Timeline proposal

[mvedrina]

This is basically timeline that is used in BeyondTV but modified to support TVServer features.

I would be happy to discuss about details that I have in mind if you think that this type of timeline is acceptable for the new TV Client.

[kiesow]

Can you explain a little bit what you mean with "parts in timeshift buffer"?

[mvedrina]

Originally Posted by kiesow

Can you explain a little bit what you mean with "parts in timeshift buffer"?

As I understand TVEngine3 has one time shifting buffer for every TV tuner. Let’s say that Channel 1 and Channel 2 are using same tuner. So if I watch, for example, 5 minutes of Channel 1, then 10 minutes of Channel 2 and then switch back to Channel 1 and watch for another 2 minutes, all 17 minutes are saved in the same buffer. And if now I start rewinding I will see both parts of Channel 1 and Channel 2 and I will not have any information which channel saved in the buffer I’m currently viewing.

My opinion is that in this case parts from time shifting buffer that do not belong to the channel that is currently tuned should be skipped. These parts are also easily visible on the proposed timeline.

[The_Stig]

I like that idea. This advanced timeline could be used for comskip-chapter-showing too.

[dipunm]

I think that this, although a good idea, is slightly confusing. And although I dont have a wife, I still think it should be her friendly [continual ranting]my family cant get their head round it so I come back down to see that its disconnected and tv is main agen. Its the same thing really, cos its kinda annoying although its the tv tuners fault most of the time, not MP....[/continual ranting]

ANYWAYS.....

so i think in addition, this should be turn-off-able so that you can see a simple timeline, kinda how torrents can be viewed with all its parts as well as a simple blue loader bar saying 50%.

I think that most setups will have that 1 guy who can and wants that functionality so that they can see all, but without the hassle of menus. So a simple shortcut button or small toggle could be used to give easy switching between simple/complex mode

[mvedrina]

Previous example is the complicated case that timeline should handle because these are features that TVEngine3 offers. In most cases situation should be much simpler so I made some examples how should timeline look like in those simple situations.

The most important feature of this timeline is that it is adaptive regarding the length of the show. Also shows are placed in context in time. The boundaries of timeline are never smaller than 30 minutes and are set to the half an hour. Boundaries are spread as length of the show grows.

In these examples there is a snapshot of the timeline at 10:38, 11:05 and 11:25 for the shows:
Show 1: 10:35-10:40 (Duration 5 minutes)
Show 2: 10:40-11:15 (Duration 35 minutes)
Show 3: 11:15-12:55 (Duration 1 hour 40 minutes)

Notice how you can see the whole Show 1 in timeline of Show 2.

In standard timeline the show that lasts for five minutes and 2 hours show take the whole width of timeline and you can not easily visually place them in time.

[PhilMcCavity]

I like that last one. I think users should be able to drag the current position using the mouse or remote.