Remotely accessing and programming a set top box

• US 7,281,261 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Junod, David N., Jaff, Kosar
• Primary Examiner(s): Beliveau; Scott E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ustaris; Joseph G
• Application Number:
  US09/896,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: 725/51, 725/58, 725/30, 725/87, 725/132, 709/208, 386/83
• US Class Current: 725/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/47214 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for remotely programming a set top box and for remotely scheduling an event on a set top box. A set top box includes a server that allows an access device to access the set top box over an always on connection between the set top box and a network such as the Internet. The access device retrieves program guide data that is locally stored on the set top box and, using the program guide data, selects and schedules events. The events are sent back to the set top box over the connection where they are implemented by the set top box.

Claims

1. A method for remotely scheduling events at the client system with an access device, in a system that is comprised of an access device, a programmable client system and a provider, all of which are logically interconnectable through a network such as the Internet, wherein the client system stores program guide data that is used by a user to schedule events, the method comprising steps for:

using an access device that is remotely located from the programmable client system to access and log on an access device service;

in response to logging on the access device service, authenticating a user of the remotely located access device with an authentication service which is associated with the access device service;

subsequent to authenticating the user with the authentication service, accessing the client system through the network with the remotely located access device, wherein the client system has a bi-directional connection with the network, and wherein prior to accessing the client system through the network, causing the client system to establish the bi-directional connection by performing the following;

sending instructions to a broadcast source that is connected to the client system through a unidirectional connection inasmuch as the broadcast source only transmits programming information to the client system without receiving data from the client system, wherein the broadcast source transmits the instructions to the client system, and wherein the instructions cause the client system to open a bi-directional connection with the network;

automatically authenticating the user of the remotely located access device to the client system by providing authentication information previously issued to the user from the authentication service, and in response to the user having been previously authenticated by the authentication service through the access device service;

once the user of the remotely located access device is authenticated to the client system, retrieving current program guide data from the client system with the remotely located access device, wherein the current program guide data is displayed on the remotely located access device;

selecting an event using the retrieved program guide data displayed at the remotely located access device;

sending the selected event to the client system; and

scheduling the selected event at the client system.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for authenticating a user of the remotely located access device further comprises a step for authenticating the user at the client system with an authentication service.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for retrieving the current program guide data from the client system further comprises steps for:

displaying a schedule of programming content that is scheduled to be sent to the client system on the access device; and

displaying previously scheduled events on the access device.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for selecting an event at the remotely located access device further comprises a step for selecting one or more programs identified in the current program guide data to be associated with an event.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for selecting an event at the remotely located access device further comprises a step for unselecting one or more of the programs previously selected and associated with an event, wherein the associated event is removed from the selected programs.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for selecting an event at the remotely located access device further comprises one or more of:

a step for setting preferences in the current program guide data;

a step for selecting a record event;

a step for selecting a delete event; and

a step for selecting a lock or unlock event.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a step for formatting, by the device service, the retrieved current program guide data for the specific access device.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the step for formatting, by the device service, the retrieved current program guide data for the specific access device comprises formatting the retrieved current program guide for display on a cell phone by formatting the retrieved current program guide as a menu driven configuration suitable for a cell phone.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further including:

connecting the set top box to the network with a connection that is always on line with the network.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the access device is one of a cell phone, laptop computer, desktop computer, handheld computer, or internet appliance.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the act of retrieving the current program guide data further comprises an act of automatically formatting the current program guide data retrieved from the set top box at the device service to a format appropriate for display by the cell phone, laptop computer, desktop computer, handheld computer, or internet appliance.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the current program guide data retrieved from the client system further comprises a programming content scheduled to be sent to the set top box from a satellite, wherein the current program guide data includes previously scheduled events.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for selecting an event further comprises an act of selecting one or more programs, wherein the programming content of the selected one or more programs will be recorded.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for selecting an event further comprises an act of unselecting one or more programs previously selected to be recorded, wherein the unselected one or more programs will not be recorded.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for selecting an event further comprises an act of changing the configuration of the current program guide data.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for selecting an event further comprises an act of locking or unlocking one or more channels of programming content available to the set top box from the satellite.

17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step for selecting an event further comprises an act of deleting previously recorded programming content.

18. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the client system comprises a set-top box associated with an IP address and through which the access device accesses the set-top box.

22. A computer program product for implementing a method for remotely scheduling events at the client system with an access device, comprising:

a computer readable medium having encoded thereon computer executable instructions that are executed by a processor to implement the method recited in claim 1.

23. A computer program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the step for authenticating a user of the remotely located access device further comprises a step for authenticating the user at the client system with an authentication service.

24. A computer program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the step for retrieving the current program guide data from the client system further comprises steps for:

displaying a schedule of programming content that is scheduled to be sent to the client system on the access device; and

displaying previously scheduled events on the access device.

25. A computer program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the step for selecting an event at the remotely located access device further comprises a step for selecting one or more programs identified in the current program guide data to be associated with an event.

26. A computer program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the step for selecting an event at the remotely located access device further comprises a step for unselecting one or more of the programs previously selected and associated with an event, wherein the associated event is removed from the selected programs.

27. A computer program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the step for selecting an event at the remotely located access device further comprises one or more of:

a step for setting preferences in the current program guide data;

a step for selecting a record event;

a step for selecting a delete event; and

a step for selecting a lock or unlock event.

28. A computer program product as defined in claim 22, further comprising:

a step for formatting, by the device service, the retrieved current program guide data for the specific access device.

29. A computer program product as defined in claim 28, wherein the step for formatting, by the device service, the retrieved current program guide data for the specific access device comprises formatting the retrieved current program guide for display on a cell phone by formatting the retrieved current program guide as a menu driven configuration suitable for a cell phone.

30. A computer program product, as recited in claim 22, wherein the recited method includes connecting the set top box to the network with a connection that is always on line with the network.

19. A method for remotely scheduling events at the client system with an access device, in a system that is comprised of an access device, a programmable client system and a provider, all of which are logically interconnectable through a network such as the Internet, wherein the client system stores program guide data that is used by a user to schedule events, the method comprising steps for:

sending instructions to a broadcast source that is connected to the client system through a connection that is unidirectional inasmuch as the broadcast source only transmits programming information to the client system without receiving data from the client system, wherein the broadcast source transmits the instructions to the client system, and wherein the instructions cause the client system to open a bi-directional connection with the network;

accessing the client system through the network with the remotely located access device through the bi-directional connection with the network;

retrieving current program guide data from the client system with the remotely located access device, wherein the current program guide data is displayed on the remotely located access device;

selecting an event using the retrieved program guide data displayed at the remotely located access device;

sending the selected event to the client system; and

scheduling the selected event at the client system.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the method includes authenticating a user of the remotely located access device to the client system prior to retrieving the program guide data.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the instructions are sent from the broadcast source within conditional access data that is broadcast to the client system.