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Interactive television program guide with simultaneous watch and record capabilities

Interactive television program guide with simultaneous watch and record capabilities description/claims

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/723,586, filed Nov. 24, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/329,850, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/089,487, filed Jun. 16, 1998.

This invention relates to interactive television program guides, and more particularly, to television program guides that allow users to record one program while simultaneously watching a different program.

Interactive program guides are typically implemented on set-top boxes. The program guides implemented on set-top boxes allow users to view television program listings. In addition, some program guides allow the user to select a program to be recorded. When the selected program begins, the program guide tunes the set-top box to the channel showing the program and directs a videocassette recorder (“VCR”) to begin recording. At the end of the selected program, the program guide stops the recording process.

A significant disadvantage to the program guides that are currently available is that they are generally based on set-top boxes that contain one tuner (although set-top boxes containing two tuners have been proposed). A program may be selected for recording using such one-tuner program guides, however, a viewer is unable to watch one program while simultaneously recording another.

What is needed is a more sophisticated program guide that can perform an allocation function amongst multiple tuners or a single tuner in conjunction with a RF bypass switch inside a set-top box or alternatively, outside the set-top box to allow a viewer to watch one program while simultaneously recording another program.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an interactive television program guide system which allows a user to record one program while simultaneously watching another program.

The present invention provides the user of an interactive television program guide with the ability to watch one program while simultaneously recording another. The user may select a television program to be recorded by viewing the interactive television program guide's program listings display screen and making a selection using a remote control device. The selection is then stored in memory that resides in the set-top box or some other suitable device such as a satellite receiver, an advanced television with a processor and memory or a computer.

If the set-top box is equipped with multiple tuners, the interactive television program guide will allocate one of the tuners for recording the program when it is time for the program to start. However, if all of the tuners are in use, which may be the case if the viewer is watching one program and using a picture-in-picture (“PIP”) feature to view another program or to display additional text or graphics by using some other secondary tuner function feature that requires a tuner to operate, the interactive television program guide may allocate a tuner for the recording function if the user indicates that he is no longer interested in using the PIP or another secondary tuner function or if the tuner allocation scheme dictates it do so. Alternatively, if the set-top box is equipped with two tuners, one may be dedicated for television viewing and interactive television program guide user features, while the other tuner may be dedicated for recording use only.

The present invention may also be practiced using a set-top box system having a single tuner and a radio-frequency (“RF”) bypass or digital switch. With such a system, the interactive television program guide allocates use of the single tuner output and controls the switch output to provide a watch and record environment for the user.

The invention, together with its various features and advantages, can be readily understood from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1(a) is a diagram of an illustrative interactive television program guide system in which an interactive television program guide is implemented in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1(b) is a diagram of the user television equipment that includes alternative devices for the user program guide equipment, recording device and viewing device.

FIG. 2(a) is a diagram of an illustrative interactive television program guide system that includes a two-tuner set-top box in which the output of each tuner is connected directly into an external device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2(b) is a diagram of an illustrative interactive television program guide system that includes a two-tuner set-top box in which the output of each tuner is connected to switching circuitry in accordance with the present invention. The outputs of the switching circuitry are connected to external devices.

FIG. 3(a) is a flow chart that illustrates steps involved in using an interactive television program guide system that includes a set-top box that has two tuners of the type shown in FIG. 2(a) in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3(b) is a flow chart that illustrates steps involved in using an interactive television program guide system that includes a set-top box that has two tuners and switching circuitry of the type shown in FIG. 2(b)in accordance with the present invention.

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• Utility Patent

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