Systems and methods for transfering television-related settings and preferences

• US 20060161956A1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synamedia Limited
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Arturo A., Wasilewski, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,695,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• 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 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for transferring DHCT settings includes receiving by a first digital home communication terminal (DHCT) a request for transmitting a DHCT setting from the first DHCT to a second DHCT, and transmitting the DHCT setting from the first DHCT to the second DHCT. Systems and other methods for transferring DHCT settings are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for managing a television functionality setting in a subscriber television system, the method comprising:

providing an option to a user via a first digital home communication terminal (DHCT), the option enabling the user to select a television functionality setting corresponding to a television program;

receiving an input from the user requesting transmission of a selected television functionality setting from the first DHCT to a second DHCT located within a different premises from the first DHCT, the second DHCT being identified by the user as a destination for receiving the television functionality setting;

storing the television functionality setting in a memory device;

transmitting the television functionality setting from the memory device to the second DHCT; and

implementing a television functionality associated with the television functionality setting on a television coupled to the second DHCT;

wherein the television functionality setting is a reminder notice regarding a broadcast of a television program for which a reminder is desired.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the television functionality setting is stored in a memory device of the first DHCT.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the television functionality setting is stored in a memory device of a server located within the subscriber television system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the television functionality setting is associated with program guide data stored at the second DHCT.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an input from the user further comprises enabling the user to provide input via a remote control device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder notice regarding the broadcast of a television program comprises information of a broadcast start time and a channel number.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein implementing the television functionality on the television coupled to the second DHCT further comprises displaying the reminder notice on the television.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the television functionality setting to the second DHCT further comprises determining that the second DHCT is authorized by a television system operator to receive the DHCT setting.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the television functionality setting to the second DHCT further comprises determining that the first DHCT and the second DHCT are under the same user account.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user request at the first DHCT to cancel the television functionality setting; and

transmitting the user request to cancel the television functionality setting to the second DHCT.

11. A digital home communication terminal (DHCT) comprising:

a memory device for storing television related data; and

a processor configured to;

enable a user to select a television functionality setting corresponding to a television program,

receive an input from the user requesting transmission of a selected television functionality setting to another DHCT located at a different premises, store the television functionality setting in the memory device, and

transmit the television functionality setting from the memory device to the other DHCT, the television functionality setting allowing a DHCT to implement a television functionality associated with the television functionality setting on a television coupled thereto.

12. The DHCT of claim 11, wherein the television functionality setting is a reminder of a future broadcast of a television program for which a reminder is desired.

13. The DHCT of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an input from the user requesting transmission of the television functionality setting to a plurality of other DHCTs each located at a premises other than the premises of the DHCT, the processor further configured to transmit the television functionality setting to a plurality of other DHCTs.

14. The DHCT of claim 13, wherein the DHCT communicates with the plurality of other DHCTs via a server of a headend.

15. The DHCT of claim 14, wherein the DHCT and plurality of other DHCTs are under the same user account.

16. The DHCT of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the television functionality setting in response to a second input from the user.

17. A server of a television system, the server comprising:

a storage device for storing television related data; and

a processor configured to;

receive a request to transmit a television functionality setting from a first digital home communication terminal (DHCT) to a second DHCT located within a different premises from the first DHCT, the second DHCT identified as a destination for receiving the television functionality setting,

store the television functionality setting in the storage device, and

transmit the television functionality setting from the storage device to the second DHCT, the television functionality setting allowing the second DHCT to implement a television functionality associated with the television functionality setting on a television coupled to the second DHCT;

wherein the television functionality setting is a reminder of an upcoming television program broadcast.

18. The server of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether or not a number of television settings stored in the storage device exceeds a predetermined limit.

19. The server of claim 17, wherein the television functionality setting includes information regarding a particular television program, a start time of a broadcast of the television program, and a channel number of the television program.

20. The server of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the television functionality setting to the second DHCT before the start time of the broadcast of the television program.

21. The server of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether or not the first DHCT and second DHCT operate under the same user account.

22. The server of claim 17, further comprising means for receiving a retrieval request from the second DHCT to retrieve the television functionality setting.

23. The server of claim 17, further comprising means for receiving a request to cancel the television functionality setting.