US20120079542A1 - Portable recorded television viewer - Google Patents
Portable recorded television viewer Download PDFInfo
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- US20120079542A1 US20120079542A1 US13/312,329 US201113312329A US2012079542A1 US 20120079542 A1 US20120079542 A1 US 20120079542A1 US 201113312329 A US201113312329 A US 201113312329A US 2012079542 A1 US2012079542 A1 US 2012079542A1
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/418—External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
- H04N21/4184—External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/4104—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
- H04N21/4126—The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
- H04N21/41265—The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
- H04N21/422—Input-only peripherals, i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
- H04N21/42204—User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/436—Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
- H04N21/4363—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network
- H04N21/43637—Adapting the video or multiplex stream to a specific local network, e.g. a IEEE 1394 or Bluetooth® network involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/44—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream, rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs
- H04N21/4402—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream, rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display
- H04N21/440263—Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing a video clip retrieved from local storage with an incoming video stream, rendering scenes according to MPEG-4 scene graphs involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/47—End-user applications
- H04N21/478—Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
- H04N21/4781—Games
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/76—Television signal recording
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/76—Television signal recording
- H04N5/765—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
- H04N5/775—Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/76—Television signal recording
- H04N5/84—Television signal recording using optical recording
- H04N5/85—Television signal recording using optical recording on discs or drums
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
- Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
Abstract
An approach to recording of television programming for later viewing makes use of a small and relatively inexpensive handheld portable viewer. One or more television programs are loaded into the viewer from a receiver, such as a cable television set-top box. Later, the user selects a loaded program for viewing on the handheld viewer
Description
- This Application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/295,369 (Now U.S. Pat. No. 8,073,304), titled “Portable recorded Television Viewer,” filed Nov. 16, 2002. The content of the aforementioned application in its entirety is incorporated herein by reference.
- This invention relates to viewing recorded television programming in a portable device.
- Today, television programming is typically viewed on a television set that receives programming that is broadcast over the air from local television stations, or distributed over a cable or satellite-based television network to an in-home terminal such as a “cable box” (also known as a set-top box or a home communication terminal, HCT) that is connected to the viewer's television set. Portable television sets are available for receiving and viewing programming as it is broadcast from local television stations.
- Television programming can be recorded on a video tape recorder for later viewing. The most common type of recorder uses VHS tape cartridges. Portable players for recorded VHS tapes are available, for example, integrated with television sets. However, such integrated units are typically large, heavy and not portable, although some players are available for use in cars. In addition to recording television programming on VHS tapes, users can buy or rent prerecorded VHS tapes, for example, with movies recorded on them. DVDs (Digital Video Disks, Digital Versatile Disks) are becoming more popular than VHS for prerecorded movies and programming, and relatively small but expensive portable DVD players are available. As in-home recorders for DVDs become available it is expected that recordable DVDs will begin to replace VHS tapes as a common type of recordable medium. Television programming can also be recorded on an internal storage device in a digital recorder (also known as a personal video recorder, PVR) in the home for later viewing.
- Recording and the viewing of television programming using the approaches and devices described above either makes use of relatively large and heavy equipment, such as a VHS tape player and a portable television set, or uses expensive equipment such as an in-home DVD recorder and a portable DVD player.
- In a general aspect, the invention features an approach to recording of television programming for later viewing on a small and relatively inexpensive handheld viewer. One or more television programs are loaded into the viewer from a receiver, such as a cable television set-top box. Later, the user selects a loaded program for viewing on the handheld viewer.
- In one aspect, in general, the invention features a method for portable viewing of television programs. One or more television programs received at a terminal coupled to a television system. A first of the television programs is encoded at the terminal. This encoding includes digitally compressing the first of the television program. Communication is established between a portable device and the terminal. This includes downloading the encoded first of the television programs from the terminal to the portable device. At the portable device when it is not in communication with the terminal, a command is accepted from a user to play the downloaded first of the television programs. In response to accepting the command, the portable device presents the downloaded program to the user using a screen on the portable device.
- In another aspect, in general, the invention features a portable device for viewing of audio-video programs. The portable device has a communication port for communicating with a terminal coupled to a television system. A memory in the device is used for storing a digitally compressed audio-video programs received through the communication port from the terminal, and a screen on the device is used for displaying video of the stored programming. The device includes a processor coupled to the communication port, the memory, and the screen. The processor is programmed to control operation of the device by downloading digitally compressed audio-video programming from the communication port, storing the programming in the memory, accepting commands from a user, and playing the stored programming to the user according to the accepted commands.
- In yet another aspect, in general, the invention features system for viewing of television programs. The system includes a terminal coupled to a television system, such as a set-top box connected to a cable television system. The terminal includes a receiver for accepting television programs from the television system, a decoder for transmitting the programs to a television set, and an encoder for processing accepted television programs by digitally compressing the programs. The system also includes a portable device for viewing television programs. The portable device includes a communication port for communicating with the terminal, a memory for storing digitally compressed television programs received through the communication port from the terminal, a screen coupled for displaying video of the stored programming, and a processor. The processor is programmed to control operation of the device by downloading digitally compressed television programs through the communication port, storing the programs in the memory, accepting commands from a user, and playing the stored programs to the user according to the accepted commands.
- Aspects of the invention can include one or more of the following advantages.
- The device can be small and light, which increases its portability. For example, the device can be significantly smaller and lighter than a VHS tape player.
- The device does not have to provide the full resolution of a television set. This can make the device less expensive, for example, as compared to a portable DVD player.
- The functionality of the portable device can be provided, at least in part, by a commercially available programmable game console that accepts cartridges, which may make device less expensive.
- Other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description, and from the claims.
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FIG. 1 is a front view of a portable viewer; -
FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates use of a portable viewer in conjunction with a cable television system; -
FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams that illustrate alternative program downloading approaches; -
FIG. 3A is a diagram that illustrates a cradle into which a portable cradle is inserted; -
FIG. 3B is a diagram that illustrates wireless downloading; -
FIG. 3C is a diagram that illustrates a recordable cartridges that is used to download programming; -
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operation of the system; and -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates components of a portable viewer and a cable box. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , aportable viewer 140 is used to play a television program that a user previously downloaded to the viewer. Theportable viewer 140 is battery operated and includes a built-inscreen 150 for displaying the video for the program and a built-inspeaker 148 for playing the audio for the program.FIG. 1 shows one version of the viewer, illustrated approximately to scale and at actual size. Overall, this version of the viewer is approximately six inches high and four inches wide, thereby making it suitable for hand-held use. Optional orremovable handles 144 protrude from the sides of the viewer to make it easier for a user to hold. The user controls theportable viewer 140 using an on-off switch 146, which optionally also control the volume of the audio played on thespeaker 148, and abrightness control 142, that controls the brightness of the video displayed on thescreen 150. Theportable viewer 160 also includes akeyboard 160, which includes both alphabetic and numeric keys, using which the user enters commands or other information. As is discussed further below with reference to operation of the device, these commands includes requests to display particular downloaded programs if multiple programs have been downloaded to the player. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , theuser 100 downloads television programs from acable television system 110 to theportable viewer 140. In normal viewing of television programs, theuser 100 uses a standardremote control 125 which controls acable box 120 and atelevision set 130 to present television programs to theuser 100. For example, theuser 100 uses the remote control to select a desired station on thecable box 120 and uses the remote control to adjust the audio volume on thetelevision set 130. - In addition to standard features,
cable box 120 communicates with theportable viewer 140 to download data that encodes a television program to the portable viewer. Furthermore, thecable box 120 receives commands sent by theuser 100 using theremote control 125 that cause thecable box 120 to download particular programs to the portable viewer. For example, one such command causes thecable box 120 to download the television program that is currently being presented on thetelevision set 130 to theportable viewer 140. This can be useful if theuser 100 cannot watch the end of a program because the user can then command the cable box to download the remainder of the program so that he or she can later view it on theportable viewer 140. - After the program is downloaded to the
portable viewer 140, theuser 100 takes the viewer with him or her away from thecable box 120, for example, to another room in the house on a trip in a car. While away, theuser 100 uses theportable viewer 140 to watch the downloaded program. - 2 Downloading Programs to the Portable Viewer 140 (
FIGS. 3 a Through 3 c) - Referring to
FIG. 3A , the first version of theportable viewer 140 uses acradle 122 for communicating with thecable box 120. Thecradle 122 has aslot 124 into which theportable viewer 140 is inserted so that the cable box can download programs to the viewer. The slot includes the ends of wires leading to the cable box over which the downloaded television program is sent to the viewer, and the viewer includes wires that touch the wires in the cradle when it is inserted so that it can received the downloaded television program. - In
FIG. 3A , thecradle 122 is shown as a being separate from thecable box 120. In another version of the system theslot 124 can be built into the cable box so that theportable viewer 140 can be inserted directly into the cable box. - There are other ways in which the downloaded television program can be sent to other versions of the
portable viewer 140. Referring toFIG. 3B , theportable viewer 140 can be placed close to thecable box 120 without actually plugging it in or inserting it into a slot or cradle. The downloaded television program is then sent through the air from atransmitter 128 on the cable box to areceiver 148 on theportable viewer 148. For example, such wireless communication can work like a remote control so that the cable box shines a light that carries the television program to the portable viewer. This could also work like a radio so that thereceiver 148 has a small radio receiver for receiving the television program transmitted from the cable box. - Referring to
FIG. 3C , another way to download a television program a version of theportable viewer 140 uses asmall cartridge 190, which is similar to a Gameboy® cartridge. In this version of the system, there is again acradle 122 as was shown in FIG. 3A, but rather than inserting the entireportable viewer 140 into a slot, thecartridge 190 is inserted into another kind ofslot 126. The television program is sent from thecable box 120 to thecartridge 190. The user then takes the cartridge out of thecradle 126 and inserts it into theportable viewer 140. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , operation of the system generally follows a sequence of steps shown in the figure. First, the user sends a command to the step-top box to select the program to download (step 210). This command can take a number of forms, including a command to download the current television program being viewed by the user, or a command to download a particular program at a later time. Choosing such a later program can involve browsing through a program guide that is displayed on the television set and selecting the program on the display. The user leaves theportable viewer 140 connected to thecable box 120. - When the television program is available, the
cable box 120 converts the television program so that it can be downloaded into the portable viewer 140 (step 220). In general, thescreen 150 of the portable viewer has less resolution (for example, a fewer number of dots on the screen, fewer different colors that can be concurrently displayed, or fewer images per second) than a television set, so the video of the television program is converted to that it can be displayed at that lower resolution. Also, the portable viewer may have a limited amount of space to store the television program, so the cable box may have to convert the program so that it does not take up as much space using a digital compression approach, for example, also reducing the resolution. The audio part of the television program may also be converted so that it has an appropriate format and size for downloading to theportable viewer 140. The cable box then downloads the converted television program to theportable viewer 140 using one of the types of mechanisms that are shown inFIGS. 3A-3C . - The user then takes the
portable viewer 140 with him or her, for example on a trip (step 230). Theportable viewer 140 does not need to be turned on to keep the program stored in it. - Later, when the user wants to watch a downloaded television program, he or she turns on the
portable viewer 140 using the on-off switch 146 and selects which program he or she wants to watch, for example, by typing the name of the television program on thekeyboard 160 of the portable viewer 140 (step 240). - In response to the user's input that selects the program, the
portable viewer 140 plays the downloaded television program using thescreen 150 and thespeaker 148 in the portable viewer (step 250). The user can also input commands to pause or rewind the program, and can adjust the brightness of the screen using thebrightness knob 142. - Referring to
FIG. 5 ,portable viewer 140 includes a number of internal components. The viewer includes acommunication port 330 through which downloaded television program pass from thecable box 120 to other components inside theportable viewer 140. In the version of the portable viewer that plugs into aslot 124 in a cradle 122 (seeFIG. 3A ), thecommunication port 330 includes the wires and circuits that connect to the wires in the cradle. - The
portable viewer 140 includes a computer processor (also referred to as a central processing unit, or CPU) 370 that runs a program that control operation of the portable viewer. It uses a program that is stored in amemory 340. One program that theCPU 370 runs is used to receive the downloaded television program from thecommunication port 330 and store it in thememory 340. - Another program that the
CPU 370 runs lets the user choose the downloaded program to play. TheCPU 370 can tell what the user is typing on thekeyboard 160 using akeyboard interface 360 that includes electronic circuits that are connected to the keys of the keyboard. Based on the commands that the user types, the program gets the stored television program from thememory 340. The stored television program needs to be converted so that is can be played on thescreen 150 andspeaker 148. The portable viewer includes an audio/video decoder 350, which includes specialized electronics for converting the stored television program into the appropriate form for playing. - In the versions of the
portable viewer 140 that use a removable cartridge 190 (seeFIG. 3C ), the cartridge becomes part of thememory 340 when it is inserted in theportable viewer 340 so that theCPU 370 can get the stored television program to pass through the audio/video decoder 350. - The
cable box 120 includes a transceiver/tuner 310 that is used to communicate with the rest of the cable television system. For example, the transceiver/tuner includes the electronic circuits that tune the box to a chosen television station. The television programs come from the cable television system and are received by the transceiver/tuner before being passed to other components in thecable box 120. For playing television programs on the television set, the cable box includes adecoder 315 that converts the television program into the appropriate format so that it can be played on an attached television set. For example, the decoder makes it look like the television program is coming in on channel 3 even through thecable box 120 is tuned to channel 25. - In addition to these standard components,
cable box 120 includes anencoder 320. Recall that thecable box 120 generally needs to convert the format of the television program so that it can be downloaded to the portable device. Theencoder 320 is that part of the cable box that does this conversion. - The components of the
cable box 120 are illustrated without showing whether they are implemented using electronic circuits, computer programs, or both. In general, they are implemented using a combination of specialized circuits and a computer processor that runs a program inside the cable box. - The versions of the
portable viewer 140 described above can be specially built for playing television programs. Another version of the system uses portable devices that were designed for another purpose. One such version uses a portable game player, such as a Nintendo Gameboy Color®. This version of the system is like the version shown inFIG. 3C with the cartridge being compatible for insertion into a Gameboy. Because the Gameboy was not designed to play television programs, some of the program that controls how the television programs are played is also stored on the Gameboy cartridge. - Another version of the system uses a
portable viewer 140 that is built to play television programs. In addition, it has a slot so that a game cartridge, such as a Gameboy cartridge, can be plugged in and the portable viewer can be used to play a game. With this version, the user does not need two separate devices if he or she wants to both play games and view television programs on a trip. - If a cartridge version of the portable viewer becomes popular, stores could sell or rent cartridges to users so that they can view the programs that have already been downloaded to the cartridges.
- Another version of the
portable viewer 140 has a built-in television tuner so that the user can watch locally broadcast television programs that he or she did not download. - Another version of the viewer is meant for use in a car, and plugs into a cigarette lighter to get its power without running down its batteries. Another version for a car is built in and uses cartridges that are plugged into it.
- Other versions of the viewer can be larger or smaller than the one shown in
FIG. 1 . The screen can be about two inches by two inches in size, or larger or smaller, and can be the same type that is used on laptop computers (for example, a liquid crystal display, LCD). Also, the arrangement of controls can be different than shown inFIG. 1 . For example, thebrightness knob 142 can be hidden behind a door so that it is not accidentally adjusted. Also, instead of a keyboard, other kinds of buttons with arrows or markings. - Another version of the system uses television programs that have already been recorded in a recorder in the user's house. For example, if the user has already recorded a program in a personal video recorder (PVR), such as a TiVo® record, the PVR rather than the cable box communicates with the personal viewer and downloads an appropriately formatted program into the portable viewer.
- The approach describe above can work equally well with a satellite television system as with a cable television system. Also, the function of the cable box could also be performed by a personal computer that receives television programs and movies over a network such as the Internet.
- The approach described above is equally applicable to television programs, including cartoons as well as live people, as well as movies.
Claims (20)
1. A method for portable viewing of television programs comprising:
receiving one or more television programs at a terminal coupled to a television system;
encoding a first of the television programs at the terminal, including digitally compressing the first of the television program;
establishing communication between a portable device and the terminal, including downloading the encoded first of the television programs from the terminal to the portable device; and
at the portable device when it is not in communication with the terminal, accepting a command from a user to play the downloaded first of the television programs and in response presenting the downloaded program to the user using a screen on the portable device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein encoding the first of the television programs includes digitally compressing said program, including reducing a resolution of said program.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the terminal comprises a television set-top box.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the terminal comprises a program recorder and the method further comprises storing the first of the television programs at the recorder prior to encoding said program.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the communication includes inserting the portable device into a cradle attached to the terminal.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the communication includes establishing wireless communication between the portable device and the terminal.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing the communication includes passing a recordable cartridge from the terminal to the portable device, and downloading the television program includes recording the encoded television program on the recordable cartridge at the terminal and reading the recorded cartridge at the portable device.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the portable device comprises a programmable game console, and wherein downloading the television program includes passing code for execution on the portable game console on the recordable cartridge.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating encoding and downloading multiple of the television programs.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising accepting at the device coupled to the television system a command from a user identifying the first of the television programs.
11. A portable device for viewing of audio-video programs comprising:
a communication port for communicating with a terminal coupled to a television system;
a memory for storing a digitally compressed audio-video programs received through the communication port from the terminal;
a screen for displaying video of the stored programming; and
a processor coupled to the communication port, the memory, and the screen, and programmed to control operation of the device by downloading digitally compressed audio-video programming from the communication port, storing the programming in the memory, accepting commands from a user, and playing the stored programming to the user according to the accepted commands.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the communication port includes a connector that mates with a slot in a cradle coupled to the terminal to provide communication with the terminal.
13. The device of claim 11 wherein the communication port enables wireless communication with the terminal.
14. The device of claim 11 wherein the communication port includes a portion for accepting a cartridge that is used to carry the digitally compressed programming from the terminal to the portable device.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the cartridge includes a component of the memory when the cartridge is inserted into the communication port.
16. The device of claim 14 wherein the cartridge includes a component of a program that the processor uses for controlling the operation of the device when the cartridge is inserted into the communication port.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein the portable device comprises a programmable game console.
18. A system for viewing of television programs comprising:
a terminal coupled to a television system, including a receiver for accepting television programs from the television system, a decoder for transmitting the programs to a television set, and an encoder for processing accepted television programs by digitally compressing the programs; and
a portable device for viewing television programs that includes
a communication port for communicating with the terminal,
a memory for storing digitally compressed television programs received through the communication port from the terminal,
a screen coupled for displaying video of the stored programming, and
a processor programmed to control operation of the device by downloading digitally compressed television programs from the communication port, storing the programs in the memory, accepting commands from a user, and playing the stored programs to the user according to the accepted commands.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the terminal comprises a set-top box.
20. The system of claim 18 wherein the device coupled to a television system includes video recorder with a storage for holding television programs prior to processing the programs using the encoder.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/312,329 US20120079542A1 (en) | 2002-11-16 | 2011-12-06 | Portable recorded television viewer |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10/295,369 US8073304B2 (en) | 2002-11-16 | 2002-11-16 | Portable recorded television viewer |
US13/312,329 US20120079542A1 (en) | 2002-11-16 | 2011-12-06 | Portable recorded television viewer |
Related Parent Applications (1)
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US10/295,369 Continuation US8073304B2 (en) | 2002-11-16 | 2002-11-16 | Portable recorded television viewer |
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US20120079542A1 true US20120079542A1 (en) | 2012-03-29 |
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US10/295,369 Expired - Fee Related US8073304B2 (en) | 2002-11-16 | 2002-11-16 | Portable recorded television viewer |
US13/312,329 Abandoned US20120079542A1 (en) | 2002-11-16 | 2011-12-06 | Portable recorded television viewer |
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US10/295,369 Expired - Fee Related US8073304B2 (en) | 2002-11-16 | 2002-11-16 | Portable recorded television viewer |
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US20040162637A1 (en) | 2002-07-25 | 2004-08-19 | Yulun Wang | Medical tele-robotic system with a master remote station with an arbitrator |
JP3857979B2 (en) * | 2002-12-25 | 2006-12-13 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Content receiving device |
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US20040095516A1 (en) | 2004-05-20 |
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