System and method for time-shifted program viewing

Abstract

A system and method for time-shifted viewing of broadcast television programs is disclosed. Simultaneous recording and playback are provided by using buffer storage as the source and destination of compressed or uncompressed digital video/audio programs. Full VCR-like control is provided for all playback within the buffer storage. Playback and control of recorded programs may be initiated by the user at any time after initiation of the broadcast program with simultaneous continuous recording of the ongoing live broadcast. Larger archival storage and removable is also provided for storing and building a library of programs. Viewer playback control data may be stored as part of the program or used as edit points prior to archival. Numerous options are provided for features such as continuous automatic recording in a circular buffer fashion, program archival, editing, Internet interfaces, multiple-channel recording and more.

1. A method for time-shifted viewing of audio/video programs comprising:
 receiving one or more audio/video programs from one or more sources, wherein the one or more audio/video programs are associated with data about the programs, the data about the programs provided over a network connection; 
 storing each of the one or more audio/video programs as program data in one or more cyclic buffers, whereupon being filled the one or more cyclic buffers begin replacing the oldest of the program data with the newest program data in a digital storage device; and 
 simultaneously providing playback control of the program data independently from storing the one or more audio/video programs, wherein time-shifted viewing is delayed viewing of the one or more audio/video programs currently being received from the one or more sources, the viewing of which may be initiated and controlled simultaneously with the storing of the one or more audio/video programs, and wherein one or more device configuration settings may be configured via a user interface over the network connection, wherein the network connection comprises an Internet protocol connection. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the program data from the one or more cyclic buffers to one or more storage devices for archival of the program data. 
     
     
       3. A system for time-shifted viewing of audio/video programs comprising:
 an input for receiving one or more audio/video programs from one or more sources, wherein the one or more audio/video programs are associated with data about the programs, the data about the programs provided over a network connection; 
 one or more cyclic buffersa digital storage device for storing the one or more programs as program data in a cyclical fashion whereupon being filled, said cyclic buffers begin replacing the oldest program data with the newest program data and aresaid digital storage device being operable for simultaneously reading and writing of program data; and 
 a playback control interface for providing playback control of the program data independently from the storing of the program data, wherein time-shifted viewing is delayed viewing of the one or more programs currently being receiving received from the one or more sources, the viewing of which may be initiated and controlled simultaneously with the storing of the one or more audio/video programs, and wherein one or more device configuration settings may be configured via a user interface over the network connection, wherein the network connection comprises an Internet protocol connection. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a storage device comprising semi-permanent memory for storage of the one or more audio/video programs. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the playback control comprises random access play, stop, pause, rewind, and fast-forward functions. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising capturing the playback control as viewing habit data. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising storing the viewing habit data. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data about the programs comprises plot summary data. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data about the programs comprises rating data. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data about the programs comprises cast data. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the playback control interface includes control for random access play, stop, pause, rewind, and fast-forward functionality. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the playback control functionality is associated with viewing habit data. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising memory configured to store the viewing habit data. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the data about the programs comprises plot summary data. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the data about the programs comprises rating data. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the data about the programs comprises cast data. 
     
     
       17. A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon at least one program, the at least one program being executable by a computer processor to perform a method for time-shifted viewing of audio/video programs comprising:
 receiving one or more audio/video programs from one or more sources, wherein the one or more audio/video programs are associated with data about the programs, the data about the programs provided over a network connection; 
 storing each of the one or more audio/video programs as program data in one or more cyclic buffers, whereupon being filled the one or more cyclic buffers begin replacing the oldest of the program data with the newest program data in a digital storage medium; and 
 simultaneously providing playback control of the data independently from storing the one or more audio/video programs, wherein time-shifted viewing is delayed viewing of the one or more audio/video programs currently being received from the one or more sources, the viewing of which may be initiated and controlled simultaneously with the storing of the one or more audio/video programs, and wherein one or more device configuration settings may be configured via a user interface over the network connection, wherein the network connection comprises an Internet protocol connection. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device configuration setting comprises a record timer. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device configuration setting comprises a video quality setting. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device configuration setting comprises tuning to a particular channel. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the device configuration setting comprises a record timer. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the device configuration setting comprises a video quality setting. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the device configuration setting comprises tuning to a particular channel. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receipt of the one or more audio/video programs from the one or more sources occurs simultaneously. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the input is configured to simultaneously receive the one or more audio/video programs. 
     
     
       26. The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the receipt of the one or more audio/video programs from the one or more sources occurs simultaneously. 
     
     
       27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digital storage medium comprises one or more cyclic buffers. 
     
     
       28. The method according to claim 1, further comprising replacing the oldest program data with the newest program data. 
     
     
       29. The system according to claim 3, wherein the digital storage device comprises one or more cyclic buffers. 
     
     
       30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said digital storage device replaces the oldest program data with the newest program data when the digital storage device is filled. 
     
     
       31. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, wherein the digital storage medium comprises one or more cyclic buffers. 
     
     
       32. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing each of the one or more audio/video programs as program data in one or more cyclic buffers; and
 replacing the oldest program data with the newest program data when the one or more cyclic buffers become filled.   
     
     
       33. A method for time-shifted viewing of audio/video programs comprising:
 receiving one or more audio/video programs from one or more sources, wherein the one or more audio/video programs are associated with data about the programs, the data about the programs provided over a network connection;   storing each of the one or more audio/video programs as program data in one or more digital storage devices; and   simultaneously providing playback control of the program data independently from storing the one or more audio/video programs, wherein time-shifted viewing is delayed viewing of the one or more audio/video programs currently being received from the one or more sources, the viewing of which may be initiated and controlled simultaneously with the storing of the one or more audio/video programs, and wherein one or more device configuration settings may be configured via a user interface over the network connection, wherein the network connection comprises an Internet connection.   
     
     
       34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the digital storage devices comprise one or more cyclic buffers. 
     
     
       35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising replacing the oldest program data with the newest program data when the digital storage devices are filled.