APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS AND THE LIKE
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a set of one or more digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of said set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of said set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling said set than said first permission parameter;
receiving, at at least one server remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises, a first request to control said set from said first user and a second request to control said set from said second user; and
controlling said set in accordance with;
(i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, and (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter said controlling comprising at least communicating with said set over a network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system stores a first permission parameter associated with a first user of a set of digital video recorders (DVRs) and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of the set. The second permission parameter defines a different level of permission for controlling the set than the first permission parameter. At least one server receives a first request to control the set from the first user and a second request to control the set from the second user. The set is controlled in accordance with: (i) the first request, based on the first permission parameter, and (ii) the second request, based on the second permission parameter. The controlling includes at least communicating with the set over a network. Techniques are also provided for directly obtaining information on a DVR in real time over a content network.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a set of one or more digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said method comprising the steps of:
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storing at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of said set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of said set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling said set than said first permission parameter; receiving, at at least one server remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises, a first request to control said set from said first user and a second request to control said set from said second user; and controlling said set in accordance with;
(i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, and (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter said controlling comprising at least communicating with said set over a network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling at least one digital video recorder interconnected with a network, said method comprising the steps of:
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querying at least one server to obtain program data from said server and DVR data from said digital video recorder, said at least one server being remote to said at least one 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 network; displaying said program data and/or said DVR data on a separate device in communication with said network; and controlling said at least one digital video recorder by selecting a user-operable function from said program data and/or said DVR data on said separate device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for controlling at least one digital video recorder with another device, said system comprising:
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a network coupled to the at least one digital video recorder; and a DVR control application module coupled to said network and the device and configured to; obtain program data from at least one server remote to the at least one digital video recorder; obtain DVR data from the digital video recorder, said DVR data being obtained from the digital video recorder substantially in real time over said network; facilitate display of said program data and/or said DVR data on the device; and control the at least one digital video recorder by receiving a selection of a user-operable function from said program data and/or said DVR data on the device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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14. A system for controlling a set of one or more digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said system comprising:
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a network coupled to the set; an identity management module configured to store at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of said set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of said set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling said set than said first permission parameter; and a DVR control application module coupled to said network and said identity management module, said DVR control application module being remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises, said DVR control application module configured to; receive a first request to control the set from said first user and a second request to control the set from said second user; and control the set in accordance with;
(i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, and (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter, said controlling comprising at least communicating with the set over said network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for controlling a set of one or more digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said system comprising:
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at least one server remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises; means for storing at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of the set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of the set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling the set than said first permission parameter; means for receiving, at said at least one server, a first request to control the set from said first user and a second request to control the set from said second user; and means for controlling the set in accordance with;
(i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, and (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter, said controlling comprising at least communicating with the set over a network.
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20. A system for controlling, from a separate device, at least one digital video recorder interconnected with a network, said system comprising:
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at least one server remote to said digital video recorder; 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 network; means for displaying said program data and/or said DVR data on the separate device in communication with the network; and means for controlling the at least one digital video recorder by selecting a user-operable function from said program data and/or said DVR data on the separate device.
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Specification