Remote task scheduling for a set top box

• US 20060190963A1
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wagner, Mark, Roy, Paul J., DeYonker, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/4622 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 21/47214 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• 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 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• 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

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.

Claims

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, as well as a sequence number that enables the set top box to determine whether the task has already been processed;

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.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for storing the program guide data at a website, wherein the program guide data is obtained from a program guide data provider.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for the user logging in to a website that stores the program guide data with a user identifier.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for the mapping a user identifier to the set top box identifier such that the set top box identifier is included in the notification.

5. A method as defined in claim 3, further comprising a step for verifying that the user has access to the set top box, wherein the step for verifying comprises:

providing an activation code to the website, wherein the activation code includes the set top box identifier, a signature of the set top box identifier and a random value;

the website verifying the signature of the set top box identifier;

including the random value in the notification if the signature is verified; and

verifying the random value by the set top box.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for generating a notification from the selected task further comprises an act of determining:

a channel of the task;

a time of the task; and

a duration of the task.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for generating a notification from the selected task further comprises an act of determining the task attributes to be included in the notification, the task attributes including one or more of:

an extension attribute that indicates how long the task should be extended;

a keep attribute that identifies how long the task should be stored;

an conflict resolution attribute for use in conflict resolution; and

a reminder attribute that reminds the user of the task.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for sending the notification to a notification service further comprises inserting one or more of a set top box identifier, a sequence number, and a user identifier in the notification.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for sending the notification to the broadcast service is repeated by the notification service according to a schedule.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the act of 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 further comprises one or more of:

requesting a cancel task;

requesting a manual record task, wherein the user identifies a start time, an end time, and a channel to be recorded.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task attributes include a conflict resolution attribute for use in conflict resolution.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task attributes include a keep attribute that identifies how long the task should be stored.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task attributes include a conflict resolution attribute for use in conflict resolution.

14. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes recording a program.

15. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes deleting a program.

16. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes setting preferences.

17. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes altering a task.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes locking a channel.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task includes locking a program.