Set-Top Box Tuner Multiplexing for Simultaneous Program Recording

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Solution Overview

Problem

Set-top boxes typically have limited RF tuners, restricting the number of programs that can be simultaneously received and recorded, leading to inefficiencies in content delivery and increased costs for content providers, especially in on-demand or premium content scenarios where bandwidth is limited.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using a single QAM communications channel to deliver multiple programs by multiplexing content, allowing a set-top box to receive and record more programs than its tuner count, with user interface features that enable users to select and record multiple programs from the same channel, and dynamic program-to-channel mapping based on user preferences and recording history.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If multiple programs are delivered over the same communications channel, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but the ability to simultaneously receive and record multiple programs is limited by the number of tuners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of simultaneously recordable programs

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the received transport stream into multiple virtual channels by identifying different program identifiers (PIDs) within the same physical QAM channel. The system divides the single received stream into multiple logical program streams, allowing one tuner to effectively monitor and record multiple programs simultaneously by processing different segments of the multiplexed data stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the single tuner universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions: receiving one physical channel while simultaneously extracting and processing multiple virtual channels programs from that same channel. The tuner becomes multi-functional by handling both the physical reception and logical segmentation of multiple programs through software-based virtual channel processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional tuners are added to STBs to increase the number of simultaneously recordable programs, then recording capability is improved, but hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of simultaneously recordable programsVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of channel reception capability through software processing. Instead of physically copying hardware tuners, the system uses software to create multiple virtual receiver instances that share the physical tuner resource. This allows multiple program streams to be processed simultaneously through virtualization, eliminating the need for additional physical hardware copies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of adding physical tuners with a software-based processing system. The solution substitutes hardware expansion with software-based virtual channel extraction and processing, using digital signal processing and data stream manipulation to achieve multi-program recording without additional RF tuning hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If content is retransmitted to provide multiple recording opportunities, then user recording flexibility is improved, but communications resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser recording flexibilityVSAvoidcommunications resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by capturing all desired programs in advance through a single reception of the multiplexed channel. The system pre-extracts and buffers multiple program streams from the incoming data flow before user selection is finalized, allowing users to select from pre-cached programs without requiring retransmission or additional tuning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8732734B2Methods and apparatus supporting the recording of multiple simultaneously broadcast programs communicated using the same communications channel

Publication Date: 2014.05.20 TIME WARNER CABLE ENTERPRISES LLC

AI summary

A user recovers and records multiple programs communicated simultaneously using a communications channel, e.g., QAM communications channel. The simultaneous communication may be by communicating, e.g., an MPEG-2 transport stream including data corresponding to multiple programs through a corresponding to QAM communications channel. Thus a user device, e.g., a set top box, is able to receive and record programs corresponding to multiple simultaneously broadcast programs using a single tuner. This allows a device to receive and record or display more programs at any given time, than the number of QAM tuners and/or receivers in the user device. Novel user interface features which facilitate a user's ability to identify and record multiple programs corresponding to a QAM channel are also described. Methods and apparatus for determining program to communication channel mappings based on user program recordation information are also described.