Digital video recorder system with an integrated DVD recording device

摘要

A digital video recorder (DVR) system with an integrated DVD recording device accepts TV input streams in a multitude of forms. Analog TV streams are converted to an MPEG formatted stream for internal transfer and manipulation, while pre-formatted MPEG streams are extracted from the digital TV signal and presented in a similar format. Indexes within the MPEG stream are determined and saved at predefined intervals and are stored on a hard disk along with the MPEG program material and used to create navigation packets when writing to a DVD inserted in an integrated DVD player/recorder. When a program is requested for display from the hard disk or the integrated DVD player/recorder, the program material are extracted from the appropriate source and reassembled into an MPEG stream which is sent to a decoder. The decoder converts the MPEG stream into TV output signals and delivers the TV output signals to a TV monitor. User control commands are accepted which affect the flow of the MPEG stream allowing the user to view stored programs with special functions: reverse, fast forward, play, pause, index, fast/slow reverse play, and fast/slow play. The user can select program material stored on the hard disk to be written to a DVD and can also select program material stored on a DVD to be transferred to the hard disk.

主权项

1. A method for a digital video recorder (DVR) incorporating an integrated digital video device (DVD) player/recorder, comprising:
accepting analog and/or digital television broadcast signals by a plurality of input signal tuners in a DVR, each of the input signal tuners of the plurality of input signal tuners is individually tuned to a specific broadcast signal; storing specific broadcast signals as digital program material on at least one storage device at the DVR; wherein a DVD player/recorder resides in the DVR; determining pointers to frames within a broadcast signal at specific intervals within the broadcast signal, the broadcast signal received from an input signal tuner among the plurality of input signal tuners, as the broadcast signal is being stored as digital program material; storing the determined pointers as indexes along with the digital program material on the at least one storage device; receiving a selection of one or more program material stored on the at least one storage device to be transferred to the DVD player/recorder; writing the one or more selected program material along with associated indexes stored in periodic navigation packets onto a DVD inserted into the DVD player/recorder, the writing step places a serial number or encoded key specific to the DVR on the inserted DVD; and upon detection of a recorded DVD being inserted into the DVD player/recorder:
validating the recorded DVD by extracting a serial number or encoded key from the recorded DVD and comparing the extracted serial number or encoded key with a list of serial numbers or encoded keys of DVRs owned by a specific user; andin response to the extracted serial number or encoded key appearing on the list, allowing the inserted DVD to be read.