Playback of audio/video content with control codes

Abstract

A system and method for time-shifted viewing of broadcast television programs is disclosed. Simultaneous recording and playback are provided by using buffer storage as the source and destination of compressed or uncompressed digital video/audio programs, Full VCR-like control is provided for all playback within the buffer storage, Playback and control of recorded programs may be initiated by the user at any time after initiation of the broadcast program with simultaneous continuous recording of the ongoing live broadcast. Larger archival storage and removable is also provided for storing and building a library of programs. Viewer playback control data may be stored as part of the program or used as edit points prior to archival. Numerous options are provided for features such as continuous automatic recording in a circular buffer fashion, program archival, editing, Internet interfaces, multiple-channel recording and more.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 storing a media content stream in one or more storage devices as the media content stream is being received from a content source;   causing display of the media content stream stored in the one or more storage devices;   while the media content stream is being displayed, receiving one or more viewer commands to fast forward through one or more portions of the media content stream;   storing one or more control codes corresponding to the one or more viewer commands in the one or more storage devices, the one or more control codes replicating the one or more viewer commands to fast forward through the one or more portions of the media content stream when the media content stream is played back from the one or more storage devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more portions of the media content stream correspond to one or more commercials. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more portions of the media content stream correspond to one or more objectionable material portions of the media content stream. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a remote control device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a touch pad device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received through voice control. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a viewer selects to play back the media content stream using the one or more control codes. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more storage devices configured to store a media content stream as the media content stream is being received from a content source;   a display processor configured to display the media content stream stored in the one or more storage devices;   a command input receiver configured to receive one or more viewer commands to fast forward through one or more portions of the media content stream while the media content stream is being displayed;   wherein the command input receiver stores one or more control codes corresponding to the one or more viewer commands in the one or more storage devices, the one or more control codes replicating the one or more viewer commands to fast forward through the one or more portions of the media content stream when the media content stream is played back from the one or more storage devices.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more portions of the media content stream correspond to one or more commercials. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a remote control device. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a touch pad device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received through voice control. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a viewer selects to play back the media content stream using the one or more control codes. 
     
     
         14 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media, storing one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of:
 storing a media content stream in one or more storage devices as the media content stream is being received from a content source;   causing display of the media content stream stored in the one or more storage devices;   while the media content stream is being displayed, receiving one or more viewer commands to fast forward through one or more portions of the media content stream;   storing one or more control codes corresponding to the one or more viewer commands in the one or more storage devices, the one or more control codes replicating the one or more viewer commands to fast forward through the one or more portions of the media content stream when the media content stream is played back from the one or more storage devices.   
     
     
         15 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more portions of the media content stream correspond to one or more commercials. 
     
     
         16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a remote control device. 
     
     
         17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received from a touch pad device. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more viewer commands are received through voice control. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 14 , wherein a viewer selects to play back the media content stream using the one or more control codes.