Methods and Apparatus for Client Aggregation of Television Programming in a Networked Personal Video Recording System
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for aggregating television programming in a personal video recording (“
- PVR”
) system, said method comprising the steps of;
receiving a plurality of television signals;
tuning each of said television signals in one of a plurality of tuners;
buffering said television signals on a storage medium in at least one PVR media server;
coupling a plurality of clients, over a network, to said PVR media server;
generating a request from a requesting client for a list of television programming from each of said PVR media servers on said network;
receiving, from each PVR media server, a list of television programming available through said respective PVR media servers; and
aggregating, at said requesting client, a list of television programming information available within said PVR system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A networked personal video recording (“PVR”) system couples a plurality of clients to one or more PVR media servers over a network. One or more PVR media servers include television tuners to tune television signals. A storage medium buffers the television signals to implement PVR functionality. For example, the PVR media server records television programs for clients. Clients are assigned to television tuners, and the clients display television programs received at the assigned tuner. The network transfers the buffered television signals to the clients.
129 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for aggregating television programming in a personal video recording (“
- PVR”
) system, said method comprising the steps of;receiving a plurality of television signals; tuning each of said television signals in one of a plurality of tuners; buffering said television signals on a storage medium in at least one PVR media server; coupling a plurality of clients, over a network, to said PVR media server; generating a request from a requesting client for a list of television programming from each of said PVR media servers on said network; receiving, from each PVR media server, a list of television programming available through said respective PVR media servers; and aggregating, at said requesting client, a list of television programming information available within said PVR system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- PVR”
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16. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of television signals; tuning each of said television signals in one of a plurality of tuners; buffering said television signals on a storage medium in at least one PVR media server; coupling a plurality of clients, over a network, to said PVR media server; generating a request from a requesting client for a list of television programming from each of said PVR media servers on said network; receiving, from each PVR media server, a list of television programming available through said respective PVR media servers; and aggregating, at said requesting client, a list of television programming available within said PVR system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A personal video recording (“
- PVR”
) system comprising;at least one PVR media server comprising; input for receiving a plurality of television signals; a plurality of tuners for tuning each of said television signals; storage medium for buffering said television signals; network; and a plurality of clients, coupled over said network to said PVR media server, for generating a request from a requesting client for a list of television programming from each of said PVR media servers on said network, for receiving, from each PVR media server, a list of television programming available through said respective PVR media servers, and for aggregating, at said requesting client, a list of television programming available within said PVR system.
- PVR”
Specification