861 results about "Videocassette recorder" patented technology

A system for providing video-on-demand service, broadband internet access and other broadband services over T-carrier systems including a pull multiplexer cherrypicker at the head end is disclosed. The pull multiplexer receives upstream requests and cull out MPEG or other compressed video packets, IP packets and other data packet types to satisfy the requests or to send pushed programming downstream. The downstream can be DSL or HFC. Each customer has a cable modem, DSL modem or a gateway which interfaces multiple signal sources to a LAN to which settop decoders, digital phones, personal computers, digital FAX machines, video cameras, digital VCRs etc. can be attached. Each gateway can coupled the LAN to a DSL line or HFC through a cable modem or a satellite dish through a satellite transceiver. A PSTN and conventional TV antenna interface is also provided.

Personal video recorders (PVRs) contain many desirable features, including the ability to skip undesirable portions of a recorded broadcast program. Disclosed is a method and system for a PVR user to share with other users tags identifying desirable program portions or segments (“Hot-Spots”) and undesirable segments (“Cold-Spots”). Other users are able to either automatically or manually to adjust the replay of the program based on the tags.

Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling recording of video programs. In one embodiment an apparatus for controlling the recording of video programs includes a device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal received from a television signal source, a device for determining whether the retrieved recorder identifier matches a first identifier for the apparatus, a device for storing the recorder programming data, if the retrieved recorder identifier matches the first identifier for the apparatus, and a device for using the stored recorder programming data to control recording. The device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal includes a vertical blanking interval decoder.

A programmable remote control is implemented using a standard personal computer. The computer controls the output of, for example, an infrared transmitter to control various devices such as televisions, stereos, videocassette recorders or cd players. The computer can alter the type of commands issued from the transmitter based upon a command structure stored on a hard disk within the computer. This database is updatable from a variety of sources.

An interactive television program guide system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. In addition, other options may be provided that allow the user to determine, for example, whether to schedule reminders / recordings for episodes on all channels on which the program airs or only on a selected channels, whether to schedule reminders / recordings for all episodes including reruns or only new episodes, whether to schedule reminders / recordings for network or syndicated episodes, and whether to schedule reminders / recordings for episodes on all days or only on selected days of the week. Before the scheduled broadcast time of each episode of each selected program series, the system sends a reminder message to the user that reminds the user of the program episode or sends a record command to a videocassette recorder to initiate recording of the episode. The system allows a user to view a list of all currently requested program reminders and scheduled program recordings. The user may update, change, or cancel any entry in either list or the system may automatically update the lists to match new broadcast schedule information. If the user sets a reminder or schedules a recording that conflicts with an existing reminder or recording, the system may inform the user of the conflict and allow the user to resolve the conflict or the system may resolve the conflict.

A system for providing video-on-demand service, broadband internet access and other broadband services over T-carrier systems including a pull multiplexer cherrypicker at the head end is disclosed. The pull multiplexer receives upstream requests and cull out MPEG or other compressed video packets, IP packets and other data packet types to satisfy the requests or to send pushed programming downstream. The downstream can be DSL or HFC. Each customer has a cable modem, DSL modem or a gateway which interfaces multiple signal sources to a LAN to which settop decoders, digital phones, personal computers, digital FAX machines, video cameras, digital VCRs etc. can be attached. Each gateway can coupled the LAN to a DSL line or HFC through a cable modem or a satellite dish through a satellite transceiver. A PSTN and conventional TV antenna interface is also provided.

The present invention relates to a vehicle recorder system that is configured with a video camera, a light weight memory system, and a radio communications facility suitable for use in conjunction with an moving vehicle. An automobile equipped with such video recorder system that is used throughout a day of service provides a video record of unusual events which may occur from time-to-time. For example, events such as accidents, near-misses, and excessive speed, among others, trigger a system to preserve video images collected before and after the moment of the event. Replaying these images provides information regarding the cause and true nature of the event. These systems are particularly suitable for vehicle fleets, or other groups of vehicles that can communicate with a common system.

A digital video recorder (DVR) for use with a monitor and a set top box (STB) is disclosed. The STB demodulates program data by tuning to at least one of a plurality of channels and comprises a DVR interface. The DVR comprises a local memory for storing the program data received from the STB, and a STB interface for communicating with the DVR interface. The DVR further comprises a DVR controller for communicating control data to direct the STB to tune to a selected channel, and for receiving a channel-change event from the STB in connection with the STB changing the tuned channel.

Personal video recorders (PVRs) contain many desirable features, including the ability to skip undesirable portions of a recorded broadcast program. Disclosed is a method and system for a PVR user to share with other users tags identifying desirable program portions or segments (“Hot-Spots”) and undesirable segments (“Cold-Spots”). Other users are able to either automatically or manually to adjust the replay of the program based on the tags.

A video and graphics system has a reduced memory mode in which video images are reduced in half in horizontal direction during decoding. The video and graphics system includes a video decoder for decoding MPEG-2 video data. The video images may not be downscaled in the horizontal direction when no bi-directionally predicted pictures are used. The video and graphics system may output an HDTV video while converting the HDTV video and providing as another output having an SDTV format or another HDTV format. The output having an SDTV format may be recorded using a video cassette recorder (VCR) while the HDTV video is being displayed.

A local user issues recording instructions via the Internet to a remote computing device. The remote recording device records broadcast programs available to it according to the received recording instructions, and compresses and encodes the recorded program into a specified media format. The file holding the encoded broadcast program may be subdivided into multiple smaller files before being moved into another computer specified by the user and accessible via the Internet. The remote computing device may receive recording instruction via a pulse telephone and may be incorporated into existing video cassette recorders.

The present invention is directed to a search engine for a video recorder. One embodiment of the present invention operates in an environment that includes one or more set-top boxes connected to or integrated within one or more output devices. The set-top boxes are used to transfer shows from a broadcast input source to one or more types of storage devices and to play back the shows from the storage devices to the output devices, either in a delayed-live fashion or at a later time of the user's choosing. The set-top box displays a graphical user interface (GUI), which gives the user the ability to watch and / or record timeslot based programming, to order on-demand programming, and to playback previously recorded shows that reside on a local or remote storage device. A search engine is added to the GUI that lets the search for shows and receive results in an enhanced manner.

A system for transferring data from a television receiver to a display device and a shared data device includes a digital television receiver, a display device, at least one shared data device, and a communications channel coupled to the television receiver and the shared data devices. The television receiver receives, decodes, and processes a digitally encoded television signal (e.g., MPEG). This processed signal is provided to a display device (e.g., television monitor). In addition, an auxiliary data signal, sent with the digitally encoded television signal, is sent to at least one shared data device. Each of the shared data devices may be a printer, another television receiver, a digital video tape recorder, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). With a system as described herein, the auxiliary data may be an electronic program guide such that a viewer may print a program menu for subsequent review. Upon reviewing the printed program menu, the viewer may then select a channel for viewing or program a video tape recorder to record a selected channel. Alternatively, a viewer may transfer the electronic program guide to a PDA, review the program menu on the PDA, and subsequently program the television receiver, via the PDA, to select a channel for viewing or program a video tape recorder, via the PDA, to record a selected channel.

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for recording video data of an event. The apparatuses include a processor communicating with memory. The memory stores video data of the event captured by a camera, and the video data includes a series of picture frames of the event. A loop buffer also stores video data of the event captured by the camera. A rule-based engine stored in the memory uses a set of rules to store the contents of the loop buffer in the memory. The apparatus utilizes the loop buffer to provide video data prior to occurrence of the event.