Interactive media guidance system having multiple devices

• US 20070157240A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Walker, Todd
• Application Number:
  US11/323,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157240A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• 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 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

When selecting a television program for recording, a user may configure the delivery of the selected television program and associated data and interactive applications to different user equipment devices in a home network, which may have different capabilities. Because the user equipment devices in the home network may have different capabilities, the user may wish to deliver different types and amount of content, different amounts of data, and different versions of interactive applications to the user equipment devices in the home network.

Claims

1. A method for delivering video programming to user equipment devices in a home network comprising:

providing access to video programming, wherein the video programming has associated program data;

receiving a request from a first user equipment device in the home network to play the video programming;

identifying a first selection of the associated program data that is appropriate for the first user equipment device; and

delivering the video programming and the first selection of the associated program data to the first user equipment device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request from a second user equipment device in the home network to play the video programming;

identifying a second selection of the associated program data that is appropriate for the second user equipment device; and

delivering the video programming and the second selection of the associated program data to the second user equipment device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first and second user equipment devices have different capabilities and wherein the first and second selections of the associated program data are different.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a first selection comprises selecting from the associated program data based on the capabilities of the first user equipment device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein selecting from the associated program data comprises using an interactive program guide to select from the plurality of formats.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein selecting from the associated program data further comprises providing a user with the ability to select associated program data using the interactive program guide.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein selecting from the associated program data comprises automatically selecting from associated program data using the interactive program guide.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first selection of associated program data includes any of schedule information, program descriptions, program information, related articles, interviews, or reviews.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the associated program guide data includes any of text, video, or audio.

10. A system for delivering video programming to user equipment devices in a home network comprising:

a first user equipment device in the home network; and

a processor in communication to the home network configured to;

provide access to video programming, wherein the video programming has associated program data;

receive a request from the first user equipment device in the home network to play the video programming;

identify a first selection of the associated program data that is appropriate for the first user equipment device; and

deliver the video programming and the first selection of the associated program data to the first user equipment device.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a second user equipment device in the home network and wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a request from the second user equipment device in the home network to play the video programming;

identify a second selection of the associated program data that is appropriate for the second user equipment device; and

deliver the video programming and the second selection of the associated program data to the second user equipment device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second user equipment devices have different capabilities and wherein the first and second selections of the associated program data are different.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein identifying a first selection comprises selecting from the associated program data based on the capabilities of the first user equipment device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein selecting from the associated program data comprises using an interactive program guide to select from the associated program data.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein selecting from the associated program data further comprises providing a user with the ability to select associated program data using the interactive program guide.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein selecting from the associated program data comprises automatically selecting from associated program data using the interactive program guide.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the first selection of associated program data includes any of schedule information, program descriptions, program information, related articles, interviews, or reviews.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the associated program guide data includes any of text, video, or audio.

19. A method for delivering recorded television programs to user equipment devices in a home network comprising:

providing access to a recorded television program, wherein the recorded television program has associated program data;

receiving a request from a first user equipment device in the home network to play the video programming, wherein an interactive program guide is implemented on the first user equipment device and a user requests to play the recorded television program using the interactive program guide;

identifying a first selection of the associated program data that is appropriate for the first user equipment device; and

delivering the recorded television program and the first selection of the associated program data to the first user equipment device.