Video data recorder with personal channels

Abstract

A video data recordable having integrated channel guides allowing a user to control recording and storage of television signals into personal channels for later playback and viewing. In the described embodiment, the user may specify criteria for recording of shows from an input source such as a broadcast signal and shows are then selected based on the user specified criteria and recorded for later playback. Storage of the shows may be organized into personal channels in order to facilitate later playback, e.g., the user may specify a channel of action movies, a channel of nature programming, a channel for sports, etc. The shows to be recorded may also have a predefined format which may be used to ease playback of recorded programming by allowing the user to easily locate and playback sections of programming of interest.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of logically organizing video programming comprising the steps of: 
 a) allowing a user to specify a logical name for a personal channel for video program organization; and    b) allowing a user to specify selection criteria for selection of video programming for inclusion in the personal channel.    
     
     
         2 . The method as recited by  claim 1  wherein the user specifies a logical name for a personal channel by selecting a show from a channel guide and utilizing the show name as the logical name.  
     
     
         3 . The method as recited by  claim 1  further comprising the step of recording programming meeting the user specified criteria for including in the personal channel.  
     
     
         4 . The method as recited by  claim 1  wherein a size may be specified for the personal channel indicating an amount of recording media which may be used by the personal channel.  
     
     
         5 . The method as recited by  claim 4  wherein the size specifies the number of minutes of recording time allocated to the personal channel. 
 The method as recited by  claim 4  wherein the size specifies the number of episodes of video programming which may be recorded in the personal channel.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited by  claim 4  wherein the system allocates recording media corresponding to the size when the personal channel is created.  
     
     
         8 . The method as recited by  claim 4  further comprising the step of automatically deleting from the personal channel the oldest video programming in the personal channel in the event the personal channel becomes full.  
     
     
         9 . A method of logically organizing recorded video programming comprising the steps of: 
 a) allowing a user to specify a logical name for a personal channel for video program organization; and    b) allowing a user to specify selection criteria for recording of video programming for inclusion in the personal channel.    
     
     
         10 . The method as recited by  claim 9  wherein the user specifies a logical name for a personal channel by selecting a show from a channel guide and utilizing the show name as the logical name.  
     
     
         11 . The method as recited by  claim 9  further comprising the step of recording programming meeting the user specified criteria for including in the personal channel.  
     
     
         12 . The method as recited by  claim 9  wherein a size may be specified for the personal channel indicating an amount of recording media which may be used by the personal channel.  
     
     
         13 . The method as recited by  claim 12  wherein the size specifies the number of minutes of recording time allocated to the personal channel.  
     
     
         14 . The method as recited by  claim 12  wherein the size specifies the number of episodes of video programming which may be recorded in the personal channel.  
     
     
         15 . The method as recited by  claim 12  further comprising the step of automatically deleting from the personal channel the oldest video programming in the personal channel in the event the personal channel becomes full.  
     
     
         16 . A video recorder comprising: 
 a) a data input device allowing a user to specify a personal channel label for recording and to specify selection criteria for selection of video programming for recording in the personal channel; and    b) personal channel data storage storing programming meeting the user specified criteria.    
     
     
         17 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 16  further comprising channel guide data storage storing programming information.  
     
     
         18 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 16  wherein the personal channel data storage has a limited size indicating an amount of recording media which may be used by the personal channel.  
     
     
         19 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 18  wherein the size is limited to a specified number of minutes of recording time.  
     
     
         20 . The video recorder as recited by  claim 18  wherein the size is limited to a number of episodes of video programming which may be recorded in the personal channel.  
     
     
         21 . A display displaying an index of recorded information comprising: 
 a) a first area on the display displaying a first personal channel containing recorded information;    b) a second area on the display displaying a second personal channel containing recorded information.    
     
     
         22 . The display as recited by  claim 21  further comprising a third area displaying broadcast channel information.  
     
     
         23 . The display as recited by  claim 22  wherein the display includes an indication of programming in third area selected for recording.  
     
     
         24 . The display as recited by  claim 22  wherein the display includes an indication in the third area indicating all programming in a series has been selected for recording.  
     
     
         25 . The display as recited by  claim 22  further comprising an indicator indicating the first personal channel includes new content.  
     
     
         26 . The display as recited by  claim 22  wherein characteristics of the recorded information is recorded with the recorded information.  
     
     
         27 . The display as recited by  claim 26  wherein the characteristics include one or more of actor/actress names, show ratings, awards received, director name, keywords and descriptions.  
     
     
         28 . A method of allowing a user to view programming comprising the steps of: 
 a) recording at least a portion of a video program;    b) allowing the user to view the portion of the video program;    c) allowing the user to view an earlier segment of the video program by initiating an instant replay function.    
     
     
         29 . The method as recited by  claim 28  wherein the instant replay function moves the user to a segment in the video program a predetermined amount of time earlier than the segment being viewed at the time of initiating the instant replay function.  
     
     
         30 . A method of establishing a personal channel for recording and playback of programming comprising the steps of: 
 a) a user viewing a show as the show is being received by a video system;    b) the user selecting a record function;    c) the video system establishing a personal channel for recording the show responsive to the user selecting the record function and starting to record the show.    
     
     
         31 . The method as recited by  claim 30  wherein the system allows the user to select whether a single show or a series will be recorded in the personal channel.  
     
     
         32 . The method as recited by  claim 30  wherein the user may continue to view the show while it is being recorded.  
     
     
         33 . The method as recited by  claim 32  wherein the user may rewind the show while it is being recorded.  
     
     
         34 . The method as recited by  claim 33  wherein the user may fast forward the show while it is being recorded.  
     
     
         35 . A method of allocating space on a recording media for recording programming comprising: 
 a) a user selecting a show for recording;    b) a video data recorder setting up a personal channel for recording the show; and    c) allocating space on a recording media sufficient for recording the show.    
     
     
         36 . The method as recited by  claim 35  wherein the user may select the show by selecting the show from a channel guide and selecting a record function.  
     
     
         37 . The method as recited by  claim 35  wherein the user may select the show by selecting a record function while viewing the show.  
     
     
         38 . The method as recited by  claim 35  wherein the user may select to allocate space for a single episode for a show or multiple episodes for the show.  
     
     
         39 . A method of indicating a show is to be recorded comprising: 
 a) selecting the show;    b) selecting a record function a single time to indicate a single episode of the show is to be recorded; and    c) selecting a record function a second time to indicate all shows in the episode are to be recorded.    
     
     
         40 . The method as recited by  claim 39  wherein a personal channel is created for the show when the record function is selected.  
     
     
         41 . The method as recited by  claim 39  further comprising the step of selecting the record function a third time to cancel recording of the show.  
     
     
         42 . The method as recited by claim  40  wherein space is allocated for recording the show when the personal channel is created.