WO2003092281A1

WO2003092281A1 - Method and apparatus for controlling a digital video recording

Info

Publication number: WO2003092281A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/011626
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valerie Sacrez Liebhold
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
Current assignee: Thomson Licensing SAS
Priority date: 2002-04-23
Filing date: 2003-04-15
Publication date: 2003-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2004-10-23
Also published as: AU2003221947A1

Abstract

A digital video recording apparatus and a method for controlling a digital video recording apparatus that informs users during a video output operation whether the output video content is a live display of the received video broadcast or is a time shifted display of the received video broadcast. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of enabling a video output operation, and providing an indication on a viewable portion of the apparatus enclosure during the video output operation, wherein the indication indicates whether the images on the display device corresponds to either the live display of the received video signal or the time shifted display of the received video signal. By providing the indication on the viewable portion, a user is able to easily determine the state of the video output operation thereby reducing the possibility of confusion. The indication may comprise text messages, an icon or a LED disposed on the front panel assembly of the recording apparatus.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING

A DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING

This application claims priority to and all benefits accruing from a provisional application filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on April 23, 2002, and there assigned serial number 60/374,976.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a digital video recording apparatus and a method for controlling a digital video recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling a digital video recording apparatus by, among other things, providing an indication, or display on a viewable portion of the apparatus during a video output operation that provides a display on an imager device, which indicates whether the display is a live display or a time shifted display.

Background Information

Personal video recorders (PVRs) are digital recording apparatuses that provide various features such as allowing a user to select for recording, by means of a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on an associated television set, monitor, or other display device, a television program to be broadcast at a future time or which is currently being broadcast. Such apparatuses digitally record the selected program onto a storage module, such as a hard disk, and upon user command playback the stored program by retrieving it from storage, decompressing or decoding the program and outputting the video signal to an associated television set, monitor, or other display device. Apparatuses having such capabilities are currently sold under trade names such as "TiVo," "RePlayTV," "Sky+," and "Showstopper."

Such devices offer features and advantages in controlling the recording and playback of programs that were previously not available to the consumer via analog recording devices. The features include the ability to pause a live program on the screen while continuing to record the program onto a storage device such that the user can continue playback of the program at their convenience without missing any portion of the currently broadcast program, and also simultaneously recording and playing back, either the same program or different programs, thereby providing great flexibility in recording and playing back the received video signals. Since the programs are digitally stored and processed, the devices also allow the user to have greater control of the playback, for example, instantly skipping ahead by the predetermined amount of time. Such devices also generally are designed to work with a program guide that allows the user to easily see, in a grid format, program schedules, and to select a particular program for recording. The devices may also include input terminals for connecting playback devices, such as a camcorder, to the PVR to digitally record the contents of the devices onto the PVR for later playback. Current digital recording apparatuses generally allow the user to select various recording and playback quality levels, which may be adjusted by adjusting the bitrate of the encoder/decoder. At high bitrates, the apparatuses can record and playback video content at a very high quality. In fact, the video content is of such high quality that it often cannot be distinguished from a video display that is derived directly from a live television broadcast. This inability to distinguish between live video content and recorded video content during a video output operation can be problematic since users may not readily know what they are actually watching. For example, a user watching a sporting event may not readily know from the available display on the display device whether the event is from a live broadcast, or from a previous recording, or time shifted, operation. This can be a problem if the user attempts to switch channel while watching a time-shifted display that is derived from video content that is stored in a buffer since any further video content stored on the buffer, but not yet viewed, may be lost upon the channel change.

With certain digital recording apparatuses, users may be informed of whether the output video content is live or recorded only when the apparatus changes from one operating mode to another (e.g., from stop mode to play mode), or perhaps in response to a particular key input via a remote control device. In such cases, however, the information regarding the status of the video content (i.e., live versus recorded) is provided via the main video display device, such as a television screen or monitor and generally requires an additional input from the user. Accordingly, such apparatuses do not maintain the display of this video status information during a video output operation since doing so may unduly occupy the display region of the display device and thereby prevent users from viewing the entire video picture. Current digital video recording apparatuses also do not provide a display panel, which includes text or icons. While certain apparatuses may provide simple indicator lights to indicate things such as whether the apparatus is on or off, whether the apparatus is recording or not, and/or whether new recorded content is available, such apparatuses do not provide any indication of whether the display is a live display that coincides with the live broadcast or the display is a time shifted display derived from video content stored in a memory.

Accordingly, there is a need for a digital video recording apparatus that avoids the aforementioned problems, and among other things, allows the users during a video output operation to easily determine, without requiring user input, to determine whether the displayed video content is a live display that coincides with the received video content or the displayed video content is a time shifted display derived from video content stored in memory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a digital recording apparatus is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises steps of enabling a video output operation, and providing an indication on a viewable portion of the apparatus during the video output operation, wherein the indication indicates that the displayed video content is either a live display of the received video signal or a time shifted display of the received video signal.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a digital recording apparatus is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the recording apparatus comprises means for receiving a video signal from a video signal source and processing means for performing a video output operation, including: processing the received video signal and storing the video signal on the memory means in a suitable format; reading video signal stored on the memory means and processing the read video signal to generate a first output signal corresponding to a live display of the received video signal; and reading video signal stored on the memory means and processing the read video signal to generate a second output signal corresponding to a time shifted display of the received video signal in response to a user input; and indication means, disposed on a viewable portion of the apparatus enclosure, for providing a display during the video output operation, wherein the indication indicates that a particular display on the display device is either the live display of the received video signal or the time shifted display of the received video signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an environment, including a digital video recording apparatus, suitable for implementing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps for implementing a method according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary display generated by a digital video recording apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is another exemplary display generated by a digital video recording apparatus according to the present invention.

The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 , an environment 100 suitable for implementing the present invention is shown. As shown in FIG. 1 , environment 100 comprises a digital recording device 20, which includes various elements for receiving and processing program signals and generating audio and video signals suitable for display. Digital recording device 20 is coupled to a broadcast source 10 for receiving program signals, a remote control device 30 for receiving user input signals, and a display device 40 for providing a program display. Display device 40 may be included with the elements of digital recording device 20 as an integrated package. Also shown in FIG. 1 , digital recording apparatus 20 comprises a tuner control block 21 , a receiver 22, a GUI generator 23, a central processing unit (CPU) 24, a video processor 25, and a hard disk memory 26. As will be intuitive to those skilled in the art, many of the foregoing elements, or combination of elements, of apparatus 20 may be embodied using integrated circuits (ICs). In

FIG. 1 , broadcast source 10 is operative to provide data including video signals to digital recording apparatus 20 for recording. Broadcast source 10 may for example provide data to apparatus 10 via a terrestrial, satellite, cable, internet, or other type of wired or wireless communication link. Broadcast source 10 may also represent a live or recorded broadcast source provided through a device connected to digital recording apparatus 20 such as one provided from a camcorder, DVD player or other similar device.

Digital recording apparatus 20 is operative to digitally record data provided from broadcast source 10, and may be embodied as a PVR or other digital video recording device, such as a digital versatile disk (DVD) recording device. According to an exemplary embodiment, tuner control block 21 is operative to receive data from broadcast source 10 and perform a tuning function to generate tuned signals. Receiver 22 is operative to receive and process the tuned signals provided from tuner control block 21 to thereby generate corresponding IF and baseband signals. GUI generator 23 is operative to generate GUI displays (e.g., bitmap images) corresponding to different operating modes of apparatus 20. GUI displays are generated and displayed on display device 40 to, for example, provide status information regarding the operation of apparatus 20, or menus for allowing the user to make various selections to control the operation of apparatus 20. As will be discussed later herein, a user may provide inputs to apparatus 20 responsive to such GUI displays to control the operation of apparatus 20.

CPU 24 is operative to perform the overall control of the various components of apparatus 20. According to an exemplary embodiment, CPU 24 generates various control signals, which control the operation of the other elements of apparatus 20 to provide the known digital recording features, such as pausing a portion of the received video on the display device 40 while continuing to record the incoming video on hard drive memory 26 for future playback. Video processor 25 is operative to perform various video processing functions of apparatus 20, such as decompressing, decoding, encoding, etc, to generate video signals suitable for display on device 40. According to an exemplary embodiment, video processor 25 processes and formats video signals provided from receiver 22, as well as video data retrieved from hard disk memory 26 to enable corresponding visual displays on display device 40, for example in the NTSC or PAL format. Video processor 25 may also combine such video images with GUI displays generated by GUI generator 23. The combination may be implemented with a switching device (not shown) that switches between the video signal and the GUI signal to overlay the GUI display onto the program display.

Hard disk memory 26 is operative to store digital video data under the control of CPU 24. A table or listing of programs stored on the hard disk may be stored on the hard disk under the control of CPU 24. The programs and the listing of programs may be stored on the hard disk using conventionally known methods, including using contiguous or non-contiguous blocks of data that are identified using a file allocation table. The listing may also be stored on a memory device separate from the hard disk.

Hard disk memory 26 is operative to store digital video data under the control of CPU 24. Although memory 26 is shown in FIG. 1 as a hard disk memory for purposes of example, it may also be embodied as another type of storage medium capable of storing large amounts of digital video data, such as one or more optical disks or the like. Memory 26 may include a plurality of memory modules (e.g., ICs), and/or may be combined with CPU 24. FPD 27 is integral to the body, or enclosure, of recording apparatus 20 and is operative to provide visual displays including text, icons, and/or other display items, which may for example represent information regarding different operating modes of recording apparatus 20. FPD 27 may for example be embodied using various light-emitting elements, such as light-emitting diodes ("LEDs") or other elements. As will be explained later herein, FPD 27 is operative to provide a visual indication during a video output operation to indicate whether the displayed video content is a live display, or is a time shifted display that is derived from a previous recording operation of apparatus 20. As used herein, the term live display refers to a display that substantially coincides with a display associated with a received video signal as the video signal is being received.

Remote control device 30 is operative to provide user control inputs to digital recording apparatus 20, and may for example be embodied as a hand-held remote control, keyboard, or other input device such as an input terminal integral with apparatus 20. Remote control device 30 may be coupled to a receiver (not shown) contained in recording apparatus 20 via a wired or wireless medium, for example RF or IR signaling. According to an exemplary embodiment, a user may use remote control device 30 to transmit commands to control the various operating modes of apparatus 20, such as to select a television program to be recorded from an electronic program guide ("EPG") displayed on display device 40, and to respond to a screen message displayed on display device 40. Although not expressly indicated in

FIG. 1 , CPU 24 is operative to receive and process user inputs provided to apparatus

20 via remote control device 30. Display device 40 is operative to visually display images responsive to the video output signals provided from video processor 25, and may for example be embodied as a television screen, monitor, or other display device.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a flowchart 200 illustrating exemplary steps according to the present invention is shown. For purposes of example and explanation, the steps of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to digital recording apparatus 20 of FIG. 1. Accordingly, the steps of FIG. 2 are merely exemplary, and are not intended to limit the present invention in any manner.

At step 201 , a language selection is made by a user. According to an exemplary embodiment, this language selection may be performed by accessing an on-screen menu, such as during an initial set up process for recording apparatus 20. For example, a user may access the on-screen associated with language selection by providing inputs to recording apparatus 20 via remote control device 30 which enable her/him to select from among various on-screen menu options offered by recording apparatus 20. CPU 24 responds to the user inputs by outputting control signals which cause GUI generator 23 to generate various on-screen menus and output the same to video processor 25 for display on display device 40.

Once the on-screen menu associated with language selection for recording apparatus 20 is displayed on display device 40, the user may provide inputs via remote control device 30 which enable her/him to select from among the available languages. As will be explained later herein, the selected language may be used to represent various text messages provided by recording apparatus 20, including text messages provided on FPD 27 during video output operations to indicate whether the output video content is from a live broadcast or from a previous recording operation. At step 202, a video output operation is performed. In particular, the video output operation enables the display of video content on display device and comprises various steps for processing the received video signals, including storing the video signal on a memory device, and generating a suitable output signal. Accordingly, at step 202, recording apparatus 20 performs the various operations, including storing the received video signal to the memory device in a suitable format. As is generally known by those skilled in the art, digital recording apparatuses may be configured to simultaneously store the received video data to a memory device, and process and display the video data stored on the memory to provide either a live display or a time shifted display in response to user input. A time shifted display may be generated, for example, if the user pauses the display for a given amount of time and then restarts the display from the point the display was paused while still receiving and storing the video signal from the signal source. According to an exemplary embodiment, CPU 24 enables the video output operation at step 202 responsive to a user input via remote control device 30. At step 203, a display is provided on FPD 27 to indicate the status of the displayed video content. In particular, the display indicates whether the video content output from step 202 is from a live display, or alternatively from a previous recording operation of apparatus 20 (i.e., from memory 26), i.e., a time shifted display. In this manner, steps 202 and 203 are performed concurrently, and the display is maintained on FPD 27 during the entire video output operation. According to an exemplary embodiment, CPU 24 enables the display on FPD 27 at step 203 by outputting one or more control signals, which cause indicators disposed on FPD 27 to provide the appropriate display. Examples of displays suitable for use at step 203 of FIG. 2 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3, the exemplary display on FPD 27 is a text message indicating that the displayed video content corresponds to a live display ("LIVE"). Conversely, in FIG. 4, the exemplary display on FPD 27 is a text message indicating that the output video content is from a previous recording operation, and is therefore a time shifted display ("DELAY"). According to an exemplary embodiment, the text messages are represented in the language selected at step 201 , which in the case of FIGS. 3 and 4 is English.

The displays shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are examples only, and other text messages, iconic messages and/or other types of messages, or indications, may also be used at step 203 according to the present invention. The specific text messages shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, however, are particularly suitable for use since they require only five (5) character segments of FPD 27. It is further noted that the display provided at step 203 may be provided on any viewable portion of recording apparatus 20, such as a side panel, top panel or the like. The front panel, however, is clearly desirable since it is likely to place the relevant video content status information directly in front of a user's eyes during a video output operation.

As described herein, the present invention controls a digital video recording apparatus by, among other things, providing an indication, or a display, during a video output operation which allows the user to easily determine whether the displayed video content corresponds to a live display or a time shifted display from a previous recording operation of the apparatus. In this manner, the user may always be apprised of the status of the video content during a video output operation without being required to provide additional input. While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, an LED, or a combination of LEDs, wherein the color or the LED, or the lit/unlit status of the LED is indicative of whether the displayed video corresponds to a live display or a time shifted display. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for controlling a digital video recording apparatus, comprising the steps of: receiving a video signal from a signal source; enabling video output operation, comprising the steps of processing the received video signal and storing the video signal on the memory device in a suitable format, reading video signal stored on the memory device and processing the read video signal to generate a first output signal corresponding to a live display of the received video signal for display on a display device, and reading video signal stored on the memory device and processing the read video signal to generate a second output signal corresponding to a time shifted display of the received video signal for display on the display device in response to a user input; and providing an indication on a viewable portion of the apparatus enclosure during video output operation, wherein the indication indicates that the display corresponds to either the live display of the received video signal or the time shifted display of the received video signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the viewable portion comprises a front panel display.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the indication comprises a text message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of receiving a user selection of a language, wherein the providing step comprises providing the indication in the user selected language.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the indication comprises an icon.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the indication comprises an LED.

7. A digital video recording apparatus, comprising: means for receiving a video signal from a video signal source; memory means; processing means, coupled to the receiving means and the memory means, for performing a video output operation, including: processing the received video signal and storing the video signal on the memory means in a suitable format; reading video signal stored on the memory means and processing the read video signal to generate a first output signal corresponding to a live display of the received video signal; and reading video signal stored on the memory means and processing the read video signal to generate a second output signal corresponding to a time shifted display of the received video signal in response to a user input; and indication means, disposed on a viewable portion of the apparatus enclosure, for providing a display during the video output operation, wherein the indication indicates that a particular display on the display device is one of the live display of the received video signal and the time shifted display of the received video signal.

8. The digital video recording apparatus of claim 7, wherein the indication means comprises a front panel display of the apparatus.

9. The digital video recording apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display comprises a text message.

10. The digital video recording apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing means provides an on-screen display for enabling a user to select a particular language, and the text message is provided in the selected language.

1 1. The digital video recording apparatus of claim 7, wherein the indication means comprises a LED.

12. The digital video recording apparatus of claim 7, wherein the display comprises an icon.