IP Library Patent Application 11825308
Patent Application
App. No. 11/825,308

Systems and methods for recording overlapping media content during scheduling conflicts

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/825,308
Abstract

In many aspects, systems and methods for recording overlapping media content using interactive media guidance applications are provided. The systems and methods for recording overlapping media content generally relate to cropping overlapping portions of the media content thereby allowing a user to enjoy most of the recording while only forgoing a portion of the beginning or the end of a program.

Claims (33)

1 . A method of managing program recording schedules, comprising:

retrieving from memory a schedule of recordings for a plurality of programs during a first time interval;

determining whether a number of programs in the plurality of programs exceeds a predetermined number during the first time interval;

determining a recording priority of the plurality programs; and

recording the plurality of programs while cropping a portion of at least one of the plurality of programs based on the recording priority such that a number of programs scheduled to be recorded during the first time interval is equal to or less than the predetermined number.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request for recording a program that at least partially overlaps, during a first time interval, with the plurality of programs previously scheduled for recording, wherein the plurality of programs includes the predetermined number of programs that can be recorded simultaneously during the time interval.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising

determining a recording priority of the program for which the recording is requested in comparison with the plurality of programs; and

recording the requested program and the plurality of programs while cropping a portion of at least one of the requested and plurality of programs during the time interval based on the recording priority of the requested program.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of a start time of a program overlaps with a portion of an end time of another one of the plurality of programs.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of programs that can be recorded simultaneously is 2.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the time interval is less than 10 minutes.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the recording priority includes assigning a highest priority to the most recent program scheduled for recording in the schedule of recordings.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a lowest recording priority program of the plurality of programs during the first time interval is cropped.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the program recording schedule is managed by an interactive media guidance application.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the recording priority of the plurality of programs is based on a recording priority ranking list.

11 . A system for managing program recording schedules comprising control circuitry and a recording device, the control circuitry configured to:

retrieve from memory a schedule of recordings for a plurality of programs during a first time interval;

determine whether a number of programs in the plurality of programs exceeds a predetermined number during the first time interval;

determine a recording priority of the plurality programs; and

direct the recording device to record the plurality of programs while cropping a portion of at least one of the plurality of programs based on the recording priority such that a number of programs scheduled to be recorded during the first time interval is equal to or less than the predetermined number.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a request for recording a program that at least partially overlaps, during a first time interval, with the plurality of programs previously scheduled for recording, wherein the plurality of programs includes the predetermined number of programs that can be recorded simultaneously during the time interval.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine a recording priority of the program for which the recording is requested in comparison with the plurality of programs; and

direct the recording a device to record the requested program and the plurality of programs while cropping a portion of at least one of the requested and plurality of programs during the time interval based on the recording priority of the requested program.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a portion of a start time of a program overlaps with a portion of an end time of another one of the plurality of programs.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined number of programs that can be recorded simultaneously is 2 .

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the time interval is less than 10 minutes.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to assign a highest priority to the most recent program scheduled for recording in the schedule of recordings.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to crop a lowest recording priority program of the plurality of programs during the first time interval.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured with an interactive media guidance application for managing the program recording schedule.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the recording priority of the plurality of programs based on a recording priority ranking list.

21 - 30 . (canceled)

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.); ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION); ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED); ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025222/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2008
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; INDEX SYSTEMS INC; MACROVISION CORPORATION; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 020986/0074 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2007
From: BUMGARDNER, JAMES A.; OMBAO, GEOFFREY Z.; DECAMP, GREGORY L.; KRAKIRIAN, HAIG H.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 019579/0706 →