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1 edit | reply to cypherstream
Re: DVR Repeat (Updated 07/15/09) said by cypherstream:said by jwhite4:said by cypherstream:... That might likely require more licencing of Tivo's patents, which would cost money and require $x for each set top box in royalty fees. .. You're telling me that a provider (say TVGOS) assigning a different ID number to every unique program, and the the DVR checking the list of already-recorded ID's, has been patented? Jeff You'd be surprised what's patented. Dish network was sued from Tivo. Tivo also pays royalties to Macrovision and TV Guide, as well as vice versa for certain functionality, even if it's implemented in a different manor, the theory and operation is patented. I'm against it as well, but hey this is the country we live in. I'm not certain it is patented. TiVo does this, Windows Media Center does it, as does SageTV and other PC DVR programs some of which like MythTV are open source programs (which means no money to pay licensing fees).
Tribune who provides the guide data to Windows Media Center and SageTV (and used to provide data to TiVo, but I think they switched to Gemstar), includes unique IDs when they have the proper data from the networks. I don't see why the cable company DVR cannot do the same. | |
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| Well Sphere I hope your right. I was always told that Tivo has the process patented and that's the reason why our DVR's suck. Well Comcast is supposed to roll out Tivo on DVR's, but that really didn't go further then a few area's in the new england region. They say Chicago should get the option shortly, but I'm not holding my breath. | |
KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
1 edit | reply to SpHeRe31459
said by SpHeRe31459:I'm not certain it is patented. TiVo does this, Windows Media Center does it, as does SageTV and other PC DVR programs some of which like MythTV are open source programs (which means no money to pay licensing fees). Tribune who provides the guide data to Windows Media Center and SageTV (and used to provide data to TiVo, but I think they switched to Gemstar), includes unique IDs when they have the proper data from the networks. I don't see why the cable company DVR cannot do the same. TiVo still uses Tribune guide data.
The fact that another DVR does something does not mean the feature isn't patented. TiVo owns decade-old patents on such basic DVR functions as the graphical on-screen progress bar, but they've been preoccupied with the Echostar case. TiVo hasn't pursued anyone but Echostar, and that 2004 case (yes, 2004) still isn't done. As noted above, TiVo already pays royalties to license several other patents, including that for the on-screen program guide.
I doubt TiVo would ever pursue MythTV. It's virtually impossible recover damages from an open source effort with no revenue.
At least in Comcast's case, they have an agreement with TiVo so any patents on record history should be a non-issue. | |
KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
4 edits | TiVo users can eliminate repeats on most programs with bad guide data. From the AVS TivoHD FAQ:
quote:
Use the "Tupper Method" to eliminate repeats of certain programs with bad guide data.
A few shows like The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Big Brother, and The Tonight Show don't always provide good guide data for their re-runs. These re-runs lack episode titles and they use generic descriptions. Without good guide data, a TiVo series recording can't determine whether these are new or repeats, so it "plays it safe" and records them all.
To get around this, the conventional wisdom is to create a repeating manual recording, such as M-F @ 11:00pm. However, new functionality added in the 9.1 software provides a more elegant solution. Here's how:
(1) Create a new WishList under Find Programs -> Wishlists.
(2) Enter the show title as a single Title Keyword (ex: Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
(3) Enter all or part of the generic program description as a single Keyword (ex: A humorous slant on top news stories).
(4) Select this keyword and press thumbs up/down to mark it with a minus sign (ex: -A humorous slant on top news stories).
(5) Set the WishList to Auto Record with "First run only".
This will record all new episodes and ignore the repeat episodes with generic guide data. It replaces the season pass for the show. Examples:
Amazing Race
Title Keyword: Amazing Race*
Keyword: -Eleven Teams Of Two Travel The Globe
Keyword: -Reality Remix
Category: Interests:Reality
Colbert Report
Title Keyword: Colbert Report
Keyword: -Discuss current issues
Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Title Keyword: Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Keyword: -A humorous slant on top news stories
Late Night
Title Keyword: Late Night
Keyword: -Interviews and comedy sketches
Oprah
Title Keyword: Oprah
Keyword: -Oprah discusses topics
Starter Wife
Title Keyword: Starter Wife
Keyword: -A woman struggles to redefine her life
Survivor
Title Keyword: Survivor*
Keyword: -I SHOULDN*T BE ALIVE
Category: Interests:Reality
Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Title Keyword: Tonight Show
Keyword: -Jay Leno interviews
If you want to always ensure that you get a HD version when available, remove (uncheck) the SD version of the appropriate channels from Settings -> Channels -> Channels List.
Note: Don't forget to remove your old season pass for the show from Season Pass Manager.
There do seem to be some differences in the way TiVo and the Comcast DVR handle repeats. With the Comcast DVR, I would get repeat/old episodes of the Simpsons, even when the recording was set to first-run only. I don't with the TiVo. Similarly, my TiVo ignores repeats of most shows mentioned in this thread (Lost, Closer, Hawthorne, Hannah Montana, L&O Special Victims, etc). I did have to use the method above to eliminate repeats of Deadliest Catch and Mythbusters (for a brief period) last year, but it hasn't been necessary this year.
I'll be interested to see how Comcast deals with this issue. You can't just globally ignore all programs with bad guide data, because not all are repeats. With most shows, the bad guide data is only found on repeats, but this doesn't apply to all shows; some shows have bad guide data on new episodes.
MythTV took this TiVo method and made it into a easy-to-access option on every series recording. On each series recording, MythTV gives the option to ignore episodes with generic guide data. That way, you can only apply the setting/option to those programs where you know that the episodes with bad guide data are repeats. | |
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