Global Interactive program guide application and device

• US 20080022298A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WhereverTV, Inc. (WhereverTV Broadcasting Corp.)
• Original Assignee: WhereverTV, Inc. (WhereverTV Broadcasting Corp.)
• Inventors: Cavicchia, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/25
• 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 21/42204 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 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/4622 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 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system and device is disclosed that employs a global interactive program guide to receive, access, manage, and view digital entertainment services such as live television, television on demand, and pre-recorded video and audio programming from one on more content sources, via an internet-enabled device, anywhere in the world. As disclosed, the global interactive program guide provides a user with metadata that describes available content and enables the user to access desired content on an a la carte basis and arrange the presentation of that content in any way or order desired. The system of the instant invention can alternatively be practiced with any mobile communications device that is accessible via the internet, cell phone communications or other communications mode. Changes made to content availability are instantly synchronized through the entire system and content redundancy is obtained when available.

Claims

1. A portable content manager device for receiving and viewing content comprising:

an acquisition module that obtains content and data that describes said content from a web server over a communications link; and

an interface module that presents the data that describes said content to a user and receives input from said user.

2. The portable content manager device of claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises an interactive program guide.

3. The portable content manager device of claim 1, further comprising a digital rights management module that obtains viewing rights from a source of content.

4. The portable content manager device of claim 1, further comprising a global positioning satellite communicator for determining geographical location.

5. The portable content manager device of claim 1, further comprising a filtering module that blocks content according to jurisdiction.

6. The portable content manager device of claim 1, further comprising a voice recognition module that accepts verbal commands and converts them to digital form.

7. The portable content manager device of claim 1, further comprising a display device.

8. The portable content manager device of claim 1, further comprising a relay module for delivering the content and data to a display device.

9. The portable content manager device of claim 1, further comprising a storage module that stores the content and data.

10. The portable content manager device of claim 1, wherein the communications link is the internet.

11. A content acquisition system for reception of content from one or more user chosen content sources, the system comprising:

a portable device capable establishing and maintaining a connection with a communications link;

an interactive program guide application on a machine readable medium that provides for management and personalization of programming received from one or more content sources based on user preference;

said application further allowing the user to view available content; and

remote sources of content that are accessible through the communications link.

12. The content acquisition system of claim 11, wherein the communications link is the internet.

13. The content acquisition system of claim 11, wherein the data communication pathway is a cellular telephone receiving and transmitting device.

14. The content acquisition system of claim 11, wherein the portable device further comprises a display screen.

15. The content acquisition system of claim 11, wherein the interactive program guide application assists the user in managing content rights.

16. The content acquisition system of claim 11, wherein the interactive program guide application obtains redundant content sources in order to assure a constant viewing experience.

17. The content acquisition system of claim 11, wherein the interactive program guide application further provides for synchronization of changes made to the application in order to present a consistent user experience.

18. The content acquisition system of claim 11, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting incoming data and content to a separate viewing apparatus.

19. The content acquisition system of claim 11, further comprising a geographical positioning device for determining the location of the device.

20. The content acquisition system of claim 19, further comprising a filter module that selectively blocks content.

21. A method for providing an interactive program guide to a user for viewing, selecting and obtaining access to content comprising:

delivering descriptive program data about available content from a web server over a communications link to a device specified by the user;

permitting the user to arrange a display of the descriptive program data as desired by said user on said device; and

providing a selectable option for the user to select the available content to be delivered over the communications link.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said content sources comprise live television broadcasting, previously recorded content, and content available from a website accessible via the internet.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said descriptive program data comprises content source identification and program listings for available content.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the device comprises a display device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the content is delivered to a second device specified by the user.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising automatically authenticating the user to the content sources prior to delivering the content to the device.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising obtaining a redundant source for said content in the event that one of said content sources becomes unavailable while in use.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising obtaining viewing rights from said content sources prior to delivering said content to the device.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising filtering viewing rights from said content sources in accordance with geographical location.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising synchronizing changes made by the user to the interactive program guide in order to preserve a consistent user experience across all devices.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the communications link is the internet.

32. An interactive program guide application embodied on a computer readable medium for receiving and managing content comprising code segments:

a. for receiving, organizing and storing data that describes said content;

b. for presenting said data in a preferred order identified by a user;

c. for managing viewing rights for said content; and

d. for ensuring user authentication to the interactive program guide application.

33. The interactive program guide application of claim 32, wherein the data and content are delivered from a web server over a communications link to a device specified by the user.

34. The interactive program guide application of claim 32, further comprising code segments for receiving a request for content from the user and delivering said content to a device specified by the user.

35. The interactive program guide application of claim 34, wherein the data that describes the content is displayed on a first device and a request for said content is made on said first device.

36. The interactive program guide application of claim 35, wherein the content requested using the first device is delivered to a second device having code segments installed for managing the reception and viewing of said content.

37. The interactive program guide application of claim 36, wherein the second device is an internet-enabled television.

38. The interactive program guide application of claim 32, further comprising code segments for providing automatic updates in order to minimize user involvement in maintaining the application.

39. The interactive program guide application of claim 32, further comprising code segments for synchronizing changes made by the user across all devices used to access the guide.

40. The interactive program guide application of claim 32, further comprising code segments for enabling control over the application using a remote control device.

41. The interactive program guide application of claim 32, further comprising code segments for providing real-time acquisition of content viewing rights.

42. The interactive program guide application of claim 32, further comprising code segments for filtering content.

43. The interactive program guide application of claim 42, wherein the content is filtered based on the geographic location of the device at the time of viewing said content.

44. The interactive program guide application of claim 32, further comprising code segments for obtaining redundant content in order to reduce interruptions in content delivery to the user.

45. The interactive program guide application of claim 42, wherein the communications link is the internet.