Managing time shift buffers
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are provided for managing a time-shift buffer (TSB) that is used for buffering video presentations. One such method includes receiving user input identifying a storage capacity for the TSB and modifying a storage capacity of the TSB such that it is at least substantially equal to the storage capacity identified by the user input.
1. A method for providing access to buffered data, the method comprising:
receiving user input specifying whether access is to be provided after a future change in a displayed television channel to a buffered video presentation that is buffered before the future change in the displayed television channel;
providing the access responsive to the user input specifying that the access is to be provided; and
preventing the access responsive to the user input specifying that the access is not to be provided.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access is provided via a rewind operation.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access is provided via a user interface screen containing a list of buffered video presentations.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the buffered video presentation is buffered in a time-shift buffer (TSB).
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received via a subscriber television network.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received from a local device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input identifies an option that is provided via a user interface screen.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access is provided only if the displayed television channel had been designated as a favorite television channel.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access is provided only if the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video presentation that had been designated as a favorite video presentation.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user input is provided via a certain remote control key.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the user input is received within a short time interval prior to receiving a request for the change in the displayed television channel.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein operation of the certain remote control key may be enabled in response to the selection of a certain option via a user interface screen.
14. A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) that is configured to receive user input specifying whether access is to be provided after a future change in a displayed television channel to a buffered video presentation that is buffered before the future change in the displayed television channel, the DHCT comprising:
a time-shift buffer (TSB) for buffering the buffered video presentation; and
a processor that is programmed to:
provide the access to the buffered video presentation responsive to the user input specifying that the access is to be provided; and
prevent the access to the buffered video presentation responsive to the user input specifying that the access is not to be provided.
15. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the access is provided via a rewind operation.
16. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the access is provided via a user interface screen containing a list of buffered video presentations.
17. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk.
18. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received via a subscriber television network.
19. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received from a local device.
20. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the user input identifies an option that is provided via a user interface screen.
21. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the access is provided only if the displayed television channel had been designated as a favorite television channel.
22. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the access is provided only if the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video presentation that had been designated as a favorite video presentation.
23. The DHCT of claim 14 , wherein the user input is provided via a certain remote control key.
24. The DHCT of claim 23 , wherein the user input is received within a short time interval prior to receiving a request for the change in the displayed television channel.
25. The DHCT of claim 23 , wherein operation of the certain remote control key may be enabled in response to the selection of a certain option via a user interface screen.
26. A method for providing access to buffered data, the method comprising:
receiving user input specifying whether access is to be provided after a future change in a displayed television channel to a buffered video presentation that is buffered before the future change in the displayed television channel;
providing the access responsive to the user input specifying that the access is to be provided;
preventing the access responsive to the user input specifying that the access is not to be provided;
wherein the access is provided via a rewind operation;
wherein the buffered video presentation is buffered in a time-shift buffer (TSB);
wherein the TSB corresponds to a portion of a hard disk;
wherein the buffered video presentation corresponds to a video stream that is received via a subscriber television network; and
wherein the user input identifies an option that is provided via a user interface screen.