VCR webification

• US 6,732,158 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2000
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Senvid, Inc. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Rizal, Dharmarus, Hesselink, Lambertus, van Beurden, Joep
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US09/608,685
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 348/12, 345/327, 709/209, 709/218, 709/229, 709/208, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 725/58, 725/88, 725/102
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An apparatus, method and service model are disclosed which simplify conventional methods for schedule recordings of television programs and enable users to control recording equipment from any location via the Internet. Entities connected to computer networks such as the Internet and web-browser software can schedule recordings of television programs and/or operate the recording equipment. In an example scenario, a user who maintains recording equipment at home may utilize the present invention from his or her workplace or vacation place, accesses a service provider website using her/his user name and password, views the a schedule of television programs provided by a broadcaster or other distributor of programming and selects the television programs to be recorded. The application service provider in turn transmits the selected television program information to a computer connected to a later described remote control unit to execute and operate the recording of selected programs. In this manner, the present invention enables anyone with internet access to remotely operate recording equipment to record television programs.

Claims

1. An apparatus to remotely operate recording equipment to record television programs using a public wide area network, said apparatus comprising:

recording equipment, said recording equipment including means for selecting a specific television program or channel and means for storing television programs in the form of audio and video signals;

a control processor connectable to the network to receive data therefrom;

a user processor connectable to the network to send data thereto and receive data therefrom;

a remotely located processor connectable to the network and configured to respond to user processor input over the network by generating data representing television programs selected by the user and transmitting the data representing television programs selected by the user over the network to said control processor; and

means for controlling said recording equipment to record selected television programs identified by said data representing television programs selected by the user, wherein said control processor is in a first physical location and said user processor may be located in any location where it can be connected with the network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control processor and said means for controlling are built into said recording equipment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said recording equipment incorporates a microprocessor and clock.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said recording equipment incorporates a modem.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said recording equipment comprises a hard drive-based video recorder.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said recording equipment comprises a DVD recorder.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said recording equipment comprises a videotape recorder.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes means for delivering an infrared signal to said recording equipment.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recording equipment comprises a videotape recorder.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recording equipment comprises an audio recorder.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recording equipment comprises a television.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for storing comprises magnetic tape.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for storing comprises a magnetic disk.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for storing comprises an optical disk.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said recording equipment devices and a respective plurality of said control processors, at least two of said recording equipment devices and associated control processors being located at different locations;

wherein said user processor is connectable to the network to access said application service provider for selection of data associated with programs to be stored by said plurality of recording equipment devices; and

wherein said remotely located processor transmits the respective selected data representing television programs over the network to each respective control processor associated with each respective recording equipment.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the selected data representing television programs is the same for each control processor.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein different selected data representing television programs is transmitted to at least two of the control processors.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, different selected data representing television programs is transmitted to each respective control processor.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control processor comprises a conventional computer or personal digital assistant.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said means for controlling includes an infrared diode adapted to generate infrared signals to control said recording equipment.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for controlling further comprises means for storing said selected data representing television programs.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for controlling further comprises a clock.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for controlling further comprises a clock.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control processor is built into said recording equipment.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said recording equipment further comprises a modem.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remotely located processor is configured to respond to user processor input over the network by generating data representing television programs capable of being broadcasted from any source.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remotely located processor further comprises means for determining whether a valid network connection is established, or can be readily established, between said remotely located processor and said control processor, wherein, upon determination that a valid network connection is established, said remotely located processor sends said data representing television programs selected by the user to said control processor, and wherein upon determination that a valid network connection has not been established, or cannot be readily established, said remotely located processor stores said data representing television programs selected by the user, to be sent once a valid network connection is established.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remotely located processor further comprises means for receiving a request from said control processor, wherein, upon receiving said request from said control processor, said remotely located processor sends said data representing television programs selected by the user to said control processor.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remotely located processor further comprises means for analyzing user selections and viewing history.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said remotely located processor further sends suggested selections of data representing television programs to said control processor, based upon the analysis of user selections and viewing history.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remotely located processor further comprises means for authenticating at least one of said control processor and said user processor for authenticating a connection between said control processor or said user processor and said remotely located processor.

32. A mechanism for programming a remote controlled infrared device from virtually any location where a user may access a public wide area network, comprising:

an application service provider adapted to provide data associated with programs and selected by a user over the network, by transmitting said selected data over the network in response to said selection by the user;

an infrared diode;

a remote controlled electronic device for receiving the programs, said remote controlled electronic device being controllable by infrared signals;

a control processor adapted to receive said selected data associated with programs, chosen by a user, over the network, and generate and send control signals related to the selected data associated with programs to cause said infrared diode to generate infrared signals to control the remote controlled electronic device to capture programs chosen by the user;

a user processor connectable to the network to access said application service provider and select said selected data associated with programs, over the network, wherein said control processor is in a first physical location and said user processor may be located in any location where it can be connected with the network.

33. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein said remote controlled electronic device comprises a video recorder.

34. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein said remote controlled electronic device comprises an audio recorder.

35. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein said remote controlled electronic device comprises a television.

36. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein said remote controlled electronic device comprises an audio device.

37. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein said remote controlled electronic device comprises a video recorder that includes a tuning device and recording media.

38. The mechanism of claim 37, wherein said recording media comprises magnetic tape.

39. The mechanism of claim 37, wherein said recording media comprises a magnetic disk.

40. The mechanism of claim 37, wherein said recording media comprises an optical disk.

41. The mechanism of claim 32, further comprising:

a plurality of said control processors, each at a different location;

a plurality of said infrared diodes associated with and controllable by said plurality of control processors, respectively; and

a plurality of said remote controlled electronic devices controllable by said plurality of infrared diodes, respectively;

wherein said user processor is connectable to the network to access said application service provider for selection of data associated with programs to be captured by each said remote controlled electronic device; and

wherein said application service provider transmits the respective selected data associated with programs over the network to each respective control processor.

42. The mechanism of claim 41, wherein the selected data associated with programs is the same for each control processor.

43. The mechanism of claim 41, wherein different selected data associated with programs is transmitted to at least two of the control processors.

44. The mechanism of claim 41, wherein different selected data associated with programs is transmitted to each respective control processor.

45. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein said control processor comprises a conventional computer or personal digital assistant and a remote control unit connected to said conventional computer or personal digital assistant.

46. The mechanism of claim 45, wherein said remote control unit comprises a microprocessor and said infrared diode, said microprocessor being adapted to receive said selected data associated with programs and generate and send said control signals to cause said infrared diode to generate said infrared signals to control the remote controlled electronic device.

47. The mechanism of claim 46, wherein said remote control unit further comprises means for storing said selected data associated with programs.

48. The mechanism of claim 47, wherein said remote control unit further comprises a clock.

49. The mechanism of claim 46, wherein said remote control unit further comprises a clock.

50. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein said control processor is built into said remote controlled electronic device.

51. The mechanism of claim 50, wherein said remote controlled electronic device is a recorder, and said built in control processor includes a microprocessor, clock and means for storing said selected data associated with programs.

52. The mechanism of claim 51, wherein said built in controller further comprises a modem.

53. The mechanism of claim 32, wherein said user processor comprises a device that has a central processing unit, memory and communication means to access the wide area network.

54. The mechanism of claim 53, wherein said user processor comprises a desktop device.

55. The mechanism of claim 53, wherein said user processor comprises a lap top device.

56. The mechanism of claim 53, wherein said user processor comprises a palm top device.

57. An apparatus to remotely operate recording equipment over a public wide area network, said apparatus comprising:

means for selecting a specific program or channel;

means for recording programs;

a control processor connectable to the network to receive data therefrom;

a user processor connectable to the network to send data thereto and receive data therefrom;

a remotely located processor connectable to the network and configured to respond to user processor input over the network by generating data representing programs selected by the user and transmitting the data representing programs selected by the user over the network to said control processor;

wherein, upon receiving said data representing programs, said control processor controls said means for selecting a specific program or channel and said means for recording programs to record selected programs identified by said data representing programs selected by the user, and wherein said control processor is in a first physical location and said user processor may be located in any location where it can be connected with the network.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said user processor comprises a device that has a central processing unit, memory and communication means to access the wide area network.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said user processor comprises a desktop device.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said user processor comprises a lap top device.

61. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein said user processor comprises a palm top device.

62. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for selecting a specific program or channel comprises an audio tuner.

63. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for selecting a specific program or channel comprises a video tuner.

64. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for selecting a specific program or channel comprises a television tuner.

65. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for recording programs records on magnetic tape.

66. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for recording programs records on a magnetic disk.

67. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for recording programs records on an optical disk.

68. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising:

a plurality of said means for selecting and means for recording, and a respective plurality of said control processors, at least two of said control processors and associated means for selecting and means for recording being located at different locations;

wherein said user processor is connectable to the network to access said application service provider for selection of data associated with programs to be stored by said plurality of means for recording; and

wherein said remotely located processor transmits the respective selected data representing programs over the network to each respective control processor associated with each respective means for selecting and means for recording.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the selected data representing programs is the same for each control processor.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein different selected data representing programs is transmitted to at least two of the control processors.

71. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein different selected data representing programs is transmitted to each respective control processor.

72. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said remotely located processor is configured to respond to user processor input over the network by generating data representing programs capable of being broadcasted from any source.

73. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said remotely located processor further comprises means for determining whether a valid network connection is established, or can be readily established, between said remotely located processor and said control processor, wherein, upon determination that a valid network connection is established, or can be readily established, said remotely located processor sends said data representing programs selected by the user to said control processor, and wherein upon determination that a valid network connection has not been established, or cannot be readily established, said remotely located processor stores said data representing programs selected by the user, to be sent once a valid network connection is established.

74. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said remotely located processor further comprises means for receiving a request from said control processor, wherein, upon receiving said request from said control processor, said remotely located processor sends said data representing programs selected by the user to said control processor.

75. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said remotely located processor further comprises means for authenticating at least one of said control processor and said user processor for authenticating a connection between said control processor or saud user processor and said remotely located processor.

76. A system for remotely operating recording equipment to record television programs using a public wide area network, said system comprising:

a first processor connectable to the network to send and receive data therefrom, said first processor being connectable with recording equipment to first selection of a specific television program or channel and to set programs to record;

a second processor connectable to the network to send data thereto and receive data therefrom;

a control server connectable to the network and configured to respond to processor input over the network from said first or second processor by generating data representing television programs selected by a user;

means for storing the data representing television programs selected by the user, said means for storing being locally connected to said control server; and

means for managing storage of the data representing television programs selected by the user, and transmission of the data representing television programs selected by the user over the network to said first processor;

wherein said first processor is in a first physical location and said second processor may be located in any location where it can be connected with the network.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein said means for managing comprises an information server, wherein, upon receiving said data representing programs selected by the user, said information server accesses a locally stored user account to determine whether a valid connection is established between said first processor and said control server, and wherein, when a valid connection is established, said information server notifies said control server that said data representing programs selected by the user have been received and stored in said means for storing.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein upon receiving the notification from said information server, said control server accesses said means for storing, retrieves and formats said data representing programs selected by the user, and transmits said data representing programs selected by the user to said first processor.

79. The system of claim 76, wherein said means for managing comprises an information server, wherein, upon receiving a request from said first processor, said information server accesses a locally stored user account to determine whether a valid connection is established between said second processor and said control server, and wherein, when a valid connection is established, said information server notifies said control server to send said data representing programs selected by the user from said first processor, said data being sent from said control processor to said second processor.