Visual DVR television interface

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a user interface for digital video recording (DVR) functionality.

1 . A digital video recording (DVR) system comprising: 
 a television;    a storage device for storing video programs and selectively replaying said video programs on said television;    a user interface for controlling recording of said video programs, said user interface displayed on said television, wherein at least some of said video programs are selectable for recording and replaying via a corresponding selectable image; and    a 3D pointing device for providing pointing and selection inputs to said user interface.    
   
   
       2 . The DVR system of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a first view which provides at least one row of corresponding selectable images associated with recorded video programs which are currently stored in said storage device.    
   
   
       3 . The DVR system of  claim 2 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a second view which provides a schedule of upcoming video programs to be recorded.    
   
   
       4 . The DVR system of  claim 3 , wherein said first view and said second view are alternately displayed by pointing and selecting corresponding tab elements displayed on said television.  
   
   
       5 . The DVR system of  claim 3 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a third view which provides an indication of recording priority of said video programs.    
   
   
       6 . The DVR system of  claim 2 , wherein said first view further includes a disk meter which indicates storage space remaining for video recordings.  
   
   
       7 . The DVR system of  claim 3 , wherein said second view provides an indication of whether a scheduled recording conflicts with another scheduled recording.  
   
   
       8 . The DVR system of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a user selectable filter for selectively providing said indication of whether a scheduled recording conflicts with another scheduled recording.    
   
   
       9 . A method for digital video recording (DVR) comprising: 
 displaying, on a television, a user interface for controlling recording and replay of video programs;    providing input to said user interface by pointing at images displayed on said user interface using a 3D pointing device; and    selectively recording and replaying said video programs based on said input.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a first view which provides at least one row of corresponding selectable images associated with recorded video programs which are currently stored in said storage device.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a second view which provides a schedule of upcoming video programs to be recorded.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first view and said second view are alternately displayed by pointing and selecting corresponding tab elements displayed on said television.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a third view which provides an indication of recording priority of said video programs.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said first view further includes a disk meter which indicates storage space remaining for video recordings.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said second view provides an indication of whether a scheduled recording conflicts with another scheduled recording.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 selectively providing said indication of whether a scheduled recording conflicts with another scheduled recording.    
   
   
       17 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of: 
 displaying, on a television, a user interface for controlling recording and replay of video programs;    providing input to said user interface by pointing at images displayed on said user interface using a 3D pointing device; and    selectively recording and replaying said video programs based on said input.    
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a first view which provides at least one row of corresponding selectable images associated with recorded video programs which are currently stored in said storage device.    
   
   
       19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a second view which provides a schedule of upcoming video programs to be recorded.    
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein said first view and said second view are alternately displayed by pointing and selecting corresponding tab elements displayed on said television.  
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein said user interface further comprises: 
 a third view which provides an indication of recording priority of said video programs.    
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein said first view further includes a disk meter which indicates storage space remaining for video recordings.  
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein said second view provides an indication of whether a scheduled recording conflicts with another scheduled recording.  
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 selectively providing said indication of whether a scheduled recording conflicts with another scheduled recording.