Patent ID: 6751402
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A set-top box connectable to a digital video recorder that includes at least one recorder interface that supports connection of the digital video recorder to the settop box, a disk that stores a selected video segment, and a video data stream manager that, in response to a real-time video signal, provides a first video stream to store the selected video segment on the disk, and that, in response to a command from the set-top box that initiates a playback interval, receives a second video stream based on the selected video segment stored on the disk to generate a recorded video signal, the digital video recorder being configured to use the at least one recorder interface to (a) continuously receive the real-time video signal from the set-top box, and (b) provide the recorded video signal to the set-top box during the playback interval, the set-top box comprising:a video input interface that receives a broadcast signal to generate the real-time video signal; a video output interface that provides an output video data stream to a display device; a microprocessor that recognizes connection of the digital video recorder to the set-top box, and that, in response to user input, generates the command that initiates the playback interval; at least one auxiliary interface that supports connection of the set-top box to the at least one recorder interface of the digital video recorder, the at least one auxiliary interface continuously providing the real-time video signal to the digital video recorder subsequent to the microprocessor recognizing connection of the digital video recorder to the set-top box; and a multiplexer coupled to the video output interface and the microprocessor, wherein the multiplexer selects the real-time video signal during a real-time interval and selects the recorded video signal during the playback interval to generate the output video data stream that is provided to the display device.