Automatic MSO-based transfer of DVR content to new location of customer

• US 10,034,027 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Milne, James R., Ansfield, Fred, Zustak, Frederick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parra, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US15/066,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20170264926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23103 using load balancing strategies, e.g. by placing or distributing content on different disks, different memories or different servers storage management G06F3/0604; allocation of resources considering the load in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/505; techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system G06F9/5083; access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. load balancing, in data networks H04L67/1001
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application

Abstract

A technique for transferring content on a customer'"'"'s DVR to a new location to which the customer has moved includes accessing information including content and/or identification of content recorded on a first digital video recorder (DVR) located at a first customer facility, and loading the content and/or identification of content on a second DVR at a facility associated with a multiple systems operator (MSO). The second DVR is delivered to the customer at a second customer facility.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing information including content and/or identification of content recorded on a first digital video recorder (DVR) located at a first customer facility;

loading the content and/or identification of content on a second DVR at a facility associated with a multiple systems operator (MSO);

identifying a move period as a period during which a customer cannot use either DVR;

adding to content recorded on the second DVR additional content broadcast during the move period during which a customer does not have use of either DVR; and

delivering the second DVR to the customer at a second customer facility without providing content on the second DVR to the first DVR.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

transferring information pertaining to content on the first DVR to the second DVR over a communication path including the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

transferring information pertaining to content on the first DVR to the second DVR over a communication path including a two-way non-Internet communication path between the first DVR and a computer system of the MSO.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes an identification of at least one on-demand content recorded on the first DVR, but not the on-demand content itself.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

authenticating digital rights management (DRM) of the first DVR; and

executing transfer of content from the first DVR to the second DVR responsive to successful authentication of the DRM.

6. A system comprising:

a first digital video recorder (DVR) located at a first customer facility, the first DVR comprising information including content and/or identification of content recorded on the first DVR;

a computer configured with instructions for;

loading the content and/or identification of content on a second DVR at a facility associated with a multiple systems operator (MSO);

identifying a move period as a period during which a customer cannot use either DVR;

adding to content recorded on the second DVR additional content broadcast during the move period during which a customer does not have use of either DVR; and

the second DVR being configured for delivery to the customer at a second customer facility without providing content on the second DVR to the first DVR.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the computer is configured with instructions for:

transferring information pertaining to content on the first DVR to the second DVR over a communication path including the Internet.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the computer is configured with instructions for:

transferring information pertaining to content on the first DVR to the second DVR over a communication path including a two-way non-Internet communication path between the first DVR and a computer system of the MSO.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the information includes an identification of at least one on-demand content recorded on the first DVR, but not the on-demand content itself.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the computer is configured with instructions for:

authenticating digital rights management (DRM) of the first DVR; and

executing transfer of content from the first DVR to the second DVR responsive to successful authentication of the DRM.

11. A device comprising:

at least one computer storage that is not a transitory signal and the comprises instructions to;

load content and/or identification of content on a first digital video recorder (DVR) located at a first customer facility on a second DVR at a facility associated with a multiple systems operator (MSO);

identify a move period as a period during which a customer cannot use either DVR;

add to content recorded on the second DVR additional content broadcast during the move period during which a customer does not have use of either DVR; and

the second DVR being configured for delivery to the customer at a second customer facility without providing content on the second DVR to the first DVR.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable to:

transfer information pertaining to content on the first DVR to the second DVR over a communication path including the Internet.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable to:

transfer information pertaining to content on the first DVR to the second DVR over a communication path including a two-way non-Internet communication path between the first DVR and a computer system of the MSO.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the information includes an identification of at least one on-demand content recorded on the first DVR, but not the on-demand content itself.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable to:

authenticate digital rights management (DRM) of the first DVR; and

execute transfer of content from the first DVR to the second DVR responsive to successful authentication of the DRM.