WO2007001266A1

WO2007001266A1 - Automated alert for mobile personal video recording device

Info

Publication number: WO2007001266A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/021516
Authority: WO
Inventors: Louis Robert Litwin; Eric Andrew Dorsey; Padmanabha R. Rao
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
Priority date: 2005-06-16
Filing date: 2005-06-16
Publication date: 2007-01-04

Abstract

A mobile digital TV (DTV) comprises a DTV receiver, a processor, a personal video recorder (PVR), a memory for storing preprogramming data for the PVR and an alert element. The DTV receiver provides a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) to the processor. The latter compares the RSSI to an RSSI threshold value to determine if the mobile DTV is in an area of poor or no reception. If the mobile DTV is in an area of poor or no reception, the processor then checks the memory to determine if the PVR is preprogrammed to record a program within a set time interval, e.g., in the next thirty minutes. If so, the processor activates the alert element to provide an alert to the user.

Description

AUTOMATED ALERT FOR MOBILE PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDING DEVICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to communications systems and, more particularly, to a mobile, or portable, personal video recorder. [0002] A mobile Television (TV) device enables a user to receive terrestrial broadcast TV signals almost anywhere. As a result, the user can watch a program in a train, a car or even at the beach. In addition to the convenience of being able to watch a program almost anywhere, a mobile TV device can also include a personal video recorder (PVR). This enables the user to not only watch a program but even record the program for later viewing. [0003] Unfortunately, since the reception is wireless, the mobile TV may be in a location with poor or no reception. This interferes not only with the ability of the user to watch a program but also with the ability of the mobile TV to record the program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] As noted above, in areas of poor or no reception the user will not be able to watch — let alone record — a program. When the user is watching the mobile TV this is certainly an annoyance and there is little the user may be able to immediately do about it. However, we have observed that one aspect of a mobile TV with a PVR is the ability to preprogram the mobile TV PVR to record a program at a future date and time — without requiring that the user actually watch the program at that time. As such, the mobile TV merely has to be powered on, but could be located anywhere, e.g., in the user's backpack. In this case there is no indication to the user that the mobile TV may be in an area of poor or no reception. Consequently, in such an area the user may think that the mobile TV PVR is functioning properly and recording the show as programmed, when in reality this is not the case. [0005] Therefore, and in accordance with the principles of the invention, a recording device determines if the recording device is in an area of poor or no reception and, if so, provides an alert.

[0006] In an embodiment of the invention, the recording device is a mobile digital TV (DTV), which comprises a DTV receiver, a processor, a PVR, a memory for storing preprogramming data for the PVR and an alert element. The DTV receiver provides a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) to the processor. The latter compares the RSSI to an RSSI threshold value to determine if the mobile DTV is in an area of poor or no reception. If the mobile DTV is in an area of poor or no reception, the processor then checks the memory to determine if the PVR is preprogrammed to record a program within a set time interval, e.g., in the next thirty minutes. If so, the processor activates the alert element to provide an alert to the user. The alert can be audio, visual, vibrating, etc. Thus, the user can be notified that it is necessary to move to a different location or else the PVR of the mobile DTV will not be able to record the program.

[0007] In another embodiment of the invention, the PVR device is a mobile digital TV (DTV), which incorporates a PVR alert feature for notifying a user when the mobile DTV is in areas of poor or no reception. The mobile DTV provides a number of user programming options for the PVR alert feature, such as, but not limited to, any one or more of the following: an RSSI threshold value, a PVR time-to-record threshold value, a type of alert value and an on/off value for enabling the PVR alert feature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative device embodying the principles of the invention; [0009] FIG. 2 shows illustrative recording information;

[0010] FIGs. 3 and 4 show illustrative flow charts in accordance with the principles of the invention;

[0011] FIGs. 5 and 6 show another illustrative embodiment in accordance with the principles of the invention; [0012] FIG. 7 shows illustrative PVR alert options for use in the device of FIG. 1 in accordance with the principles of the invention; and

[0013] FIG. 8 shows an illustrative front view of an illustrative device embodying the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] Other than the inventive concept, the elements shown in the figures are well known and will not be described in detail. Also, familiarity with digital television-based systems is assumed and is not described in detail herein. For example, other than the inventive concept, digital-TV bearing modulated signals, symbol constellations, carrier recovery, interpolation, phase-locked loops (PLLs), a radio-frequency (rf) front-end, or receiver section, such as a low noise block downconverter, formatting and encoding methods (such as Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG)-2 Systems Standard (ISO/EEC 13818-1)) for generating transport bit streams, decoding methods such as log-likelihood ratios, soft-input- soft-output (SISO) decoders, Viterbi decoders, stored-program controlled processors, personal video recorders, and buttons for providing a user interface, are well-known and not described herein. In addition, the inventive concept may be implemented using conventional programming techniques, which, as such, will not be described herein. Finally, like-numbers on the figures represent similar elements.

[0015] An illustrative device, mobile digital TV (DTV) 100, in accordance with the principles of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. Although the inventive concept is described in the context of a mobile DTV, the inventive concept is not so limited. Mobile DTV 100 comprises antenna 101, DTV receiver 105, DTV processor 110, display 115, user interface (UI) 120, memory 150, PVR 155 and alert element 150. Illustratively, mobile DTV 100 conforms to the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB-T and/or DVB-H) Standards found in Europe (e.g., see DVB Document No. A081, Iune 2004; ETSI EN 300 744 and other associated documents). In this regard, DTV receiver 105 receives a DTV signal, via antenna 101. DTV receiver 105 processes the received signal to provide a down-converted signal 107 to DTV processor 110. The latter further processes the down-converted signal 107 to recover therefrom a digital service such as a digital video signal 111 for application to display 115 for viewing thereon by a user. Mobile DTV 100 is controlled by UI 120, via signaling path 121. UI 120 comprises a button arrangement and may be a physical part of mobile DTV 100 or a remote control. As such, UI 120 provides the ability for a user to, e.g., turn-on and off the device, select channels, adjust volume, traverse a graphical user interface (GUI) as represented by an electronic program guide (EPG) and/or a menu (such as for setting DTV parameters (e.g., video, audio, etc.)) presented on display 115 and provide interactive application data, etc. With regard to interactive application data, DTV processor 110 includes a memory (not shown) for storing therein an interactive application program downloaded via DTV receiver 105. Upon execution by DTV processor 110, the interactive application program provides an interactive application to the user. Known interactive applications are, e.g., weather, news, traffic and games (e.g., Tetris). An interactive application may be associated with a specific channel (e.g., a game channel) or with a program that is currently being viewed. For example, a sports program may also display a colored function key on the screen that, when selected by the user via UI 120, provides, e.g., additional team information. It should be noted that DTV processor 110 is representative of a processing function and may be implemented in one, or more, stored-program controlled processors (e.g., a microprocessor).

[0016] In addition to providing the ability for a user to watch a program, mobile DTV 100 includes a PVR as represented by PVR 155. PVR 155 includes a memory (not shown) for recording programs for later playback by the user. The memory in PVR 155 is preferably non-volatile and may, e.g., be a magnetic-based, optical-based or a solid state memory. Other than the inventive concept, PVRs are well-known and not described herein. Also included in mobile DTV 100 is memory 150 and alert element 160. For the purposes of this description, memory 150 is shown as a separate element in FIG. 1. However, memory 150 may located anywhere in mobile DTV 100 and, e.g., may be a part of DTV processor 1 10 or PVR 155. Memory 150 stores recording information, e.g., preprogramming data, for PVR 155. Illustrative recording information 151 is shown in FIG. 2. The recording information 151 comprises one, or more, records. For example, the record 152 comprises the channel to be recorded (3), the day of the recording in day-month-year format (10/12/2004), and the start time and end times for the recording in universal military time format (14:59 and 15:31, respectively). Finally, alert element 160 provides an audio and/or visual alert to the user. Like memory 150, alert element 160 is representative of an alert function and may, or may not, be a separate identifiable element of mobile DTV 100. For example, for an audio alert, alert element 160 may utilize the existing speaker (not shown) of mobile DTV 100 to provide an acoustic signal to the user. In this case, alert element 160 is provided by a combination of, e.g., DTV processor 100 and the speaker of Mobile DTV 100. In a similar fashion, existing light emitting displays (not shown) of DTV 100, may be modulated, e.g., turned on and off, to provide a visual indication to the user. Conversely, DTV processor 100 may include distinct elements for providing audio and/or visual signals to the user. [0017] In accordance with the principles of the invention, mobile DTV 100 incorporates a PVR alert feature for notifying a user when the mobile DTV is in areas of poor or no reception. Reference should now be made to FIG. 3, which shows an illustrative flow chart for use in mobile DTV 100. In step 305, mobile DTV 100 (e.g., DTV processor 110) checks the recording information stored in memory 150 to see if any programs are scheduled to be recorded. Illustratively, mobile DTV 100 checks the start time of each record against a threshold value, referred to herein as the PVR time-to-record threshold value. This threshold value, or time period, can be set within mobile DTV 100, i.e., a hard value (e.g., a part of program code) or may be adjustable, e.g., by the user (described further below). For example, if the PVR time-to-record threshold value is set equal to 30 minutes, mobile DTV 100 checks each record in memory 150 to determine if PVR 155 is set to start recording any programs in the next 30 minutes from the current system time. (It is assumed that mobile DTV 100 receives, or derives, current system time either from tables in the received DTV signal or from an internal clock (not shown).) If PVR 155 is not set to record a program within the PVR time-to-record threshold value, then execution of this routine ends. However, if PVR 155 is set to record a program within the PVR time-to-record threshold value, then mobile DTV 100 checks if the received signal via antenna 101 is ok in step 310. In particular, DTV receiver 105 of FIG. 1 provides a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) 106 to DTV processor 110. If RSSI 106 is greater than or equal to an RSSI threshold value, e.g., -75dBm (decibels referenced to one milliwatt), then execution ends. However, if RSSI 106 is less than the RSSI threshold value, then mobile DTV 100 triggers an alert in step 315 since mobile DTV 100 is in an area of poor or no reception. In this case, DTV processor 110 provides an alert via alert element 160. Typically this alert can be audible or visual, or a combination of both, such as a beep, a warning message or a flashing light. For example, DTV processor 110 can provide a defined audible signal via a speaker (not shown) of mobile DTV 100 for a predefined amount of time. The audible signal can be stored, e.g., as a "wav" file in a memory of mobile DTV 100. Similarly, DTV processor 110 can modulate light-emitting elements (not shown) of mobile DTV 100, e.g., by turning on and off one, or more, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of mobile DTV 100. However, it should be noted that the type of alert is not limited to audio and/or visual and other forms of alerts may be used. For example, mobile DTV 100 may include a vibrating element such that in step 315 the vibrating element vibrates for an amount of time. This can be used in addition to, or in place of, an audio and/or visual alert. Illustratively, mobile DTV 100 provides the alert for an interval of time, e.g., thirty seconds, before shutting off. If the user perceives the alert, the user can then attempt to move to an area of better reception for recording of the program. Although not described herein, the user can shut off the alert in any number of ways, e.g., pushing a predefined button sequence of UI 120, etc. [0018] Illustratively, mobile DTV 100 executes the flow chart shown in FIG. 3 periodically, e.g., once a minute. Alternatively, mobile DTV 100 executes the flow chart of FIG. 3, e.g., periodically, only if mobile DTV 100 is set to record at least one program, i.e., if mobile DTV 100 is in a "PVR mode." However, other embodiments are possible. For example, mobile DTV 100 may continually monitor RSSI 106 and then check if a program is scheduled for recording. This is illustrated in FIG. 4. As yet another variation, mobile DTV 100 may not begin monitoring RSSI 106 until mobile DTV 100 is in the PVR mode. [0019] In accordance with a feature of the invention, if mobile DTV 100 is in an area of poor or no reception at the time that PVR 155 is scheduled to start recording a program, then mobile DTV 100 inhibits PVR 155 from recording the program. However, once mobile DTV 100 subsequently detects a good received signal (RSSI 106 is greater than, or equal to, the RSSI threshold value) and if the end time has not yet been reached for recording that program, then PVR 155 is enabled to start recording the program even though the beginning of the program was missed.

[0020] In accordance with a feature of the invention, if mobile DTV 100 is in an area of poor or no reception at the time that PVR 155 is scheduled to start recording a program, then mobile DTV 100 inhibits PVR 155 from recording the program even if reception improves. In particular, if the start time of a particular record is reached and RSSI 106 is still below the RSSI threshold value, then mobile DTV 100 erases the record from memory 150 and inhibits PVR 155 from recording. In this variation, the program is not recorded at all, even if mobile DTV 100 should move to a location that has better reception before the recording end time. [0021] In accordance with another feature of the invention, if mobile DTV 100 is in an area of poor or no reception at the time that PVR 155 is scheduled to start recording a program, then mobile DTV 100 checks if equivalent programming is available at a later date and/or on a different channel and, if so, updates the recording information accordingly. One example of this feature is shown in FIGs. 5 and 6. In particular, the illustrative steps shown in FIG. 5 may be performed in step 315 of FIGs. 3 or 4, but this is not required. After determining that mobile DTV 100 is in an area of poor, or no, reception, mobile DTV 100 checks if there is "equivalent programming" available for recording on the same or different channel in step 405. Referring now to FIG. 6, this figure shows a portion of an illustrative electronic programming guide (EPG) 400 stored, e.g., in memory 150 of FIG. 1. Other than the inventive concept, an EPG is known in the art and is not described further herein. Referring briefly back to FIG. 2, it can be observed that a program identified by a user for recording is associated with channel 3 between the time interval 14:59 and 15:31 (record 152). For the purposes of this example, it is assumed that the program associated with record 152 cannot be recorded because mobile DTV 100 is in an area of poor, or no, reception. As such, mobile DTV 100 attempts to find alternative programming using at least some of the data from record 152 (e.g., day, channel, start time, end time). For example, mobile DTV first determines the title for the program originally scheduled for recording. In this example, mobile DTV 100 determines from EPG 400 of FIG. 6 that the originally scheduled program for recording is entitled "Travel Log" (402). Mobile DTV 100 then scans EPG 400 for a subsequently scheduled program having a title that is identical to the title for the program already identified for recording by record 152. Illustratively, mobile DTV 100 finds an equivalent program (403) on the same channel (but this is not required) at a later time interval, e.g., from 3:30PM to 4:00PM as shown in EPG 400. Mobile DTV 100 then updates record 152 with a new start time and a new end time in step 415. Mobile DTV 100 can also prepare a message for display to a user in step 420. This message can be displayed on, e.g., display 115 immediately, or upon, e.g., subsequent selection by a user of an icon representing availability of a pending message. In this example, the message may simply state that the "selected program has been rescheduled for recording."

[0022] On the other hand, if no equivalent programming is subsequently available for recording, mobile DTV 100 prepares an error message in step 425 for display to the user. The error message can be displayed on, e.g., display 115 immediately, or upon, e.g., subsequent selection by a user of an icon representing availability of a pending message. In this example, the message may simply state that the "selected program could not be recorded as scheduled."

[0023] It should be noted that other examples of this feature are possible. For example, mobile DTV 100 can first alert the user that the recording was missed (e.g., via a message) and then prompt the user for instructions and/or searching for equivalent programming. [0024] As described above, and in accordance with the principles of the invention, a personal video recording (PVR) device determines if the PVR device is in an area of poor or no reception and, if so, alerts the user if the PVR device is set to record a program. In this regard, and in another illustrative embodiment, mobile DTV 100 provides a number of user programming options for the PVR alert feature, such as, but not limited to, any one or more of the following: an RSSI threshold value, a PVR time-to-record threshold value, a type of alert value and an on/off value for enabling the PVR alert feature. For example, the user can be provided with the ability to set the above-mentioned RSSI threshold value, the PVR time- to-record threshold value, specify the type of alert and/or specify a time duration for the alert. In this regard, an illustrative options screen 200 is shown in FIG. 7. Options screen 200 may be displayed on display 115 of FIG. 1 and the user may select and/or set values via UI 120. Options screen 200 allows the user to set four fields. PVR Alert enabled field 205 allows the user to enable or disable the PVR alert feature via control 206, which is illustratively a "yes" value if checked and a "no" value if unchecked. PVR Alert type field 210 allows the user to select the type of alert from a scrollable list 211. In this example, the user can select an audio alert, a visual alert, or both. PVR Time-To-Record field 215 allows the user to set the above-described PVR time-to-record threshold value. Illustratively, the user enters a numerical value in minutes into text box 216. Finally, Allow Partial Recording field 220 allows the user to enable partial recordings in the event that TV signal reception should improve even though mobile device 100 was in an area of poor or no reception at the start time for a particular recording. Associated control 22 is illustratively a "yes" value if checked and a "no" value if unchecked. [0025] Turning now to FIG. 8, an illustrative front view of mobile DTV 100 is shown. It should be noted that this view is only illustrative, is not to scale, and is merely used to highlight a device incorporating the principles of the invention. Mobile DTV 100 is a portable device that is contained within a housing 190. As can be observed from FIG. 8, housing 190 provides support for display 115, user interface 120, antenna 101 and LED 140. User interface 120 comprises at least a navigational button arrangement 125 and other buttons as represented by button 135. Although not necessary for the inventive concept, button arrangement 125 illustratively provides the ability for a user to change channels and adjust volume, stop the above-described alert, etc. Similarly, other buttons may be present, e.g., a power button, as represented by button 135. LED 140 is representative of alert element 160 of FIG. 1 and provides a visual indication of the above-described PVR alert feature.

[0026] As described above, and in accordance with the principles of the invention, a recording device determines if the recording device is in an area of poor or no reception and, if so, alerts the user if the recording device is set to record a program. Although illustrated in the context of a mobile TV, the inventive concept is not so limited and is applicable to any device, mobile, portable or otherwise. For example, the inventive concept is applicable to a device including a recorder that may not be considered portable but is mobile, e.g., mounted within a vehicle such as a car, train or plane. In addition, it should be noted that even though the term personal video recorder (PVR) has been used herein, it should be recognized that the inventive concept applies to any type of recording device.

[0027] The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention and it will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous alternative arrangements which, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are within its spirit and scope. For example, although illustrated in the context of separate functional elements, these functional elements may be embodied on one or more integrated circuits (ICs). Similarly, although shown as separate elements, any or all of the elements of may be implemented in a stored-program-controlled processor, e.g., a digital signal processor, which executes associated software, e.g., corresponding to one or more of the steps shown in, e.g., FIG. 3. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for use in a recording device, the method comprising:

(a) determining if the recording device is in an area of poor or no reception; and

(b) if the recording device is in an area of poor or no reception, providing an alert.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording device is a mobile digital television (DTV).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes: comparing a received signal strength indicator to a threshold value for determining if the recording device is in an area of poor or no reception.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is at least one of a visual alert, an audio alert or a vibrating alert.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step includes: checking if at least one recording is scheduled to start within a time period; and if the at least one recording is scheduled to start within the time period, providing the alert.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes: checking if at least one recording is scheduled to start within a time period; and if the at least one recording is scheduled to start within the time period, determining if the recording device is in an area of poor or no reception.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: performing steps (a) and (b) only if the recording device is in a recording mode of operation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the recording device is in a recording mode of operation if at least one program is preprogrammed for recording.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: if the recording device is in an area of poor or no reception, inhibiting the recording device from recording.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: if the recording device is in an area of good reception, enabling the recording device to record.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: setting at least one option in the recording device, the option relating to at least one of the following, a time-to-record threshold value, a type of alert, enabling of the alert and allowing partial recording.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: if the recording device is in an area of poor or no reception, selecting an equivalent program for recording at a subsequent time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selecting step is performed automatically.

14. A device, comprising: a receiver for receiving a signal conveying programs; a recorder; and a processor for providing an alert when the device is in an area of poor or no reception if the recorder is preprogrammed to record programs.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is a mobile digital television (DTV).

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor determines if the device is in an area of poor or no reception as a function of the received signal.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor compares a received signal strength indicator of the received signal to a threshold value for determining if the device is in an area of poor or no reception.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the alert is at least one of a visual alert, an audio alert or a vibrating alert.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor checks if at least one recording is scheduled to start within a time period, and, if the at least one recording is scheduled to start within the time period, then provides the alert.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor inhibits the recorder from recording if the device is in an area of poor or no reception.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the processor enables the recorder to record if the device is in an area of good reception.

22. The device of claim 14, further comprising a display for use in setting at least one option in the device, the option relating to at least one of the following, a time-to-record threshold value, a type of alert, enabling of the alert and allowing partial recording.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor selects an equivalent program for recording at a subsequent time if the device is in an area of poor or no reception.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein processor selects the equivalent program automatically.

25. A device comprising: a receiver for receiving a signal conveying programs; and a display for use in displaying the programs and also for use in setting at least one option of a personal video recorder alert feature of the device, which alerts a user when the device is in areas of poor or no reception.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the at least one option relates to at least one of the following, a time-to-record threshold value, a type of alert, enabling of the alert and allowing partial recording.