Remote task scheduling for a set top box

• US 7,107,608 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wagner, Mark, Roy, Paul J., DeYonker, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/968,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/39, 725/51, 725/115, 725/132, 725/139, 725/86, 725/110, 725/112, 725/114, 725/131, 725/145, 725/151, 709/208, 709/221, 709/222, 348/553, 348/563
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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 21/47214 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/654 Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 : Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Systems and methods for remotely scheduling tasks that are transmitted to a set top box and implemented on the set top box. A task service includes a website that provides program guide data to users. From the program guide data, a user selects a task. The website generates a notification that includes the task and certain identifiers, including a set top box identifier and a sequence number. The notification is sent to a notification service, that repeatedly sends the notification to a broadcast service. The broadcast service ensures that the notification is transmitted to the set top box. The set top box detects the notification from the set top box identifier and implements the task on the set top box unless the task has been previously handled.

Claims

1. In a system that broadcasts data over a one way transmission to a plurality of set top boxes, a method for remotely scheduling a task for implementation on a set top box, the method comprising steps for:

providing program guide data to a user over a network, wherein the user requests a task from the program guide data that is provided to the user;

receiving the task that was requested by the user from the program guide data;

generating a notification from the requested task, wherein the notification includes task attributes and a set top box identifier;

sending the notification to a notification service, wherein the notification service stores the notification in a task database;

sending, by the notification service, the notification to a broadcast service, wherein the broadcast service sends the notification to the set top box over the one way transmission; and

a step for verifying that the user has access to the set top box, wherein the step for verifying includes;

providing an activation code to the website, wherein the activation code includes the set top box identifier, a signature of the set top box identifier and a random value;

the website verifying the signature of the set top box identifier;

including the random value in the notification if the signature is verified; and

verifying the random value by the set top box.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for storing the program guide data at a website, wherein the program guide data is obtained from a program guide data provider.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for the user logging in to a website that stores the program guide data with a user identifier.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for the mapping a user identifier to the set top box identifier such that the set top box identifier is included in the notification.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for generating a notification from the selected task further comprises an act of determining:

a channel of the task;

a time of the task; and

a duration of the task.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for generating a notification from the selected task further comprises an act of determining the task attributes to be included in the notification, the task attributes including one or more of:

an extension attribute that indicates how long the task should be extended;

a keep attribute that identifies how long the task should be stored;

an conflict resolution attribute for use in conflict resolution; and

a reminder attribute that reminds the user of the task.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for sending the notification to a notification service further comprises inserting one or more of a set top box identifier, a sequence number, and a user identifier in the notification.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for sending the notification to the broadcast service is repeated by the notification service according to a schedule.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the act of providing program guide data to a user over a network, wherein the user requests a task from the program guide data that is provided to the user further comprises one or more of:

requesting a cancel task;

requesting a manual record task, wherein the user identifies a start time, an end time, and

a channel to be recorded.

10. In a system that broadcasts programming content to a plurality of set top boxes over a one way transmission such as a satellite broadcast, a method for remotely scheduling a task over the one way transmission such that the task is implemented on a set top box that receives the programming content, the method comprising acts of:

accessing program guide data that is stored on a website that is remote from the set top box;

selecting a task using the program guide data that is provided from the website;

after the task has been selected, generating a notification from the selected task, wherein a set top box identifier is inserted in the notification that includes the selected task;

sending the notification, by the notification service, to a broadcast service, wherein the broadcast service transmits the notification to an uplink that delivers the notification over the one way transmission to the set top box;

detecting, by the set top box, the set top box identifier included in the notification delivered over the one way transmission; and

implementing the selected task at the set top box from the notification that was received over the one way transmission.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the act of selecting a task further comprises one or more of:

an act of selecting a record task;

an act of selecting a cancel task;

an act of selecting a manual record task, wherein the user selects a start time, an end time,

and a channel to be recorded; and

an act of selecting a delete task.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the act of selecting a task further comprises an act of selecting task attributes, wherein the task attributes include one or more of:

an extension attribute that indicates how long the task should be extended;

a keep attribute that identifies how long the task should be stored;

an conflict resolution attribute for use in conflict resolution; and

a reminder attribute that reminds the user of the task.

13. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the act of generating a notification from the selected task further comprises an act of inserting at least one of a user identifier and a sequence number in the notification.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the act of detecting, by the set top box, the set top box identifier included in the notification delivered over the one way transmission further comprises an act of discarding the notification if the notification in the notification has already been processed, wherein the notification has already been processed if the sequence number matches a previous sequence number of a previously processed notification.

15. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the act of sending the notification to a broadcast service is repeated.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the act of sending the notification to a broadcast service is repeated using a predetermined schedule.

17. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the act of detecting, by the set top box, the set top box identifier included in the notification delivered over the one way transmission further comprises an act of enabling the set top box to implement remotely scheduled tasks.

18. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the act of detecting, by the set top box, the set top box identifier included in the notification delivered over the one way transmission further comprises an act of tuning the set top box to a particular portion of the one way transmission.

19. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising a step for verifying the user, wherein the step for verifying the user comprises:

providing an activation code to the website, wherein the activation code includes the set top box identifier, a signature of the set top box identifier and a random value;

verifying the signature of the set top box identifier by the website;

including the random value in each notification if the signature is verified; and

verifying the random value by the set top box.

20. In a system wherein programming content is delivered over a satellite system to a plurality of set top boxes, a method of remotely scheduling a task on a set top box, the method comprising acts of:

selecting a task from program guide data that is retrieved from a remote website, including setting one or more attributes of the task;

from the selected task, generating a notification, wherein the selected task and the one or more attributes are included in the notification;

inserting a sequence number and a set top box identifier in the notification;

sending the notification to a notification service;

repeatedly sending the notification to a broadcast service by the notification service, wherein the broadcast service transmits the notification to an uplink such that the notification is included in a broadcast of the satellite;

tuning the set top box to a particular channel of the satellite broadcast;

detecting the task by recognizing the set top box identifier in the notification; and

scheduling the task at the set top box.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the act of selecting a task from program guide data further comprises an act of providing program data that is remotely accessible by an access device.

22. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the act of selecting a task from program guide data further comprises an act of identifying the one or more attributes, wherein the one or more attributes include at least one of:

an extension attribute that indicates how long the task should be extended;

a keep attribute that identifies how long the task should be stored;

an conflict resolution attribute for use in conflict resolution; and

a reminder attribute that reminds the user of the task.

23. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the act of repeatedly sending the notification to a broadcast service occurs at a predetermined schedule.

24. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the act of detecting the task by recognizing the set top box identifier in the notification further comprises enabling the set top box to detect remotely scheduled tasks.

25. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the act of scheduling the task at the set top box further comprises:

comparing the sequence number with previous sequence numbers of previously received notifications to determine if the task has already been scheduled; and

discarding the task if the task has already been scheduled.

26. A computer program product for performing the acts recited in claim 20.

27. In a system that includes programming content that is broadcast to a plurality of set top boxes over a one way transmission, a task service for remotely scheduling a task that is transmitted over the one way transmission to a set top box for implementation, the task service comprising:

a website that maintains program guide data, wherein the website provides the program data to a user that accesses the website with a user identifier such that the user selects a task;

a database that is accessible by the website and that stores set top box identifiers, wherein the website accesses the database to map the user identifier to a particular set top box identifier of the user;

a notification module for generating notifications, wherein the notification includes the task and the set top box identifier;

a notification service that receives the notifications from the notification module, wherein the notification service repeatedly sends each notification according to a schedule to a broadcast service such that the notifications are transmitted to the set top box over the one way transmission.

28. A task service as defined in claim 27, wherein the website provides the program guide data to the user over a network such as the Internet.

29. A task service as defined in claim 27, wherein the database is maintained by the website.

30. A task service as defined in claim 27, wherein the notification module or the website inserts the set top box identifier in the notification.

31. A task service as defined in claim 30, wherein the notification module or the website further inserts one or more of a sequence number and the user identifier in the notification, and wherein the notification module or the website inserts a random number in the notification when the user provides an activation code to the website.

32. A task service as defined in claim 27, wherein the notification is addressed to a group of set top boxes.

33. A task service as defined in claim 27, wherein the notification service sends new notifications before repeating previous notifications.

34. In a system that broadcasts data over a one way transmission to a plurality of set top boxes, a computer program product for implementing a method for remotely scheduling a task for implementation on a set top box, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium for carrying computer executable instructions for implementing said method, and wherein the method comprises steps for;

providing program guide data to a user over a network, wherein a user requests a task from the program guide data that is provided to the user;

receiving the task that was requested by the user from the program guide data;

generating a notification from the selected task, wherein the notification includes task attributes and a set top box identifier;

sending the notification to a notification service, wherein the notification service stores the notification in a database;

sending, by the notification service, the notification to a broadcast service, wherein the broadcast service sends the notification to the set top box over the one way transmission.

35. A computer program product as defined in claim 34, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for storing the program guide data at a website, wherein the program guide data is obtained from a program guide data provider.

36. A computer program product as defined in claim 34, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for the user logging in to a website that stores the program guide data.

37. A computer program product as defined in claim 36, wherein the step for providing program guide data to a user over a network further comprises a step for the mapping a user identifier to the set top box identifier such that the set top box identifier is included in the notification.

38. A computer program product as defined in claim 34, wherein the step for generating a notification from the selected task further comprises an act of determining:

a channel of the task;

a time of the task; and

a duration of the task.

39. A computer program product as defined in claim 34, wherein the step for generating a notification from the selected task further comprises an act of determining the task attributes to be included in the notification, the attributes including one or more of:

an extension attribute that indicates how long the task should be extended;

a keep attribute that identifies how long the task should be stored;

a an conflict resolution attribute for use in conflict resolution;

a destination attribute that identifies where the task occurs; and

a reminder attribute that reminds the user of the task.

40. A computer program product as defined in claim 34, wherein the step for sending the notification to a notification service further comprises inserting one or more of a set top box identifier, a sequence number, and a user identifier in the notification.

41. A computer program product as defined in claim 34, wherein the step for sending the notification to the broadcast service is repeated by the notification service according to a schedule.