Interactive television program guide with simultaneous watch and record capabilities

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may use the program guide to watch one program while simultaneously recording another program without interrupting the recording or viewing process. This interactive television program guide system also allows a user the to utilize all or some of the program guide features while in the watch and record mode depending on the embodiment that is being implemented. Further, this watch and record system may be implemented using a multiple tuner set-top box or a single tuner set-top box with a RF bypass or digital switch. In addition to a set-top box, the system may be implemented using a satellite receiver, an advanced television with a processor and memory, or a computer. The various implementations provide a very versatile watch and record environment for the user.

1 - 199 . (canceled)  
     
     
         200 . A method for performing multiple operations using multiple tuners controlled by an interactive television program guide, the method comprising: 
 receiving a first user input to perform a first tuning operation;    in response to the first user input, allocating a first tuner to perform the first tuning operation;    receiving a second user input to perform a second tuning operation;    in response to the second user input, determining whether the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation; and    allocating a second tuner to perform the second tuning operation to prevent interruption of the first tuning operation performed by the first tuner when it is determined that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation.    
     
     
         201 . The method of  claim 200  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         202 . The method of  claim 200  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         203 . The method of  claim 200  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for recording using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         204 . The method of  claim 200  further comprising: 
 allocating the first tuner to perform both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation when it is determined that the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation.    
     
     
         205 . The method of  claim 204  wherein the determination that the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of the first channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         206 . The method of  claim 205  further comprising: 
 receiving a user selection of a second channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide; and    in response to the user selection of the second channel for viewing, allocating the second tuner to tune to the second channel for viewing to prevent interruption of the recording.    
     
     
         207 . The method of  claim 200  further comprising: 
 determining whether the second tuner is capable of performing more tuner functions than the first tuner; and    wherein the allocating the first tuner to perform the first tuning operation further comprises allocating the first tuner to perform the first tuning operation when it is determined that the second tuner is capable of performing more tuner functions than the first tuner.    
     
     
         208 . The method of  claim 200  further comprising: 
 receiving at least one other user input to perform at least one other tuning operation;    in response to the other user input, determining whether the first tuner or the second tuner is capable of performing the other tuning operation; and    allocating at least one other tuner to perform the other user tuning operation when it is determined that the first tuner or the second tuner is not capable of performing the other tuning operation.    
     
     
         209 . The method of  claim 200  wherein the first user input or the second user input comprise a user selection using the interactive television program guide of a tuner function selected from the group consisting of providing a picture-in-picture signal, collecting program guide data, browsing the Internet, and playing a music channel.  
     
     
         210 . The method of  claim 200  wherein allocation of the first tuner and the second tuner is performed using switching circuitry.  
     
     
         211 . The method of  claim 200  wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are included in a single device.  
     
     
         212 . A machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide, wherein the interactive television program guide is used to control multiple tuners to perform multiple operations, the machine-readable medium having machine program. logic recorded thereon for: 
 receiving a first user input to perform a first tuning operation;    in response to the first user input, allocating a first tuner to perform the first tuning operation;    receiving a second user input to perform a second tuning operation;    in response to the second user input, determining whether the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation; and    allocating a second tuner to perform the second tuning operation to prevent interruption of the first tuning operation performed by the first tuner when it is determined that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation.    
     
     
         213 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         214 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         215 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for recording using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         216 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 allocating the first tuner to perform both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation when it is determined that the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation.    
     
     
         217 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 216  wherein the determination that the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of the first channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         218 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 217  further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 receiving a user selection of a second channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide; and    in response to the user selection of the second channel for viewing, allocating the second tuner to tune to the second channel for viewing to prevent interruption of the recording.    
     
     
         219 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 determining whether the second tuner is capable of performing more tuner functions than the first tuner; and    wherein the allocating the first tuner to perform the first tuning operation further comprises allocating the first tuner to perform the first tuning operation when it is determined that the second tuner is capable of performing more tuner functions than the first tuner.    
     
     
         220 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  further comprising machine program logic recorded thereon for: 
 receiving at least one other user input to perform at least one other tuning operation;    in response to the other user input, determining whether the first tuner or the second tuner is capable of performing the other tuning operation; and    allocating at least one other tuner to perform the other tuning operation when it is determined that the first tuner or the second tuner is not capable of performing the other tuning operation.    
     
     
         221 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  wherein the first user input or the second user input comprise a user selection using the interactive television program guide of a tuner function selected from the group consisting of providing a picture-in-picture signal, collecting program guide data, browsing the Internet, and playing a music channel.  
     
     
         222 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  wherein allocation of the first tuner and the second tuner is performed using switching circuitry.  
     
     
         223 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 212  wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are included in a single device.  
     
     
         224 . A system for performing multiple operations using multiple tuners controlled by an interactive television program guide, the system comprising: 
 a first tuner;    a second tuner; and    an interactive television program guide implemented on the system, wherein the interactive television program guide is operative to: 
 receive a first user input to perform a first tuning operation;  
 in response to the first user input, allocate the first tuner to perform the first tuning operation;  
 receive a second user input to perform a second tuning operation;  
 in response to the second user input, determine whether the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation; and  
 allocate the second tuner to perform the second tuning operation to prevent interruption of the first tuning operation performed by the first tuner when it is determined that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation.  
   
     
     
         225 . The system of  claim 224  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         226 . The system of  claim 224  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         227 . The system of  claim 224  wherein the determination that the first tuner is not capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for recording using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of a second channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         228 . The system of  claim 224  wherein the interactive television program guide is further operative to: 
 allocate the first tuner to perform both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation when it is determined that the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation.    
     
     
         229 . The system of  claim 228  wherein the determination that the first tuner is capable of performing both the first tuning operation and the second tuning operation occurs when the first user input comprises a user selection of a first channel for viewing using the interactive television program guide, and the second user input comprises a user selection of the first channel for recording using the interactive television program guide.  
     
     
         230 . The system of  claim 229  wherein the interactive television program guide is further operative to: 
 receive a user selection of a second channel for viewing; and    in response to the user selection of the second channel for viewing, allocate the second tuner to tune to the second channel for viewing to prevent interruption of the recording.    
     
     
         231 . The system of  claim 224  wherein the interactive television program guide is further operative to: 
 determine whether the second tuner is capable of performing more tuner functions than the first tuner; and    wherein the allocating the first tuner to perform the first tuning operation further comprises allocating the first tuner to perform the first tuning operation when it is determined that the second tuner is capable of performing more tuner functions than the first tuner.    
     
     
         232 . The system of  claim 224  wherein the interactive television program guide is further operative to: 
 receive at least one other user input to perform at least one other tuning operation;    in response to the other user input, determine whether the first tuner or the second tuner is capable of performing the other tuning operation; and    allocate at least one other tuner to perform the other tuning operation when it is determined that the first tuner or the second tuner is not capable of performing the other tuning operation.    
     
     
         233 . The system of  claim 224  wherein the first user input or the second user input comprise a user selection using the interactive television program guide of a tuner function selected from the group consisting of providing a picture-in-picture signal, collecting program guide data, browsing the Internet, and playing a music channel.  
     
     
         234 . The system of  claim 224  further comprising: 
 switching circuitry, wherein the switching circuitry is used to allocate the first tuner and the second tuner.    
     
     
         235 . The system of  claim 224  wherein the first tuner and the second tuner are included in a single device.