SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INTERACTIVE MEDIA GUIDANCE ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20100333136A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Tam, Terry, Lau, Erwin, Chiu, Kay
• Application Number:
  US12/495,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20100333136A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control interactive media guidance applications running on user equipment. The wireless communications device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the interactive media guidance or other applications. The wireless communications device may function as a remote controller for user equipment.

Claims

1. A method for controlling user equipment using a wireless communications device, comprising:

receiving user input to create at least one command on the wireless communications device;

selecting, based at least in part on a type of the at least one command, a user equipment device from a plurality of user equipment devices to receive the at least one command; and

transmitting the at least one command to the selected device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the type of the at least one command comprises one or more of a power on/off command, a recording command, a playback command, and a channel change command.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is additionally based at least in part on the proximity of the user equipment device from the wireless communications device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the proximity of the user equipment device is determined using GPS.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the proximity of the user equipment device is determined using a Wi-Fi location-based service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one command is selected from the group consisting of setting a favorite channel, setting a reminder, setting a parental lock, scheduling a recording and performing a search for media content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input comprises receiving input via a touch sensitive screen on the wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a confirmation screen on the wireless communications device after the at least one command is transmitted to the device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more of an acknowledgement code, display screen, and search results after the device executes the at least one command.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein when the type of command is a media content playback command, the method further comprising determining the supported playback formats of each user equipment device in the plurality of user equipment devices.

11. A system for controlling user equipment using a wireless communications device, comprising:

a wireless communications device; and

user equipment;

wherein the wireless communications device is configured to;

receive user input to create at least one command on the wireless communications device;

select, based at least in part on a type of the at least one command, a user equipment device from a plurality of user equipment devices to receive the at least one command; and

transmit the at least one command to the selected device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the type of the at least one command comprises one or more of a power on/off command, a recording command, a playback command, and a channel change command.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the selecting is additionally based at least in part on the proximity of the user equipment device from the wireless communications device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the proximity of the user equipment device is determined using GPS.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the proximity of the user equipment device is determined using a Wi-Fi location-based service.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one command is selected from the group consisting of setting a favorite channel, setting a reminder, setting a parental lock, scheduling a recording and performing a search for media content.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein receiving user input comprises receiving input via a touch sensitive screen on the wireless communications device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to display a confirmation screen on the wireless communications device after the at least one command is transmitted to the device.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to receive one or more of an acknowledgement code, a display screen, and search results after the device executes the at least one command.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein when the type of command is a media content playback command, the wireless communications device is further configured to determine the supported playback formats of each user equipment device in the plurality of user equipment devices.

21-30. -30. (canceled)