Client-server based interactive television program guide system with remote server recording

• US 10,298,973 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Lemmons, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, An V
• Application Number:
  US15/182,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 725 53, 725 46, 725 34, 725 39, 725145, 725116, 725 96, 725 28, 725 61, 725 78, 725 19, 725131, 725 58, 725 12, 725 14, 725 41, 725 25, 725 87, 725135, 725 98
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2318 using striping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 : for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 : Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 : Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.

Claims

1. A system for playing back media assets, the system comprising:

a local server comprising;

storage circuitry configured to store the media assets;

communications circuitry configured to transmit packets across and receive packets from a communications path; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive a first record request from first user equipment, located on a same local area network as the local server, to record a first media asset using the storage circuitry of the local server, wherein the first record request is generated at the first user equipment responsive to a first user selection, from a first user interface generated using a first media guidance application at the first user equipment, of a first media asset identifier associated with the first media asset, and wherein the first record request is not generated on a basis of any user input to the first user interface that specifies that the local server is to record the first media asset;

based on receiving the first record request, schedule a recording of the first media asset during a first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

receive a second record request from a second user equipment, located on the same local area network as the local server, to record a second media asset using the storage circuitry of the local server, wherein the second record request is generated at the second user equipment responsive to a second user selection, from a second user interface generated using a second media guidance application at the second user equipment, of a second media asset identifier associated with the second media asset, and wherein the second record request is not generated on a basis of any user input to the second user interface that specifies that the local server is to record the second media asset;

based on receiving the second record request, schedule a recording of the second media asset during a second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset;

record the first media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

in response to recording the first media asset to the storage circuitry, add a first identifier of the first media asset to a database of the first user equipment;

record the second media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server during the second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset;

in response to recording the second media asset to the storage circuitry, add a second identifier of the second media asset to the database of the first user equipment;

receive, using the communications circuitry, from the first user equipment, a request to play back the recorded first media asset comprising the first identifier; and

based on receiving the request to play back the recorded first media asset;

retrieve, using the storage circuitry, the recorded first media asset;

segment the recorded first media asset into a series of packets; and

transmit, using the communications circuitry, the series of packets comprising the recorded first media asset to the first user equipment for playback by the first user equipment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first media asset is a broadcast media asset.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to:

record the first media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server with first media guidance data associated with the first media asset.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive from the communications path using the communications circuitry, as one or more packets, the request to play back the recorded first media asset.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset and the second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset comprise a same delivery period, and wherein the first user equipment comprises:

second storage circuitry configured to store media assets;

second communications circuitry configured to transmit packets across and receive packets from a communications path; and

second control circuitry configured to;

receive a pause command to pause playback of the first media asset during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

temporarily store a portion of the first media asset, based on receiving the pause command, to the second storage circuitry of the first user equipment;

receive a resume command to resume playback of the first media asset;

based on receiving the resume command;

retrieve the portion of the first media asset temporarily stored to the second storage circuitry; and

generate for display the retrieved portion of the first media asset; and

wherein the local server further comprises;

a first tuner and a second tuner; and

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to;

receive, for recording to the storage circuitry of the local server, the first media asset from the first tuner during the same delivery period; and

simultaneously receive, for recording to the storage circuitry of the local server, the second media asset from the second tuner during the same delivery period.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the database of the first user equipment is a first database, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

add the first identifier of the first media asset to a second database of the second user equipment in response to recording the first media asset; and

add the second identifier of the second media asset to the second database of the second user equipment in response to recording the second media asset.

7. A method for playing back media assets, the method comprising:

receiving a first record request at local server from first user equipment, located on a same local area network as the local server, to record a first media asset using storage circuitry of the local server, wherein the first record request is generated at the first user equipment responsive to a first user selection, from a first user interface generated using a first media guidance application at the first user equipment, of a first media asset identifier associated with the first media asset, and wherein the first record request is not generated on a basis of any user input to the first user interface that specifies that the local server is to record the first media asset;

based on receiving the first record request at the local server, scheduling a recording of the first media asset during a first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

receiving a second record request at the local server from a second user equipment, located on the same local area network as the local server, to record a second media asset using the storage circuitry of the local server, wherein the second record request is generated at the second user equipment responsive to a second user selection, from a second user interface generated using a second media guidance application at the second user equipment, of a second media asset identifier associated with the second media asset, and wherein the second record request is not generated on a basis of any user input to the second user interface that specifies that the local server is to record the second media asset;

based on receiving the second record request, scheduling the recording of the first media asset during a second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset;

recording the first media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

in response to recording the first media asset to the storage circuitry, adding a first identifier of the first media asset to a database of the first user equipment;

recording the second media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server during the second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset;

in response to recording the second media asset to the storage circuitry, adding a second identifier of the first media asset to the database of the first user equipment;

receiving, at the local server using communications circuitry of the local server, from the first user equipment, a request to play back the recorded first media asset comprising the first identifier;

based on receiving, at the local server from the first user equipment, the request to play back the recorded first media asset;

retrieving, using the storage circuitry, the recorded first media asset;

segmenting the recorded first media asset into a series of packets; and

transmitting, using the communications circuitry, the series of packets comprising the recorded first media asset to the first user equipment for playback by the first user equipment.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first media asset is a broadcast media asset.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

recording the first media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server with first media guidance data associated with the first media asset.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving from a communications path using the communications circuitry, as one or more packets, the request to play back the recorded first media asset.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset and the second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset comprise a same delivery period, the method further comprising:

receiving a pause command to pause playback of the first media asset during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

temporarily storing a portion of the first media asset, based on receiving the pause command, to second storage circuitry of the first user equipment;

receiving a resume command to resume playback of the first media asset;

based on receiving the resume command;

retrieving the portion of the first media asset temporarily stored to the second storage circuitry; and

generating for display the retrieved portion of the first media asset;

receiving, at the local server, for recording to the storage circuitry of the local server, the first media asset from a first tuner of the local server during the same delivery period; and

simultaneously receiving, at the local server, for recording to the storage circuitry of the local server, the second media asset from a second tuner of the local server during the same delivery period.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the database of the first user equipment is a first database, further comprising:

adding the first identifier of the first media asset to a second database of the second user equipment in response to recording the first media asset; and

adding the second identifier of the second media asset to the second database of the second user equipment in response to recording the second media asset.

13. A system for playing back media assets, the system comprising:

local server comprising;

storage circuitry configured to store the media assets;

communications circuitry configured to transmit packets across and receive packets from an Internet link; and

first control circuitry configured to;

receive a first record request from first user equipment, located on a same local area network as the local server, to record a first media asset using the storage circuitry of the local server, wherein the first record request is generated at the first user equipment responsive to a first user selection, from a first user interface generated using a first media guidance application at the first user equipment, of a first media asset identifier associated with the first media asset, and wherein the first record request is not generated on a basis of any user input to the first user interface that specifies that the local server is to record the first media asset;

based on receiving the first record request, schedule a recording of the first media asset during a first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

receive a second record request from a second user equipment, located on the same local area network as the local server, to record a second media asset using the storage circuitry of the local server, wherein the second record request is generated at the second user equipment responsive to a second user selection, from a second user interface generated using a second media guidance application at the second user equipment, of a second media asset identifier associated with the second media asset, and wherein the second record request is not generated on a basis of any user input to the second user interface that specifies that the local server is to record the second media asset;

based on receiving the second record request, schedule a recording of the second media asset during a second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset;

record the first media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

in response to recording the first media asset to the storage circuitry, add a first identifier of the first media asset to a database of the first user equipment;

record the second media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server during the second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset;

in response to recording the second media asset to the storage circuitry, add a second identifier of the second media asset to the database of the first user equipment;

receive, using the communications circuitry, from the first user equipment, a request to play back the recorded first media asset comprising the first identifier; and

based on receiving the request to play back the recorded first media asset;

retrieve, using the storage circuitry, the recorded first media asset;

segment the recorded first media asset into a series of packets; and

transmit, using the communications circuitry, the series of packets comprising the recorded first media asset, across the Internet link, to the first user equipment for playback by the first user equipment.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first media asset is a broadcast media asset.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first control circuitry is configured to:

record the first media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server with first media guidance data associated with the first media asset.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first control circuitry is further configured to:

receive from the Internet link using the communications circuitry, as one or more packets, the request to play back the recorded first media asset.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a third record request to record the first media asset on the local server;

consolidate the first record request and the third record request; and

based on receiving the first record request and the third record request, record the first media asset on the local server during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset and the second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset comprise a same delivery period, and wherein the first user equipment further comprises:

second storage circuitry configured to store media assets;

second communications circuitry configured to transmit packets across and receive packets from a communications path; and

second control circuitry configured to;

receive a pause command to pause playback of the first media asset during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

temporarily store a portion of the first media asset, based on receiving the pause command, to the second storage circuitry of the first user equipment;

receive a resume command to resume playback of the first media asset;

based on receiving the resume command;

retrieve the portion of the first media asset temporarily stored to the second storage circuitry; and

generate for display the retrieved portion of the first media asset; and

wherein the local server further comprises;

a first tuner and a second tuner; and

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to;

receive, for recording to the storage circuitry of the local server, the first media asset from the first tuner during the same delivery period; and

simultaneously receive, for recording to the storage circuitry of the local server, the second media asset from the second tuner during the same delivery period.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the database of the first user equipment is a first database, and wherein the first control circuitry is further configured to:

add the first identifier of the first media asset to a second database of the second user equipment in response to recording the first media asset; and

add the second identifier of the second media asset to the second database of the second user equipment in response to recording the second media asset.

20. A method for playing back media assets, the method comprising:

receiving, using communications circuitry of a local server and via an Internet link, a first record request at the local server from first user equipment, located on a same local area network as the local server, to record a first media asset using storage circuitry of the local server, wherein the first record request is generated at the first user equipment responsive to a first user selection, from a first user interface generated using a first media guidance application at the first user equipment, of a first media asset identifier associated with the first media asset, and wherein the first record request is not generated on a basis of any user input to the first user interface that specifies that the local server is to record the first media asset;

based on receiving the first record request at the local server, scheduling a recording of the first media asset during a first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

receiving, using the communications circuitry of the local server and via the Internet link, a second record request at the local server from a second user equipment, located on the same local area network as the local server, to record a second media asset using the storage circuitry of the local server, wherein the second record request is generated at the second user equipment responsive to a second user selection, from a second user interface generated using a second media guidance application at the second user equipment, of a second media asset identifier associated with the second media asset, and wherein the second record request is not generated on a basis of any user input to the second user interface that specifies that the local server is to record the second media asset;

based on receiving the second record request, scheduling a recording of the second media asset during a second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset;

recording the first media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

in response to recording the first media asset to the storage circuitry, adding a first identifier of the first media asset to a database of the first user equipment;

recording the second media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server during the second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset;

in response to recording the second media asset to the storage circuitry, adding a second identifier of the second media asset to the database of the first user equipment;

receiving, using the communications circuitry of the local server and via the Internet link, from the first user equipment, a request to play back the recorded first media asset comprising the first identifier;

based on receiving, at the local server from the first user equipment, the request to play back the recorded first media asset;

retrieving, using the storage circuitry, the recorded first media asset;

segmenting the recorded first media asset into a series of packets; and

transmitting, using the communications circuitry and via the Internet link to the first user equipment, the series of packets comprising the recorded first media asset for playback by the first user equipment.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first media asset is a broadcast media asset.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

recording the first media asset to the storage circuitry of the local server with first media guidance data associated with the first media asset.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving from the Internet link using the communications circuitry, as one or more packets, the request to play back the recorded first media asset.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving a third record request to record the first media asset on the local server;

consolidating the first record request and the third record request; and

based on receiving the first record request and the third record request, recording the first media asset on the local server.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset and the second scheduled delivery period of the second media asset comprise a same delivery period, the method further comprising:

receiving a pause command to pause playback of the first media asset during the first scheduled delivery period of the first media asset;

temporarily storing a portion of the first media asset, based on receiving the pause command, to second storage circuitry of the first user equipment;

receiving a resume command to resume playback of the first media asset;

based on receiving the resume command;

retrieving the portion of the first media asset temporarily stored to the second storage circuitry;

generating for display the retrieved portion of the first media asset;

receiving, at the local server, for recording to the storage circuitry of the local server, the first media asset from a first tuner of the local server during the same delivery period; and

simultaneously receiving, at the local server, for recording to the storage circuitry of the local server, the second media asset from a second tuner of the local server during the same delivery period.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the database of the first user equipment is a first database, further comprising:

adding the first identifier of the first media asset to a second database of the second user equipment in response to recording the first media asset; and

adding the second identifier of the second media asset to the second database of the second user equipment in response to recording the second media asset.