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

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- Number: US 8,542,984 B1
- Document ID: US8542984B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/784,120
- Filed: 2007-04-03
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2007-04-03
- Assignees: Rovi Guides, Inc.
- Applicants: Robert A. Knee; Reed S. Spiegel, Jr.
- Inventors: Robert A. Knee; Reed S. Spiegel, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542984B1

## CPC

- H04N 5/93: Regeneration of the television signal or of selected parts thereof
- G11B 20/00: Signal processing not specific to the method of recording or reproducing; Circuits therefor
- G11B 27/10: Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
- H04N 5/76: Television signal recording
- H04N 5/782: on tape
- H04N 5/91: Television signal processing therefor
- H04N 9/7921: {for more than one processing mode}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 3

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 a particular aspect ratio;
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.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 5

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 a director's cut of the program;
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.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 7

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 a rated or unrated version of the program;
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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 9

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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising deleting any prior recorded version of a program with preferred program attributes of equal or lesser preference.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising deleting any prior recorded version of a program with the same variant of a program attribute which is preferred in multiple copies, and with preferred program attributes of equal or lesser preference.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a user identification of a second attribute as being preferred, comprises allowing a user to rank the relative preference of a preferred attribute if more than one attribute is preferred.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the interactive media guidance application continues searching for and recording versions 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, until the interactive media guidance application records a version of the program which possesses all required program attributes and all preferred program attributes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein one of the preferred program attributes indicates that the user prefers a program version that does or does not include commercials.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein one of the preferred program attributes indicates that the user prefers multiple copies of a program, comprising at least one version which includes commercials and at least one version which does not include commercials.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein one of the preferred program attributes indicates that the user prefers that the program version have a particular aspect ratio.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein one of the preferred program attributes indicates that the user prefers multiple copies of a program, comprising at least one version with each available aspect ratio.

### Claim 19 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein one of the preferred program attributes indicates that the user prefers that the program version is or is not a director's cut.

### Claim 20 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein one of the preferred program attributes indicates that the user prefers multiple copies of a program, comprising at least one version which is a director's cut and at least one version which is not a director's cut.

### Claim 21 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein one of the preferred program attributes indicates that the user prefers that the program version is or is not unrated.

### Claim 22 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein one of the preferred program attributes indicates that the user prefers multiple copies of a program, comprising at least one version which is unrated and at least one version which is not unrated.

### Claim 23

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, with the user input device, a user selection of a program for recording, the selection specifying a user preference to record the program with or without commercials;
retrieve media guidance information data for the program from memory;
following receipt of the user selection of the program for recording, automatically determine, 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 schedule a recording of the version of the program on the 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, search updated media guidance data for the version of the program that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The system of claim 23 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 25

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, with the user input device, a user selection of a program for recording, the selection specifying a user preference to record the program with particular aspect ratio;
retrieve media guidance information data for the program from memory;
following receipt of the user selection of the program for recording, automatically determine, 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 schedule a recording of the version of the program on the 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, search updated media guidance data for the version of the program that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The system of claim 25 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 27

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, with the user input device, a user selection of a program for recording, the selection specifying a user preference to record a director's cut of the program;
retrieve media guidance information data for the program from memory;
following receipt of the user selection of the program for recording, automatically determine, 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 schedule a recording of the version of the program on the 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, search updated media guidance data for the version of the program that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The system of claim 27 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 29

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, with the user input device, a user selection of a program for recording, the selection specifying a user preference to record a rated or unrated version of the program;
retrieve media guidance information data for the program from memory;
determine, after the user selection is received, 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, record the version of the program on the 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, search updated media guidance data for the version of the program that matches the user preference after the media guidance data is updated.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 31

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.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to delete any prior recorded version of a program with preferred program attributes of equal or lesser preference.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The system of claim 32, the control circuitry further configured to delete any prior recorded version of a program with the same variant of a program attribute which is preferred in multiple copies, and with preferred program attributes of equal or lesser preference.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user identification designating a rank indicating the relative preference of a preferred attribute if more than one attribute is preferred.

### Claim 35 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to continue searching for and recording versions 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, until the interactive media guidance application records a version of the program which possesses all required program attributes and all preferred program attributes.

### Claim 36 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive television program guide implemented on a set-top box.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device designating that the user prefers a program version that does or does not include commercials.

### Claim 38 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device indicating that the user prefers multiple copies of a program, comprising at least one version which includes commercials and at least one version which does not include commercials.

### Claim 39 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device designating that the user prefers a program version that has a particular aspect ratio.

### Claim 40 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device indicating that the user prefers multiple copies of a program, comprising at least one version with each available aspect ratio.

### Claim 41 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device designating that the user prefers a program version that is or is not a director's cut.

### Claim 42 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device indicating that the user prefers multiple copies of a program, comprising at least one version which is a director's cut and at least one version which is not a director's cut.

### Claim 43 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device designating that the user prefers a program version that is or is not unrated.

### Claim 44 (depends on 31)

The system of claim 31, the control circuitry further configured to receive a user input from the user input device indicating that the user prefers multiple copies of a program, comprising at least one version which is unrated and at least one version which is not unrated.