Patent ID: 7395546

Claim:
A method for automatically pausing a live video program in response to an occurrence of an event, comprising: receiving an input from a user, the input identifying at least one predetermined originator of an incoming request for communications; receiving a live video program and outputting the live video program for presentation on a display device; detecting an occurrence of the incoming request for communications during the video program, the incoming request comprises an e-mail, wherein the e-mail is detected via an e-mail communications software; pausing the outputting of the live video program immediately upon detecting the occurrence of the incoming request for communications and determining that an originator of the incoming request for communications comprises any of the at least one predetermined originators; buffering the live video program upon detecting the occurrence of the request for communications and determining that the originator of the incoming request for communications comprises any of the at least one redetermined originators; and outputting a signal for displaying an indication of the occurrence of the incoming request for communications, wherein the outputting the signal step includes outputting the signal for displaying an identity of a sender associated with the e-mail.