Online backup and restoration of television receiver storage and configuration data
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- communicating a request for backup data by a first television receiver device to a remote server over a communications network in association with executing a restoration of the first television receiver device associated with a requesting customer, the remote server having, stored thereon, one or more lists of identifiers, each list of identifiers previously received by the remote server from a respective television receiver associated with a respective customer in association with executing a respective backup of the respective television receiver, each list of identifiers indicating a respective plurality of television programs stored at the respective television receiver at the time of executing the respective backup;
receiving the backup data by the first television receiver device from the remote server responsive to the request, the backup data comprising a selected list of identifiers of the one or more lists of identifiers selected by the remote server in accordance with the request; and
for each television program of the respective plurality of television programs indicated by the selected list of identifiers;
determining, by the first television receiver device, whether the television program is scheduled to be aired in an upcoming television broadcast receivable by a tuner of the first television receiver device during a broadcast time;
in accordance with determining that the television program is scheduled to be aired, automatically configuring the first television receiver device to tune to the broadcast and locally record the television program during the broadcast time; and
in accordance with determining that the television program is not scheduled to be aired, indicating to the requesting customer whether the television program is available from an alternative television program source.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments described herein provide various techniques for backing up and restoring data and programs at television receiver devices. In some embodiments, various types of data stored locally by television receiver devices may be backed up by uploading the data to a television provider server, cloud-based storage system, and/or other remote storage locations. In the event of a device failure, or other rebuilt or reinstallation process at the television receiver, a receiver set-up process may be implemented to retrieve the receiver backup data from the backup server, and to initiate various set-up processes in which the replacement receiver may use the backup data to implement the various configuration preferences and settings on the new device, re-create the DVR timers, establish new network connections, configure the home device/appliance settings, and the like, automatically based on the receiver backup data.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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communicating a request for backup data by a first television receiver device to a remote server over a communications network in association with executing a restoration of the first television receiver device associated with a requesting customer, the remote server having, stored thereon, one or more lists of identifiers, each list of identifiers previously received by the remote server from a respective television receiver associated with a respective customer in association with executing a respective backup of the respective television receiver, each list of identifiers indicating a respective plurality of television programs stored at the respective television receiver at the time of executing the respective backup; receiving the backup data by the first television receiver device from the remote server responsive to the request, the backup data comprising a selected list of identifiers of the one or more lists of identifiers selected by the remote server in accordance with the request; and for each television program of the respective plurality of television programs indicated by the selected list of identifiers; determining, by the first television receiver device, whether the television program is scheduled to be aired in an upcoming television broadcast receivable by a tuner of the first television receiver device during a broadcast time; in accordance with determining that the television program is scheduled to be aired, automatically configuring the first television receiver device to tune to the broadcast and locally record the television program during the broadcast time; and in accordance with determining that the television program is not scheduled to be aired, indicating to the requesting customer whether the television program is available from an alternative television program source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A television receiver device associated with a requesting customer, comprising:
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a digital video recorder (DVR) comprising a DVR database configured to receive and store recorded television programs; a network interface to communicate with a remote server via a communications network, the remote server having, stored thereon, one or more lists of identifiers, each list of identifiers previously received by the remote server from a respective television receiver associated with a respective customer in association with executing a respective backup of the respective television receiver, each list of identifiers indicating a respective plurality of television programs stored at the respective television receiver at the time of executing the respective backup; one or more processors; and memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to; communicate a request for backup data to the remote server via the network interface in association with executing a restoration of the television receiver device; receive the backup data from the remote server responsive to the request, the backup data comprising a selected list of identifiers of the one or more lists of identifiers selected by the remote server in accordance with the request; and for each television program of the respective plurality of television programs indicated by the selected list of identifiers; determine whether the television program is scheduled to be aired in an upcoming television broadcast receivable by a tuner of the first television receiver device during a broadcast time; in accordance with determining that the television program is scheduled to be aired, automatically configure the television receiver device to tune to the broadcast and locally record the television program during the broadcast time; and in accordance with determining that the television program is not scheduled to be aired, indicate to the requesting customer whether the television program is available from an alternative television program source. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification