Abstract: A program information player automatically skips over any intermediate channel changes as a result of interrupting a prior recording of a selected program. The program information player includes a program sequence playback information generator. The program sequence playback information generator analyzes selected program identifier information and recorded program history log information and, in response, generates program sequence playback information without user intervention. The program sequence playback information includes a sequence of time stamp information associated with the selected program identifier information. According to one embodiment, the program sequence playback information directs memory to play back the selected program corresponding to the selected program identifier information by, for example, skipping over any intermediate channel changes. For example, the program sequence playback information may represent a read pointer in memory during playback.

Abstract: A first set of display information is received at a device driver. The first set of display information indicates a portion of the video image to be displayed in a first window of a first monitor. An aspect ratio of the video image is determined based on the first set of display information. Based on the determined aspect ratio, the display driver determines a location on a second display device where the video image is to also be displayed.

Abstract: A mechanism is presented for editing a video stream as the stream is received, allowing real-time displaying and storing of the edited video stream without requiring the received video stream to first be recorded. The mechanism allows the selection of editing options prior to starting or during the record process. The mechanism can monitor the input video stream for specific characteristics and edit the video stream according to predefined editing options based on those characteristics and/or user inputs. Special effects can be intelligently selected based upon internal and external information about the video stream, for example, user actions, input source, and content information.

Abstract: A system and method for providing playback of multiple video streams simultaneously is shown and described. A priority is assigned to individual windows of a plurality of windows used for playback of the video streams. A current window being accessed by a user is assigned a higher priority than nonactive, or background, windows. Playback characteristics, such as video resolution, transparency, and audio volume, are reduced in the playback of videos presented in nonactive windows in relation to video played in the active window. Accordingly, a user's attention may be drawn more to the active window than to the nonactive windows, while allowing the video and audio data in the nonactive windows to be provided to the user.

Abstract: A method and system controls multiple TV tuners to allow a user to watch live video at high quality based on a video capture level independent of a video capture quality used to record playback video. The method and system provides an independent TV tuner from which to capture video that will be replayed wherein the capture quality of the video from the tuner will be independent from the quality other tuner. Accordingly, an delayed video stream can have a lower capture quality setting without affecting the capture quality of primary video being viewed by a user.

Abstract: A method and system are presented to configure, store, and apply user-selected operating characteristics for multimedia devices on a per-program basis, rather than a per channel or connector-specific basis. The system provides a mechanism to set up and apply user-customized characteristics to a broadcast received on a multimedia device. Operating characteristics which may be selected for setting modification are video characteristics such as brightness, contrast, aspect ratio, resolution, closed-captioning type, parental control features, and others. In addition, audio operating characteristics that are user-selectable for modifications are volume level, language, tone, stereo, surround sound, and so forth. The operating characteristics may include recording options. A current program is identified and the operating characteristics are applied to related multimedia devices.

Abstract: Video is received at a standard aspect ratio. The video includes video content having an alternate aspect ratio. The video content is provided in a letterboxed format with black bars to make up the standard aspect ratio. The video is analyzed to identify portions of the video related to changing video content. A boundary for the changing video content is identified as the alternate aspect ratio. The alternate aspect ratio is then applied to the video to present the video at the alternate aspect ratio. Extraneous portions of the video, such as the black bars, are then discarded from the video to present the video at the alternate aspect ratio.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a history of multimedia content and method are disclosed herein. A video stream being is recorded spanning several different programs. A monitoring program identifies changes in programming in the video stream being recorded. Program information for each of the programs in the video stream being recorded are stored in memory and linked to associated programs in the recorded video stream. The stored program information is provided to allow a user to assess and select programs stored in the recoded video stream for playback.

Abstract: A method, system, and software for improved display of multiple media channels are disclosed herein. A system may be used to select, independent of direct user input, a subset of a plurality of media channels based on a user's viewing pattern. The system can include one or more media sources, a media processing system, and a display device, as well as a method for its use. The media processing system receives a plurality of media channels from the one or more media sources. One or more attributes associated with each media channel are compared with a user's viewing pattern determined independent of direct user input by the media processing system. A surf list is generated from the plurality of media channels, where the surf list includes a subset of the plurality of media channels having one or more attributes that are congruent with the user's viewing pattern. A portion, such as a still image, of each media channel in the surf list is output to an output device, such as a display device or storage device.

Abstract: A method and system provides an extended electronic program guide that generates at least one recorded material database of recorded material and that generates a live stream database (or uses a pre-generated live stream database) of live stream data. The live stream database and the recorded material database are integrated to produce an extended electronic program guide. The recorded material can be time shifted data of a predetermined live data stream or can be material derived from a source of digital data.