Exporting data from a digital home communication terminal to a client device

• US 20030192047A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Russ, Samuel H., Gaul, Michael A., Lett, David B., Robinson, Jonathan A.
• Application Number:
  US10/104,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192047A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method for exporting data includes receiving a request for exporting DHCT-related data and then exporting the DHCT-related data from a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) to a client device, wherein the DHCT and the client device are located at a customer premises.

Claims

1. In a system that includes a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, a method for exporting data comprising:

receiving by the DHCT a request for exporting DHCT-related data; and

exporting the DHCT-related data from the DHCT to a client device located at the customer premises.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the DHCT-related data in a first format; and

formatting the DHCT-related data using a second format prior to exporting the DHCT-related data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data is received by the DHCT from a headend.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the headend receives a portion of the DHCT-related data from a data provider and augments the portion of the DHCT-related data with additional data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data provider is a program guide provider, the DHCT-related data comprises program guide data, and the additional data comprises channel number information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises data pertaining to the DHCT.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises subscriber billing information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises an instruction for operating the DHCT.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises contact information for a television service provider.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises information about a DHCT service.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises targeted advertising information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises television program guide information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the television program guide information identifies a video presentation that is stored in the DHCT.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the television program guide information identifies a television presentation that is available via the DHCT.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a user.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from the client device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from an automated process running on the client device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a cable television head-end.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises data that is received by the DHCT via a cable television network.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises data that is received by the DHCT via a satellite television network.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is a computer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the computer is one of a desktop computer a laptop computer, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises at least one of a channel number, a date, a time of day, a viewing authorization, a program title, a program duration, a program type, a program description, a program rating, a program feature, and a program critique.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data is encoded in a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML).

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data is encoded in an Extensible Markup Language (XML).

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data is encoded in a custom format for a client device application.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the client device application is one of a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, and a database application.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data is capable of being searched by the client device.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data is capable of being queried by the client device.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data is capable of being condensed by the client device.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises alphanumeric characters.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

charging the user for exporting the DHCT-related data.

33. A method for exporting data from a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) to a computer, the method comprising:

receiving a message from the computer requesting television program guide data; and

exporting the television program guide data from the DHCT to the computer in response to receiving the message.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the program guide data is stored in DHCT memory.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the computer is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

36. A method for transmitting data from a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) to a printer, the method comprising:

receiving a first user input identifying data to be printed;

receiving a second user input identifying a time for printing the data; and

transmitting the data to the printer at the time identified by the second user input.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the data comprises television program guide information.

38. A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, comprising:

a communications interface for exporting DHCT-related data; and

a processor that is programmed to export the DHCT-related data via the communications interface to a client device located at the customer premises.

39. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data is received by the DHCT from a headend.

40. The DHCT of claim 39, wherein the headend receives a portion of the DHCT-related data from a data provider and augments the portion of the DHCT-related data with additional data.

41. The DHCT of claim 40, wherein the data provider is a program guide provider, the DHCT-related data comprises program guide data, and the additional data comprises channel number information.

42. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises data pertaining to the DHCT.

43. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises subscriber billing information.

44. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises an instruction for operating the DHCT.

45. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises contact information for a television service provider.

46. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises information about a DHCT service.

47. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises targeted advertising information.

48. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises television program guide information.

49. The DHCT of claim 48, wherein the television program guide information identifies a video presentation that is stored in the DHCT.

50. The DHCT of claim 48, wherein the television program guide information identifies a television presentation that is available via the DHCT.

51. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the request is received from a user.

52. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the request is received from the client device.

53. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the request is received from an automated process running on the client device.

54. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the request is received from a cable television head-end.

55. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises data that is received by the DHCT via a cable television network.

56. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises data that is received by the DHCT via a satellite television network.

57. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the client device is one of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

58. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises at least one of a channel number, a date, a time of day, a viewing authorization, a program title, a program duration, a program type, a program description, a program rating, a program feature, and a program critique.

59. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data is encoded in a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML).

60. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data is encoded in an Extensible Markup Language (XML).

61. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data is encoded in a custom format for a client device application.

62. The DHCT of claim 61, wherein the client device application is one of a word processing application, a spreadsheet application, and a database application.

63. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data is capable of being searched by the client device.

64. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data is capable of being queried by the client device.

65. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data is capable of being condensed by the client device.

66. The DHCT of claim 38, wherein the DHCT-related data comprises alphanumeric characters.

67. In a system that includes a digital home communication terminal (DHCT) located at a customer premises, a method for exporting data comprising:

receiving by the DHCT program guide data that is transmitted by a headend in a first format;

transforming the program guide data having a first format into program guide data having a second format;

receiving by the DHCT a request for exporting program guide data to a computer located at the customer premises;

exporting the program guide data having the second format from the DHCT to the computer; and

wherein the headend receives a portion of the program guide data from a program guide provider and augments the portion of the program guide data with television channel number data.