APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN REMOTE CONTROL OF DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS AND THE LIKE

• US 20090220216A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nguyen, PhuDuc, Bell, David, Webb, William, Marsh, Christopher, Thomas, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 9,706,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/292
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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 21/43615 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 21/4532 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 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

At least one server is queried to obtain program data. DVR data is obtained from a digital video recorder, substantially in real time, over a content-based network. The program data and/or the DVR data are displayed on a separate remote device, in communication with the content-based network. A request to record a given program on the at least one digital video recorder is received at the separate remote device. A conflict associated with the request to record the given program is detected, and the conflict is resolved based at least on a user input received at the separate remote device.

Claims

1. A method for resolving conflicts in connection with controlling at least one digital video recorder interconnected with a content-based network, said method comprising the steps of:

querying at least one server to obtain program data from said server and DVR data from said digital video recorder;

receiving said program data from said server and said DVR data from said digital video recorder, said DVR data being obtained from said digital video recorder substantially in real time over said content-based network;

displaying said program data and/or said DVR data on a device, remote from said digital video recorder and said server, in communication with said content-based network;

receiving, at said device, a request to record a given program on said at least one digital video recorder;

detecting a conflict associated with said request to record said given program; and

resolving said conflict based at least on a user input received at said device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said device comprises an Internet-connected personal computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a remote wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said remote wireless device comprises a cellular telephone handset.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said remote wireless device comprises a personal digital assistant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an elapsed time between said querying of said server, and said displaying of said DVR data on said device, comprises an interval of no more than about thirty seconds.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said elapsed time comprises an interval of no more than about five seconds.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said DVR data comprises at least a listing of any programs currently scheduled for recording on said digital video recorder.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said detecting step comprises comparing a time slot of said given program with any time slots associated with said listing of said currently scheduled programs to determine if said conflict exists.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said program data comprises at least electronic program guide data and wherein said listing of currently scheduled programs comprises at least a program identifier for each of said currently scheduled programs, further comprising the additional step of determining said time slots for said currently scheduled programs at least by accessing said electronic program guide data, based on said program identifiers, to obtain said time slots.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said listing of currently scheduled programs further comprises at least one time stamp for each of said currently scheduled programs, and wherein said time slots for said currently scheduled programs are also determined based on said time stamps.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said program data comprises at least electronic program guide data, further comprising the additional step of determining said time slot of said given program at least by accessing said electronic program guide data.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said resolving step comprises offering a user of said device a choice to select one of said given program and a conflicting one of said currently scheduled programs for recording.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said given program and said conflicting one of said currently scheduled programs partially overlap, and wherein said resolving step further comprises offering a user of said device a choice to clip one of said given program and said conflicting one of said currently scheduled programs.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one additional digital video recorder is available to said user, and wherein said resolving step further comprises offering said user a choice to record one of said given program and said conflicting one of said currently scheduled programs on said additional digital video recorder.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said DVR data comprises at least remaining recording capacity of said digital video recorder.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said detecting step comprises comparing a recording duration for said given program with said remaining recording capacity of said digital video recorder to determine if said conflict exists.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said resolving step comprises offering a user of said device a choice to select one of not recording said given program and deleting at least some material currently stored on said digital video recorder.

19. A system for resolving conflicts in connection with controlling at least one digital video recorder with another device, said system comprising:

a content-based network coupled to the at least one digital video recorder; and

a DVR control application module coupled to said content-based network and the device and configured to;

obtain program data;

obtain DVR data from the digital video recorder, said DVR data being obtained from the digital video recorder substantially in real time over said content-based network;

facilitate display of said program data and/or said DVR data on the device;

receive, from the device, a request to record a given program on the digital video recorder;

detect a conflict associated with said request to record said given program; and

resolve said conflict based at least on a user input received from the device.

20. A system for resolving conflicts in connection with controlling at least one digital video recorder interconnected with a content-based network, from a device remote from the digital video recorder, said system comprising:

at least one server remote from the device;

means for querying said at least one server to obtain program data from said server and DVR data from the digital video recorder;

means for receiving said program data from said server and said DVR data from the digital video recorder, said DVR data being obtained from said digital video recorder substantially in real time over the content-based network;

means for displaying said program data and/or said DVR data on the device, in communication with the content-based network; and

means for receiving, at the device, a request to record a given program on said at least one digital video recorder;

means for detecting a conflict associated with said request to record said given program; and

means for resolving said conflict based at least on a user input received at the device.

21. A method for a content service provider to offer a consumer a service of resolving conflicts in connection with controlling at least one digital video recorder operated by said content service provider, said method comprising the steps of:

facilitating querying at least one server from a device of said consumer to obtain program data from said server and DVR data from said digital video recorder, said at least one server being under control of said content service provider, said device being remote from said server and said digital video recorder;

transmitting, by said content service provider, said program data from said server and said DVR data from said digital video recorder in a format for display of said program data and/or said DVR data on said device, said DVR data being obtained from said digital video recorder substantially in real time over said content-based network;

receiving, by said content service provider, from said device, a request to record a given program on said at least one digital video recorder;

detecting, by said service provider, a conflict associated with said request to record said given program; and

resolving said conflict, by said service provider, based at least on a user input received from said device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said device comprises a wireless device operating over a wireless network operated by said content service provider.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said device comprises a wireless device operating over a wireless network operated by a partner of said content service provider.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said device comprises a personal computer operating over an Internet connection provided by said content service provider or a partner of said content service provider.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said content service provider is a cable service provider, a direct broadcast satellite service provider, or a telephone service provider offering video content services.