Technique for Providing a Virtual Digital Video Recorder Service Through a Communications Network

• US 20130104176A1
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl U.J. Rossetti, Michael L. Lajoie, Michael T. Hayashi
• Original Assignee: Michael L. Lajoie
• Inventors: Lajoie, Michael L., Hayashi, Michael T., Rossetti, Carl U.J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,143,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• 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 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4508 Management of client data or end-user data
• 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 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 Handling of requests in head-ends

Abstract

In response to a request initiated by a user at a user terminal, selected entertainment programming content, when broadcast, is recorded at a location remote from the user terminal. The request is communicated through a communications network, e.g., cable TV network, which is also used for transmission of entertainment programming content to user terminals. The recorded programming content is stored in a storage space at the remote location, which is allocated to the user terminal. In response to a review request from the user terminal, the recorded programming content is retrieved from the storage space allocated thereto, and transmitted to the user terminal through the communications network. The presentation of the recorded programming content may be manipulated by the user to perform rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding thereon.

Claims

1. A system to provide programming content to users of a network, comprising:

a first interface configured to;

receive programming content;

a storage device comprising;

at least one respective storage location assigned exclusively to each of a plurality of users, the storage device being located remotely from a premise of the respective users; and

at least one processor configured to;

cause at least some of the received programming content to be stored in one of the at least one respective storage locations assigned to a user;

retrieve at least some of the stored programming content from the at least one storage location; and

provide the retrieved programming content to a user device, via a network.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second interface configured to;

receive from the user device a request to store the at least some of the programming content;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

cause the requested programming content to be stored in the respective storage location.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the network includes a cable TV network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

cause storage of programming content selected by a user associated with the user device, using a program guide.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the at least some of the retrieved programming content is provided after broadcast thereof in a presentation manipulable to perform at least one of rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding on the presentation.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second interface configured to;

receive data concerning a channel to which the user device is tuned;

wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

cause at least a portion of the programming content on the channel to which the user device is tuned to be stored in the respective storage location, during the broadcast thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a user associated with the user device is charged a fee based at least in part on an amount of memory space in the at least one storage location assigned to the user.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the programming content, at least in part, during a broadcast thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one respective storage location is assigned exclusively to respective user devices.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is part of a headend of a cable television network.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

track requests to store by respective users.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to recommend to a user that selected programming content be recorded based, at least in part, on the tracking.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to recommend to a user that selected programming content be recorded based, at least in part on the tracking.

14. A method to provide programming content to users of a network, comprising:

receiving programming content;

storing at least some of the received programming content in at least one storage location assigned exclusively to one of a plurality of users, the at least one storage location being located remotely from the user'"'"'s premises, wherein the storage defines a plurality of respective storage locations, each assigned exclusively to a respective user;

retrieving at least some of the stored programming content from the at least one storage location; and

providing the retrieved programming content to a user device via a network.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving from the user device a request to store the at least some of the programming content; and

storing the requested programming content in the at least one storage location.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising:

receiving the request to store the at least some of the programming content, from a program guide.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing at least some of the retrieved programming content after broadcast thereof in a presentation manipulable to perform at least one of rewinding, pausing and fast-forwarding on the presentation.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising:

receiving from the user device a request to copy programming content on a channel to which the user device is tuned; and

storing at least a portion of the programming content on the channel during the broadcast thereof in the at least one storage location.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

charging a user associated with the user device a fee based at least in part on an amount of memory space in the at least one storage location assigned to the user device.

20. The method of claim 14, comprising receiving, storing, retrieving, and providing, at least in part, by at least one processor in a headend of a cable television network.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising tracking requests to store by respective users.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising recommending to a user that selected programming content be recorded based, at least in part, on the tracking.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising recommending to a user that selected programming content be recorded based, at least in part on the tracking.

24. The method of claim 14, comprising storing the at least some of the received program content during broadcast thereof.

25. The method of claim 14, comprising storing the at least some of the programming content in at least one storage location assigned exclusively to a respective user device.