Patent ID: 7600244
Filing Date: 2009-10-06
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of selecting a program among a plurality of programs in order to replace a pre-recorded program with a selected program, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving meta data of a scheduled program to be broadcast at some future time, the meta data including items of information related to content of the program and a mode in which the program content is broadcast; comparing a predetermined item of meta data of the scheduled program with an item of meta data of a pre-recorded program to determine whether the scheduled program and the pre-recorded program have the substantially same content, wherein the meta data of the pre-recorded program is only meta data that is received when the pre-recorded program was broadcast; extracting a difference in modes of broadcast between the scheduled program and the pre-recorded program based on a comparison result of the meta data of the scheduled and the pre-recorded programs in the event that they are determined to have the substantially same content at the comparing step; providing a user with the modes of broadcast included in the meta data of both of the programs in the event that there is a difference between them; assigning to a plurality of different items an order of priority based on information of a user's taste and comparing the meta data of the scheduled and pre-recorded programs having the substantially same content; and determining whether the scheduled program is preferred to the pre-recorded program based on the order of priority and a result of the comparison, wherein the step of providing meta data to the user is executed in the event that the scheduled program is determined to be preferred to the pre-recorded program.