Signal receiving video recording apparatus and method

1. A method for using a video recording apparatus, the method comprising:

selecting a program to record using the video recording apparatus;

programming information about the selected program into the video recording apparatus;

receiving an externally-generated start signal from a video provider before a broadcast of the selected program, the video provider operative to simultaneously broadcast the selected program and an unselected program in a video signal to the video recording apparatus and a second video recording apparatus, the video recording apparatus and the second video recording apparatus operative to independently receive and record one of the selected program and the unselected program in the video signal;

receiving the video signal from the video provider, the video signal received separately from the externally-generated start signal; and

recording the selected program from the video signal responsive to the received start signal.

2. A method for using a video recording apparatus, the method comprising:

selecting a program to record;

programming information about the selected program into the video recording apparatus, the programming information including a date, time, and channel identifier for the selected program;

transmitting the programming information from the video recording apparatus to a video provider outside the video recording apparatus, the video provider being one of a cable company, a satellite television company, or a public broadcaster;

receiving an externally-generated start signal from the video provider before a broadcast of the selected program; and

recording the program responsive to the received start signal.

3. A method according to claim 2 , the method further comprising:

receiving an externally-generated stop signal; and

ending recording of the program responsive to the received stop signal.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein transmitting includes transmitting the programming information over a network from the video recording apparatus.

5. A method according to claim 2 , wherein transmitting includes transmitting the programming information over an electrically conductive wire from the video recording apparatus.

6. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising editing the programming information on a website.

7. A method according to claim 2 , wherein receiving the externally-generated start signal includes receiving a channel identifier on which the selected program is broadcast.

8. A method according to claim 2 , wherein receiving the externally-generated start signal includes receiving the externally-generated start signal over a network.

9. A method according to claim 2 , the method further comprising:

storing the programming information at the video provider; and

replacing the programming information at the video provider with new programming information to account for a change in a schedule at the video provider.

10. A method according to claim 2 , the method further comprising charging a customer for transmitting the externally-generated start signal by the video provider.

11. A method according to claim 2 , wherein receiving the externally-generated start signal includes receiving the externally-generated start signal from the video provider over a network.

12. A method according to claim 11 , wherein receiving the externally-generated start signal includes receiving the externally-generated start signal from the video provider over a network separately from the program.

13. A method according to claim 2 , wherein receiving an externally-generated start from the video provider includes receiving the externally-generated start signal from the video provider on a channel separate from a transmission of the program.

14. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising selecting s delay between receipt of the externally-generated start signal and receipt of the video signal.

15. A method according to claim 2 , wherein programming information about the selected program into the video recording apparatus includes:

forwarding the information about the selected program to the video provider; and

storing no information about the selected program on the video recording apparatus.

16. A computer-readable medium containing a program that, when executed by a video recording apparatus, results in:

selecting a program to record;

programming information about the selected program into the video recording apparatus, the programming information including a date, time, and channel identified for the selected program;

transmitting the programming information from the video recording apparatus to a video provider outside the video recording apparatus, the video provider being one of a cable company, a satellite television company, or a public broadcaster;

receiving an eternally-generated start signal from the video provider before a broadcast of the selected program; and

recording the program responsive to the received start signal.

17. A video recording apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a transmission;

means for recording the transmission;

means for playing the recording of the transmission;

circuitry constructed and arranged to receive a start signal to start recording from a video provider before a broadcast of a selected program, the video provider being one of a cable company, a satellite television company, or a public broadcaster; and

means for transmitting information about the selected program to the video provider.

18. A video recording apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the start signal includes a channel identifier on which channel a selected program is broadcast.

19. A video recording apparatus according to claim 17 , the improvement further comprising circuitry constructed and arranged to receive a stop signal to stop recording.

20. A video recording apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is further constructed and arranged to receive the start signal over a network.

21. A video recording apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising means for selecting a delay between receipt of the start signal and receipt of the video signal.

22. A video recording apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the means for transmitting information about a selected program to the video provider includes:

means for transmitting to the video provider the about the selected program; and

means for storing no information about the selected program on the video recording apparatus.

23. A video broadcast apparatus, comprising:

means for broadcasting a video signal to a plurality of video recording apparatuses, the video signal including a plurality of simultaneous programs and each video recording apparatus operative to independently receive and record one of the programs in the video signal;

reception circuitry constructed and arranged to receive a programming information about a selected program from one of the video recording apparatuses; and

transmission circuitry responsive to the received programming information to send a start signal to the one of the video recording apparatus before the selected program is broadcast in the video signal by the video broadcast apparatus.

24. A video broadcast apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the selected program includes a date, time, and channel identifier, including means for translating the date, time, and channel identifier into a program identifier.

25. A video broadcast apparatus according to claim 24 , including means for replacing the program identifier with a new program identifier after a schedule change by the video provider.

26. A video broadcast apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the transmission circuitry includes circuitry constructed and arranged to send a channel identifier to the video recording apparatus.

27. A video broadcast apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein the transmission circuitry is constructed and arranged to further transmit a stop signal.

28. A system, comprising:

an agent apparatus to receive a video signal from a video provider, the video provider being one of a cable company, a satellite television company, or a public broadcaster and operative to simultaneously transmit a first program and a second program in the video signal, the agent apparatus operative to relay the first program of the video signal and not the second program; and

a video recording apparatus coupled to the agent apparatus, including:

means for transmitting information about the first program to the video provider;

means for receiving the first program from the agent apparatus;

means for recording the first program;

means for playing the recording of the first program; and

circuitry constructed and arranged to receive from the video provider a start signal to start recording before receiving the first program.

29. A system according to claim 28 , wherein the video recording apparatus further includes means for selecting a delay between receipt of the start signal and receipt of the video signal.

30. A system according to claim 28 , wherein the means for transmitting information about the first program to the video provider includes:

means for transmitting to the video provider the about the selected program; and

means for storing no information about the selected program on the video recording apparatus.

31. A method for using a video recording apparatus, the method comprising:

selecting a program to record;

programming information about the selected program into the video recording apparatus, the programming information including a date, time, and channel identifier for the selected program;

transmitting the programming information from the video recording apparatus to a video provider outside the video recording apparatus, the video provider operative to simultaneously broadcast the selected program and an unselected program in a video signal to the video recording apparatus and a second video recording apparatus, the video recording apparatus and the second video recording apparatus operative to independently receive and record one of the selected program and the unselected program in the video signal;

receiving an externally-generated start signal from the video provider before receiving the selected program; and

recording the program responsive to the received start signal.

32. A method according to claim 31 , further comprising selecting a delay between receipt of the externally-generated start signal and receipt of the video signal.

33. A method according to claim 31 , wherein programming information about the selected program into the video recording apparatus includes:

forwarding the information about the selected program to the video provider; and

storing no information about the selected program on the video recording apparatus.