On Screen Alert to Indicate Status of Remote Recording

• US 20080163330A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sparrell, Carlton
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/142
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/47214 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An arrangement is provided in which a mobile media rendering device such as a video-enabled mobile phone utilizes a graphical user interface (“GUI”) to inform its user as to whether a remote recorder, such as a digital video recorder (“DVR”) disposed in a set top box (“STB”), is recording a media program, such as a television show or movie, that is being simulcast to both the mobile phone and the remote recorder. A service verifies that the mobile phone and STB are associated with a valid service subscription. If so verified, then the service sends a control signal over a network to the STB to activate the DVR to record the selected simulcast media program. Various icons on the GUI are provided to let the user know that the DVR is recording the selected simulcast media program to long term storage, for example, or to indicate that the DVR is recording the program to more temporary storage. Or, if there is an issue that prevents the DVR from recording the selected simulcast media program then that is brought to the user'"'"'s attention using a different icon displayed on the GUI.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors disposed in a media content rendering device, performs a method comprising:

providing a user interface for user selection of a media content program;

invoking a method for determining if the selected media content program is simultaneously receivable at the media content rendering device and a remotely located recorder; and

sending a signal to initiate the remotely located recorder to record at least a portion of the selected media content program.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the method further includes invoking a method for recording the media content program to an internal recording device disposed in the media content rendering device.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the media content rendering device is one of mobile phone, smart phone, personal digital assistant, pocket PC, handheld gaming device, music player, video player, MP3 player, personal computer, laptop computer, webpad, or tablet PC.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the media content program is selected from one of television program, live broadcast program, movie, sports event, news, radio programming, or streaming multimedia.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the method further includes displaying an alert on the user interface, the alert indicating an operational state of the remotely located recorder.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 in which the operational state includes one of persistently recording the selected media program, recording the selected media program on temporary storage basis, or inability to record the selected program.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the invoked method is performed by a remote system, the remote system being selected from one of server or computer-implemented service.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the user interface is integrated into a graphical user interface that is shared among a plurality of functionalities provided by the media content rendering device, the functionalities selected from one of mobile telephone functions, messaging functions, game-playing functions or remote control functions.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the invoking or sending is performed as transparent background processes which are automatically launched when the user performs the selection of the media program.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the user interface is arranged for providing media program presentation controls, the presentation controls being selected from one of pausing or stopping.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 in which the user interface is arranged for providing media program selection controls to enable a user to scan a plurality of programming channels.

12. A set top box, comprising:

a network interface for receiving a) a media content stream from a media content provider, and b) a control signal that is generated responsively to an input to a user interface hosted by a portable media content rendering device;

a DVR arranged to record selected programming from the media content stream, the selected programming being simulcast to both the set top terminal and the portable media content rendering device; and

recording logic for a) setting the DVR to record the selected simulcast programming responsively to the control signal, and b) generating a response signal to indicate an operating state of the DVR.

13. The set top box of claim 12 in which the simulcast program is provided in a plurality of resolutions, the resolutions being selected from one of SQCIF, QCIF, CIF, D1, or HDTV.

14. The set top box of claim 12 in which the simulcast program is delivered using a plurality of distribution protocols, the distribution protocols being selected from one of DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-T, DVB-H, DVB-C, DVB-MT, DVB-MC or DVB-MS.

15. The set top box of claim 12 in which the input to the user interface is indicative of a program selection by a user.

16. A method for enabling a user of a media content rendering device to remotely control a recorder, the method comprising:

receiving, from the media content rendering device, a request to record media content, the media content being simultaneously transmitted to the media content rendering device and the recorder;

determining if the media content rendering device is authorized to remotely control the recorder;

initiating sending of control instructions to the recorder to record the media content if the media content rendering device is determined to be authorized; and

sending a confirmation to the media content rendering device that the recorder is recording the media content.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the determining comprises checking a business system for an association between the media content rendering device and a valid user subscription to a media content service.

18. The method of claim 16 further including querying an operating state of the recorder and sending an indication to the media content rendering device of the operating state responsively to such querying.

19. The method of claim 16 further including receiving a bookmark from the media content rendering device to indicate a location in a media content program, the location indicating one of pause or stop.

20. The method of claim 16 in which the recorder is selected from one of DVR, set top box, personal computer, game console, or media center.

21. The method of claim 16 in which the media content is one of video program, audio program, music, game, pictures, software, or data.