Abstract:
A method and a system for maintaining user privacy in a device ( 100 ) that continuously buffers video programming responsive to changes in a user selected video channel. Video programming can be continuously recorded on a storage medium ( 148 ) and presented on a display device. Recording can continue uninterrupted during and subsequent to a user change of the selected video channel. Responsive to a user input, at least a portion of the video programming that has been stored on the storage medium ( 148 ) can be deleted. The user input can be a single command input such as an actuation of a control key. The selected portion of the video programming that is deleted can be controlled by a pre-determined number of actuations of the control key. All of the video programming also can be deleted from the data storage medium. An interactive erase menu can provide menu selections for various erasing options.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of digital video recording, and more particularly to buffering of video data in personal video recorders.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Modern day digital video recorders allow users to a view broadcast program on a delayed schedule, even while the broadcast still continues. The digital video recorders typically buffer the program by recording the program to a data storage medium as the broadcast is received. After recording of a broadcast program has commenced, a user can begin playback of the recorded portion of the program. If a user chooses, he can pause this playback while the remainder of the program continues to be recorded from the broadcast. The user then can recommence playback of the recorded program from where it was paused. Further, the user also can perform other trick modes on the recorded portion of a program, for example fast forward and rewind.  
           [0005]    A typical personal video recorder purges the buffered portion of a program when the user changes channels. This is usually accomplished by erasing the portion of the program stored to the data storage medium. One reason for deleting the buffer in the event of a channel change concerns a matter of viewer privacy. If the buffered portion of a program is not purged when the user changes channels, offensive content may be left on the personal video recorder. For example, when an adult is viewing programming inappropriate for children from a channel that has been locked for adult viewing only, inappropriate content may be left in the storage of the personal video recorder. Hence, a user who changes a channel typically is not able to review program content recorded from a previously viewed channel. This can be inconvenient if a user wishes to review a news story or a sports play that was buffered by the recorder prior to a channel change.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention relates to a method and a system for maintaining user privacy with a device that continuously buffers or stores audio/video programming responsive to a user selected video channel. The method includes continuously recording the video programming on a storage medium and concurrently providing the video programming to a display device. Recording can continue uninterrupted during and subsequent to a user change of the selected video channel.  
           [0007]    Responsive to a user input, at least a portion of the video programming that has been stored on the storage medium can be deleted. The user input can be a single command input such as an actuation of a control key. In another arrangement the selected portion of the video programming that is deleted can be controlled by a pre-determined number of actuations of the control key. In yet another arrangement all of the video programming can be deleted from the storage medium.  
           [0008]    Responsive to a user input, an interactive erase menu comprising a list of erase options also can be presented on a video display. The list of erase options can include a first menu selection providing for the erase of user specified program segments, a second menu selection providing for the erase of programming within user specified time frames, and a third menu selection providing for the erase of all recorded programming. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a personal video recorder incorporating continuous recording through channel changes and user selectable buffer erase in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the method of providing user selectable buffer erase in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram of a personal video recorder (PVR)  100  that can implement continuous recording through channel changes and facilitate user selectable buffer erase. The personal video recorder (PVR)  100  can include a digital signal processor (DSP)  102 , a key and display board  120 , a tuner  140 , an audio/video (A/V) input selector  138 , a USB input  146 , a storage device  148  and a program information module  150 . Additionally, PVR  100  can include first and second infra-red (IR) links  130  and  132 , a video overlay encoder  152 , a video switch  160 , a headphone jack  134 , a standard A/V component connector block  170 , a Y Pb Pr component video connector block  180 , and a Sony/Phillips digital interface (SPDIF) connector block  190 .  
         [0012]    The component signal connector blocks  170 ,  180  and  190  can provide audio/video signals in a variety of output formats. For example, the standard A/V component connector block  170  can comprise an S-video connector  172  for outputting to a video display video that has been separated into chrominance and luminance video signals and a composite video connector  174  for providing an composite encoded video signal. Further, the standard A/V component connector block  170  can comprise left and right audio output connectors,  176  and  178 , respectively.  
         [0013]    The Y Pb Pr component signal connector block  180  is typically used for high definition television (HDTV). The Y Pb Pr component connector block  180  comprises a video luminance (Y) output connector  182  for providing an analog video luminance component, a Pb output connector  184  for providing a blue analog color difference (B-Y), and a Pr output connector  186  for providing a red analog color difference (R-Y). Lastly, the SPDIF component connector block  190  comprises a coaxial output  192  and an optical output  194  for outputting digital audio signals via a coaxial cable or fiber optic cable, respectively.  
         [0014]    The key and display board  120  can be provided as a user interface for the PVR  100  and can incorporate a keypad  122 , a display  124 , an IR remote control interface  126  and a real time clock  128 . By using the keypad  122  or the IR remote control interface  126 , a user can select functions to be executed by PVR  100 . For example, a user can choose to change channels on the PVR or to perform trick mode playback. The real time clock  128  can keep time, which can be shown by the display  124 . The display  124  also can show other information as well, for example a trick mode being executed by the PVR, a selected channel being recorded by the PVR  100 , or an identifier representative of a presentation being shown on a video display.  
         [0015]    First and second IR links  130  and  132  form a set of communication links between satellite and non-satellite applications to help simplify the interface between the audio, video, and data streams. The first IR link  130  can provide a communication interface between DSP  102  and other devices having an IR communication link. Notably, the first IR Link  130  can be useful for controlling other devices designed specifically for RF or cable television broadcasts or radio broadcasts using standard program guide information. Link  130  can also enable features to simplify the consumer&#39;s interaction between devices. For example, the first IR link  130  can enable one touch program recording, as well as other user conveniences. The second IR link  132  can provide an interface between the program information module  150  and other devices having IR communication links. Significantly, the second IR link  132  can be useful for communicating with devices not requiring a direct connection to DSP  102 , for example with a cable reception device, a VCR, etc.  
         [0016]    Digital signal processor  102  can comprise an analog to digital (A/D) converter  104 , an MPEG encoder/decoder  106 , a field programmable gate array (FPGA)  108 , a micro controller  109 , a recorder/playback interface  110 , a video digital encoder  112 , an audio digital to analog converter (audio D/A)  114  and a SPDIF output  116 . The DSP  102  can further include one or more data busses enabling the different DSP components to communicate with each other and cooperatively process data. Notably, interrupt requests (IRQs) and direct memory addresses (DMAs) can be utilized to facilitate bus communications and data processing.  
         [0017]    Audio/Video (A/V) input selector  138  can include a plurality of A/V inputs. For example, the input selector  138  can incorporate an A/V input to receive A/V signals from tuner  140 . The input selector also can receive signals from various other input devices as well. For example, a video camera can send A/V signals to the input selector  138  via front A/V input  142 , and a VCR can send A/V signals via rear A/V input  144 . Significantly, other A/V devices can be connected to the A/V input selector  138  as well.  
         [0018]    The A/V input selector  138  couples the selected, received A/V signals to DSP  102 . Analog to digital converter  104  can be used to convert A/V signals received in an analog format to a digital format. Audio/Video signals already in digital format can bypass the analog to digital conversion, for example, digital signals received via a universal serial bus (USB) interface  146 .  
         [0019]    Field programmable gate array  108  can provide instructions which are acted upon by controller  109  for processing data received from the A/V input selector  138  or the USB interface  146 , depending on the type of data received. For example, if A/V data is received in an uncompressed form, FPGA  108  and controller  109  can control processing of A/V data by MPEG encoder/decoder  106  for MPEG compression prior to being sent to the record/playback interface  110 . However, if A/V data is received in an MPEG compressed format, FPGA  108  and controller  109  can controllably couple the A/V data to the receive/playback interface  110 . In either case the FPGA  108  can provide read/write instructions which are implemented by controller  109  and control record/playback interface  110 , for storing the A/V data on buffer storage device  148 .  
         [0020]    MPEG encoder/decoder  106  can perform MPEG compression and decompression of digital A/V signals. For example, MPEG encoder/decoder  106  can receive digital A/V signals from A/D converter  104  or USB interface  146 , compress the digital A/V signals using an MPEG compression format, and forward the compressed digital A/V signals to the receive/playback interface  110 . The receive/playback interface  110  then can initiate storage of the compressed digital signals on storage  148 .  
         [0021]    Storage  148  can include one or more data storage devices. For example, a data storage device can be a magnetic storage medium, such hard disk drive (HDD), As an optical storage medium, such as a digital video disk (DVD), an electronic storage medium, such as random access memory (RAM), a magneto/optical storage medium, or any combination of storage devices.  
         [0022]    During playback the receive/playback interface  110  can receive data A/V data read from storage  148 . The A/V data then can be forwarded to MPEG encoder/decoder  106  for decompression. After decompression the A/V data can be separated into video and audio signals. The audio signal can be forwarded to SPDIF  116  to be output digitally via coaxial output  192  or optical output  194 . The audio signal also can be forwarded to audio D/A converter  114  for D/A conversion. After D/A conversion the audio signal can be output via headphone jack  134  and/or left and right audio outputs  176  and  178 .  
         [0023]    The video signal can be processed by video digital encoder  112 , which can perform D/A conversion of the digital video signal and form output video signals with a variety formats. For example, the replayed MPEG signal can be decoded and processed by encoder  112  to from individual R G B color signals. Similarly the decoded MPEG signal can be processed into luminance and encoded chrominance signals (Y+C), or alternatively processed to form a composite video signal, having an NTSC or PAL signal format. The composite video and the Y+C video signals can be coupled to video switch  160 , while the R G B video signals can be coupled to the video overlay encoder  152 .  
         [0024]    The video overlay encoder  152  can comprise overlay module  154 , NTSC or PAL video encoder  156 , and Y Pb Pr matrix encoder  158 . The overlay module  154  can receive program information from a program information module  150  and graphically overlay or insert the program information onto or within the video signal to facilitate an on screen display or OSD by a subsequent display device. The program information module  150  can extract the program information from an on-line program guide or a program guide contained in incoming A/V signals received by the A/V input selector  138  and communicated to the program information module  150  by the DSP  102 . The program information can include available  10  programs for each channel as well as program scheduling. Further, for each individual program the program information can include a program identifier, channel information, recording time, program duration, scene data, program credits, etc. Other information and graphics may be overlaid or inserted into the video signal as well. For example, a clock, text blocks, user information, menus,  15  icons, pictures, etc. can be combined with the video signal for OSD. Typically, information is combined with the video signal when requested by a user or upon some pre-defined event. However, some information, such as a channel identifier, can be continually superimposed on the video signal.  
         [0025]    The PAL or NTSC encoder can output the video signal as an encoded  20  composite video signal, as well as providing video separated into separate luminance and encoded chrominance signals. The video signals then can be coupled the video switch  160 . The video switch  160  can be used to select for display either the encoded video signal or the video signal generated by the video encoder Denc  112 . Composite video signals from either source can be output via composite video  25  output connector  174 , while chrominance and luminance video signals from either source can be output via the S-video output connector  172 .  
         [0026]    The matrix encoder  158  can generate a Y Pb Pr formatted analog video signal. As previously noted, the Y Pb Pr video signal includes a video luminance (Y) component, an analog blue color difference (B-Y), and an analog red color  30  difference (R-Y). The Y component can be output to the Y output connector  182 , the (B-Y) difference can be output to the Pb output connector  184  and the (R-Y) difference can be output to the Pr output connector  186 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a flow chart  200  that is useful for understanding the inventive arrangements. Referring to step  202 , personal video recorder  100  can receive a user input to begin recording broadcast audio video programming. The user input can be entered via keypad  122  or a remote control unit communicating with the IR remote control interface  126 . Referring to step  204 , the PVR  100  initiates recording the programming from a user selected channel on storage device  148 . Concurrently, the programming also can be output to a video display device, as shown in step  206 .  
         [0028]    Further PVR arrangements also can be provided. For example, the PVR  100  can be configured to automatically commence recording of programming upon activation of the PVR  100 . In one arrangement the channel selected for recording can be the channel being output to a video display. In another arrangement the channel being recorded can be a user-defined channel that is different from the channel being replayed for display. For example, a user can watch sports on a first channel while recording a movie received on a second channel. (Simultaneously playing back whilst recording).  
         [0029]    When the channel being recorded is changed, the recording can follow the channel change. The previous channel&#39;s programming already recorded to storage  148  can be retained so that there is continuous recording of the prior channel programming up to the selection of the new channel. A user thus can replay and perform trick mode operations on programming recorded from multiple channels. For example, a user can view and record a sporting event on a first channel and later change the channel to a news broadcast. If the news broadcast makes reference to a particular play in the sporting event the user watched earlier, the user can rewind back to the sporting event to view the play. The user then can fast forward up to the point in the newscast where he left off and resume viewing the newscast without missing any of the content.  
         [0030]    Referring to decision block  208  and step  210 , recording can be stopped when the recording is complete. The recording can be determined to be complete when the PVR  100  is turned off, when the PVR  100  receives a user request to stop recording, or upon some pre-determined event.  
         [0031]    Referring to decision block  212  and step  214 , upon receiving a user request the PVR  100  can delete programming from storage  148 . The user request can be entered via keypad  122  or a remote control unit communicating with the IR remote control interface  126 . In one embodiment, the user can be automatically prompted to enter a delete buffer storage command when changing a current viewing channel that is being recorded. For example, if a user is viewing and recording a program containing adult content, the user can choose to erase the program from storage  148  when they have finished viewing the program. Thus, a child who later views another program with the PVR  100  cannot stumble across the adult content. In a further arrangement, the PVR  100  can be controlled to sequentially erase one segment of recorded programming with each push of an erase button. Hence, three pushes of an erase button can delete the last three program segments. The PVR  100  also can be disposed to erase programming from storage  148  upon deactivation of the PVR  100 , i.e. at power off. Programming identified to be saved can be skipped during the erasing process.  
         [0032]    In another arrangement, responsive to a user request the PVR  100  can provide an interactive erase menu comprising a list of erase options. The erase menu can be presented to the user on either display  124  or as an on screen display by the video display presenting the current programming. For example, a first menu selection can erase user specified program segments and in addition mark specific sections as protected and un-erasable unless specifically unprotected. A second menu selection can erase programming within user specified time frames and a third menu selection can erase all recorded programming with the exception of protected segments. Before erasing programming from storage device  148 , the PVR  100  can provide an erase confirmation menu comprising an erase confirmation selection and a cancel selection. The PVR can proceed with the selected erase method if the user chooses the erase confirmation. The erase process can be canceled if the user chooses the cancel selection. Notably, playback of recorded programming can be paused during the erase selection process so that the user does not miss any program content while distracted.  
         [0033]    It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof can be suggested by persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application. The invention can take many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof for an indication of the scope of the invention.