Method and system for remote television replay control

• US 20020080166A1
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Digital Networks North America, Inc. (DEI Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Voltmer, F. Andrew, Woodard, Don, Regnier, Alain, Mohan, Sunil, Self, Matthew, Pignon, Philippe, Westerhoff, Dave, Nudelman, Mark, Matichuk, Chris E., Sweatt, Millard E. III
• Application Number:
  US09/925,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2183 Cache memory caches in web servers or browsers G06F16/9574; intermediate storage and caching in data networks H04L67/568
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• 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 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85406 : involving a specific file format, e.g. MP4 format
• 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 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 : Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web hosted services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. In one embodiment, users access the media-based device through one or more unrelated web portals, so as to control and to program the media-based device in a single web session, and to see information both stored on the media-based device and originating from third-party online sources of information and services in a single integrated presentation.

Claims

1. A method of uploading data for operating at least one media device over a network, comprising:

receiving a request for data from at least one first server;

responsive to the request received, querying a data source to extract the data for operating the media device;

periodically sending the data extracted to the first server, the first server being communicatively coupled to the network; and

periodically transmitting the data from the first server to the media device over the network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is received by a second server, the second server periodically pushing the data extracted to the first server according to a batch mode.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises registration information associated with the media device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises pending transaction information associated with the media device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data is transferred in XML format.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data source comprises databases and online services.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises broadcast programming guides in an electronic format.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media device comprises a digital video recorder.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first server comprises a Domain Naming Service (DNS) server.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first servers for balancing load associated with a plurality of media devices.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the data is formatted in XML.

14. The method according to claim 14, wherein the virtual representation is formed by combining the data with additional data stored in the data source.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the data source comprises at least one database.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second server requests transfer of the data from the first server with using an http request.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the media device is selected from a group consisting of a digital video recorder, a personal digital assistant, a mobile telephone, and a pager.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the virtual representation is selected from a group of interfaces consisting of a login interface, a Channel Guide, a Replay Guide, Replay Shows, Replay Channels, Find Shows, and Manual Record.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the data is transferred periodically.

12. A method of enabling a virtual representation corresponding to at least one media device over a network, comprising:

monitoring data disposed on a first server until ready for transfer to a second server, the data being associated with the media device coupled to the first server over the network;

responsive to the data being ready for transfer, requesting transfer of the data from the first server;

receiving the data transferred from the first server; and

storing the data received in a data source, the data being extracted from the data source to create the virtual representation.

20. A method of remote control over a network of at least one media device, comprising:

receiving commands from a first server to operate the media device;

responsive to the commands received, executing the commands to control the media device;

producing one or more results in response to executing the commands; and

transmitting the results to the first server over the network.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first server comprises a Domain Naming Service (DNS) server.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the results are transferred in XML format.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the media device comprises a digital video recorder.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the media devices comprise digital video recorders.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the server comprises a Domain Naming Services (DNS) server.

25. A system, comprising:

a first subsystem having at least one server coupled to a network, the network being in communication with one or more media devices, the server enabling the media devices to be distributed with a load-balanced configuration;

coupled to the first subsystem, a second subsystem maintaining a virtual representation of one or more user interfaces replicated from each of the media devices; and

coupled to the second subsystem, a third subsystem displaying the virtual representation and simulating operation of the media devices based on portions of the user interfaces being selected.

29. A computer program product for uploading data for operating at least one media device over a network, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, and adapted to perform operations, comprising:

receiving a request for data from at least one first server;

responsive to the request received, querying a data source to extract the data for operating the media device;

periodically sending the data extracted to the first server, the first server being communicatively coupled to the network; and

periodically transmitting the data from the first server to the media device over the network.

30. A computer program product for enabling a virtual representation corresponding to at least one media device over a network, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, and adapted to perform operations, comprising:

monitoring data disposed on a first server until ready for transfer to a second server, the data being associated with the media device coupled to the first server over the network;

responsive to the data being ready for transfer, requesting transfer of the data from the first server;

receiving the data transferred from the first server; and

storing the data received in a data source, the data being extracted from the data source to create the virtual representation.

31. A computer program product for remote control over a network of at least one media device, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, and adapted to perform operations, comprising:

receiving commands from a first server to operate the media device;

responsive to the commands received, executing the commands to control the media device;

producing one or more results in response to executing the commands; and

transmitting the results to the first server over the network.