Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications

• US 20080155600A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Akitaka, Iwanaga, Asahi, Klappert, Walter R., Yoshimoto, Akio
• Application Number:
  US11/643,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155600A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks 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 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/41407 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 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/466 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies services using the results of monitoring in broadcast systems H04H60/61
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications are provided. In particular, the systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications provided herein generally relate to enhancing remote access capabilities by providing algorithms and techniques for managing and correcting disparities that may be found between program listings data used by the interactive media guidance application and the remote access server.

Claims

1. A method for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application from a mobile user device having location positioning functionality, the method comprising:

receiving an action request for a program from the mobile user device, wherein the mobile user device utilizes first-location program information to generate the action request for the program, and the first-location program information is based on a user'"'"'s current location;

transmitting the action request for the program to the user equipment, wherein the user equipment utilizes second-location program information to schedule the action request for the program, the second-location program information is based on a location of the user equipment, and the location of the user equipment is different from the user'"'"'s current location;

detecting a disparity between the first-location program information for the program and the second-location program information for the program;

in response to detecting the disparity, searching for alternate scheduling information for the program; and

transmitting the alternate scheduling information to the user equipment for scheduling the action request for the program to be performed by the user equipment.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the mobile user device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a portable television system, and an automobile television system.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the mobile user device includes a global positioning system (GPS) to perform the location positioning functionality.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the location positioning functionality is performed utilizing a cellular telephone network.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the location positioning functionality is performed by an automobile navigation system.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein transmitting the action request comprises transmitting the action request to a media service provider or to the user equipment.

7. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the media service provider is selected from the group consisting of:

a cable service provider, and a satellite service provider.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the action request is for an action selected from the group consisting of:

scheduling a recording of the program, and setting a reminder for the program.

9. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive program guide.

10. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment comprises a set-top box.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the action request comprises one or more interactive program guide functions executed on the set-top box.

12. The method defined in claim 1 wherein transmitting the action request for the program further comprises transmitting a channel and a start time for the program based on the first-location program information database.

13. A system for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application from a mobile user device having location positioning functionality, the system comprising:

a receiver to receive an action request for a program from the mobile user device, wherein the mobile user device utilizes first-location program information to generate the action request for the program, and the first-location program information is based on a user'"'"'s current location; and

a processor configured to;

transmit the action request for the program to the user equipment, wherein the user equipment utilizes second-location program information to schedule the action request for the program, the second-location program information is based on a location of the user equipment, and the location of the user equipment is different from the user'"'"'s current location;

detect a disparity between the first-location program information for the program and the second-location program information for the program;

in response to detecting the disparity, searching for alternate scheduling information for the program; and

transmit the alternate scheduling information to the user equipment for scheduling the action request for the program to be performed by the user equipment.

14. The system defined in claim 13 wherein:

the mobile user device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a portable television system, and an automobile television system.

15. The system defined in claim 13 wherein:

the mobile user device includes a global positioning system (GPS) to perform the location positioning functionality.

16. The system defined in claim 13 wherein:

the location positioning functionality is performed utilizing a cellular telephone network.

17. The system defined in claim 13 wherein:

the location positioning functionality is performed by an automobile navigation system.

18. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the processor, in transmitting the action request, is further configured to transmit the action request to a media service provider or to the user equipment.

19. The system defined in claim 18 wherein the media service provider is selected from the group consisting of:

a cable service provider, and a satellite service provider.

20. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the action request is for an action selected from the group consisting of:

scheduling a recording of the program, and setting a reminder for the program.

21. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the interactive media guidance application is an interactive program guide.

22. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the user equipment comprises a set-top box.

23. The system defined in claim 22 wherein the action request comprises one or more interactive program guide functions executed on the set-top box.

24. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the processor, in transmitting the action request for the program, is further configured to transmit a channel and a start time for the program based on the first-location program information database.