US5543933A — Reserve-recording method and apparatus for VCR

Claim 1

Independent Claim 372 words

A method of reserve-recording a desired program on a videotape in a VCR, said VCR having a plurality of recording speed modes, a voice signal generator, and an on-screen display, and said video tape having a known recordable capacity for each of said recording speed modes, comprising the steps of: (a) indicating a state of the recordable capacity of said video tape through said voice signal generator and said on-screen display in response to an inputted first key signal designating a reserve-recording program setting mode; (b) setting reserve-recording information for a recording reservation for the desired program in response to an inputted second key signal, said recording reservation including a start time for recording of the desired program; (c) setting a reserve-recording mode by determining a source of said desired program in response to an inputted third key signal, said source being one of a plurality of external devices, said external devices including a television tuner and a satellite broadcast receiving system; (d) comparing said start time for recording of the desired program with a recording start time of each of a group of previously reserved programs having reserve-recording information, and sorting said recording reservation and said previously reserved programs in chronological progression according to said start times to form a new group of reserved programs each having a number, said new group having at least an earliest program such that said earliest program has the lowest number and is recorded first; (e) automatically displaying said reserve-recording information of said desired programs through the on-screen display at a predetermined time prior to the start time of the recording reservation of the desired program if the VCR is in use and requesting an input from a user to determine whether the recording reservation should be performed; (f) if an input is received from the user indicating the recording reservation should not be performed, cancelling the recording reservation, and if an input is received from the user indicating the recording reservation should be performed, or if no input is received from the user, determining the reserve-recording mode, forming a recording line between the VCR and the source, and recording the desired program at the start time of the recording reservation of the desired program.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 372 words

A method of reserve-recording a desired program on a videotape in a VCR, said VCR having a plurality of recording speed modes, a voice signal generator, and an on-screen display, and said video tape having a known recordable capacity for each of said recording speed modes, comprising the steps of: (a) indicating a state of the recordable capacity of said video tape through said voice signal generator and said on-screen display in response to an inputted first key signal designating a reserve-recording program setting mode; (b) setting reserve-recording information for a recording reservation for the desired program in response to an inputted second key signal, said recording reservation including a start time for recording of the desired program; (c) setting a reserve-recording mode by determining a source of said desired program in response to an inputted third key signal, said source being one of a plurality of external devices, said external devices including a television tuner and a satellite broadcast receiving system; (d) comparing said start time for recording of the desired program with a recording start time of each of a group of previously reserved programs having reserve-recording information, and sorting said recording reservation and said previously reserved programs in chronological progression according to said start times to form a new group of reserved programs each having a number, said new group having at least an earliest program such that said earliest program has the lowest number and is recorded first; (e) automatically displaying said reserve-recording information of said desired programs through the on-screen display at a predetermined time prior to the start time of the recording reservation of the desired program if the VCR is in use and requesting an input from a user to determine whether the recording reservation should be performed; (f) if an input is received from the user indicating the recording reservation should not be performed, cancelling the recording reservation, and if an input is received from the user indicating the recording reservation should be performed, or if no input is received from the user, determining the reserve-recording mode, forming a recording line between the VCR and the source, and recording the desired program at the start time of the recording reservation of the desired program.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said state of the recordable capacity comprises the reserve-recording information of said previously reserved programs, an amount of time by which said desired program exceeds the remaining recordable capacity of the video tape, and an amount of time representing the remaining recordable capacity of the tape.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of indicating the state of the recordable capacity of the video tape through the voice signal generator occurs only in response to a fourth inputted key signal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 303 words

A reserve-recording apparatus for a VCR, comprising: control means for providing a plurality of control signals in response to a plurality of inputted key signals; key signal input means for providing said control means with said key signals in response to a group of commands by a user; on-screen display means for automatically displaying reserve-recording information on a screen at a predetermined time prior to a start time of a program to be recorded when the VCR is in use and for requesting an input from a user to determine whether recording of the program should be performed, wherein said on-screen display means is controlled by said control means, and wherein if an input is received from the user indicating the recording should not be performed, said control means cancels the recording, and if an input is received from the user indicating the recording should be performed, or if no input from the user is received, said control means proceeds with recording; time display means for displaying a traveling state of a video tape, wherein said time display means is controlled by said control means; voice generating means for outputting a voice message corresponding to said reserve-recording information, wherein said voice generating means is controlled by said control means; video tape state detecting means for detecting the traveling state of said video tape and providing said control means with a plurality of signals representing the detected state; recording switching means for forming a recording line between the apparatus and one of a plurality of external devices, said plurality of external devices including a tuner for receiving a television broadcast and a satellite broadcast receiving system, wherein said recording switching means is controlled by said control means; and recording means for recording an output signal from said recording switching means on said video tape.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 303 words

A reserve-recording apparatus for a VCR, comprising: control means for providing a plurality of control signals in response to a plurality of inputted key signals; key signal input means for providing said control means with said key signals in response to a group of commands by a user; on-screen display means for automatically displaying reserve-recording information on a screen at a predetermined time prior to a start time of a program to be recorded when the VCR is in use and for requesting an input from a user to determine whether recording of the program should be performed, wherein said on-screen display means is controlled by said control means, and wherein if an input is received from the user indicating the recording should not be performed, said control means cancels the recording, and if an input is received from the user indicating the recording should be performed, or if no input from the user is received, said control means proceeds with recording; time display means for displaying a traveling state of a video tape, wherein said time display means is controlled by said control means; voice generating means for outputting a voice message corresponding to said reserve-recording information, wherein said voice generating means is controlled by said control means; video tape state detecting means for detecting the traveling state of said video tape and providing said control means with a plurality of signals representing the detected state; recording switching means for forming a recording line between the apparatus and one of a plurality of external devices, said plurality of external devices including a tuner for receiving a television broadcast and a satellite broadcast receiving system, wherein said recording switching means is controlled by said control means; and recording means for recording an output signal from said recording switching means on said video tape.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-08-06	2000-02-05	2000-08-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-08-06	2004-02-05	2004-08-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-08-06	2008-02-05	2008-08-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Reserve-recording method and apparatus for VCR

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