[vdr] Tivo patent info

[C.Y.M]

jori.hamalainen at teliasonera.com wrote:
> * U.S. patent number 6,847,778, entitled Multimedia Visual 
> Progress Indication System, which describes, among other 
> things, methods for displaying a trick play bar to a user 
> which visually indicates the amount of stored program 
> material or the length of a recording session as well as 
> the user's current position within the stored program 
> material. 

This means we can't use a progress bar? How absurd.

> 
> * U.S. patent number 6,792,195, entitled Method and Apparatus 
> Implementing Random Access and Time-Based Functions on a 
> Continuous Stream of Formatted Digital Data, which 
> describes methods of controlling streaming media in a 
> digital device, including the functions that enable DVRs to 
> pause live TV as well as rewind, fast-forward, play, play 
> faster, play slower, and play in reverse television signals 
> cached by the DVR. 

So, now its too late. We can never have a replay buffer?  I really wanted to 
implement that.

> 
> * TiVo has also acquired the exclusive right to license and 
> enforce U.S. patent number 5,241,428 entitled Variable-
> Delay Video Recorder known in the industry as the 
> Goldwasser Patent. Filed in March 1991, the Goldwasser 
> Patent is one of the earliest patents regarding digital 
> video recorders of which TiVo is aware. This patent covers 
> devices that permit the simultaneous recording and playback 
> of video material with a variable time delay between 
> recording and playback of a given video program segment.
>  

Doesn't VDR already do this as well? So, legally, we cant record and playback at 
the same time? Ridiculous.

Patents are a terrible thing for open source.  They bind our hands, steal our 
hobbies and kill our jobs.

PS: For every patent they issue, God kills a puppy. Think about the puppies!