Video recorder having user extended and automatically extended time slots

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a video recorder having user extended and automatically extended time slots. An embodiment of the present invention includes a set top box having an internal storage device, such as a hard drive where broadcasts are transferred from a broadcast input source to the storage device. The set top box is connected to an output device such as a television, which displays a graphical user interface (GUI) and an interactive program guide (IPG). The user has the option to extend a chosen time slot, in which a show is scheduled to be transferred to the storage device. The time slot may be extended before the show, after the show, or both. The system also implements an automatic extension of the time slot by default, which is used to ensure that the data is completely captured to the system, in case the broadcast and the set top box are slightly out of sync, the broadcaster unexpectedly begins a show's broadcast slightly early or late, or the show unexpectedly runs longer than the IPG indicates.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method comprising:
 recording a first video on a storage device, wherein the first video includes a core segment and a user extended segment;   determining that at least a portion of the user extended segment corresponds to a second video, wherein the second video includes restricted access content; and   restricting access to the restricted access content when the first video is accessed from the storage device.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising:
 retrieving a content access setting associated with the second video in response to determining that the at least a portion of the user extended segment corresponds to a second video; and   determining, based on the content access setting associated with the second video, that the at least a portion of the user extended segment corresponds to restricted access content.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein restricting access to the restricted access content when the first video is accessed from the storage device includes blocking the first video when the first video is accessed from the storage device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein restricting access to the restricted access content when the first video is accessed from the storage device includes blocking only the at least a portion of the user extended segment that corresponds to the second video. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising storing the at least a portion of the user extended segment that corresponds to the second video separately from at least a portion of the first video. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising determining a first setting associated with the first video and a second setting associated with the second video. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising associating the first setting with the at least a portion of the user extended segment that corresponds to the second video. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising receiving a user input that includes the user extended segment in the first video. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising requesting proper authentication in order to include the user extended segment in the first video. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising requesting proper authentication in order to access the restricted access content when the first video is accessed from the storage device. 
     
     
         47 . A system comprising control circuitry configured to:
 record a first video on a storage device, wherein the first video includes a core segment and a user extended segment;   determine that at least a portion of the user extended segment corresponds to a second video, wherein the second video includes restricted access content; and   restrict access to the restricted access content when the first video is accessed from the storage device.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising control circuitry configured to:
 retrieve a content access setting associated with the second video in response to determining that the at least a portion of the user extended segment corresponds to a second video; and   determine, based on the content access setting associated with the second video, that the at least a portion of the user extended segment corresponds to restricted access content.   
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein restricting access to the restricted access content when the first video is accessed from the storage device includes blocking the first video when the first video is accessed from the storage device. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein restricting access to the restricted access content when the first video is accessed from the storage device includes blocking only the at least a portion of the user extended segment that corresponds to the second video. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising control circuitry configured to store the at least a portion of the user extended segment that corresponds to the second video separately from at least a portion of the first video. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising control circuitry configured to determine a first setting associated with the first video and a second setting associated with the second video. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52 , further comprising control circuitry configured to associate the first setting with the at least a portion of the user extended segment that corresponds to the second video. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising control circuitry configured to receive a user input that includes the user extended segment in the first video. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , further comprising control circuitry configured to request proper authentication in order to include the user extended segment in the first video. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising control circuitry configured to request proper authentication in order to access the restricted access content when the first video is accessed from the storage device.