PTOISB/08a (01-10)
`Doc code: IDS
`Approved for use through 07/31/2012. 0MB 0651-0031
`Doc description: Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) Filed
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid 0MB control number.
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor I Paul DeKeyser
`Art Unit
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I to be assigned
`102246.0003US5
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`Examiner Cite
`Initial*
`No
`
`Patent Number
`
`Kind
`Code1
`
`Issue Date
`
`Name of Patentee or Applicant
`of cited Document
`
`Pages,Columns,Lines where
`Relevant Passages or Relevant
`Figures Appear
`
`U.S.PATENTS
`
`Remove
`
`1
`
`5204909
`
`1993-04-20
`
`Cowan
`
`2
`
`5381526
`
`1995-01-10
`
`Ellson
`
`3
`
`5418529
`
`1995-05-23
`
`De Luigi et al.
`
`4
`
`5523799
`
`1996-06-04
`
`Hattori et al.
`
`5
`
`5689442
`
`1997-11-18
`
`Swanson et al.
`
`6
`
`5790427
`
`1998-08-04
`
`Greer et al.
`
`7
`
`6163338
`
`2000-12-19
`
`Johnson et al.
`
`8
`
`6317817
`
`2001-11-13
`
`Shichiku et al.
`
`EFSWeb2.1.17
`
`

`

`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor I Paul DeKeyser
`Art Unit
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I to be assigned
`Attorney Docket Number
`102246.0003US5
`
`9
`
`6351798
`
`2002-02-26
`
`Aono
`
`10
`
`6370198
`
`2002-04-09
`
`Washino
`
`11
`
`6618546
`
`2003-09-09
`
`lchioka et al.
`
`12
`
`6831652
`
`2004-12-14
`
`Orr
`
`13
`
`6950600
`
`2005-09-27
`
`Dietz
`
`14
`
`7162607
`
`2007-01-09
`
`Macy et al.
`
`15
`
`7195164
`
`2007-03-27
`
`Patel
`
`16
`
`7587323
`
`2009-09-08
`
`Matz et al.
`
`If you wish to add additional U.S. Patent citation information please click the Add button.
`
`U.S.PATENT APPLICATION PUBLICATIONS
`
`Add
`
`Remove
`
`Examiner
`Initial*
`
`Cite No
`
`Publication
`Number
`
`Kind Publication
`Code1 Date
`
`Name of Patentee or Applicant
`of cited Document
`
`Pages,Columns,Lines where
`Relevant Passages or Relevant
`Figures Appear
`
`1
`
`20020005895
`
`2002-01-17
`
`Freeman et al.
`
`EFSWeb2.1.17
`
`

`

`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor I Paul DeKeyser
`Art Unit
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I to be assigned
`102246.0003US5
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`20040183912
`
`2004-09-23
`
`Szolyga et al.
`
`20060158968
`
`2006-07-20
`
`Vanman et al.
`
`20070132773
`
`2007-06-14
`
`Plante
`
`20070174538
`
`2007-07-26
`
`Christoffersson et al.
`
`If you wish to add additional U.S. Published Application citation information please click the Add button. Add
`Remove
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Examiner Cite Foreign Document
`Initial*
`No Number3
`
`Country
`Code2 i
`
`Kind Publication
`Code4 Date
`
`Name of Patentee or
`Applicant of cited
`Document
`
`Pages,Columns,Lines
`where Relevant
`Passages or Relevant
`Figures Appear
`
`T5
`
`1
`
`0510968
`
`EP
`
`1992-10-28
`
`Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
`
`2
`
`92/22983
`
`WO
`
`1992-12-23
`
`Browne et al.
`
`3
`
`99/49656
`
`WO
`
`1999-09-30 Mann
`
`4
`
`99/56216
`
`WO
`
`1999-11-04 Maccormack et al.
`
`5
`
`2006/0444 76
`
`WO
`
`2006-04-27
`
`VanMan et al.
`
`If you wish to add additional Foreign Patent Document citation information please click the Add button
`
`Add
`
`EFSWeb2.1.17
`
`□
`
`□
`
`□
`
`□
`
`□
`
`

`

`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor I Paul DeKeyser
`Art Unit
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I to be assigned
`Attorney Docket Number
`102246.0003US5
`
`NON-PATENT LITERATURE DOCUMENTS
`
`Remove
`
`Examiner Cite
`Initials* No
`
`Include name of the author (in CAPITAL LETTERS), title of the article (when appropriate), title of the item
`(book, magazine, journal, serial, symposium, catalog, etc), date, pages(s), volume-issue number(s),
`publisher, city and/or country where published.
`
`T5
`
`1
`
`□
`
`If you wish to add additional non-patent literature document citation information please click the Add button Add
`EXAMINER SIGNATURE
`
`Examiner Signature I
`
`I
`*EXAMINER: Initial if reference considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP 609. Draw line through a
`citation if not in conformance and not considered. Include copy of this form with next communication to applicant.
`
`I Date Considered
`
`1 See Kind Codes of USPTO Patent Documents at www.USPTO.GOV or MPEP 901.04. 2 Enter office that issued the document, by the two-letter code (WIPO
`Standard ST.3). 3 For Japanese patent documents, the indication of the year of the reign of the Emperor must precede the serial number of the patent document.
`4 Kind of document by the appropriate symbols as indicated on the document under WIPO Standard ST.16 if possible. 5 Applicant is to place a check mark here i
`English language translation is attached.
`
`EFSWeb2.1.17
`
`

`

`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
`STATEMENT BY APPLICANT
`( Not for submission under 37 CFR 1.99)
`
`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor I Paul DeKeyser
`Art Unit
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I to be assigned
`102246.0003US5
`Attorney Docket Number
`
`Please see 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 to make the appropriate selection(s):
`
`CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
`
`That each item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was first cited in any communication
`D from a foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application not more than three months prior to the filing of the
`information disclosure statement. See 37 CFR 1.97(e)(1 ).
`
`OR
`
`That no item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was cited in a communication from a
`foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application, and, to the knowledge of the person signing the certification
`after making reasonable inquiry, no item of information contained in the information disclosure statement was known to
`D any individual designated in 37 CFR 1.56(c) more than three months prior to the filing of the information disclosure
`statement. See 37 CFR 1.97(e)(2).
`
`D See attached certification statement.
`D The fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17 (p) has been submitted herewith.
`~ A certification statement is not submitted herewith.
`
`SIGNATURE
`A signature of the applicant or representative is required in accordance with CFR 1.33, 10.18. Please see CFR 1.4(d) for the
`form of the signature.
`
`Signature
`
`Name/Print
`
`/Nicholas J_ Witchey/
`
`Nicholas J_ Witchey
`
`Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
`
`2013-03-08
`
`Registration Number
`
`63481
`
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the
`public which is to file (and by the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR
`1.14. This collection is estimated to take 1 hour to complete, including gathering, preparing and submitting the completed
`application form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments on the amount of time you
`require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S.
`Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SEND
`FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria,
`VA 22313-1450.
`
`EFSWeb2.1.17
`
`

`

`Privacy Act Statement
`
`The Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579) requires that you be given certain information in connection with your submission of the
`attached form related to a patent application or patent. Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of the Act, please be advised
`that: (1) the general authority for the collection of this information is 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2); (2) furnishing of the information solicited
`is voluntary; and (3) the principal purpose for which the information is used by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is to
`process and/or examine your submission related to a patent application or patent. If you do not furnish the requested
`information, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may not be able to process and/or examine your submission, which may
`result in termination of proceedings or abandonment of the application or expiration of the patent.
`
`The information provided by you in this form will be subject to the following routine uses:
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`The information on this form will be treated confidentially to the extent allowed under the Freedom of Information Act
`(5 U.S.C. 552) and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). Records from this system of records may be disclosed to the
`Department of Justice to determine whether the Freedom of Information Act requires disclosure of these records.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, in the course of presenting evidence to a
`court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal, including disclosures to opposing counsel in the course of settlement
`negotiations.
`
`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Member of Congress submitting a
`request involving an individual, to whom the record pertains, when the individual has requested assistance from the
`Member with respect to the subject matter of the record.
`
`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a contractor of the Agency having need for
`the information in order to perform a contract. Recipients of information shall be required to comply with the
`requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(m).
`
`A record related to an International Application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in this system of records
`may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization, pursuant
`to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
`
`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to another federal agency for purposes of
`National Security review (35 U.S.C. 181) and for review pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 218(c)).
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the Administrator, General Services, or
`his/her designee, during an inspection of records conducted by GSA as part of that agency's responsibility to
`recommend improvements in records management practices and programs, under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and
`2906. Such disclosure shall be made in accordance with the GSA regulations governing inspection of records for this
`purpose, and any other relevant (i.e., GSA or Commerce) directive. Such disclosure shall not be used to make
`determinations about individuals.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the public after either publication of
`the application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 122(b) or issuance of a patent pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 151. Further, a record
`may be disclosed, subject to the limitations of 37 CFR 1.14, as a routine use, to the public if the record was filed in
`an application which became abandoned or in which the proceedings were terminated and which application is
`referenced by either a published application, an application open to public inspections or an issued patent.
`
`9.
`
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, State, or local law
`enforcement agency, if the USPTO becomes aware of a violation or potential violation of law or regulation.
`
`EFSWeb2.1.17
`
`

`

`PCT
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PC1)
`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`
`(51) International Patent Oassification 5 :
`
`(11) lnternationa] Pub1ication Number:
`
`WO 92/22983
`
`H04N 5/781, H04H 1/02, 7 /00
`
`A2
`
`( 43) International Publication Date:
`
`23 December 1992 (23.12.92)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/US92/04573
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`9 June 1992 (09.06.92}
`
`(30) Priority data:
`713,142
`
`11 June 1991 (I 1.06.91)
`
`us
`
`(71X72) Applicants and Inventors: BROWNE, H., Lee [US/US];
`Two Soundview Drive, Greenwich, CT 06830 (US).
`YURT, Paul [US/US]; 446 W 47th St., Apt. SD, New
`York City, NY 10036-2337 (US).
`
`(74)Agents: TURNER, John, B. et al.; Finnegan, Henderson,
`Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, 1300 I Street, N.W., Wash(cid:173)
`ington, DC 20005-3315 (US).
`
`(81) Designated States: AT (European patent), BE (European
`patent), CA, CH (European patent), DE (European pa(cid:173)
`tent), DK (European patent), ES (European patent), FR
`(European patent), GB (European patent), GR (Euro(cid:173)
`pean patent), IT (European patent), JP, KR, LU (Euro(cid:173)
`pean patent), MC (European patent), NL (European pa(cid:173)
`tent), SE (European patent).
`
`Published
`Without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt of that report.
`
`(54)Title: LARGE CAPACITY, RANDOM ACCESS, MULTI-SOURCE RECORDER PLAYER
`
`,113
`DEMOD(cid:173)
`INPUTS ULATOAS
`
`1 106
`OECOM·
`109 PRESSORS
`
`MIXER&
`EFFECTS
`XPOINT
`
`/111
`{ OUTPUTS
`MODULATORS
`111a112a
`
`111b 112b
`
`111c 112c
`
`112d
`112e
`112f
`111d 112
`112h
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`An audio/video recorder system receives a plurality of transmission signJis each containing program information and si(cid:173)
`multaneously stores the received transmission signals. Toe system can be controlled by user input to allow for automatic record(cid:173)
`ing of selected programs simultaneously input from multiple sources, reconfiguration of stored programs, and routing of stored
`programs to selected outputs.
`
`

`

`•
`
`'· "'
`
`FOR 'l1lE PURI'OSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codei; used to idemify S1ates pany 10th!! PCr on the fiont pages of pamphlets publishing international
`ap11lications under the PCT.
`
`AT
`AU
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`BJ
`BR
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`Cl
`CM
`cs
`DE
`OK
`ES
`
`Au,tria
`Austn11ia
`BarhaJo,
`Belgium
`Burkina 1-a,u
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`l .. anm.Ja
`Central Afru:an Republic
`Cnngu
`SwiLtcrl~nd
`Ciitc d"lvuirc
`Cameroon
`C,.c,:busluvaL.ia
`Germany
`Denmark
`Spain
`
`Fl
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IT
`JP
`KP
`
`KR
`LI
`LK
`LU
`MC
`MG
`
`I-inland
`Frm1c~
`Gabon
`Unilcd Kingdom
`Guinea
`Cin:ccc
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Italy
`Japan
`Ucrnocratit: PL-uplc'• Republic
`of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Uccbu.:n~u:in
`Sri t ... 11ka
`Lu~cntbourg
`Mo11.aco
`Ma<laga,;i;ar
`
`Ml.
`MN
`MR
`MW
`Nl.
`NO
`PL
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SN
`SU
`TD
`TG
`us
`
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Nether lamb
`Norway
`Pul,rnd
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sm.Ian
`Sweden
`Senegal
`Soviet Union
`Chad
`T01,>0
`United Smtc,; of America
`
`

`

`W092/22983
`
`PCT/US92/04573
`
`- 1 -
`
`LARGE CAPACITY, RANDOM ACCESS,
`MULTI-SOURCE RECORDER PLAYER
`Background of the Present Invention
`The present invention relates generally to a large
`capacity, random access, multi-source audio and video re(cid:173)
`corder player which is capable of receiving a plurality of
`simultaneous input signals and which allows a user to view
`and/or to record selected ones of the plurality of input
`signals.
`Currently, television viewers for the most part have
`little flexibility with regard to when broadcast program(cid:173)
`ming may be viewed. The broadcaster's schedule is the
`user's schedule. The video cassette recorder (VCR) is the
`only device which allows a user to control the recording of
`programs and the time of viewing programs, by replaying
`recorded programs. The VCR allows the user to pre-set re(cid:173)
`cording for a specific program by selecting the specific
`date, time, and channel that the program is broadcast.
`Such features allow the user to record without being
`present and to replay the recorded material at another
`time.
`However, current VCRs have limited storage capacity
`and only single source capability and therefore do not pro(cid:173)
`vide the user with a great degree of flexibility and con(cid:173)
`trol over program recording. Moreover, conventional VCRs
`reguire constant attention for selection and recording of
`each program. Furthermore, a conventional VCR can only
`record one program at a time, while a
`typical household
`can receive many programs from multiple sources simulta(cid:173)
`neously.
`
`

`

`WO 92/22983
`
`PCT/US92/04573
`
`- 2 -
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to
`provide large capacity multiple source recording with ran(cid:173)
`dom access, thus affording the user greater flexibility and
`control over the recording and replaying of programs.
`It is a further object of the present invention to
`provide a large capacity recorder player which allows con(cid:173)
`tinuous recording of a program with automatic erasure, such
`that the material recorded first is automatically erased
`first when the multi-source recorder player storage reaches
`capacity. This feature greatly reduces the need for con(cid:173)
`stant user attention and provides multiple viewing options.
`Another object of the present invention is to allow
`the user to record from multiple channels individually,
`serially, or simultaneously.
`Another object of the present invention is to allow
`the user to view programs while simultaneously recording
`one or more other programs.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to pro(cid:173)
`vide a multi-source recorder player whereby the user can
`modify stored programs.
`Another object of the present invention is to allow
`the user to record from multiple channels and from multiple
`distribution sources simultaneously.
`Still another object of the present invention is to
`allow the recorder to adapt to the viewing habits of the
`user by analyzing selected criteria.
`A further object of the present invention is to record
`material continuously to allow random retention of chosen
`program segments.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to per(cid:173)
`mit the user to mix multiple stored programs into a compos(cid:173)
`ite form.
`
`

`

`W092/22983
`
`PCT/US92/04573
`
`- 3 -
`
`Additional objects and advantages of the invention
`will be set forth in the description which follows, and in
`part will be obvious from the description, or may be
`learned by practice of the invention. The objects and ad(cid:173)
`vantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by
`means of the instrumentalities and combinations particu(cid:173)
`larly pointed out in the appended claims.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`To achieve the objects in accordance with the purposes
`of the present invention, as embodied and described herein,
`the audio/video recorder system of the present invention
`comprises input port means for receiving a plurality of
`transmission signals each containing program information,
`and storage means, coupled to the input port means, for
`simultaneously storing the plurality of received transmis(cid:173)
`sion signals.
`The present invention further comprises an audio/video
`recorder system comprising input port means for receiving a
`plurality of transmission signals each containing program
`information; storage processing means, coupled to the input
`port means, for storing the program information in ~e plu(cid:173)
`rality of received transmission signals; and playback
`means, coupled to the storage means, for retrieving and
`playing desired program information from the stored re(cid:173)
`ceived transmission signals, for playing program informa(cid:173)
`tion simultaneously with the storing of program information
`by the storage processing means, and for playing different
`program information simultaneously.
`The present invention further comprises an audio/video
`recording device for simultaneously storing information
`from a plurality of sources, the recorder comprising input
`
`

`

`W092/22983
`
`PCT/US92/04573
`
`- 4 -
`
`port means for receiving a plurality of transmission sig(cid:173)
`nals, and storage means, coupled to the input port means,
`for simultaneously storing the received transmission sig(cid:173)
`nals.
`The present invention additionally comprises an audio/
`video routing device comprising input port means for re(cid:173)
`ceiving a plurality of transmission signals; demodulator
`and a/d conversion means, coupled to the input port means,
`for transforming the received transmission signals into
`digital signals each corresponding to a different one of
`the received transmission signals; and routing means for
`controlling the forwarding of the digital signals.
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate the
`presently preferred apparatus and method of the invention
`and, together with the general description given above and
`the detailed description of the preferred embodiment given
`below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
`In the drawings:
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of
`the multi-source recorder player of the present inve~tion;
`Fig. 2 is a diagram of the main menu control screen of
`the user control section of the multi-source recorder
`player;
`Fig. 3 is a diagram of the setup page screen option
`selected from the main menu control screen;
`Figs. 4A-4C are diagrams illustrating the calendar
`screen option selected from the main menu control screen;
`Figs. SA-SE are diagrams illustrating the program se-
`lection option screen selected from the main menu control
`screen;
`
`~
`
`

`

`W092/22983
`
`PCT /US92/04573
`
`- 5 -
`
`Fig. 6 is a diagram of the stored program list option
`screen selected from the main menu control screen;
`Fig. 7 is a diagram of the routing controller option
`selected from the main menu control screen;
`Fig. 8 is a diagram of the special effects screen op(cid:173)
`tion selected from the main menu control screen;
`Fig. 9 is a diagram of the mix control screen selected
`from the special effects screen;
`Fig. 10 is a diagram of the wipe control screen se(cid:173)
`lected from the special effects screen;
`Fig. 11 is a diagram of the database access option se(cid:173)
`lected from the main menu control screen;
`Fig. 12 is a block diagram of a preferred voice con(cid:173)
`trol system of the present invention;
`Fig. 13 is a flowchart of a preferred method of re(cid:173)
`cording of the present invention; and
`Fig. 14 is a drawing of the remote control panel of
`the present invention.
`Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
`Reference will now be made in detail to the construc(cid:173)
`tion and operation of preferred embodiments of the present
`invention which are illustrated in the accompanying draw(cid:173)
`ings.
`In those drawings, like elements and operations are
`designated with the same reference characters.
`In the following description, the preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ments described are examples of the present invention. The
`present invention, however, is not limited to these ex(cid:173)
`amples, but may be realized in other embodiments.
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of
`the multi-source recorder player 100 of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion. With the multi-source recorder player 100, a plural(cid:173)
`ity of programs, consisting of audio and/or video signals,
`may be received simultaneously from a plurality of sources.
`
`

`

`W092/22983
`
`PCT/0S92/04573
`
`- 6 -
`
`The multi-source recorder player 100 preferably has mul(cid:173)
`tiple input connections, each of which may receive an input
`signal l0la-l0lf from air and ground based broadcast
`sources, cable feeds, or digital distribution sources.
`Further, the multi-source recorder player 100 can prefer(cid:173)
`ably receive and process compressed digital signals 101g
`and 101h. Receiving compressed signals expands the signal
`handling and storage capacity of the multi-source recorder
`player 100.
`.Onc:e signals ar~ input, tJ:,.e mult.i'7source re-(cid:173)
`corde~ player. 100. tan simµlta.11eou~ly r 7co:rd,process;
`route, atld displ.ay 'theplµra.l..ity pf inputviq.eq and/or au..(cid:173)
`d.io s.ignal.s.
`The multi-source recorder player 100 preferably in(cid:173)
`cludes enough storage such that twenty or more hours of
`video with audio programming may be stored in a storage
`section 104.
`rf audio only or video only programming is
`being retained, the storage times will increase correspond(cid:173)
`ingly. The storage of audio and video only programming
`will utilize less storage than combined video and audio
`programming. The number of hours of recording which may be
`recorded, however, is not critical to this invention. To
`output the recorded programs, the multi-source recorder
`player 100 preferably includes a plurality of output con(cid:173)
`nections including multiple rf, and digital and analog
`video and audio for outputting output signals 112a-112h to
`receiving devices, such as televisions and video recorders.
`Additionally, some of the output signals 112a-112h may in(cid:173)
`clude control signals for recording and viewing control of
`external devices. These devices will be controlled by con(cid:173)
`troller 105 via the corresponding output connection. Setup
`for the control output is achieved from the output setup
`section 302 of the setup page control screen 300.
`
`~
`
`

`

`WO92/22983
`
`PCT /US92/04573
`
`- 7 -
`
`The multi-source recorder player 100 also preferably
`includes routing and compositing abilities affording a user
`control over the form and the destinations of the input
`signals 101a-101h. The multi-source recorder player 100
`may optionally include signal analysis circuitry, prefer(cid:173)
`ably in the form of a neural network analysis circuit 114,
`for assisting the viewer in storing and retrieving desired
`programs and portions of desired programs.
`Users of the multi-source recorder player 100 option(cid:173)
`ally have selectively filtered programming because a plU~
`rali1:y of programs arerec:eiv-ed simultaneQusly, buffered in
`a temporary program FIFO buffer 104c, and scanned and se(cid:173)
`lectively stored by the neural network analysis circuit
`114. The system preferably filters the incoming program(cid:173)
`ming by scanning the input programs on bus 109, overwriting
`undesired programs, and retaining only desired programs.
`Such a feature is particularly useful in this era of in(cid:173)
`creased channel capacity from cable, satellite, and digital
`distribution channels.
`Additionally, a portion of the storage section 104 of
`the multi-source recorder player 100 can be cycled. Memory
`is cycled when the multi-source recorder player 100 is set
`to operate a FIFO buffer for auto recording storage alloca(cid:173)
`tion 104c in the storage section 104. The auto recording
`storage allocation FIFO buffer 104c temporarily caches pro(cid:173)
`grams from a selection of channels on a FIFO basis and
`preferably retains certain of those programs as selected by
`the user, or as selected by the user's viewing patterns
`recognized by neural network analysis circuit 114. After
`user or neural network selection, the program is retained
`by being added to the stored program list 600.
`In this way
`data is retained by multi-source recorder-player into stor(cid:173)
`age section 104. The memory is cycled because the FIFO
`
`I
`
`

`

`W092/22983
`
`PCT/US92/04573
`
`- 8 -
`
`buffer 104c causes only selected desired progrannning to be
`stored in storage section 104 and listed in the stored pro(cid:173)
`gram list 600. Preferably, all unchosen programs are over(cid:173)
`written by the next auto recording storage allocation FIFO
`pass.
`Programs are not actually moved from the FIFO buffer
`104c to storage section 104 but rather the reference to
`them is added to the stored program list 600. The user or
`neural network decision determines the program starting
`point. When the first program buffered in the storage sec(cid:173)
`tion 104 has been either stored or discarded, the next pro(cid:173)
`gram becomes the first program. Additionally, programs may
`be erased from storage section 104 and new programs added
`from the FIFO buffer 104c.
`With auto-recording storage allocation enabled, the
`selection of a program for storage listing and retention
`can be performed some time after the programs or portions
`of the programs are received. For example, a user can se(cid:173)
`lect a program for storage listing and retention after
`viewing the program, or the choice can be made while the
`program is being viewed. Alternatively, selection can be
`,
`made automatically by the neural network analysis circuit
`114.
`
`~helrtult.i--~oux,-ee rec:ord~rplayerl,00 ca.n also px-efE?r(cid:173)
`ab:Lyclccessdat~a.sE!s of compressed ancJ.non .... coI11p:ressE?d au(cid:173)
`dio arid video da.ta. The multi-source recorder player 100
`can access databases through one or more of the input
`ports. For example, controller 105 can operate a com(cid:173)
`munication session with a remote computer via signal path
`101g of the multi-source recorder player 100. The remote
`computer can be connected via an ISDN network connection,
`for example. The selected remote program data can be input
`to the multi-source recorder player 100 and stored in the
`
`

`

`WO92/22983
`
`PCT /US92/04573
`
`- 9 -
`
`storage section 104. This transfer process can preferably
`occur concurrently with other activities in the multi(cid:173)
`source recorder player 100.
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
`the multi-source recorder player 100 preferably includes
`input demodulator section 113.
`In the preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment, input demodulator section 113 includes a plurality of
`input demodulators 113a-113g. The number of input demodu(cid:173)
`lators 113a-113g corresponds directly to the number of
`modulated input signals 101a-101g which are received by the
`multi-source recorder player 100 and which may be simulta(cid:173)
`neously demodulated. The number of input demodulators
`l13a-113g may vary but there should be at least two. The
`input demodulators 113a-113g are preferably chosen to re(cid:173)
`ceive signals from one or more of the following: a VHF an(cid:173)
`tenna input, an FM antenna input, an AM antenna input, a
`cable television input, a Direct Broadcast Satellite input,
`a digital signal input, and an audio and video direct in(cid:173)
`put.
`
`The input demodulators 113a-113g demodulate signals
`from the following sources: VHF TV broadcasting, UHF TV
`broadcasting, FM radio broadcasting, AM radio broadcasting,
`cable television, satellite broadcasting, ISDN or other
`digital distribution sources and a VCR or-audio recorder.
`Moreover, of the plurality of input demodulators 113a-113g,
`more than one may preferably receive the same type of sig(cid:173)
`nal. Thus, for example, a plurality of cable television
`input signals may be received simultaneously by the multi(cid:173)
`source recorder player 100.
`Each of the plurality of input demodulators 113a-113g
`respectively receives an input signal lOla-lOlg comprising
`audio and/or video information. The signals are received
`
`

`

`W092/22983
`
`PCT/US92/04573
`
`- 10 -
`
`via an input connector located on the rear of the multi(cid:173)
`source recorder player 100.
`Input signals 101a-10lg are
`demodulated separately by each of the plurality of demodu(cid:173)
`lators 113a-113g. After demodulation by input demodulators
`113a-113g, the audio and video signals are separately con(cid:173)
`verted to digital signals by analog to digital (a/d) con(cid:173)
`version section 102. Conversion section 102 preferably
`comprises a plurality of a/d converters 102a-102f.
`In the
`preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, input signals lOla-
`101£ are analog signals. Therefore, there is one a/d con(cid:173)
`verter 102a-102f for each simultaneously viewable and re(cid:173)
`cordable analog input signal 10la-10lf.
`Once the signals are a/d converted, they are passed to
`digital compression section 103 for data reduction. Digi(cid:173)
`tal compression section 103 preferably includes a plurality
`of compressors 103a-103f. There is one compressor
`103a-103f for each non-compressed input signal 101a-101f
`which may be input to the multi-source recorder player 100.
`Compression may be performed simultaneously in each of the
`compressors 103a-103f. The data quantities in the con(cid:173)
`verted signals are preferably reduced by a factor of ap(cid:173)
`proximately 200 for video signals, and a by factor of ap(cid:173)
`proximately 8 for audio signals. Compression performed by
`compressors 103a-103f increases the storage capacity and
`the signal handling capacity of the multi-source recorder
`player 100. By routing and storing signals in their com(cid:173)
`pressed form, the multi-source recorder player 100 can
`store and distribute large quantities of programming simul(cid:173)
`taneously.
`Once compressed in compression section 103, the data