TiVo awarded patent for Season Pass technology
updated 08:50 pm EST, Thu February 18, 2010
Utility prioritizes recordings to reduce conflicts
TiVo has been awarded a patent, No. 7,665,111, which describes technology used for the company's Season Pass utility. The system allows the user to prioritize recordings, ensuring the favorite shows are stored even if several programs are simultaneously broadcast during the same time slots. The US Patent and Trademark Office had been reviewing the filing for approximately ten years.
The patent claims include several potential ways to manage recording prioritization. Users can manually configure which shows are most important, or the software can infer the choices based on viewing habits.
The USPTO recently granted a separate TiVo patent relating to displaying closed-caption information for recorded content. The filing also details a system for automatically removing commercials from time-shifted programs.
TiVo is already utilizing the patented technology for its DVR devices. Customers can take advantage of the prioritization system in Season Pass, while the closed-caption feature is also available. [via Zatz Not Funny]
