Abstract:
An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.
Abstract:
A system is provided in which an interactive television program guide is implemented on user television equipment. Potentially objectionable material such as the titles and descriptions of adult programs may be blocked. When adult program listing blocking is invoked, the program guide replaces adult program listings with unobjectionable material such as a blank region, a generic unobjectionable program listing, or an unobjectionable title based on the channel being blocked. The user may invoke blocking of titles, descriptions, or both titles or descriptions. Blocking may be based on the rating of the program listings. Access may be provided to blocked program listings by entering a parental control code. The user may temporarily disable adult program listing blocking. The user may also set parental control locks for any type of potentially objectionable programming and may temporarily disable such locks.
Abstract:
An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.
Abstract:
The broadcast audio signal and/or the broadcast video signal of a monitored broadcast are temporarily stored and predetermined signal events are detected which indicate possible new broadcast segments of interest of the monitored broadcast. Intervals of the monitored broadcast are selected as possible new broadcast segments of interest based on the predetermined signal events. A first capture level is assigned to a first selected interval based on predetermined characteristics of the interval which indicate that it is likely to be a new segment of interest. A second capture level is assigned to a second selected interval based on predetermined characteristics of that interval which indicate that it is relatively less likely than the first selected interval to be a new segment of interest. A signature corresponding with the first selected interval is stored in the database and the temporarily stored broadcast audio and/or video signals which correspond with the first selected interval are captured for transmission to a workstation operator for segment identification. A signature corresponding with the second selected interval is stored in the database and the temporarily stored broadcast audio and/or video signals which correspond with the second selected interval are erased.
Abstract:
A media recording system may be provided. The recording system may include features for reducing recording cut-off of a particular media event due to changes in the start time and end time of what is scheduled to be recorded. The recording system may provide a user with an opportunity to select a program by for example, selecting a listing, to have that program automatically recorded at a scheduled time for presentation to viewers. Changes in the schedule of programs may be compensated manually or automatically when the recording system receives information about actual or predicted time changes. In a manual mode, a user may adjust start or end times based on time change information that is displayed. For an automatic mode, the recording system may automatically compensate for predicted or actual time changes that are known by automatically adjusting the start and end times of recording.
Abstract:
An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide implemented on user television equipment obtains program guide data from two data delivery mechanisms. Current program guide data is obtained from a continuous data stream. Other program guide data (which may include the current program guide data) is obtained by the program guide from a program guide server. The continuous data stream may also include program and program grouping identifiers. The program guide may perform real-time actions associated with programs identified in the continuous data stream.
Abstract:
An enhanced radio system is disclosed that provides for the capture and playback of one or more radio stations. A user may tune to a station, scan through stations, rewind through missed content (even while the system is off), and fast-forward through undesired content, while downloading and uploading audio content, and sending content to another user. A user may rate content, and be notified when that content is played on any station, with undesirable content skipped and desirable content saved, or station recommendations made. Support for multiple sets of configuration information to allow use by multiple listeners and in multiple locations may be provided. Optionally provided are security features to prevent the unauthorized downloading, uploading, and saving of copies of content, other radio related and content related information, a karaoke mode, integration with a telephone with the radio, or reporting of usage information to a collection facility.
Abstract:
A method, system, media, and apparatus are directed to radio recording. Radio stations are simultaneously recorded based on a radio parameter including a processing parameter, a memory usage or allocation, a recording status, or the like. The radio parameter is adapted for an individual station, some radio stations, or all radio stations. The processing parameter is adapted based on a processor usage. The memory usage is adapted based on a memory requirement of a station being recorded. A station may be suspended from recording based on a loss of a signal and resumed based on a resumption of the signal. An access to a radio content recorded while a signal was available may be provided, if the signal is unavailable. The plurality of stations may be prioritized.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for providing enhanced channel flipping are disclosed. A user may selectively mark and unmark channels as temporary favorite channels. These channels may be dynamically added or removed from the channel changing or channel flipping sequence. Unauthorized channels and channels locked by parental controls may also be automatically removed from the channel flipping sequence. A plurality of custom channel flipping sequences may be maintained on the user equipment device. Users may access any of these custom channel flipping sequences in order to flip only through the channels associated with the custom sequence. Channels in the flipping sequence may also be pre-tuned in order to reduce delays associated with tuning.
Abstract:
Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented. Other PVR related features are also provided.