with all required program attributes and at least one preferred program attribute of equal or greater preference when compared to any prior recorded version or versions of the program.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Advanced recording options for interactive media guidance application systems

Life of this patent

Advanced recording options for interactive media guidance application systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44