WO2006075300A1

WO2006075300A1 - Method for creating a recovered virtual title

Info

Publication number: WO2006075300A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/050102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Josephus J. M. M. Geelen
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.; U.S. Philips Corporation
Priority date: 2005-01-12
Filing date: 2006-01-11
Publication date: 2006-07-20

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reassembling a VT for playback on a PVR (1) subsequent to archiving, in which a portion of the title is located on the hard disc (4) of the PVR (1) and a portion of the title is located on the removable medium (5). When a VT is created by a user, the multiple different play intervals involved can have multiple different copy protection statuses, from 'copy never' to 'copy free.' Thus, when a VT is archived to removable media (5) (e.g., recordable DVD/CD or BD-RE/BD-R), it is possible that only a portion of the VT will be archived. Likewise, it is possible that only a portion of the VT will remain on the hard disc (4) of the PVR (1). The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for reconstructing the VT using a recovered virtual title (RVT) which maps the location of each individual play interval of a VT on the hard disc and the removable media, so that the user can replay the VT using the combination of the hard disc (4) and the removable media (5).

Description

METHOD FOR CREATING A RECOVERED VIRTUAL TITLE

The invention generally relates to the archiving, copying and playback of files on or from digital media on personal video recorders (PVRs) having removable discs, such as digital video discs (DVD's) or recordable Blu-ray discs (BD-RE or BD-R). More specifically, the invention is directed to a method for recovering portions of a virtual title that may be lost during archiving or copying due to copy protection rules.

Advances in personal video recorder (PVR) technology provide users with a wide variety of functionality relating to recording, editing, producing and viewing recorded video and audio content. PVRs can be used to store TV video programming on an internal hard drive and can function like a personalized video server, allowing end-users to "time shift" their TV viewing. While watching live TV, the user can "pause" and "rewind", as well as "fast-forward" to catch up to the live broadcast. PVRs also act as autonomous agents, searching all of the available programming and building a dynamic menu of personalized content choices that the user can access at his/her convenience. Commercial PVRs are marketed by companies such as TiVo and ReplayTV.

PVRs allow users to purchase video or audio products (entities or collections) by downloading from a satellite, a cable television distribution network, the Internet, another network or other high-bandwidth systems. When so downloaded, the video or audio can be stored to a local disk system or burned onto a removable media element (RM) such as a recordable DVD/CD or recordable Blu-ray disc (BD-RE, BD-R). In some cases, the content stored on the PVR or the RM can be supplemented with additional content, e.g., from a LAN, the Internet and/or another network and displayed or played on a presentation device, such as a computer screen, a television, and/or an audio and/or video playback device. The combined content can be burned together onto the RM, or stored together on, for example the PVR, other computer hard drive, or other storage medium. This content is often referred to as an "Original Title," (OT) since it represents the largely unedited recorded content.

The internal hard drive of the PVR allows the user to manipulate the recorded content (i.e. one or more OTs) prior to copying/archiving to the storage medium. For example, if a particular recorded segment is of low value to the user (e.g. a television commercial, adult language, violence), or is otherwise aesthetically or technically unappealing, it can be deleted prior to copying/archiving. Additionally, if the user wishes to edit the recorded segments to otherwise shorten the overall recording, or to rearrange individual segments of recorded content, such functionality can be supported in the PVR. Editing the recorded content in this manner creates what is termed a "Virtual Title" (VT) that omits parts of the OT or which combines selected portions of different OTs. The VT will contain only those play segments or portions of audio or audio-video (AV) content from the OT or OT' s to which references or pointers are directed.

Since purchased audio or video content is usually subject to copyright protection, content recorded on a PVR may carry with it protections aimed at limiting the number of subsequent copies that can be made by the user. Typically, this protection is implemented by encoding the content with various software-based rules (called copy protection system (CPS) rules) that signal downstream devices (the PVR or other presentation, copying or archiving device, etc.) whether to allow or to prevent copying the content. A range of intermediate protection statuses also exist, such as allowing the user to make a single back up copy of the content, or to limit the playing or reproduction of the content to a specific period of time, duration, or number of plays or viewings. The VT will, by its nature, typically contain multiple individual play intervals (PIs) which represent the cut up segments of the OT assembled during the editing process. Depending on the extent of the editing performed, and the copy protection statuses of the OTs from which the content is taken, the individual PIs of the new VT can have different copy protection statuses. The result may be that when the user attempts to copy or archive the VT to the RM, only those PIs that are allowed by the CPS rules to be copied will end up on the removable medium. Depending on the particular CPS rules associated with the individual PIs, a portion of the VT will remain on the PVR hard drive. An example of this is illustrated in Fig. 1. As can be seen in Fig. 1, due to the CPS rules, only three of the four PIs making up the VT were copied to the removable media during archiving. Similarly, only three of the four PIs remain on the hard disc after archiving. Thus, neither medium contains a complete copy of the VT, and so the user would be unable to replay the entire VT from either media.

Depending on the CPS status of the PIs, it may not be possible to re-assemble the VT. For example if any of the archived PIs were assigned the "copy-once" status, it would not be possible copy this PI back to the PVR hard disc. Likewise, if any of the PIs were assigned the "copy never" status, the user would never be able to copy those PIs to the removable medium. Thus, there is a need for a system and method that allows a user to replay an entire VT, where some of the PIs of the VT are stored on the PVR hard disc and the rest are stored on the removable media.

According to an aspect of the invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for reconstructing an Original Title using an extended virtual title (called a Recovered Virtual Title (RVT)). The RVT assembles the play-intervals from a recording device, such as a PVR and from the removable media together so that the playback of the RVT is identical to that of the Original Title.

A method is disclosed for creating an RVT from a VT on a PVR, comprising: recording first and second OTs on a storage media of a PVR, the first OT having a first recorded content comprising a first PI with an encoded copy protection status and the second OT having a second recorded content comprising a second PI having an encoded copy protection status; creating a VT on the PVR having a third recorded content that comprises the first and second PIs; archiving the third recorded content to a removable media; wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media and the copy protection status of the second PI prevents the second PI from being copied to the removable media; and creating an RVT that comprises the third recorded content, the RVT identifying the first PI on the removable media and the second PI on the storage media of the PVR; the RVT further identifying a play order of the first and second PIs. A PVR for playing an RVT from a VT is disclosed, comprising: a storage media having first and second OTs recorded thereon, the first OT having a first recorded content comprising a first play interval PI with an encoded copy protection status and the second OT having a second recorded content comprising a second PI having an encoded copy protection status. The storage media can have a VT comprising a third recorded content that comprises the first and second PIs. The PVR can further comprise a processor operable to cause the third recorded content to be archived to a removable media; wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media and the copy protection status of the second PI prevents the second PI from being copied to the removable media. The processor can further be operable to create an RVT that comprises the third recorded content, the RVT identifying the first PI on the removable media and the second PI on the storage media of the PVR; the RVT further identifying a play order of the first and second PIs. A device is disclosed for creating an RVT from a virtual title VT on a PVR, comprising: a processor executing instructions input by a user in the form of code. A first code segment can be provided for recording first and second original titles (OTs) on a storage media of a PVR, the first OT having a first recorded content comprising a first play interval (PI) with an encoded copy protection status, the second OT having a second recorded content comprising a second PI having an encoded copy protection status. A second code segment can be provided for creating a VT on the PVR having a third recorded content that comprises the first and second PIs. A third code segment can be provided for archiving the third recorded content to a removable media; wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media and the copy protection status of the second PI prevents the second PI from being copied to the removable media. A fourth code segment can be provided for creating an RVT that comprises the third recorded content, the RVT identifying the first PI on the RM and the second PI on the storage media of the PVR; the RVT further identifying a play order of the first and second PIs. The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawing figures.

Figs, la-c are schematic illustrations of an exemplary virtual title, with multiple play intervals, before and after archiving;

Figs. 2a-c are schematic illustrations of the play intervals associated with a virtual title and a recovered virtual title, after archiving;

Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a system for using the invention.

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, exemplary embodiments disclosing specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art having had the benefit of the present disclosure, that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from the specific details disclosed herein. Moreover, descriptions of well-known devices, methods and materials may be omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention.

An exemplary system comprises a PVR having a hard disc as well as archiving capabilities so that recorded information, typically in the form of audio and AV content, can be archived to RM, such as recordable DVD/CD or BD-RE/BD-R. When a PVR records AV content to the hard disc, a copy protection status is associated with the content. As previously described, these statuses can be "copy never, " "copy once, " "copy once-transfer, " "copy free," or copy time shifted. "Copy never" is used to mark digital content to indicate that the content is not allowed to be copied, while "copy free" indicates that the content may be copied freely and which can be marked with additional information. This is different than material that is never marked. "Copy once" is used to indicate that the digital content is allowed to be copied only once. As a copy is being made, the original "copy once" content and the newly copied content are re-marked with "copy no more." Copy once-transfer is used to indicate that the content can be copied once and subsequently transferred to a second medium if it is deleted from the first medium. "Copy time shifted" may allow temporary storage, e.g., less than 40 minutes.

A VT on the hard disc of the PVR can contain multiple play-intervals each having a different copy protection status. For example, modern PVRs are capable of recording large amounts of AV content. For example, for standard definition recording, more than 40 hours of AV content can be recorded, depending on quality. Alternatively, for high definition recording, up to about 11 hours of AV content can be recorded. Thus numerous different OTs can reside on the hard disc at any one time, each with its own copy protection status. As a result, when a user combines portions of several original titles to create a VT, the individual play intervals associated with those portions will have the copy protection status of the OT from which it originated. Thus, when such a title is copied/archived to an RM, only the play-intervals of the VT that are allowed to be copied or transferred will end up on the removable medium. The end result can be that only a portion of the VT is copied or archived to the removable disc, and that a corresponding portion of the VT resides on the hard disc of the PVR, and is in danger of being overwritten. This condition is illustrated in Figs. la-c.

Referring to Fig. Ia, a portion of a Virtual Title (VT) is shown. The illustrated VT resides on the PVR hard disc subsequent to recording, and prior to archiving. The VT in this example has four discrete play intervals PIl - PI4, each with its own copy protect status. As can be seen, the status of interval PIl is "copy never " the status of intervals PI2 and PI4 is "copy free," and the status of PI3 is "copy once transfer." It is noted that although a VT having four discrete PIs is illustrated, that the VT can have any practical number of PIs with any of a variety of different combinations of copy protection statuses. Referring to Figs. Ib and Ic, the status and location of each PI is shown subsequent to archiving (i.e. after the VT has been copied to the RM. As can be seen in Fig. Ib, copies of the PIs having "copy never " and "copy free" status are retained on the PVR's hard disc. For play interval PIl, this is because the copy protection rules prevented the interval from being archived, and thus it remains on the hard disc. For PI2 and PI4, the copy protection rules allow unlimited copies of these intervals to be made and thus archiving was allowed, and furthermore, the copy on the PVR's hard disc was not deleted. As can be seen in Fig. Ic, copies of those PIs having "copy free " status (i.e. PI2, PI4) and "copy-once transfer" status (i.e. PI3) status were copied to the RM. PD was deleted from the hard disc when it was copied to the removable medium. As a result, subsequent to the archiving operation, play intervals PIl, PI2 and PI4 remain on the hard disc of the PVR, while play intervals PI2, PI3 and PI4 reside on the removable medium. As can be seen, a user attempting to archive the VT could assume, upon reading the contents of the removable medium, that PIl was lost, and thus is no longer available for viewing. In reality, a copy of PI 1 remains on the PVR. Replay of the entire VT, however, cannot be performed using only the PVR or using only the removable medium. Moreover, the entire VT can not be reloaded back onto the hard disc of the PVR because PB, as can be seen by reference to Fig. Ic, has assumed "copy never" status once archiving has occurred, and thus it can not be rewritten from the removable medium back to the hard disc.

A solution to this problem is to generate what is termed a "Recovered Virtual Title" (RVT) on the PVR. The RVT is comprised of PIs from both the PVR hard disc and the removable media, the combination of which form the entire list of PIs that formed the VT. Thus, when the RVT is selected by the end user for replay, it can be used to play back the content in the same manner as the VT on the PVR.

Referring to Fig. 2b, an exemplary RVT map is shown. The RVT can comprise a table of pointers or "entry points," that identify the location of each PI associated with the VT. Specifically, the pointers or "entry points" identify the exact location on the hard disc or removable media where the desired PIs can be found. Fig. 2b shows the RVT comprising all of the PIs associated with the VT of Fig. Ia - PIl - PI4. However, with the RVT, PIl, PI2 and PI4 are mapped (for replay) from the hard disc of the PVR, (Fig. 2a) while PI3 is mapped (for replay) from the removable medium (Fig. 2c). Although it would be possible to replay PI2 and PI4 from the removable medium (Fig. 2c), preferably the system will replay PIs from the hard disc if possible. Thus, the RVT is an extension of a normal VT used by PVRs and/or RM systems, in which "normal VT" means that all of the PIs are located on a single disc.

In one embodiment, the RVT is an extension of the information relating to the properties of the VT that are stored on the hard disc. The PIs in the RVT have a media "pointer" which identifies the location on each media element where a desired PI is located, so that it can be retrieved. Also, the RVT can have a media identification entry (e.g. an "ID") that identifies the removable media element upon which the relevant PI data resides, to ensure the correct media element is mounted in the PVR for playback. In addition to the ID, the RVT can also have an associated text string for displaying a message or instruction to the user. In one example the text string could be used to provide instructions to the user about the identity of the removable media element to be loaded, as well as any other desired instructions about how to properly play back the RVT.

The RVT map information can be stored on the PVR hard disc. Copies of the RVT map information can also be stored in other non-volatile memory such as one or more of the removable media elements associated with the RVT. Properties relating to the VT can include a title identifier, which comprises a unique reference number for title identification. This can be a file name or a unique number. Additionally, a "Start Position in Title" can be provided, which identifies the position within the relevant file at which the particular PI begins. The start position can be a reference (i.e. a pointer) to the beginning point on the media, or within a media file, for the desired PI. This reference can be expressed in terms of a time, such as when using MPEG formatted data. For MPEG data streams, the pointer points to a "time," and this time is translated to a particular byte location on the disc (hard disc or removable medium) where the targeted PI resides. Further, a "Length" can be stored, which identifies the length of the PI within the specific file. This "Length" can be expressed as a number of bytes of data. When using BD-RE or BD-R, a pointer is provided that points to a file in which the targeted PI resides. Furthermore, each PI can contain information that indicates whether the PI is located on the PVR or the removable media. This information will typically be stored as one of the RVT table entries that as part of the information identifying the PI. In addition, the RVT, which is stored along with the VT on the hard disc, can contain a separate reference that identifies the removable media element on which a portion of the VT is stored. As previously noted, the reference to the removable media element can be an identification number and/or a name of the removable media element. When the RVT is selected for playback by the user, the system can provide an audible or visual cue to the user comprising an instruction to load the relevant removable media element into the PVR for playback.

To the user, the RVT will have the appearance of a typical title, and can be displayed as a menu item on the user's display (e.g. television screen). Upon selection, however, the user will be prompted to load the appropriate removable media element.

Further, upon archiving, the system can provide the user with a visual or audible message that signals the user that only portions of the VT were copied to the removable media due to copy protection rules associated with the individual PIs. Such a message or warning can be used to alleviate concerns the user may have about loss of data. In an alternative embodiment, the user can be warned before and after archiving. Where a warning is provided before archiving the user, the user has the option of not archiving, if it is a priority to the user to play the entirety of the VT from one piece of media (i.e. the hard disc).

It is noted that while the invention has been described in relation to an PVR that uses a single removable media element (i.e. a single recordable DVD or BD-RE/BD-R), it can also be used to assemble an RVT from multiple removable media elements, such as several individual DVDs or BDs. The use of multiple removable media elements, however, could result in less than superior playback continuity due to the presence of gaps in the video and/or audio playback caused by the mechanical loading and unloading of the different removable media elements. Additionally, the invention is flexible in that it can allow the user to manipulate the content of the RVT to create a modified RVT that is different from the Original VT. Thus, in one embodiment, the end user can make edits to the RVT by inserting additional content from the PVR together with content from the removable media to make a new RVT, which can be referred to as an "enhanced virtual title" (EVT) or a "super virtual title" (SVT). Furthermore, the user can skip some of the content of the RVT that is located on the removable media or the PVR, thus reducing or eliminating reliance on the removable media. With an EVT or SVT, the user could insert copy protected portions from a removable media element, for example, allowing the user to make their own movie summary or trailer, with the copy protected portions being played from the removable media. An exemplary system is illustrated in reference to Fig. 3. The system comprises a PVR 1 connected, at least temporarily, to a television (TV) or other input 2 for providing AV data to the PVR 1. The PVR 1 can have a processor 3 for controlling device operations, a non-volatile storage media 4 such as a hard disc, and a removable media (RM) drive 5 in which a recordable DVD/CD or BD-RE/BD-R can be received for archiving of AV content from the storage media 4. The PVR 1 can have a display 6 for providing information to the user. Such information, either audio or visual in nature, can also be provided via the attached TV 2 or other display. As will be appreciated, the illustration of Fig. 3 is logical in nature, and thus a detailed and complete interconnection schematic between the illustrated components is not provided.

The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings and with the skill and knowledge of the relevant art are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiment described herein above is further intended to explain the best mode presently known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention as such, or in other embodiments, and with the various modifications required by their particular application or uses of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for creating a recovered virtual title (RVT) from a virtual title (VT) on a personal video recorder (PVR) (1), comprising: recording first and second original titles (OTs) on a storage media (4) of a PVR (1), the first OT having a first recorded content comprising a first play interval (PI) with an encoded copy protection status, the second OT having a second recorded content comprising a second PI having an encoded copy protection status; creating a VT on the PVR (1) having a third recorded content that comprises the first and second PIs; archiving the third recorded content to a removable media; wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and the copy protection status of the second PI prevents the second PI from being copied to the removable media (5); and creating an RVT that comprises the third recorded content, the RVT identifying the first PI on the removable media (5) and the second PI on the storage media (4) of the PVR (1); the RVT further identifying a play order of the first and second PIs.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising replaying the RVT using the PVR (1) by playing the first PI from the removable media (5) and playing the second PI from the storage media (4) in the play order.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage media (4) of the PVR (1) comprises a hard disc.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and deletes the third PI from the storage media (4) on the PVR (1).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording step further comprises recording third and fourth OTs on a storage media (4) of the PVR (1), the third OT having a third recorded content comprising a third PI with an encoded copy protection status, the fourth OT having a fourth recorded content comprising a fourth PI having an encoded copy protection status; and wherein the third recorded content comprises the first, second, third and fourth PIs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the archiving step further comprises copying the third recorded content to a removable media (5); wherein the copy protection status of the third PI allows the third PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and deletes the third PI from the storage media (4) on the PVR (1).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the RVT further comprises information identifying the removable media (5) to which the PIs of the third recorded content have been copied.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of providing a prompt to a user to associate the removable media (5) with the PVR (1); and replaying the RVT from the storage media (4) on the PVR and the removable media (5).

9. A PVR (I) for playing an RVT from a VT, comprising: a storage media having first and second original titles (OTs) recorded thereon, the first OT having a first recorded content comprising a first play interval (PI) with an encoded copy protection status, the second OT having a second recorded content comprising a second PI having an encoded copy protection status; the storage media (4) having a VT comprising a third recorded content that comprises the first and second PIs; a processor (3) operable to cause the third recorded content to be archived to a removable media (5); wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and the copy protection status of the second PI prevents the second PI from being copied to the removable media (5); the processor (3) operable to create an RVT that comprises the third recorded content, the RVT identifying the first PI on the removable media (5) and the second PI on the storage media (4) of the PVR (1); the RVT further identifying a play order of the first and second PIs.

10. The PVR (1) of claim 9, wherein the processor (3) is further operable to cause the RVT to be replayed using the PVR by playing the first PI from the removable media (5) and playing the second PI from the storage media (4) in the play order.

11. The PVR (1) of claim 9, wherein the storage media (4) of the PVR (1) comprises a hard disc.

12. The PVR (1) of claim 9, wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and causes the processor to delete the third PI from the storage media (4) on the PVR (1).

13. The PVR (1) of claim 9, wherein the storage media (4) further comprises third and fourth OTs, the third OT having a third recorded content comprising a third PI with an encoded copy protection status, the fourth OT having a fourth recorded content comprising a fourth PI having an encoded copy protection status; and wherein the third recorded content comprises the first, second, third and fourth PIs.

14. The PVR (1) of claim 13, wherein the archiving step further comprises copying the third recorded content to a removable media (5); wherein the copy protection status of the third PI allows the third PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and deletes the third PI from the storage media (4) on the PVR.

15. The PVR (1) of claim 14, wherein the RVT further comprises information identifying the removable media (5) to which the PIs of the third recorded content have been copied.

16. The PVR (1) of claim 15, wherein the processor (3) is operable to cause a prompt to be displayed to a user to associate the removable media (5) with the PVR so that the RVT is replayable from the storage media (4) on the PVR (1) and the removable media (5).

17. A device (1) for creating a recovered virtual title (RVT) from a virtual title (VT) on a personal video recorder (PVR), comprising: a processor (3) executing instructions input by a user in the form of code; code for recording first and second original titles (OTs) on a storage media (4) of a PVR, the first OT having a first recorded content comprising a first play interval (PI) with an encoded copy protection status, the second OT having a second recorded content comprising a second PI having an encoded copy protection status; code for creating a VT on the PVR (1) having a third recorded content that comprises the first and second PIs; code for archiving the third recorded content to a removable media (5); wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and the copy protection status of the second PI prevents the second PI from being copied to the removable media (5); code for creating an RVT that comprises the third recorded content, the RVT identifying the first PI on the removable media (5) and the second PI on the storage media (4) of the PVR; the RVT further identifying a play order of the first and second PIs.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising code for replaying the RVT using the PVR by playing the first PI from the removable media (5) and playing the second PI from the storage media (4) in the play order.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the storage media (4) of the PVR comprises a hard disc.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the copy protection status of the first PI allows the first PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and deletes the third PI from the storage media (4) on the PVR (1).

21. The device of claim 17, further comprising code for recording third and fourth OTs on a storage media (4) of a PVR (1), the third OT having a third recorded content comprising a third PI with an encoded copy protection status, the fourth OT having a fourth recorded content comprising a fourth PI having an encoded copy protection status; and wherein the third recorded content comprises the first, second, third and fourth PIs.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising code for copying the third recorded content to a removable media; wherein the copy protection status of the third PI allows the third PI to be copied to the removable media (5) and deletes the third PI from the storage media (4) on the PVR.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the RVT further comprises information identifying the removable media (5) to which the PIs of the third recorded content have been copied.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising code for providing a prompt to a user to associate the removable media (5) with the PVR; and replaying the RVT from the storage media (4) on the PVR and the removable media (5).