Remote task scheduling for a set top box
First Claim
1. In a system that broadcasts data over a one way transmission to a plurality of set top boxes, a method for remotely scheduling a task for implementation on a set top box, the method comprising steps for:
- providing program guide data to a user over a network, wherein the user requests a task from the program guide data that is provided to the user;
receiving the task that was requested by the user from the program guide data;
generating a notification from the requested task, wherein the notification includes task attributes and a set top box identifier;
sending the notification to a notification service, wherein the notification service stores the notification in a task database;
sending, by the notification service, the notification to a broadcast service, wherein the broadcast service sends the notification to the set top box over the one way transmission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for remotely scheduling tasks that are transmitted to a set top box and implemented on the set top box. A task service includes a website that provides program guide data to users. From the program guide data, a user selects a task. The website generates a notification that includes the task and certain identifiers, including a set top box identifier and a sequence number. The notification is sent to a notification service, that repeatedly sends the notification to a broadcast service. The broadcast service ensures that the notification is transmitted to the set top box. The set top box detects the notification from the set top box identifier and implements the task on the set top box unless the task has been previously handled.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. In a system that broadcasts data over a one way transmission to a plurality of set top boxes, a method for remotely scheduling a task for implementation on a set top box, the method comprising steps for:
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providing program guide data to a user over a network, wherein the user requests a task from the program guide data that is provided to the user;
receiving the task that was requested by the user from the program guide data;
generating a notification from the requested task, wherein the notification includes task attributes and a set top box identifier;
sending the notification to a notification service, wherein the notification service stores the notification in a task database;
sending, by the notification service, the notification to a broadcast service, wherein the broadcast service sends the notification to the set top box over the one way transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a system that broadcasts programming content to a plurality of set top boxes over a one way transmission such as a satellite broadcast, a method for remotely scheduling a task over the one way transmission such that the task is implemented on a set top box that receives the programming content, the method comprising acts of:
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accessing program guide data that is stored on a website that is remote from the set top box;
selecting a task using the program guide data that is provided from the website;
after the task has been selected, generating a notification from the selected task, wherein a set top box identifier is inserted in the notification that includes the selected task;
sending the notification, by the notification service, to a broadcast service, wherein the broadcast service transmits the notification to an uplink that delivers the notification over the one way transmission to the set top box;
detecting, by the set top box, the set top box identifier included in the notification delivered over the one way transmission; and
implementing the selected task at the set top box from the notification that was received over the one way transmission. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a system wherein programming content is delivered over a satellite system to a plurality of set top boxes, a method of remotely scheduling a task on a set top box, the method comprising acts of:
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selecting a task from program guide data that is retrieved from a remote website, including setting one or more attributes of the task;
from the selected task, generating a notification, wherein the selected task and the one or more attributes are included in the notification;
inserting a sequence number and a set top box identifier in the notification;
sending the notification to a notification service;
repeatedly sending the notification to a broadcast service by the notification service, wherein the broadcast service transmits the notification to an uplink such that the notification is included in a broadcast of the satellite;
tuning the set top box to a particular channel of the satellite broadcast;
detecting the task by recognizing the set top box identifier in the notification; and
scheduling the task at the set top box. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. In a system that includes programming content that is broadcast to a plurality of set top boxes over a one way transmission, a task service for remotely scheduling a task that is transmitted over the one way transmission to a set top box for implementation, the task service comprising:
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a website that maintains program guide data, wherein the website provides the program data to a user that accesses the website with a user identifier such that the user selects a task;
a database that is accessible by the website and that stores set top box identifiers, wherein the website accesses the database to map the user identifier to a particular set top box identifier of the user;
a notification module for generating notifications, wherein the notification includes the task and the set top box identifier;
a notification service that receives the notifications from the notification module, wherein the notification service repeatedly sends each notification according to a schedule to a broadcast service such that the notifications are transmitted to the set top box over the one way transmission. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. In a system that broadcasts data over a one way transmission to a plurality of set top boxes, a computer program product for implementing a method for remotely scheduling a task for implementation on a set top box, the computer program product comprising:
a computer readable medium for carrying computer executable instructions for implementing said method, and wherein the method comprises steps for;
providing program guide data to a user over a network, wherein a user requests a task from the program guide data that is provided to the user;
receiving the task that was requested by the user from the program guide data;
generating a notification from the selected task, wherein the notification includes task attributes and a set top box identifier;
sending the notification to a notification service, wherein the notification service stores the notification in a database;
sending, by the notification service, the notification to a broadcast service, wherein the broadcast service sends the notification to the set top box over the one way transmission. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Specification