Systems and methods for providing transport control

Abstract

A transport control interface may be provided by an interactive television program guide application to provide information, control or both for live and recorded video programming. The transport control interface may indicate to the user the time duration of a live or recorded program and any time segments of the program that have been recorded. The transport control interface may automatically adjust the start and end time shown to accommodate various factors such as continuous viewing on a particular channel, multiple recorded segments, buffer size, etc. Various information associated with the live or recorded video programming may be displayed in the transport control interface.

1 . A method for providing information about a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program, the method comprising: 
 displaying the currently broadcasting program;    determining a start time and an end time associated with the currently broadcasting program; and    displaying a transport control interface, wherein the transport control interface indicates: 
 time length of the currently broadcasting program based on the start time and on the end time, and  
 at least one time segment of the time length of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein displaying the transport control interface comprises displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying the start time on one end of the transport control bar and the end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.  
     
     
         8 . A method for providing information about at least two broadcasting programs, the method comprising: 
 displaying a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program;    displaying a transport control interface that indicates at least one time segment associated with a recording of the currently broadcasting program; and    when playing of the currently broadcasting program is finished, displaying a subsequent broadcasting program, wherein the transport control interface is modified to also indicate at least one time segment associated with a recording of the subsequent broadcasting program.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein displaying the transport control interface comprises displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.  
     
     
         15 . A method for providing information about a television program, the method comprising: 
 displaying a television program; and    displaying a transport control interface that indicates a time segment associated with a recording of the television program, the transport control interface further indicating programming information associated with the television program.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein displaying the transport control interface comprises displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         18 . A system for providing information about a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program, the system comprising: 
 means for displaying the currently broadcasting program;    means for determining a start time and an end time associated with the currently broadcasting program; and    means for displaying a transport control interface, wherein the transport control interface indicates: 
 time length of the currently broadcasting program based on the start time and on the end time, and  
 at least one time segment of the time length of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded.  
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the means for displaying the transport control interface comprises means for displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the means for displaying the transport control bar comprises means for displaying the start time on one end of the transport control bar and the end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.  
     
     
         25 . A system for providing information about at least two broadcasting programs, the system comprising: 
 means for displaying a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program;    means for displaying a transport control interface that indicates at least one time segment associated with a recording of the currently broadcasting program; and    when playing of the currently broadcasting program is finished, means for displaying a subsequent broadcasting program, wherein the transport control interface is modified to also indicate at least one time segment associated with a recording of the subsequent broadcasting program.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the means for displaying the transport control interface comprises means for displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the means for displaying the transport control bar comprises means for displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.  
     
     
         32 . A system for providing information about a television program, the system comprising: 
 means for displaying a television program; and    means for displaying a transport control interface that indicates a time segment associated with a recording of the television program, the transport control interface further indicating programming information associated with the television program.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the means for displaying the transport control interface comprises means for displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         35 . A system for providing information about a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program, the system comprising: 
 a user input interface;    a display; and    control circuitry configured to: 
 display the currently broadcasting program;  
 determine a start time and an end time associated with the currently broadcasting program; and  
 display a transport control interface, wherein the transport control interface indicates: 
 time length of the currently broadcasting program based on the start time and on the end time, and  
 at least one time segment of the time length of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded.  
 
   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a transport control bar.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein displaying the transport control bar comprises displaying the start time on one end of the transport control bar and the end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38  wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.  
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.  
     
     
         42 . A system for providing information about at least two broadcasting programs, the system comprising: 
 a user input interface;    a display; and    control circuitry configured to: 
 display a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program;  
 display a transport control interface that indicates at least one time segment associated with a recording of the currently broadcasting program; and  
 when playing of the currently broadcasting program is finished, display a subsequent broadcasting program, wherein the transport control interface is modified to also indicate at least one time segment associated with a recording of the subsequent broadcasting program.  
   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a transport control bar.  
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43  wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.  
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.  
     
     
         49 . A system for providing information about a television program, the system comprising: 
 a user input interface;    a display; and    control circuitry configured to: 
 display a television program; and  
 display a transport control interface that indicates a time segment associated with a recording of the television program, the transport control interface further indicating programming information associated with the television program.  
   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a transport control bar.  
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         52 . Machine-readable media for providing information about a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program, and wherein the machine-readable media is encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for: 
 displaying the currently broadcasting program;    determining a start time and an end time associated with the currently broadcasting program; and    displaying a transport control interface, wherein the transport control interface indicates: 
 time length of the currently broadcasting program based on the start time and on the end time, and  
 at least one time segment of the time length of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded.  
   
     
     
         53 . The machine-readable media of  claim 52  wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         54 . The machine-readable media of  claim 53  wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying the start time on one end of the transport control bar and the end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         55 . The machine-readable media of  claim 53  wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         56 . The machine-readable media of  claim 55  wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.  
     
     
         57 . The machine-readable media of  claim 52  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.  
     
     
         58 . The machine-readable media of  claim 52  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.  
     
     
         59 . Machine-readable media for providing information about at least two broadcasting programs, where the machine-readable media is encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for: 
 displaying a currently broadcasting program, wherein the currently broadcasting program includes broadcast of a program that is shown at substantially the time that it is being broadcasted and delayed broadcast of the program;    displaying a transport control interface that indicates at least one time segment associated with a recording of the currently broadcasting program; and    when playing of the currently broadcasting program is finished, displaying a subsequent broadcasting program, wherein the transport control interface is modified to also indicate at least one time segment associated with a recording of the subsequent broadcasting program.    
     
     
         60 . The machine-readable media of  claim 59  wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         61 . The machine-readable media of  claim 60  wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         62 . The machine-readable media of  claim 60  wherein the at least one time segment is represented by at least one region of the transport control bar.  
     
     
         63 . The machine-readable media of  claim 62  wherein the at least one region of the transport control bar is visually distinguishable from at least one other region of the transport control bar that is associated with non-recorded content.  
     
     
         64 . The machine-readable media of  claim 59  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been automatically recorded into buffer memory.  
     
     
         65 . The machine-readable media of  claim 59  wherein the at least one time segment represents at least one portion of the currently broadcasting program or at least one portion of the subsequent broadcasting program that has been recorded in response to a specific user command to record the currently broadcasting program.  
     
     
         66 . Machine-readable media for providing information about a television program, wherein the machine-readable media is encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for: 
 displaying a television program; and    displaying a transport control interface that indicates a time segment associated with a recording of the television program, the transport control interface further indicating programming information associated with the television program.    
     
     
         67 . The machine-readable media of  claim 66  wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a transport control bar.  
     
     
         68 . The machine-readable media of  claim 67  wherein the machine-readable media is further encoded with machine-readable instructions thereon for displaying a start time on one end of the transport control bar and an end time on an opposite end of the transport control bar.