Method and system for providing media from remote locations to a viewer

• US 7,065,778 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DigiMedia Tech, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: EnReach Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Lu, Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, James A.
• Application Number:
  US09/865,970
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 725/90, 725/91, 725/92, 725/93, 725/94, 725/103, 725/58, 725/86, 386/83
• US Class Current: 725/98
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention enables a user to utilize a personalized video recorder (PVR) to order and receive specific television shows that are unavailable from his or her television content provider. Specifically, the PVR is coupled to the Internet such that it can receive an electronic programming guide (EPG) containing worldwide television programming from an EPG server computer. The PVR user utilizes the EPG to request delivery of a specific television show that is typically unavailable to him or her. Upon reception of the request, the EPG server computer locates via the Internet a PVR situated within a broadcast region of the requested television show. Next, the EPG server computer programs the PVR to record the requested television show when it is broadcast. Once the PVR records the television show, it is transmitted to the EPG server computer which transmits it to the requesting PVR.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a server computer receiving a request from a first personalized video recorder for a television show;

said server computer locating a second personalized video recorder capable of receiving a broadcast of said television show that satisfies said request;

said second personalized video recorder receiving a programming instruction from said server computer to record said television show when broadcast by a television content provider, after said server computer locating said second personalized video recorder;

said second personalized video recorder recording said television show during broadcast of said television show by said television content provider, after said second personalized video recorder receiving said programming instruction; and

said first personalized video recorder receiving said television show recorded by said second personalized video recorder.

2. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising said second personalized video recorder adding said programming instruction to its programmable task list.

3. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising said first personalized video recorder receiving an electronic programming guide from said server computer.

4. The method as described in claim 3 wherein said electronic programming guide comprises worldwide television programming.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said programming instruction comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of said first personalized video recorder.

6. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising said first personalized video recorder transmitting a television show search topic to said server computer.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said first personalized video recorder, server computer, and second personalized video recorder are coupled via the Internet.

8. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing an electronic programming guide to transmit said request to said server computer.

9. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

said first personalized video recorder storing said television show recorded by said second personalized video recorder.

10. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

said first personalized video recorder notifying that said television show has been received.

11. The method as described in claim 10 wherein said first personalized video recorder notifying that said television show has been received comprises outputting a message to a display device.

12. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

said second personalized video recorder transmitting said television show recorded by it to said first personalized video recorder.

13. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

said server computer receiving said television show recorded by said second personalized video recorder and transmitting it to said first personalized video recorder.

14. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising:

a cache server computer receiving and storing said television show recorded by said second personalized video recorder; and

said cache server transmitting a copy of said television show recorded by said second personalized video recorder to said first personalized video recorder.

15. The method as described in claim 14 further comprising:

in response to said server computer receiving a second request from a receiver device for said television show, said cache server transmitting a second copy of said television show recorded by said second personalized video recorder to said receiver device.

16. A computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for causing a system to perform a method comprising:

a server computer receiving a request from a receiver device for a television show;

said server computer locating a plurality of digital video recorders capable of receiving a broadcast of said television show that satisfies said request;

each of said plurality of digital video recorders receiving a programming instruction from said server computer to record said television show when broadcast by a television content provider, after said server computer locating said plurality of digital video recorders;

at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders recording said television show during broadcast of said television show by said television content provider, after said each of said plurality of digital video recorders receiving said programming instruction; and

said receiver device receiving said television show recorded by said at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising each of said plurality of digital video recorders adding said programming instruction to its programmable task list.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising said receiver device receiving an electronic programming guide from said server computer.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein said electronic programming guide comprises worldwide television programming.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said programming instruction comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of said receiver device.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising said receiver device transmitting a television show search topic to said server computer.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said receiver device, server computer, and plurality of digital video recorders are coupled via the Internet.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said receiver device comprises a television Internet box.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said receiver device comprises a computer.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said receiver device comprises a set-top-box.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein said receiver device comprises a digital video recorder.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising:

said at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders transmitting said television show recorded by it to said receiver device.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising:

said server computer receiving said television show recorded by said at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders and transmitting it to said receiver device.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 16 further comprising:

a cache server computer receiving and storing said television show recorded by said at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders; and

said cache server transmitting a copy of said television show to said receiver device.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29 further comprising:

in response to said server computer receiving a second request from a second receiver device for said television show, said cache server transmitting a second copy of said television show to said second receiver device.

31. A method comprising:

a server computer receiving a request from a receiver device for a television show;

said server computer locating a plurality of digital video recorders capable of receiving a broadcast of said television show that satisfies said request;

each of said plurality of digital video recorders receiving a programming instruction from said server computer to record said television show when broadcast by a television content provider, after said server computer locating said plurality of digital video recorders;

at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders recording said television show during broadcast of said television show by said television content provider, after said each of said plurality of digital video recorders receiving said programming instruction; and

said receiver device receiving said television show recorded by said at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders.

32. The method as described in claim 31 further comprising each of said plurality of digital video recorders adding said programming instruction to its programmable task list.

33. The method as described in claim 31 further comprising said receiver device receiving an electronic programming guide from said server computer.

34. The method as described in claim 33 wherein said electronic programming guide comprises worldwide television programming.

35. The method as described in claim 31 wherein said programming instruction comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address of said receiver device.

36. The method as described in claim 31 wherein said receiver device comprises a digital video recorder.

37. The method as described in claim 31 further comprising:

a cache server computer receiving and storing said television show recorded by said at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders; and

said cache server transmitting a first copy of said television show to said receiver device.

38. The method as described in claim 31 further comprising:

said at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders transmitting said television show to said receiver device.

39. The method as described in claim 31 further comprising:

said server computer receiving said television show recorded by said at least one of said plurality of digital video recorders and transmitting it to said receiver device.