United States Patent [19] [li] Patent Number: 4,873,584
Hashimoto [45] Date of Patent: Oct. 10, 1989
[54] COMPUTER CONTROL FOR VCR
INCLUDING DISPLAY OF RECORD
PLAYBACK LISTING AND PLAYBACK
ORDER SELECTION
[75] Inventor: Kazuo Hashimoto, Tokyo, Japan
[73] Assignee: Hashimoto Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
[21] Appl. No.: 215,345
[22] Filed: Jul. 5, 1988
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Jul. 3, 1987 [JP] Japan 62-166432
[51] Int. CI.4 H04N 5/76
[52] U.S. CI 358/335; 358/191.1;
358/903
[58] Field of Search 364/900; 358/335, 191.1,
358/194.1, 903; 360/55, 137
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,787,063 11/1988 Muguet 364/900
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 59-21114 5/1984 Japan .
Primary Examiner—Robert L. Richardson
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Lowe, Price, Leblanc, Becker
& Shur
[57] ABSTRACT
A VCR control system using a computer, wherein a list of all programs which were recorded in accordance with an individual program table within a predetermined period of time during a user's absence is displayed once on a display. If a user has no time to play back all the recorded programs in the order of the individual program table after he returns to his home, the order of playback can be specified or changed. This makes it possible for the user to watch the programs within a given period of time in the specified order by rewinding or fast forwarding the VCR according to that order.
13 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
