Method and apparatus for enabling sub-channel recording and playback

1. A method for enabling digital recording, comprising:

receiving signals representing a channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels;

enabling display of an on-screen menu which allows a user to select from a plurality of different sub-channel recording options, including a first sub-channel recording option to record all of said plurality of sub-channels, and a second sub-channel recording option to record one or more but less than all of said plurality of sub-channels;

filtering digital data including secondary audio packets from said channel, but passing program guide data from said channel, in response to user selection of said second sub-channel recording option to thereby produce filtered digital data representing at least one but less than all of said plurality of sub-channels;

providing said filtered digital data to a digital recording device via a digital data bus;

detecting that a bandwidth limit associated with said digital data bus is exceeded; and

prompting said user to select specific digital data from said channel to be filtered out in response to said detection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said digital data bus includes an IEEE-1394 bus.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said digital recording device includes an audio/video hard disk drive (AVHDD).

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing said digital recording device to store identification data corresponding to said user selection in a memory of said digital recording device, said identification data including a channel number and at least one sub-channel number;

reading said identification data from said memory of said digital recording device responsive to a user input initiating a playback operation; and

enabling display of said identification data during said playback operation.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said digital data includes program data comprising audio and video data.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving said program data from said digital recording device via said digital data bus during said playback operation; and

enabling an output corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-channels during said playback operation.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of enabling an output corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-channels while said digital recording device records said digital data.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving signals representing a channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels;

means for enabling display of an on-screen menu which allows a user to select from a plurality of different sub-channel recording options, including a first sub-channel recording option to record all of said plurality of sub-channels, and a second sub-channel recording option to record one or more but less than all of said plurality of sub-channels;

said enabling means filtering digital data including secondary audio packets from said channel, but passing program guide data from said channel, in response to user selection of said second sub-channel recording option to thereby produce filtered digital data representing at least one but less than all of said plurality of sub-channels;

said enabling means enabling output of said filtered digital data to a digital recording device via a digital data bus; and

said enabling means prompting said user to select specific digital data from said channel to be filtered out in response to determining that a bandwidth limit associated with said digital data bus is exceeded.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said digital data bus includes an IEEE-1394 bus.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said digital recording device includes an audio/video hard disk drive (AVHDD).

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:

said enabling means causes said digital recording device to store identification data corresponding to said user selection in a memory of said digital recording device;

said identification data includes a channel number and at least one sub-channel number;

said enabling means reads said identification data from said memory of said digital recording device responsive to a user input initiating a playback operation; and

said enabling means enables display of said identification data during said playback operation.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said digital data includes program data comprising audio and video data.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said enabling means enables an output corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-channels responsive to said user input initiating said playback operation.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said enabling means enables an output corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-channels while said digital recording device records said digital data.

15. A television signal receiver, comprising:

an input operative to receive signals representing a channel comprising a plurality of sub-channels;

a processor operative to enable display of an on-screen menu which allows a user to select from a plurality of different sub-channel recording options, including a first sub-channel recording option to record all of said plurality of sub-channels, and a second sub-channel recording option to record one or more but less than all of said plurality of sub-channels;

said processor filtering digital data including secondary audio packets from said channel, but passing program guide data from said channel, in response to user selection of said second sub-channel recording option to thereby produce filtered digital data representing at least one but less than all of said plurality of sub-channels;

said processor enabling output of said filtered digital data to a digital recording device via a digital data bus; and

said processor prompting said user to select specific digital data from said channel to be filtered out in response to determining that a bandwidth limit associated with said digital data bus is exceeded.

16. The television signal receiver of claim 15 , wherein said digital data bus includes an IEEE-1394 bus.

17. The television signal receiver of claim 15 , wherein said digital recording device includes an audio/video hard disk drive (AVHDD).

18. The television signal receiver of claim 15 , wherein:

said processor causes said digital recording device to store identification data corresponding to said user selection in a memory of said digital recording device;

said identification data includes a channel number and at least one sub-channel number;

said processor reads said identification data from said memory of said digital recording device responsive to a user input initiating a playback operation; and

said processor enables display of said identification data during said playback operation.

19. The television signal receiver of claim 18 , wherein said digital data includes program data comprising audio and video data.

20. The television signal receiver of claim 18 , wherein said processor enables an output corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-channels responsive to said user input initiating said playback operation.

21. The television signal receiver of claim 15 , wherein said processor enables an output corresponding to one of said plurality of sub-channels while said digital recording device records said digital data.