Timeshift

TimeShift feature provides users with the ability to record a stream of the current IPTV channel in order to listen to / watch the recording afterward. TimeShift recording is saved to the STB local storage known as a memory buffer. Recorded audio/video fragments can be played back during current recording or after its termination, being started from either time position within the record. To pick a starting time position of playback, forward/rewind command is used.

TimeShift settings

TimeShift feature configuring is made in the TimeShift section of Settings.
In addition, to use the TimeShift feature, make sure that the Storages access mode option has been set to 'full access' (see System settings / Advanced settings / More).

Marking channels that are allowed to use TimeShift

TimeShift feature can be used for streaming channels. After enabling the TimeShift feature in Timeshift settings (Use TimeShift = On), every channel which supports TimeShift feature is marked in IPTV channel list with special icon given opposite the channel name.

On-screen indication of TimeShift recording

To indicates ongoing Timeshift recording which taken place on the channel, special on-screen icon is designed. It can be displayed in the upper left corner of the screen. Permission to display the indicator is set by user in TimeShift Settings, with Icon enable option (hereafter the case when indicator is permitted is described).

Start TimeShift recording

TimeShift start leads to current channel stream recording to memory buffer located on USB drive selected in TimeShift Settings (see the File location option).

The choice of how to start TimeShift recording can be set by user in Delay option of TimeShift Settings:

• By pressing Pause button (default value) - channel recording to memory buffer starts immediately as soon as the user presses Pause/Play key on RC. At the same time, this brings to image freezing, the icon (TimeShift recording indicator) gets displayed in the upper left corner of the screen, and the media control panel gets appeared at the bottom of the screen (Pause/Play shortcut , Rewind/Fast forward shortcuts , recording progress bar, current recording time counter, and maximum recording duration pointer). Another pressing Pause / Play key starts playback of the recording from the moment of the previous pause, channel recording continues in the background, icon is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen.
• 1 second, 3 seconds, 5 seconds or 10 seconds - if one of the listed values is selected, TimeShift recording will be started on opening of every channel which supports the TimeShift feature. The selected value determines delay time before TimeShift recording start. If during this delay user leaves the channel (exits application or switches to another channel), the recording does not start. After the start of TimeShift recording, the icon gets displayed in the upper left corner of the screen, recording continues in the background.

Stop TimeShift recording

Timeshift recording of the channel can be stopped in one of the following ways:

• Automatically, by reaching the end of the memory buffer. For this, in TimeShift Settings the value of Using buffer mode option should be set to Stop when out of space.
• On exit from watching the channel. Exit from watching channel makes with Exit key on RC or by switching to another channel with Chan +/Chan- or Up/Down buttons.
• By pressing Stop key on RC. You keep watching the channel.
  

Saving TimeShift recording

After stop Timeshift recording, it can be saved in a file on the USB drive (in order to further view it in STB or to move it to other devices) or be removed. The choice how to handle the recording after stop depends on the value of the On exit option of TimeShift Settings:

• Save buffer - after recording termination, video fragment record will be automatically saved on the USB drive;

• Do not save the buffer - after recording termination, video fragment record will not be saved;

• Request to save - after recording termination, the user will be asked to save the recording. User may allow or reject saving the data.

During saving Timeshift recording, a message appears on the screen reporting the name and location path of the record on the USB drive:

Watching recorded videos on STB

Recorded media fragment can be watched during the ongoing Timeshift-recording or after the end of the recording.

Video playback launch and setting it on pause during the ongoing 'Timeshift' recording is performed by pressing the Pause/Play key . To select the desired position from which you want to playback the recording (rough positioning), use Fast Forward/Rewind buttons: on-screen shortcuts or RC keys . In addition, the desired playback position can be specified by user using the numeric buttons on RC (precise positioning).

Saved Timeshift recording files can be watched in the following ways:

• in Home media / Records - Timeshift recordings are added to the Records list.
• in Home media / USB drive - like any other media file located on USB drive.

Note. USB drive contained records should remain connected to STB.

Example of Home media / Records window:

TimeShift recording file

The actual recording of media streams is performed on a USB drive connected to STB. Files are written to the record directory located at the root of the USB drive. Two directories are created:

1. record / <File name> / <Creation date of recording> - directory that contains text files named <Start time of recording >.tspinf which are links to media files (see item 2)

2. record / <IPTV channel> / <Creation date of recording> . tsp - directory containing media files named <Start time of recording>.tsp

Note. The type of recorded media file is a transport stream. To watch media files on other devices (for example, PC or TV), you should rename the files - replace .tsp extension with .ts.