Systems and methods for interactive program quides with personal video recording features

• Main Author: MICHAEL D. ELLIS,DANNY R. GAYDOU,M.S. REICHARDT
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.11.2007
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; INFORMATION STORAGE; INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORDCARRIER AND TRANSDUCER; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder ("PVR") and interactive television program guide ("IPG") functionality are provided. An interactive television application ("application") may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of a PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recording, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate payper-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when the user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented. Other PVR related features are also provided.