Abstract:
An apparatus and method is presented for receiving and displaying user messages associated with multimedia content. Specifically, the present invention is directed to controlling the operation of a television recording/playback system to permit a user to input a message, associate that message with a selected television program, and display the associated message when the selected television program is accessed by another user (see FIG.  1 ). The apparatus of the present invention is directed to a system for managing multimedia content including devices for storing television programs and associating with those programs user-generated messages for display to other system users. In this way, the present invention provides content management tools that promote sharing by all users, ease the process of establishing a consensus for managing limited resources, and encourage monitoring by the administrator.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for interfacing with a multimedia recording device, and in particular, an apparatus and method for displaying messages associated with programs recorded on a personal video recorder. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In recent years, devices for storing video and related content, such as the personal video recorder (PVR) or digital video recorder (DVR), have transformed the multimedia programming landscape. While “time-shifting” television programs has been popular with users since the advent of video tape recorders, new technologies related to broadcasting, communications, digital recording/playback, and data processing have recently come of age, enabling users to obtain multimedia content from a wide variety of sources and make use of this content using a similarly wide variety of consumer devices. 
         [0003]    Among those technologies, PVRs, DVRs, and similar devices (e.g. devices sold under the trademarks “TiVo,” “RePlayTV,” “Sky+,” “Showstopper,” as well devices running PVR applications such as “EyeTV,” “SageTV,” “Meedio,” “Freevo,” etc.) have permitted users to amass large amounts of multimedia content. The abundance of this content (e.g. television programming), is such as to threaten to overwhelm the ability of a typical user to keep track of what is stored. For example, a typical household with two or more users can easily exhaust the storage capacity of a typical DVR, requiring that a content management scheme be implemented in order to determine which content should be deleted or overwritten to make room for new content that users desire to store. In another example, advances in networking technology have enabled, for a single household system, the use of recording and storage devices from any location at any time, leading to confusion as to which household members have accessed particular devices or content. 
         [0004]    These problems have traditionally been addressed in DVR systems through the use of automatic content management schemes and user profiles. A typical automatic content management scheme manages content according to a hierarchy established by an administrative user and user characteristics stored in a user profile. For example, the administrator may choose to prevent recording of, or delete on an as-needed basis, those stored programs less favored than other recorded programs, based on content and/or other characteristics, such as length of time since the program was recorded, length of time since the program was last accessed, which user recorded the content, which users have viewed the content, the requesting user&#39;s age or household status, etc. 
         [0005]    A problem with such an automatic content management scheme is that an administrative user often configures the scheme once during initial setup of the device and subsequently fails to monitor or modify the configuration. This results in user dissatisfaction with the scheme and increasing conflict among household users competing for scarce storage resources (e.g. teenage children). Another problem with such a scheme is that it fails to address a problem inherent in content management activity involving access to a single resource by multiple users: users may require assistance to coordinate their activities, for example via communication, in order to come to an agreement as to which content may be disfavored, forbidden, or otherwise less suitable for storage relative to other content. 
         [0006]    For example, some traditional PVR devices include user profiles that permit an administrative user to choose particular television channels, content with particular ratings (e.g. as established by TV Parental Guidelines (TVPG), the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), or other organization), or other features to which each user may or may not be permitted access. In addition to or in conjunction with such user profiles, traditional PVR devices of this type may use “V-Chip” or similar technology to block user access to whole categories of content, some portions of which may be suitable for access by those users. Without more, such blocking may lead to confusion or resistance regarding the content management scheme employed by the PVR. This in turn may lead to user dissatisfaction. 
         [0007]    Given that user satisfaction may be negatively affected by the content management schemes previously available, there is a need for a content management system and method that permits users to more easily communicate with other users concerning specific stored content in order to ease the problems that arise from sharing limited storage resources. The desired system and method should provide content management tools that promote sharing by all users, ease the process of establishing a consensus for managing limited resources, encourage monitoring by the administrator, and are compatible with existing systems and devices for a reasonable cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for receiving and displaying user messages associated with multimedia content. Specifically, the method of the present invention is directed to controlling the operation of a television recording/playback system to permit a user to input a message, associate that message with a selected television program, and display the associated message when the selected television program is accessed by another user. The messages may be displayed in a listing of the available recorded programs. The user may input a generic message (e.g. “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”) or may input a customized message related to the selected program (e.g. “John watched and disliked”) which may be stored for future use with other programs. The message may be displayed when the selected program is accessed for recording, playback, deletion, and/or other operations. The message may be created and/or viewed before or after the program is actually received/recorded and stored. The method of the present invention may store additional characteristics of the message, such as time and date of creation, time and date of association with a selected program, number of times accessed, etc. 
         [0009]    In an alternate embodiment, a “targeted” message may be created for use by a specific user or group of users. A first (“originating”) user may input a message and designate a second (“target”) user for receipt of the message. Proper operation of a targeted message may require authentication of users (“logging in”) prior to display of the message. This would allow identification of the target user and display the targeted message to the target user when he/she accesses the selected program. In one embodiment, the method requires that the selected program be associated with the targeted message and with at least a target user, and optionally with an originating user. In addition, user login prior to message input may permit simplified identification of the originating user and display of the targeted message to the originating user as well as the target user upon program access. 
         [0010]    The apparatus of the present invention is directed to a system for managing multimedia content for use by a plurality of users. Specifically, the system includes devices for storing audio and/or video programs (e.g. television) and associating with those programs user-generated messages for display to other system users. In various embodiments, the system includes interfaces for use with a variety of broadcasting and content-delivery mechanisms, volatile and non-volatile storage, one or more input/output buses, encoders and decoders for compressed and/or coded content, controllers for audio/video exhibition devices, and processors implementing software and/or firmware instructions. These software and/or firmware instructions include those for creation and display of generic and customized user-generated messages, and association of those messages with selected programs received or recorded from broadcast and/or other content sources. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    In the drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of receiving and displaying messages in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a simplified pictorial diagram illustrating an exemplary user interface that may be used to input messages in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of user configuration that may be used in conjunction with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a simplified flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method of receiving and displaying messages in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a simplified pictorial diagram illustrating an exemplary user interface that may be used to input messages in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a simplified pictorial block diagram illustrating an exemplary system implementing a message input and display scheme in accordance with another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The following discussion of the method and apparatus directed to a method of receiving and displaying messages will help illuminate the features and advantages of the present invention, including its ease of implementation. 
         [0019]    In the following discussion, no particular order is required for the method steps described, with the exception of those logically requiring the results of prior steps, for example displaying a user-entered message logically requires the prior input of the user-entered message. Otherwise, enumerated steps are provided below in an exemplary order which may be altered. For instance, steps such as entering a message and selecting a recipient user for the message may be rearranged or performed simultaneously. 
         [0020]    Although the following discussion includes the context of television programming, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not so limited and may be applied to a wide variety of multimedia content stored or scheduled to be stored in a multimedia server or other storage system. Likewise, although the system and method of the present invention is discussed with relation to broadcast content (e.g. cable, satellite, and over the air (OTA) television broadcasts), it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to broadcast content, and may be used with content stored on external or internal media or devices, content uploaded, downloaded, or copied from external sources, internally created content, and nearly any other content that may be stored. 
         [0021]    To illustrate the particular features and advantages of the invention, an exemplary method in accordance with an aspect of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows a flow diagram representation of a method of receiving and displaying messages generally designated  100 . The method  100  includes a program selection step  104 , an operation selection step  106 , recording operation substeps  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 , playback operation substeps  116 ,  118 , deletion substeps  120 ,  122 ,  124 , message creation and review substeps  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132 , and a continuation step  134 . 
         [0022]    The method  100  begins at step  102  and proceeds to step  104  in which a user selects a program, such as a digital television program. This step may be accomplished using a typical user interface and display system of any type well known in the art. The user may select the program using a variety of methods including use of an electronic program guide (EPG), entry of a published code or other program identifier, selection of an item from a program list, or by simply selecting starting and ending times for recording a particular television channel. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many methods of selecting stored content or programs may be used in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0023]    In step  106 , the user selects one of four operations to be performed in relation to the selected program, including (1) recording, (2) playback, (3) deletion, and (4) message creation/display. If the first operation (“Record”) is selected, then the method  100  proceeds to substep  108 , in which currently-stored programs and programs previously scheduled for recording are compared to the selected program to determine whether or not the selected program has already been recorded or selected for recording. If so, the method  100  proceeds to substep  116  (described below). If not, the method  100  proceeds to substep  110 , in which the user selects a username to associate with the selected program to be recorded. The username may be selected from a list of available usernames or the user may choose to create a new username. The username so selected is designated the “owner” username, to signify that a user corresponding to this username was responsible for originally determining that the selected program was worthy of recording and may imply that the user corresponding to the owner username should be consulted prior to any future deletion operation on the selected program. 
         [0024]    It should be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that, in the absence of prior user authentication, the selection of an “owner” username to be associated with the selected program to be recorded is not confined to any particular username(s). In fact, any user may choose any username to associate with the selected program to be recorded, including usernames that may or may not correspond to the user involved in selecting the selected program for recording. In this way, users may recommend selected programs to other users, or act as a proxy on behalf of a user unwilling or unable to be involved in selecting a program to be recorded. In some households, there may be users of television program content who prefer not to interact with recording systems and methods, but who nevertheless are responsible for determining that a selected program is worthy of recording or wish to be consulted prior to any deletion operations of a selected program. This functionality permits the method  100  of the present invention to have increased flexibility and utility, encouraging communication and sharing among users. 
         [0025]    According to the illustrated embodiment, the method  100  then proceeds to substep  112 , in which the association of the selected program and the selected username is saved or stored in accordance with the present invention. It should be appreciated that a wide variety of physical and logical schemes for storing such association may be used without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the subject association may be recorded, for example on a hard disk. In one embodiment, a direct logical association is made between user and content. Alternatively, the association between user and content they be stored employing a pre-existing logical association scheme such as the arrangement used for relating the content of the selected program to, for example, running time, TVPG/ESRB/MPAA rating, etc. 
         [0026]    The method  100  then proceeds to substep  114 , in which the selected program is recorded and stored, or scheduled for recording or storage at some future time. For example, if the selected program is a satellite broadcast to occur next Monday from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm, the method  100  schedules the selected program for recording at the appointed time and proceeds to continuation step  134 . 
         [0027]    At continuation step  134 , the user selects whether to return to the program selection step  104 , or exit the method  100 . If the user chooses to exit, the method  100  ends at step  136 . Thereafter, at some future time, the same or another user may choose to begin the method  100  again. 
         [0028]    If at operation selection step  106  the second operation (“Playback”) is selected, then the method  100  proceeds to substep  116 , in which the owner username associated with the selected program is displayed along with all messages created in the message creation substeps  126 ,  128 ,  130  (described in more detail below). Of course, if the selected program is one that has not yet been selected for recording or is otherwise not eligible for playback, then the substep  116  is nonfunctional or preferably the “Playback” operation is not available to the user, i.e. the method  100  reverts to operation selection step  106 . Otherwise, the method  100  proceeds to substep  118  in which the selected program is played back or displayed using appropriate audio and video devices. If the selected program is not available, for example it may be scheduled for recording but has not yet been recorded, playback substep  118  does not include playback or display of the program content and instead the method  100  proceeds to continuation step  134 , preferably with an accompanying message communicating to the user that the selected program is not available for playback. If the selected program is available, following playback or display of the selected program content the method  100  proceeds to continuation step  134 . 
         [0029]    If at operation selection step  106  the third operation (“Delete”) is selected, then the method  100  proceeds to substep  120 , in which the owner username associated with the selected program is displayed along with all messages created in the message creation substeps  126 ,  128 ,  130  (described below), as well as a warning to the user (e.g., ‘the selected operation will permanently remove the selected program and future users will be unable to view the program’). Of course, if the selected program is one that has not yet been recorded, stored, or selected for recording or is otherwise not eligible for deletion, then the substep  120  is nonfunctional or preferably the “Delete” operation is not available to the user, i.e. the method  100  reverts to operation selection step  106 . Otherwise, the method  100  proceeds to substep  122  in which the user is given the opportunity to cancel or confirm the deletion operation, for example the user may cancel if he/she prefers not to proceed with deleting the selected program in light of the information conveyed in the messages or warning displayed in substep  120 . If the user chooses “N” to cancel the deletion operation, the method  100  reverts to operation selection step  106 . If the user chooses “Y” to confirm the deletion operation, the method  100  proceeds to substep  124  in which the selected program is deleted from storage. Following the deletion operation, the method  100  proceeds to continuation step  134 . 
         [0030]    If at operation selection step  106  the fourth operation (“Messages”) is selected, then the method  100  proceeds to substep  126 , in which the user may select one of two operations related to user messages associated with the selected program, including (1) create messages, and (2) view messages. If the user selects the first message operation (“Create”), the method  100  proceeds to substep  128  in which the user is prompted to input a message to be viewed by future users who choose to access (e.g. playback, delete, attempt to record after prior scheduling/recording, etc.) the selected program. 
         [0031]    An exemplary user interface that may be used to accomplish substep  128  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  shows a simplified pictorial diagram illustrating an exemplary user interface that may be used to input messages, for example an interactive display generally designated  200 . Interface  200  includes a message entry area  202 , character selection choices  204 , predefined message selection choices  206 , and a completion indicator  208 . To complete substep  128 , the user may compose a custom message by sequentially selecting individual characters from among the character selection choices  204 , or may compose a custom message by first selecting one of the predefined messages from among the predefined message selection choices  206  and then modifying it. Alternatively, the user may choose one or more of the predefined message selection choices  206  without modification. Following composition of a desired message to be associated with the selected program, the user may signal that the message is complete by selecting the completion indicator  208 . The message may then be stored for use with future program selections and/or users. Alternatively, the association of a particular program with a specific user may be indicated on the listing of programs prior to the selection of programs by the user at step  104 . 
         [0032]    It should be understood that more than the limited number of characters and/or predefined messages illustrated in  FIG. 2  may be stored for use in selecting messages in accordance with the present invention. For example, the selection “&lt;more . . . &gt;” as shown may be used to continue the display of messages and/or characters on succeeding display areas of the interface as is well known in the art. Of course, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that many alternative approaches may be used to facilitate user interaction with the user interface described in  FIG. 2 , including use of a conventional television remote control device, keyboard, mouse, gamepad, etc. 
         [0033]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the method  100  proceeds from substep  128  to substep  130 , in which the association of the selected program and the selected message is saved or stored in accordance with the present invention. This association may be stored, for example in hard disk storage, in a manner directly or indirectly associated with the content of the selected program. Alternatively, the association may be stored in a manner similar to other characteristics and information related to the content of the selected program, for example running time, TVPG/ESRB/MPAA rating, etc. It should be appreciated that many different options for storing such association may be used without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]    The method  100  then proceeds to substep  132 , in which the user may review the resulting messages in context with other messages associated with the selected program including the owner username. If at substep  126  the user selects the second message operation (“View”), the method  100  proceeds from substep  126  to substep  132 , permitting the user to review all messages associated with the selected program and the owner username. This information is available, for example, to assist the user in determining whether an additional message is necessary or appropriate in light of messages previously associated with the selected program. The method  100  then proceeds to continuation step  134 . 
         [0035]    Prior to the operations described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it would be preferable to have at least one username configured for use as an owner username, for example using the method  300  described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . It should be appreciated that such configuration is not strictly required in accordance with the previously-described embodiment of the present invention, but alternate embodiments may require such user configuration for proper operation. Users of the present invention may find that user configuration enhances communication and increases effectiveness, especially where identification of users may assist communication and resolve disputes among users in a context directly associated with the subject programming content. Other methods of user configuration may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a method of user configuration for use with the present invention is generally designated  300 . The user configuration method  300  includes administrator authentication step  304 , username display and input step  306 , group display and input step  308 , restriction display and input step  310 , and predefined message display and input step  312 . 
         [0037]    The illustrated user configuration method  300  begins at step  302  and proceeds to administrator authentication step  304 , in which an administrator logs in and otherwise verifies his or her identity or authorization to act as the administrative user, for example by entering a username and password as is well known in the art. If no user has ever previously logged in, the method  300  may create a new username and may inquire whether the new username should be designated as an administrator or optionally may automatically designate the username as an administrator. Alternate approaches to authentication may be used, for the administrator and/or all users, such as biometric identification, hardware or software keys, etc. 
         [0038]    In the illustrated embodiment, the user configuration method  300  then proceeds to username display and input step  306 , in which all previously-defined usernames are displayed. Several options may be available to the administrator at step  306 , including options permitting the creation of a new username, modifying an existing username, modifying traits or other information associated with an existing username, etc. The administrator may choose from among these options and may input a new username and optionally may associate with that username a password. Any number of usernames may be configured, corresponding to one or more users, program categories, or other entities according to whatever organizational approach may be preferred by the administrator. For example, the administrator may create a username “John” corresponding to a child residing within the household. 
         [0039]    The illustrated method  300  then proceeds to group display and input step  308 , in which all previously defined groups are displayed. A “group” is a selection of one or more usernames that may be related in some way or may be treated in a similar fashion for certain operations. For example, the administrator may prefer to place all usernames corresponding to children in the household in a group labeled “Kids” in order to ease communication of messages to the entire group. Several options may be available to the administrator at step  308 , including options permitting the creation of a new group, modifying an existing group, modifying traits or other information associated with an existing group, etc. The administrator may choose from among these options and may input a new group label. The administrator may optionally assign usernames to one or more groups. 
         [0040]    The illustrated user configuration method  300  then proceeds to step  310 , in which restrictions assigned to one or more usernames or groups are displayed. A “restriction” is a selection of one or more limits that may be applied to reduce or prevent access of a user or group of users to programs or other content. For example, a content restriction may be applied to the group labeled “Kids” in order to prevent children from accessing movies receiving an “R” rating from the MPAA, television programs receiving a “TV-MA” rating from the TVPG, and any other programs selected by the administrator, or other designated users, as unavailable to the group. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, no restrictions are required, but the administrator may choose to assign one or more restrictions to one or more usernames or groups. 
         [0041]    The method  300  then proceeds to step  312 , in which predefined messages are displayed and the administrator is provided options for creating new generic messages or modifying existing messages. A “predefined message” is a message that has been previously stored and/or associated with a program by a user. To encourage communication and sharing, the administrator may prefer to create predefined messages for a new username, for example for a new username “John” a new predefined message may be created, “John watched, disliked; please delete.” This type of message may, for example, help communicate to other users that the associated program may be deleted without further consulting John. 
         [0042]    The method  300  then ends at step  314  until an administrator begins the method  300  again. 
         [0043]    An exemplary method in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  shows a flow diagram representation of a method of receiving and displaying messages generally designated  400 . The method  400  includes a program selection step  404 , a user authentication step  406 , an operation selection step  408 , recording operation substeps  410 ,  412 ,  414 , playback operation substeps  416 ,  418 , deletion substeps  420 ,  422 ,  424 , message creation and review substeps  426 ,  428 ,  430 ,  432 , and a continuation step  434 . 
         [0044]    The method  400  begins at step  402  and proceeds to step  404  in which a user selects a program, such as a digital television program. The program selection step  404  may be completed using one or more of the approaches and devices described previously with reference to  FIG. 1  and the accompanying text describing program selection step  104 . The method  400  then proceeds to user authentication step  406 , in which a user may “log in” or provide verification that the user has authority to access the selected program and associated information, for example by entering a username and password as is well known in the art. Alternate approaches to authentication may be used, such as biometric identification, hardware or software keys, etc. If no user has ever previously logged in, the method  400  may offer options to create a new username and/or complete a user configuration method such as user configuration method  300  described above with reference to  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, the user may be required to log in prior to the selection of a program, for example, prior to displaying a listing of the available recorded programs. 
         [0045]    Following user authentication step  406 , the method  400  proceeds to operation selection step  408 , in which the user selects one of four operations to be performed in relation to the selected program, including (1) recording, (2) playback, (3) deletion, and (4) message creation/display. If the first operation (“Record”) is selected; then the method  400  proceeds to substep  410 , which has been described above with reference to  FIG. 1  and the accompanying text describing substep  108 . If the selected program has already been recorded or scheduled for recording, the method  400  proceeds to substep  416  (described below). If not, the method  400  proceeds to substep  412 , in which the association of the selected program and the username (authenticated at user authentication step  406 ) is saved or stored in a manner similar to substep  112  described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0046]    The username authenticated at user authentication step  406  is designated the “owner” username to signify that a user corresponding to this username was responsible for originally determining that the selected program was worthy of recording and may imply that the user corresponding to the owner username should be consulted prior to any future deletion operation on the selected program. The method  400  then proceeds to substep  414 , in which the selected program is recorded or scheduled for recording at some future time, as described above with reference to  FIG. 1  and the accompanying text describing substep  114 . The method  400  then proceeds to continuation step  434 . 
         [0047]    At continuation step  434 , the user selects whether to return to the program selection step  404 , or exit the method  400 . If the user chooses to exit, the method  400  ends at step  436  until the same or another user chooses to begin the method  400  again. A current user may log out at anytime, in which case a new user would be required to log in before making a program selection. Alternatively, a default username may be provided that is accessible to all users. 
         [0048]    If at operation selection step  408  the second operation (“Playback”) is selected, then the method  400  proceeds to substeps  416  and  418 , in which the owner username associated with the selected program, messages, and selected program content are displayed in the manner described above with reference to  FIG. 1  and the accompanying text describing substeps  116 ,  118 . The method  400  then proceeds to continuation step  434 . 
         [0049]    If at operation selection step  408  the third operation (“Delete”) is selected, then the method  400  proceeds to substeps  420 ,  422 ,  424 , in which the method  400  operates in the manner described above with reference to  FIG. 1  and the accompanying text describing substeps  120 ,  122 ,  124 . The method  400  then proceeds to continuation step  434 . 
         [0050]    If at operation selection step  408  the fourth operation (“Messages”) is selected, then the method  400  proceeds to substep  426 , in which the user may select one of two operations related to user messages associated with the selected program, including (1) create messages, and (2) view messages. If the user selects the first message operation (“Create”), the method  400  proceeds to substep  428  in which the user is prompted to input a message to be viewed by future users who choose to access (e.g. playback, delete, attempt to record after prior scheduling/recording, etc.) the selected program. 
         [0051]    An exemplary user interface that may be used to accomplish substep  428  will now be described with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  shows a simplified pictorial diagram illustrating an exemplary user interface that may be used to input messages, for example a series of messages exhibited on an interactive display generally designated  500 . Interface  500  includes recipient designation screen  502  and message entry screen  504 . Recipient designation screen  502  includes designator  506 , username list  508 , group list  510 , and public message signifier  512 . Message entry screen  504  includes a message entry area  516 , character position indicator  514 , character selection choices  518 , predefined message selection choices  520 , and a completion indicator  522 . 
         [0052]    To complete substep  428 , the user may first select one or more usernames or groups to receive the (yet to be entered) message at the recipient designation screen  502 . The selected one or more recipients may be chosen (using the designator  506 ) from among the usernames listed in username list  508  and/or from among the groups listed in group list  510 . In that event, the (yet to be entered) message would be designated a “targeted” message that is displayed only when an authenticated user corresponds to a username or group chosen at recipient designation screen  502 . Alternatively, if the user would like the (yet to be entered) message to be visible to all users, the public message signifier  512  may be selected. 
         [0053]    The user may then compose a custom message at message entry screen  504  by sequentially selecting individual characters from among the character selection choices  518 , or may compose a custom message by first selecting one of the predefined messages from among the predefined message selection choices  520  and then modifying it. Alternatively, the user may choose-one or more of the predefined message selection choices  520  without modification. As the message is composed, characters are displayed in message entry area  516  and the position of the next character to be added is displayed at character position indicator  514 . Following composition of a desired message to be associated with the selected program, the user may signal that the message is complete by selecting the completion indicator  522 . The message may then be stored for use with future program selections and/or users. 
         [0054]    It should be understood that more than the limited number of usernames, groups, characters and/or predefined messages illustrated in  FIG. 5  may be available for use in selecting recipients and messages in accordance with the present invention. For example, the selection “&lt;more . . . &gt;,” as shown among predefined message selection choices  520 , may be used to continue the display of usernames, groups, messages and/or characters on succeeding display areas of the interface  500  as is well known in the art. Of course, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that many alternative approaches may be used to facilitate user interaction with the user interface  500  described in  FIG. 5 , including use of a conventional television remote control device, keyboard, mouse, gamepad, etc. 
         [0055]    Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the method  400  proceeds from substep  428  to substep  430 , in which the association of the selected program, the recipient user(s), and the selected message is saved or stored in accordance with the present invention. Alternate embodiments of the present invention may also associate the selected program with information identifying the user sending or composing the message. For example, the username authenticated in user authentication step  406  may be stored and associated with the selected program, the recipient user(s), and the message created in substep  428 . This association may be stored, for example in hard disk storage, in a manner directly or indirectly associated with the content of the selected program. Alternatively, the association may be stored in a manner similar to other characteristics and information related to, but not comprising, the content of the selected program, for example running time, TVPG/ESRB/MPAA rating, etc. It should be appreciated that many different options for storing such association may be used without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0056]    The method  400  then proceeds to substep  432 , in which the user may review the resulting message composed in substep  428  in context with other messages associated with the selected program including the owner username. If at substep  426  the user selects the second message operation (“View”), the method  400  proceeds from substep  426  to substep  432 , permitting the user to review all messages associated with the selected program and the owner username, for example to assist the user in determining whether an additional message would be necessary or appropriate in light of messages previously associated with the selected program. The method  400  then proceeds to continuation step  434 . 
         [0057]    A digital television reception system permitting customized message input and display in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The digital television reception system  600  includes television signal sources  604 ,  606 ,  608 ,  610 , a processing unit  602 , an audio display device (transducer)  634 , a video display device  636 , and an external recording device  638 . The television signal sources may include, for example, a conventional antenna  604  configured to receive terrestrial or over-the-air (OTA) television signals, a satellite transceiver  606  configured to receive television signals transmitted or reflected from airborne or spaceborne devices, a transmission cable  608  configured to transfer cable television signals, and a network connection  610  configured to receive and transfer information over a public or private network, for example data transmitted using multiple different protocols over the Internet. Of course, it should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that all of the described television signal sources  604 ,  606 ,  608 ,  610  described are not required, the present invention is not so limited and may be used with one or a plurality of reception devices configured for placement at ground level or otherwise and configured to receive analog or digital terrestrial television signals, satellite television signals, cable television signals, or other television signals desired to be received. The television signal sources  604 ,  606 ,  608 ,  610  may include amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, or other components for television reception as is well known in the art. The television signal sources  604 ,  606 ,  608 ,  610  may be coupled to the processing unit  602  via coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, ribbon cable, high speed data transmission line, or other signal transmission conduit known in the art. 
         [0058]    The processing unit  602  includes a processor  612 , random access memory (RAM)  614 , hard disk storage  616 , a tuner/receiver  618 , at least one user input/output device  620 , a bus  622  including, for example, a data bus, an encoder  624  and decoder  626 , an audio controller  628  coupled to the audio display device (transducer)  634 , a video display controller  630  coupled to the video display device  636 , and at least one auxiliary input/output device  632 . The auxiliary input/output device  632  may be coupled to an external recording device  638  as shown in  FIG. 6 , or may alternatively be coupled to other recording, mass storage, playback, display, exhibition, or networking devices as are well known in the art. 
         [0059]    The processing unit  602  includes software and/or firmware instructions that implement a message input and display scheme in accordance with the present invention. For example, the processing unit  602  may be configured to implement the method  100  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Alternatively, the processing unit  602  may be configured to implement the methods  300  and  400  described above with reference to  FIGS. 3-5 . In operation, a user may utilize processing unit  602  in conjunction with television signal sources  604 ,  606 ,  608 ,  610  and display and recording devices  634 ,  636 ,  638  to record, playback, delete, “time-shift,” or otherwise access digital television programs as well as a variety of other multimedia content. In accordance with the present invention, users may associate owner usernames, messages, recipients for those messages, and/or other communications with each of the programs and/or other content stored or accessible via processing unit  602  and digital television system  600 . 
         [0060]    As illustrated in the preceding discussion and accompanying figures, the method and apparatus of the present invention represent an improvement in the state of the art for digital television systems and associated methods. The present invention provides a method for controlling the operation of a television recording/playback system to permit a user to input a message, associate that message with a selected television program, and display the associated message when the selected television program is accessed by another user. These advantages can be embodied in a digital television reception system capable of receiving a wide variety of digital content, may be produced for a reasonable cost, and may be configured for use with conventional digital television delivery systems, e.g. cable, satellite, terrestrial, internet, etc. 
         [0061]    While the invention has been described in detail in connection with the preferred embodiments known at the present time, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.