One click web records

• US 20020087661A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Scott A., Matichuk, Chris E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,171,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/34 the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement B60P3/38 takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/027 Remotely controlled remote control systems in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 : by creating hot-spots
• 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 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 41/30 : characterised by the memory core region
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 69/00 : Erasable-and-programmable ROM [EPROM] devices not provided for in groups H10B41/00 - H10B63/00, e.g. ultraviolet erasable-and-programmable ROM [UVEPROM] devices

Abstract

A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web 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 an embodiment directed to a single web session, users program the media-based device by clicking on one or more hyperlinks or hypertexts in the form of advertisements of upcoming broadcasts. The advertisements may be web-hosted or sponsored by web portals.

Claims

1. A method of programming a media-based device over a network, the method comprising:

locating an advertisement for a broadcast program while navigating a first web site;

selecting the advertisement; and

in response, automatically programming the media-based device to record the broadcast program.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the advertisement comprises a hyperlink to a second web site accessing the media-based device, the hyperlink being embedded in the first web site.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein selecting the advertisement and automatically programming the media-based device are invoked by one click on the hyperlink.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

the second website monitoring a count of a number of times the hyperlink is selected; and

the second website periodically collecting revenue from the first website based on the count.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the revenue comprises a percentage of advertising revenue associated with the advertisement.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media-based device comprises a video replay system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting the advertisement comprises:

determining a user selecting the advertisement; and

authenticating the user with the media-based device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining a user selecting the advertisement comprises:

extracting a cookie associated with the user; and

forwarding the cookie to the media-based device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cookie is extracted from a client enabled to communicate with the first website.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cookie is extracted from a computer hosting the first website.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining a user selecting the advertisement comprises:

linking the first web site to a second web site;

navigating to the second web site; and

in response, the second web site prompting a user for identification data.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining a user selecting the advertisement comprises:

determining the URL for the first web site; and

determining partner identification information associated with the first web site.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein automatically programming the media-based device to record the broadcast program comprises:

determining a user associated with the media-based device;

navigating from the first web site to a second web site;

logging the user into the second web site;

detecting whether the user selected the advertisement previously; and

in response to the user previously not selecting the advertisement, the second web site communicating with the media-based device to record the broadcast program.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the advertisement comprises a clickable online advertisement for a broadcast program to be aired.

15. The method according to claim 14, where broadcast program comprises a television program.

16. The method according to claim 14, where broadcast program comprises a cable program.

17. The method according to claim 14, where broadcast program comprises a pay-per-view program.

18. The method according to claim 14, where broadcast program comprises a satellite-based program.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the media-based device records the broadcast program with one click from the user of the advertisement.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the advertisement comprises a clickable online advertisement for a broadcast program.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

collecting revenue based on the advertisement selected.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the media-based device comprises a digital video recorder.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the media-based device records the broadcast program with one click of the advertisement.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the advertisement comprises a clickable online advertisement for the broadcast program.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising:

collecting revenue based on the advertisement selected.

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

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the user command comprises the user clicking on an online advertisement hosted by the first server.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the advertisement identifies a broadcast program to be aired, and the identifying information comprises data related to the broadcast program.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the media-based device comprises a digital video recorder.

19. A method of programming a media-based device to record content through a web-based application, comprising:

receiving a selection of an advertisement of a broadcast program to be aired;

extracting identification information associated with a user making the selection and with broadcast program;

accessing a source web service in response to the user selection received;

logging into the source web service using the identification information; and

the source web service programming the media-based device to record the broadcast program selected.

24. A computer-implemented method for controlling a media-based device through a virtual browser, the method comprising the steps of the virtual browser:

receiving a selection of an advertisement of a broadcast program to be aired;

extracting identification information associated with a user making the selection and with broadcast program;

accessing an online web service using the identification information; and

invoking the media-based device to record the broadcast program selected.

29. A method for programming a media-based device that is network enabled, comprising:

receiving a user command that causes a first server to access a second server, the first server transmitting identifying information of the user to the second server;

the second server authenticating the user based on the identifying information, the second server accessing the media-based device to program the media-based device with the identifying information.

33. A system, comprising:

a client side system selecting an online advertisement for a broadcast program while navigating a first web site, and

a server side system automatically programming a media-based device to record the broadcast program, the media-based device communicatively coupled to the server side system over a network in response to the advertisement being selected

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the media-based device comprises a digital video recorder.

36. The browser program product according to claim 35, wherein the media-based device comprises a digital video recorder.

38. The computer server program product according to claim 37, wherein the media-based device comprises a digital video recorder.

39. The computer server program product according to claim 37, wherein the advertisement comprises a clickable online advertisement for the broadcast program.

35. A browser program product for programming a media-based device over a network, the browser program product stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform the operations of:

locating an advertisement for a broadcast program while navigating a first web site;

selecting the advertisement; and

in response, automatically programming the media-based device to record the broadcast program.

37. A computer server program product for programming a media-based device over a network, the computer server program product stored on a computer readable medium, and adapted to perform the operations of a virtual browser, comprising:

receiving a selection of an advertisement of a broadcast program to be aired;

extracting identification information associated with a user making the selection and with broadcast program;

accessing an online web service using the identification information; and

invoking the media-based device to record the broadcast program selected.