Systems and methods for timing the recording and playback of television programming

A system for recording broadcast television programming, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• receive a selection of a broadcast television program from an electronic programming guide;
• access an electronic programming guide database to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program;
• define a timer to record the broadcast television program in response to receiving the selection of the broadcast television program from the electronic programming guide, wherein:
• a start time for the timer is a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• and
• an end time for the timer is a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;
• record the broadcast television program as a recording, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer;
• create and store a first bookmark in association with the recording, the first bookmark being based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• receive a command requesting playback of the recorded broadcast television program;
• and
• initiate playback of the recorded broadcast television program at a location determined by the television receiver within the recording that is:
• determined based on a stored predefined playback offset and the first bookmark;
• located before the first bookmark based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• and
• located after the start time of the timer.

A non-transitory processor-readable medium for recording broadcast television programming, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:

• receive a selection of a broadcast television program from an electronic programming guide;
• access an electronic programming guide database to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program;
• define a timer to record the broadcast television program in response to receiving the selection of the broadcast television program from the electronic programming guide, wherein:
• a start time for the timer is a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• and
• an end time for the timer is a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;
• record the broadcast television program, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer;
• create and store a first bookmark in association with the recording, the first bookmark being based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• receive a command requesting playback of the recorded broadcast television program;
• and
• initiate playback of the recorded broadcast television program at a location determined by the television receiver within the recording that is:
• determined based on a stored predefined playback offset and the first bookmark;
• located before the first bookmark based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• and
• located after the start time of the timer.

A method for recording broadcast television programming, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a television receiver, a selection of a broadcast television program from an electronic programming guide;
• accessing, by the television receiver, an electronic programming guide database to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program;
• defining, by the television receiver, a timer to record the broadcast television program in response to receiving the selection of the broadcast television program from the electronic programming guide, wherein:
• a start time for the timer is a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• and
• an end time for the timer is a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;
• recording the broadcast television program, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer;
• create and store a first bookmark in association with the recording, the first bookmark being based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• initiating playback, by the television receiver, at a byte count into the recording based on a defined offset value being subtracted from a first bookmark, the byte count is:
• before the first bookmark based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• and after the start time of the timer.