METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS

• US 20110311206A1
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hubner, Paul, Hoover, Scott J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/297
• 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 21/4147 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• 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 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

An approach is provided for managing digital video recorders. One or more parameters related to a digital video recorder are retrieved. A configuration message is generated, at a set-top box, for transmission over a data network to a data repository. The set-top box is coupled to the digital video recorder. The configuration message specifies the one or more parameters.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving one or more parameters related to a digital video recorder; and

generating a configuration message for transmission over a data network to a data repository, the set-top box being coupled to the digital video recorder,

wherein the configuration message specifies the one or more parameters.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters include configuration information of the digital video recorder, programming guide information relating to programs available via the set-top box, user recording settings relating to recording schedule of the programs, or a combination thereof.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a request to retrieve configuration parameters from the data repository; and

receiving a response specifying the configuration parameters.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the request is generated for another digital video recorder that is loaded with the configuration parameters specified in the response.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein digital video recorders are associated with a common user account and reside within a common user premises.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to retrieve one or more parameters related to a digital video recorder, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a configuration message for transmission; and

a communication interface configured to transmit the configuration message over a data network to a data repository, wherein the configuration message specifies the one or more parameters.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the one or more parameters include configuration information of the digital video recorder, programming guide information relating to programs available via the set-top box, user recording settings relating to recording schedule of the programs, or a combination thereof.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a request to retrieve configuration parameters from the data repository, and to receive a response specifying the configuration parameters.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the request is generated for another digital video recorder that is loaded with the configuration parameters specified in the response.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein digital video recorders are associated with a common user account and reside within a common user premises.

11. A method comprising:

receiving one or more parameters over a communication network from a set-top box, wherein the parameters relate to programming of a digital video recorder coupled to the set-top box; and

storing the parameters in a data repository that is managed by a service provider,

wherein the one or more parameters include configuration information of the digital video recorder, programming guide information relating to programs available via the set-top box, user recording settings relating to recording schedule of the programs, or a combination thereof.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, from another set-top box, one or more parameters of another digital video recorder; and

merging the parameters of the video recorders.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a merge request from one of the digital video recorders to merge the parameters.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the digital video recorders are associated with a common user account.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a record request from one of the digital video recorders; and

determining an available record slot among the digital video recorders in response to the record request.

16. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

initiating recording of a program on one of the digital video recorders;

ceasing the recording of the program on the one digital video recorder;

resuming the recording of the program on another one of the digital video recorders;

retrieving the recordings within each of the digital video recorders; and

bonding the recordings.

17. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating recommendation information relating to a program, wherein the recommendation information provided by the set-top box for transmission to another set-top box.

18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

mapping a program request corresponding to the service provider from one of the set-top boxes to another program request corresponding to another service provider.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive one or more parameters over a communication network from a set-top box, wherein the parameters relate to programming of a digital video recorder coupled to the set-top box; and

a processor configured to initiate storage of the parameters in a data repository that is managed by a service provider,

wherein the one or more parameters include configuration information of the digital video recorder, programming guide information relating to programs available via the set-top box, user recording settings relating to recording schedule of the programs, or a combination thereof.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive, from another set-top box, one or more parameters of another digital video recorder, the processor being further configured to merge the parameters of the video recorders.