Tv program database

Abstract

Before a programming guide is created, a unique code is assigned to each TV program that can be identified in the programming guide. Prior to the creation of the programming guide, a viewer selects the unique code corresponding to the TV show that the viewer would like to record whenever that TV show is broadcast. When the programming guide is created, the corresponding unique codes are associated with each TV program in the programming guide. The TV program corresponding to the viewer-selected unique code is then scheduled to be recorded in accordance with the announced broadcast schedule in the programming guide. A recording is made of the TV program corresponding to the viewer-selected unique code as the TV program is broadcast in accordance with the announced broadcast schedule in the programming guide.

1 . A method comprising:
 maintaining a plurality of show identifiers (IDs) that each represent a television (TV) program that may, at some future time, be scheduled for broadcast;   associating a primary request ID with a particular one of the show IDs to indicate a user's interest in the TV program represented by the particular show ID;   receiving programming guide data that identifies TV programs scheduled for broadcast during an upcoming time period, where the TV programs that are scheduled for broadcast comprise a subset of the TV programs represented by the show IDs;   identifying the TV program associated with the primary request ID in the programming guide data, wherein the programming guide data indicates that the TV program associated with the primary request ID is scheduled to be broadcast from a broadcast start time through a broadcast end time on a broadcast channel;   automatically generating a program event, thereby scheduling the TV program associated with the primary request ID to be recorded according to the programming guide data; and   automatically recording the TV program associated with the primary request ID at the broadcast start time based on the program event.   
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the associating comprises:
 receiving a request to identify the TV program represented by the particular show ID from an entity selected from a group comprising a household, a client device in the household, and a viewer in the household.   
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising
 associating a secondary request ID with the particular show ID to indicate that the TV program has been recorded.   
     
     
         4 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising associating each of the TV programs identified in the programming guide data with a corresponding show ID, wherein the plurality of show IDs collectively represent the universe of all TV programs that can be identified in the programming guide data. 
     
     
         5 . The method as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 playing back a recording of the TV program; and   associating a third request ID with the particular show ID to indicate that a recording of the TV program has been played back.   
     
     
         6 . The method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising associating a secondary request ID with a second show ID to indicate a request to not record the TV program represented by the second show ID. 
     
     
         7 . The method as defined in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the secondary request ID comprises an identity of a requestor responsible for associating the primary request ID with the particular show ID representing the TV program; and   the third request ID comprises an identity of a requestor of the play back of the recorded TV program.   
     
     
         8 . The method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the requestors are selected from a group comprising of a household, a TV receiver in the household, and a viewer in the household. 
     
     
         9 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform a method comprising:
 associating a request ID with a show ID among a plurality of show IDs each being unique to a corresponding TV program in a universe of TV programs that can be broadcast;   receiving, after associating the request ID with the show ID, a subset of the universe of TV programs that can be broadcast with a respective channel, start time and duration for each said TV program of the subset; and   scheduling for recording one said TV program of the subset to which the request ID corresponds according to the respective channel, start time and duration thereof.   
     
     
         11 . The one or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
 recording the one said TV program of the subset when broadcast on the respective channel from the start time and for the duration thereof;   performing a play back of the recorded TV program;   updating a log file for the play back of the recorded TV program as being watched, wherein the log file includes a history of TV programs watched; and   outputting a report derived from the log file and containing the history of TV programs watched.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising a processor in communication with a video recorder, a receiver, and a memory containing a programming guide, the processor executing an application to:
 identify a TV program in the programming guide that is to be broadcast from a broadcast start time through a broadcast end time on a broadcast channel, the TV program corresponding to a primary request ID in a database in the memory; and   create a program event to record the TV program from the broadcast start time through the broadcast end time on the broadcast channel, wherein the database includes:
 a plurality of show IDs each representing a TV program that can be identified in the programming guide; and 
 a plurality of said primary request IDs each representing a request to identify the TV program corresponding to one said show ID. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the database further comprises a plurality of secondary request IDs each representing a TV program that has been recorded in the memory; and   the method further comprises:
 recording the TV program corresponding to the program event from the broadcast start time through the broadcast end time on the broadcast channel; and 
 adding one said secondary request ID to the database for the TV program corresponding to the program event. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of show IDs collectively represent the universe of all TV programs that can be identified in the programming guide. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the database in the memory further comprises a plurality of third request IDs each representing a TV program that has been recorded and played back; and   the processor executes the application to further:
 play back a recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event; and 
 adds one said third request ID to the database for the TV program corresponding to the program event. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the database in the memory further comprises a plurality of third request IDs each representing a TV program corresponding to one said show ID that has been requested not to be recorded in the memory. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein:
 each said secondary request ID has a component representing an identity of a requestor of the recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event; and   each said third request ID has a component representing an identity of a requestor of the play back of a recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the requestors are selected from a group comprising a household, a TV receiver in the household, and a viewer in the household. 
     
     
         19 . A client device comprising:
 means for identifying in a programming guide a TV program that is to be broadcast from a broadcast start time through a broadcast end time on a broadcast channel and that corresponds to a primary request ID in a database;   means for creating a program event to record the TV program from the broadcast start time through the broadcast end time on the broadcast channel, wherein the database includes:
 a plurality of show IDs each representing a TV program that can be identified in the programming guide; and 
 a plurality of said primary request IDs each representing a request to identify the TV program corresponding to one said show ID; and 
   means for recording the TV program from the broadcast start time through the broadcast end time on the broadcast channel based on the program event.   
     
     
         20 . The client device as defined in  claim 19 , wherein:
 the database further comprises a plurality of secondary request IDs each representing a TV program that had been recorded; and   the client device further comprises:
 means for adding one said secondary request ID to the database for the TV program corresponding to the program event. 
   
     
     
         21 . The client device as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of show IDs collectively represent the universe of all TV programs that can be identified in the programming guide. 
     
     
         22 . The client device as defined in  claim 20 , wherein:
 the database further comprises a plurality of third request IDs each representing a TV program that has been recorded and played back; and   the client device further comprises:
 means for playing back a recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event; and 
 means for adding one said third request ID to the database for the TV program corresponding to the program event. 
   
     
     
         23 . The client device as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the database further comprises a plurality of fourth request IDs each representing a TV program that is not to be recorded. 
     
     
         24 . The client device as defined in  claim 22 , wherein:
 each said secondary request ID has a component including an identity of a requestor of the recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event; and   each said third request ID has a component thereof including an identity of a requestor of the play back of the recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event.   
     
     
         25 . The client device as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the requestors are selected from a group comprising of a household, a TV receiver in the household, and a viewer in the household. 
     
     
         26 . The client device as defined in  claim 19 , embodied as a digital video recorder. 
     
     
         27 . A TV broadcasting system comprising:
 a TV broadcast network for broadcasting video signals on a plurality of channels;   a network resource including:
 a content database storing content of a plurality of video broadcast events; 
 a content serving module to serve the video broadcast events by broadcasting on the TV broadcast network; 
 a guide database storing event schedules each including one said channel, a start time, and a duration corresponding to one said video broadcast event on the broadcast network; and 
 a guide serving module to serve the event schedules by broadcasting on the TV broadcast network; 
   a client device including:
 a receiver to receive a video signal and to receive the event schedules broadcast on the TV broadcast network; 
 a memory to store the event schedules and to store video data received in a video signal by the receiver; 
 a video recorder to create a recording of video data in the memory and to play back the recording of video data in the memory; 
 a processor executing an application to:
 identify one said video broadcast event by a corresponding one said event schedule in the memory that corresponds to a primary request ID in a database in the memory; and 
 create a program event to record the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID, wherein the database includes:
 a plurality of show IDs each representing a video broadcast event that can be identified in the event schedules; and 
 a plurality of said primary request IDs each representing a request to identify the video broadcast event corresponding to one said show ID. 
 
 
   
     
     
         28 . The TV broadcasting system as defined in  claim 27 , wherein:
 the database further comprises a plurality of secondary request IDs each representing one said video broadcast event that has been recorded in the memory; and   the processor executes the application further to:
 record the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID; and 
 add one said secondary request ID to the database for the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID. 
   
     
     
         29 . The TV broadcasting system as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of show IDs collectively represent the universe of all video broadcast events that can be identified in the event schedule in the memory. 
     
     
         30 . The TV broadcasting system as defined in  claim 27 , wherein:
 the database in the memory further comprises a plurality of third request IDs each representing a TV program that has been recorded and played back; and   the processor executes the application to further:
 play back a recording of the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID; and 
 add one said third request ID to the database for the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID. 
   
     
     
         31 . The TV broadcasting system as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the database in the memory further comprises a plurality of fourth request IDs each representing a TV program that has been requested not to be recorded. 
     
     
         32 . The TV broadcasting system as defined in  claim 30 , wherein:
 each said secondary request ID has a component including an identity of a requestor of the recording of the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID; and   each said third request ID has a component thereof including an identity of a requestor of the play back of the recording of the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID.   
     
     
         33 . The TV broadcasting system as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the requestors are selected from a group comprising a household, a TV receiver in the household, and a viewer in the household. 
     
     
         34 . A system comprising:
 means for content distribution including:
 means for broadcasting video signals on a plurality of channels; 
 means for storing content of a plurality of video broadcast events; 
 means for serving the video broadcast events by broadcasting on the means for broadcasting video signals; 
 means for storing event schedules each including one said channel, a start time, and a duration corresponding to one said video broadcast event; and 
 means for serving the event schedules by broadcasting on the means for broadcasting video signals; 
   means for receiving content distribution including:
 means for receiving the event schedules and a video signal; 
 means for storing in a memory an application and, as received by the means for receiving, the event schedules and video data received in the video signal; 
 means for recording the video data in the memory; 
 means for playing back the video data recorded in the memory; 
 means for executing the application to:
 identify one said video broadcast event by a corresponding one said event schedule in the memory that corresponds to a primary request ID in a database in the memory; and 
 create a program event to record the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID, wherein the database includes:
 a plurality of show IDs each representing a video broadcast event that can be identified in the event schedules; and 
 a plurality of said primary request IDs each representing a request to identify the video broadcast event corresponding to one said show ID; and 
 
 
   means for recording the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID based on the program event.   
     
     
         35 . The system as defined in  claim 34 , wherein:
 the database further comprises a plurality of secondary request IDs each representing one said video broadcast event that has been recorded in the memory by the means for recording the video data in the memory; and   the means for executing the application executes the application further to:
 add one said secondary request ID to the database for the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID. 
   
     
     
         36 . The system as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of show IDs collectively represent the universe of all video broadcast events that can be identified in the event schedule in the memory. 
     
     
         37 . The system as defined in  claim 35 , wherein:
 the database further comprises a plurality of third request IDs each representing a TV program that had been recorded; and   the means for receiving content distribution further comprises:
 means for playing back a recording of the one said video broadcast event that corresponds to the primary request ID; and 
 means for adding one said third request ID to the database for the one said video broadcast event that corresponds to the primary request ID. 
   
     
     
         38 . The system as defined in  claim 34 , wherein the database further comprises a plurality of fourth request IDs each representing a TV program that has been requested not to be recorded. 
     
     
         39 . The system as defined in  claim 37 , wherein:
 each said secondary request ID has a component including an identity of a requestor of a recording of the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID; and   each said third request ID has a component thereof including an identity of a requestor of the play back of the recording of the one said video broadcast event corresponding to the primary request ID.   
     
     
         40 . The system as defined in  claim 39 , wherein the requestors are selected from a group comprising a household, a TV receiver in the household, and a viewer in the household. 
     
     
         41 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a client device to:
 identify in a programming guide a TV program that is to be broadcast from a broadcast start time through a broadcast end time on a broadcast channel and that corresponds to a primary request ID in a database; and   create a program event to record the TV program from the broadcast start time through the broadcast end time on the broadcast channel, wherein the database includes:
 a plurality of show IDs each representing a TV program that can be identified in the programming guide; and 
 a plurality of said primary request IDs each representing a request to identify the TV program corresponding to one said show ID. 
   
     
     
         42 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 41 , wherein:
 the database further comprises a plurality of secondary request IDs each representing a TV program that had been recorded; and   the one or more computer-readable media further comprises computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the client device to:
 record the TV program corresponding to the program event from the broadcast start time through the broadcast end time on the broadcast channel; and 
 add one said secondary request ID to the database for the TV program corresponding to the program event. 
   
     
     
         43 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of show IDs collectively represent the universe of all TV programs that can be identified in the programming guide. 
     
     
         44 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 42 , wherein:
 the database further comprises a plurality of third request IDs each representing a TV program that has been recorded and played back; and   the one or more computer-readable media further comprises computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the client device to:
 play back a recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event; and 
 add one said third request ID to the database for the TV program corresponding to the program event. 
   
     
     
         45 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 41 , wherein the database further comprises a plurality of fourth request IDs each representing a TV program that has been requested not to be recorded. 
     
     
         46 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 44 , wherein:
 each said secondary request ID has a component including an identity of a requestor of a recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event; and   each said third request ID has a component thereof including an identity of a requestor of the play back of the recording of the TV program corresponding to the program event.   
     
     
         47 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 46 , wherein the requestors are selected from a group comprising a household, a TV receiver in the household, and a viewer in the household. 
     
     
         48 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 47 , further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the client device to output a report descriptive of at least one of:
 the recording of TV programs requested by at least one of the household, the TV receiver in the household, or the viewer in the household; and   the play back of TV programs by at least one of the household, the TV receiver in the household, or the viewer in the household.   
     
     
         49 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 48 , wherein the report is output so as to be addressed to a network resource in communication with an interconnected network. 
     
     
         50 . One or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 48 , wherein the report includes for each said TV program information selected from a group comprising a broadcast channel of the TV program, a broadcast duration of the TV program, a description of the TV program, a rating of the TV program, an actor appearing in the TV program, a director of the TV program, a writer of the TV program, a producer of the TV program, and a genre of the TV program. 
     
     
         51 . A database comprising:
 a plurality of show identities (IDs) each representing an audio-visual content item, wherein the plurality of show IDs respectively represent a universe of all audio-visual content items that can be broadcast; and   a plurality of primary request IDs each representing an operation by a requestor upon the audio-visual content item corresponding to one said show ID, wherein each primary request ID indicates a particular audio-visual content item that has been, or that is desired to be, watched or recorded, and Wherein the requestor is selected from a group comprising a household, a client device in the household, and a viewer in the household.   
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . The database as defined in  claim 51 , wherein:
 the operation upon the audio-visual content item is an acknowledgement selected from a group comprising:
 an acknowledgement that a recording of the audio-visual content item has been made; 
 an acknowledgment that a play back of the recording of the audio-visual content item has been performed; 
   a request to record the audio-visual content item; and
 a request to play back the recording of the audio-visual content item. 
   
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The database as defined in  claim 51 , further comprising a plurality of secondary request IDs each representing a request that there be no future operation upon the audio-visual content item corresponding to one said show ID. 
     
     
         56 . The database as defined in  claim 55 , wherein:
 each said audio-visual content item comprises a TV program; and   the request that there be no future operation upon the audio-visual content item corresponding to one said show ID is a request not to record the TV program corresponding to one said show ID.   
     
     
         57 . The database as defined in  claim 53 , wherein each said primary request ID representing an operation upon the audio-visual content item corresponding to one said show ID has a component thereof selected from a group comprising:
 an identity of the requestor of the recording of the audio-visual content item that has been made; and   an identity of the requestor of the play back of the recording of the audio-visual content item that has been performed   
     
     
         58 . The database as defined in  claim 57 , wherein the requestor is selected from a group comprising a household, a TV receiver in the household, and a viewer in the household. 
     
     
         59 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to maintain a database comprising:
 a plurality of show IDs each representing a TV program, wherein the plurality of show IDs collectively represent the universe of all TV programs;   one or more first tags, each associated with a respective one said show ID, and representing an acknowledgement that there had been made either a recording of the corresponding TV program or a play back of the corresponding TV program; and   one or more second tags, each associated with a respective one said show ID, and representing a request to record the corresponding TV program.   
     
     
         60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . The one or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 59 , wherein the request to record the corresponding TV program is an acknowledgement that there will be a play back of the corresponding TV program. 
     
     
         62 . The one or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 59 , further comprising one or more third tags, each associated with a respective one said show ID, and representing a request not to record the corresponding TV program, each said third tag optionally including a numerical expression of time after which one said second tag will be set to represent a request to record the corresponding TV program. 
     
     
         63 . The one or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 59 , wherein each said first tag has a component thereof selected from a group comprising:
 an identity of a requestor of the recording of the corresponding TV program; and   an identity of a requestor of a play back of the corresponding TV program.   
     
     
         64 . The one or more computer-readable media as defined in  claim 63 , wherein the requestor is selected from a group comprising a household, a TV receiver in the household, and a viewer in the household.