US6173112B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for recording in-progress broadcast programs
Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1997-11-28
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Granted: 2001-01-09
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Expires: 2017-11-28
Abstract
Abstract In a data communication network wherein broadcasted transmissions include a portion uniquely identifying the content of the following transmission and wherein transmissions are repeated at predetermined intervals, a communication unit for operating within the system includes a receiver, a processor, and memory for storing data and instructions for the processor. The receiver receives transmissions over the communication network. The communication unit receives a record command from a user that causes it to record the audio/video content being broadcasted during a subsequent transmission thereof. The memory includes space for storing the program that causes the communication unit to automatically record the transmission at the time the transmission is re-broadcasted.
Inventors
- 👤 George Gregory Gruse
- 👤 Kenneth Louis Milsted
- 👤 Marco M. Hurtado
- 👤 Glen Edward Hamblin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782; H04N5/781; H04N5/84; H04N5/85
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A receiver unit for selecting and recording a program from broadcast transmissions presently being viewed, the broadcast transmissions comprising a plurality of programs and an identifier uniquely identifying each program transmitted in a broadcast network, the receiver unit comprising: means for receiving a single command from a user to record a selected program presently being received at the receiver unit, and in response to the user command received, the receiver unit extracting from the program presently being viewed an identifier uniquely identifying the selected program; monitor means for monitoring broadcast transmissions until the identifier is detected in the broadcast; and means for providing a record signal to a recorder to start recording responsive to detection of the identifier in the broadcast.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A receiver unit for selecting and recording a program from broadcast transmissions presently being viewed, the broadcast transmissions comprising a plurality of programs and an identifier uniquely identifying each program transmitted in a broadcast network, the receiver unit comprising: means for receiving a single command from a user to record a selected program presently being received at the receiver unit, and in response to the user command received, the receiver unit extracting from the program presently being viewed an identifier uniquely identifying the selected program; monitor means for monitoring broadcast transmissions until the identifier is detected in the broadcast; and means for providing a record signal to a recorder to start recording responsive to detection of the identifier in the broadcast.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The receiver unit of claim 1 further comprising the recorder for recording information onto a storage medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The receiver unit of claim 2 , wherein the recorder comprises apparatus for recording video cassettes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The receiver unit of claim 2 , wherein the recorder comprises apparatus for recording recordable compact disks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The receiver unit of claim 2 , wherein the recorder comprises apparatus for recording audio cassettes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The receiver unit of claim 1 further comprising memory for storing a list of identifiers each identifying a program to be recorded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The receiver unit of claim 6 , wherein the monitor means comprises a processor programmed to detect the identifier for the selected program in the broadcast transmissions and to search for a match between an identifier stored in memory and each program identifier received in the broadcast transmissions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The receiver unit of claim 1 , wherein the communication unit comprises a computer apparatus comprising a processor and memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a broadcast network wherein a broadcast data stream comprises a plurality of programs and an identifier uniquely identifying each program transmitted in a broadcast network, a method for generating a record signal based on a program being presented, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the broadcast data stream; presenting a program selected from the broadcast data stream; receiving a single record command during the presentation of the program selected, and in response to the record command received, extracting from the program being presented an identifier uniquely identifying the selected program; monitoring the broadcast data stream to find the identifier for the selected program; and sending a record signal to a recorder when the identifier for the selected program is found in the broadcast stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a broadcast network wherein a broadcast data stream comprises a plurality of programs and an identifier uniquely identifying each program transmitted in a broadcast network, a method for generating a record signal based on a program being presented, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the broadcast data stream; presenting a program selected from the broadcast data stream; receiving a single record command during the presentation of the program selected, and in response to the record command received, extracting from the program being presented an identifier uniquely identifying the selected program; monitoring the broadcast data stream to find the identifier for the selected program; and sending a record signal to a recorder when the identifier for the selected program is found in the broadcast stream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of recording the selected program.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of monitoring the broadcast data stream to find an end-of-program indicator for the selected program and sending a stop recording signal to the recorder upon finding the end-of-program indicator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
A program of instructions for programmable electronic apparatus for the selection and recording a program from broadcast transmissions presently being viewed, the program of instructions comprising a machine-readable medium comprising program instructions for: receiving the broadcast data stream; presenting a program selected from the broadcast data stream; receiving a single record command during the presentation of the program selected, and in response to the record command received, extracting from the program being presented an identifier uniquely identifying the selected program; monitoring the broadcast data stream to find the identifier for the selected program; and sending a record signal to a recorder when the identifier for the selected program is found in the broadcast stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
A program of instructions for programmable electronic apparatus for the selection and recording a program from broadcast transmissions presently being viewed, the program of instructions comprising a machine-readable medium comprising program instructions for: receiving the broadcast data stream; presenting a program selected from the broadcast data stream; receiving a single record command during the presentation of the program selected, and in response to the record command received, extracting from the program being presented an identifier uniquely identifying the selected program; monitoring the broadcast data stream to find the identifier for the selected program; and sending a record signal to a recorder when the identifier for the selected program is found in the broadcast stream.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The program of claim 12 , further comprising an instruction for recording the selected program.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The program of claim 12 , further comprising instructions for monitoring the broadcast data stream to find an end-of-program indicator for the selected program and sending a stop recording signal to the recorder upon finding the end-of-program indicator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-09 | 2004-07-10 | 2005-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-09 | 2008-07-10 | 2009-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-09 | 2012-07-10 | 2013-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |