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

A television receiver for recording broadcast television programming, the television receiver 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:
• determine a scheduled start time for a broadcast television program;
• define a timer to record the broadcast television program based on the scheduled start time for the broadcast television program, wherein:
• a start time for the timer is defined to be a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;
• record the broadcast television program as a recording, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer;
• create and store a bookmark in association with the recording, the bookmark being based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program and indicating a first location within the recording;
• receive a command requesting playback of the recorded broadcast television program;
• and
• initiate playback of the recorded broadcast television program at a second location within the recording, the second location being:
• determined based on a stored predefined playback offset based on the bookmark;
• located earlier in time in the recording than the first location of the 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:

• determining, by a television receiver, a scheduled end time for a broadcast television program;
• defining, by the television receiver, a timer to record the broadcast television program based on the scheduled end time for the broadcast television program, wherein:
• an end time for the timer is defined to be a first predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;
• recording the broadcast television program as a recording, the recording ending at the end time of the timer;
• creating and storing a bookmark in association with the recording, the bookmark being based on the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program and indicating a first location within the recording;
• receiving, by the television receiver, a command requesting playback of the recorded broadcast television program;
• and
• initiating, by the television receiver, playback of the recorded broadcast television program;
• pausing, by the television receiver, playback of the recorded broadcast television program at a second location determined by the television receiver within the recording, the second location being:
• determined based on a stored predefined playback offset and the first location of the bookmark;
• located later in time in the recording than the first location of the bookmark based on the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;
• and
• located before the end time of the timer.

A television receiver for recording broadcast television programming, the television receiver 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:
• determine a scheduled end time for a broadcast television program;
• define a timer to record the broadcast television program based on the scheduled end time for the broadcast television program, wherein:
• an end time for the timer is defined to be a first predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;
• record the broadcast television program as a recording, the recording ending at the end time of the timer;
• create and store a bookmark in association with the recording, the bookmark being based on the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program and indicating a first location within the recording;
• receive a command requesting playback of the recorded broadcast television program;
• and
• initiate playback of the recorded broadcast television program;
• pause playback of the recorded broadcast television program at a second location within the recording, the second location being:
• determined based on a stored predefined playback offset and the first location of the bookmark;
• located later in time in the recording than the first location of the bookmark based on the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;
• and
• located before the end time of the timer.