System and Method for Providing Video Program Information or Video Program content to a User

Abstract

In a system for broadcasting video programs to a user including a display, a system and method for providing program information or a copy of at least a portion of a program to the user. In one aspect, a device tuned to a channel for a period of time communicates a request for a portion of a program transmitted prior to the period of time. The device may generate a prompt seeking approval to make the request. A controller receiving the request may cause the portion to be provided from storage in response to the request. A controller may alternatively monitor a period of time during which a device is tuned to a channel and provide a copy of at least a portion of the program when the period exceeds a predetermined threshold time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a computing device, that a channel has been tuned to for a period of time, wherein the period of time is associated with a first portion of a content;   communicating, responsive to the determining, a request for a second portion of a content, wherein the second portion of the content comprises a portion of the content transmitted via the channel prior to the period of time; and   receiving, responsive to the request, the second portion of the content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a portion of the content beginning at a start time of the content and ending at a start time of the period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating, prior to communicating the request to retrieve the second portion of the content, a prompt requesting approval to generate the request to retrieve the second portion of the content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising outputting the second portion of the content. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing output of the first portion of the content on a first portion of an associated device associated with the computing device; and   causing output of the second portion of the content on a second portion of the associated device, the second portion of the device being different from the first portion of the associated device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing locally the content in response to the request for the second portion of the content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the second portion of the content comprises receiving the second portion of the content from a device remote from the computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the device remote from the computing device is a device configured to store the content during transmission of the content. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a computing device, a request for the computing device to tune to a channel, wherein the request is received after a start time of transmission of a content via the channel;   determining, by the computing device, that a length of time since the receiving of the request exceeds a threshold;   communicating a request for a requested portion of the content in response to determining that the length of time exceeds the threshold; and   receiving the portion of the content, wherein the portion of the content comprises a portion of the content starting at the start time and ending at a receipt time of the request for the computing device to tune to the channel.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising outputting, by the computing device and prior to the determining, a different portion of the content received responsive to the request to tune to the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 causing output of the different portion of the content on a first portion of an associated device associated with the computing device; and   causing output of the requested portion of the content on a second portion of the associated device, the second portion of the associated device being different from the first portion of the associated device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the determining comprises determining an amount of the different portion of the content that has been received by the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the determining comprises determining an amount of time that the computing device has been set to receive the different portion of the content. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising generating, prior to communicating the request to retrieve the requested portion of the content, a prompt requesting approval to generate the request to retrieve the requested portion of the content. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the portion of the content comprises receiving the portion of the content from a device remote from the computing device and configured to store the content during transmission of the content. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 causing, by a first computing device and at a first time, transmission of a program via a channel;   receiving, from a second computing device and at a second time, a request for a portion of the program, wherein receiving the request indicates that the second computing device has been tuned to the channel for a period of time beginning at a third time and ending at the second time, wherein the third time is after the first time and before the second time; and   responsive to the request, causing transmission of a portion of the program transmitted via the channel between the first time and the third time.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein causing transmission of the portion of the program comprises causing a remote device to transmit the portion of the program. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the remote device is configured to store the program during transmission of the program. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the remote device is a device remote from the first computing device and the second computing device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising storing the program at the first computing device prior to the causing transmission of the program via the channel.