Systems and methods for timing the recording and playback of television programming

1. A method for recording broadcast television programming, the method comprising:

receiving, by a television receiver, a selection of a broadcast television program from an electronic programming guide;

accessing, by the television receiver, an electronic programming guide database to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program;

defining, by the television receiver, a timer to record the broadcast television program in response to receiving the selection of the broadcast television program from the electronic programming guide, wherein:

a start time for the timer is a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program; and

an end time for the timer is a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;

recording the broadcast television program as a recording, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer;

creating and storing a first bookmark in association with the recording, the first bookmark being based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;

receiving, by the television receiver, a command requesting playback of the recorded broadcast television program; and

initiating, by the television receiver, playback of the recorded broadcast television program at a location determined by the television receiver within the recording that is:

determined based on a stored predefined playback offset being subtracted from the first bookmark's location;

located before the first bookmark based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program; and

located after the start time of the timer.

2. The method for recording broadcast television programming of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

defining, by the television receiver, for the recorded broadcast television program, a second bookmark that indicates the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program.

3. The method for recording broadcast television programming of claim 2 , the method further comprising:

continuing, by the television receiver, playback of the recorded television program to the scheduled end time indicated by the second bookmark; and

while continuing playback of the recorded television program, outputting, by the television receiver, based on the second bookmark, for presentation a visual indication that playback will end.

4. The method for recording broadcast television programming of claim 2 , the method further comprising:

continuing, by the television receiver, playback of the recorded television program until the scheduled end time indicated by the second bookmark;

at the scheduled end time indicated by the second bookmark, pausing, by the television receiver, playback of the recorded television program; and

outputting, by the television receiver, for presentation, a user interface indicating whether playback of the recorded television program is to continue.

5. The method for recording broadcast television programming of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

after initiating playback of the recorded broadcast television program at the location, receiving a rewind command; and

in response to the rewind command, outputting a portion of the recorded broadcast television program that is prior to the location.

6. The method for recording broadcast television programming of claim 1 , wherein a user defines the first predefined period of time and the second predefined period of time.

7. The method for recording broadcast television programming of claim 1 , wherein the first predefined period of time and the second predefined period of time are of a same duration.

8. The method for recording broadcast television programming of claim 1 , wherein storing the first bookmark comprises storing the first bookmark to a file separate from the recorded broadcast television program.

9. A system for recording broadcast television programming, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a selection of a broadcast television program from an electronic programming guide;

access an electronic programming guide database to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program;

define a timer to record the broadcast television program in response to receiving the selection of the broadcast television program from the electronic programming guide, wherein:

a start time for the timer is a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program; and

an end time for the timer is a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;

record the broadcast television program as a recording, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer;

create and store a first bookmark in association with the recording, the first bookmark being based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;

receive a command requesting playback of the recorded broadcast television program; and

initiate playback of the recorded broadcast television program at a location determined by the television receiver within the recording that is:

determined based on a stored predefined playback offset and the first bookmark;

located before the first bookmark based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program; and

located after the start time of the timer.

10. The system for recording broadcast television programming of claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

define, for the recorded broadcast television program, a second bookmark that indicates the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program.

11. The system for recording broadcast television programming of claim 10 , wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

continue playback of the recorded television program to the scheduled end time indicated by the second bookmark; and

while continuing playback of the recorded television program, output, based on the second bookmark, for presentation a visual indication that playback will end.

12. The system for recording broadcast television programming of claim 10 , wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

continue playback of the recorded television program until the scheduled end time indicated by the second bookmark;

at the scheduled end time indicated by the second bookmark, pause playback of the recorded television program; and

output, for presentation, a user interface indicating whether playback of the recorded television program is to continue.

13. The system for recording broadcast television programming of claim 9 , wherein the processor-readable instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

after initiating playback of the recorded broadcast television program at the location, receive a rewind command; and

in response to the rewind command, output a portion of the recorded broadcast television program that is prior to the location.

14. A non-transitory processor-readable medium for recording broadcast television programming, comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:

receive a selection of a broadcast television program from an electronic programming guide;

access an electronic programming guide database to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program;

define a timer to record the broadcast television program in response to receiving the selection of the broadcast television program from the electronic programming guide, wherein:

a start time for the timer is a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program; and

an end time for the timer is a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;

record the broadcast television program, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer;

create and store a first bookmark in association with the recording, the first bookmark being based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;

receive a command requesting playback of the recorded broadcast television program; and

initiate playback of the recorded broadcast television program at a location determined by the television receiver within the recording that is:

determined based on a stored predefined playback offset and the first bookmark;

located before the first bookmark based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program; and

located after the start time of the timer.

15. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for recording broadcast television programming of claim 14 , wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

define, for the recorded broadcast television program, a second bookmark that indicates the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program.

16. The non-transitory processor-readable medium for recording broadcast television programming of claim 15 , wherein the processor-readable instructions are further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

continue playback of the recorded television program to the scheduled end time indicated by the second bookmark; and

while continuing playback of the recorded television program, output, based on the second bookmark, for presentation a visual indication that playback will end.

17. A method for recording broadcast television programming, the method comprising:

receiving, by a television receiver, a selection of a broadcast television program from an electronic programming guide;

accessing, by the television receiver, an electronic programming guide database to determine a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time for the broadcast television program;

defining, by the television receiver, a timer to record the broadcast television program in response to receiving the selection of the broadcast television program from the electronic programming guide, wherein:

a start time for the timer is a first predefined period of time before the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program; and

an end time for the timer is a second predefined period of time after the scheduled end time of the broadcast television program;

recording the broadcast television program, the recording beginning at the start time of the timer and ending at the end time of the timer;

create and store a first bookmark in association with the recording, the first bookmark being based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program;

initiating playback, by the television receiver, at a byte count into the recording based on a defined offset value being subtracted from a first bookmark, the byte count is:

before the first bookmark based on the scheduled start time of the broadcast television program; and after the start time of the timer.