System and method for controlling the recording functionality of an appliance using a program guide

• US 20030193519A1
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Arling, Paul D., Hayes, Patrick H., Lilleness, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,254,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/721
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• 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 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• 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 21/47 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 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A system and method for displaying an electronic program guide and for remotely controlling the recording functionality of an appliance. A user registers with a Web site to enable the downloading of an electronic program guide (“EPG”) to a portable device. The downloaded and displayable EPG includes a listing of programs from which the user may select a program of interest. In response to receiving input from the user requesting that the program be recorded, data indicative of the recording request is stored in the portable device. Then, when it is determined that the portable device is able to establish communication with the appliance (either directly or via an intermediate PC), the data indicative to the recording request is provided to the appliance to effect the recording of the program.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to effect recording of a program, the method comprising:

displaying to a user in a portable device a program guide including a listing for the program;

in response to receiving input from the user requesting that the program be recorded, storing in the portable device data indicative of the recording request; and

when it is determined that the portable device is able to establish communication with an appliance capable of effecting recording of the program, providing the data indicative of the recording request to the appliance.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying a graphical user interface element by which the user can request that the program be recorded.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the graphical user interface element is displayed in a pop-up window that includes information related to the program.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising downloading the data indicative of the recording request to a personal computer capable of communicating with the appliance.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising downloading the data indicative of the recording request directly to the appliance.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising establishing a wireless communication connection with the appliance.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the wireless communication connection utilizes RF transmissions.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the wireless communication connection utilizes IR transmissions.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising downloading the program guide to the portable device from a server.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, further comprising using user registration information to determine the content within the program guide.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the user registration information comprises a geographic designator.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the geographic designator comprises a zip code.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the user registration information comprises a selection of a service provider.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying a plurality of appliances and accepting input from the user specifying one of the plurality of appliances to effect the recording.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable device is a PDA.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the program guide includes textual and graphical information.

17. A readable media in a portable device having instruction for enabling a user to effect recording of a program, the instructions performing steps comprising:

displaying a program guide including a listing for the program;

in response to receiving input from a user requesting that the program be recorded, storing data indicative of the recording request; and

when it is determined that communication can be established with an appliance capable of effecting recording of the program, providing the data indicative of the recording request to the appliance.

18. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions further display a graphical user interface element by which the user can request that the program be recorded.

19. The readable media as recited in claim 18, wherein the graphical user interface element is displayed in a pop-up window that includes information related to the program.

20. The readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising instructions for downloading the data indicative of the recording request to a personal computer capable of communicating with the appliance.

21. The readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising instructions for downloading the data indicative of the recording request directly to the appliance.

22. The readable media as recited in claim 21, wherein the instructions establish a wireless communication connection with the appliance.

23. The readable media as recited in claim 22, wherein the wireless communication connection utilizes RF transmissions.

24. The readable media as recited in claim 22, wherein the wireless communication connection utilizes IR transmissions.

25. The readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising instructions for downloading the program guide from a server.

26. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the portable device is a PDA.

27. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the program guide includes textual and graphical information.