Method and system for controlling a personalized video recorder with a set-top box

• US 7,861,262 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xenogenic Development Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: EnReach Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Gutman, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shepard; Justin E
• Application Number:
  US09/948,445
• Time in Patent Office: 3,399 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 725/141, 725/147
• US Class Current: 725/37
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention enables a personalized video recorder (PVR) to reliably record automatically a pay-per-view show that it receives from a set-top box. Specifically, a PVR is communicatively coupled to a set-top box thereby enabling the set-top box to request and receive from the PVR its control commands. The set-top box stores these control commands enabling it to control the functionality of the PVR. Therefore, a user may utilize an electronic programming guide (EPG) provided by the set-top box to program the PVR to record (for example) a pay-per-view show. Upon completion of the programming process, the EPG of the set-top box orders the pay-per-view show while the set-top box transmits the programming instructions to the PVR. After receiving the programming instructions, the PVR adds them to its programmable task list. Subsequently, the PVR receives the ordered pay-per-view show from the set-top box and records it.

Claims

1. A non-transitory system comprising:

a set-top box device comprising;

a communication interface having two way communication capability; and

an electronic programming guide (EPG) operating on said set-top box device; and

a digital video recorder device comprising;

a communication interface having two way communication capability that is coupled to said communication interface of said set-top box device, wherein said digital video recorder device is configured to transmit a request for said EPG to said set-top box device via said communication interfaces, wherein said set-top box device is configured to transmit said EPG to said digital video recorder device via said communication interfaces, and wherein said set-top box device is configured to stop transmitting said EPG to said digital video recorder device when said EPG is not being utilized with said digital video recorder device; and

a recording control command that causes said digital video recorder device to record,

wherein said set-top box device is a first distinct device and said digital video recorder device is a second distinct device;

wherein after said set-top box device is communicatively coupled to said digital video recorder device, said set-top box device is configured to transmit a request signal to said digital video recorder device for said recording control command of said digital video recorder device;

wherein after receiving said request signal, said digital video recorder device is configured to transmit to said set-top box device said recording control command of said digital video recorder device;

wherein said set-top box is configured to receive said recording control command from said digital video recorder device, wherein said recording control command equips said set-top box device with the ability to control the recording functionality of said digital video recorder device, wherein said set-top box device is configured to use said recording control command to determine if a recording programming instruction for said digital video recorder device has been entered into said set-top box device via said EPG;

wherein after said recording programming instruction is entered, said set-top box is configured to transmit said recording programming instruction to said digital video recorder device to record, wherein said digital video recorder device is configured to transmit an acknowledge signal to said set-top box device after said recording programming instruction is added to a task list of said digital video recorder device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said recording programming instruction is for recording a pay-per-view show.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said set-top box device is configured to order said pay-per-view show from a television headend, said set-top box device coupled to said television headend.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said set-top box device is coupled to said television headend via the Internet.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said electronic programming guide is configured to order said pay-per-view show.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said electronic programming guide is configured to order said pay-per-view show while said set-top box transmits said recording programming instruction to said digital video recorder device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said set-top box device is configured to store said recording control command received from said digital video recorder device.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein said digital video recorder device is configured to perform said recording programming instruction by recording said pay-per-view show.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said system further comprises a display device coupled to said digital video recorder device and not coupled to said set-top box device.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein said digital video recorder device does not include an internal electronic programming guide.

11. A method comprising:

a set-top box device communicatively coupling to a digital video recorder device via two way communication, said set-top box device is a first distinct device and said digital video recorder device is a second distinct device;

after said set-top box device communicatively coupling to said digital video recorder device, said set-top box device transmitting a request signal to said digital video recorder device for a recording control command that causes said digital video recorder device to record;

after receiving said request signal, said digital video recorder device transmitting to said set-top box device said recording control command of said digital video recorder device;

said set-top box device receiving said recording control command, wherein said recording control command equips said set-top box device with the ability to control the recording functionality of said digital video recorder device;

an electronic programming guide (EPG) operating on said set-top box device;

said digital video recorder device transmitting a request for said EPG to said set-top box device via said two way communication;

said set-top box device transmitting said EPG to said digital video recorder device via said two way communication;

said set-top box device ceasing transmitting of said EPG to said digital video recorder device when said EPG is not being utilized with said digital video recorder device;

determining whether a recording programming instruction to record a pay-per-view show at a designated time in the future has been received by said set-top box device via said EPG operating on said set-top box device, said recording programming instruction pertains to said recording control command;

after receiving said recording programming instruction, said electronic programming guide ordering said pay-per-view show associated with the programming instruction;

after receiving said recording programming instruction, said set-top box device transmitting said recording programming instruction to said digital video recorder device; and

said digital video recorder device transmitting an acknowledge signal to said set-top box device after said recording programming instruction is added to a task list of said digital video recorder device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said ordering occurs while said transmitting said recording programming instruction occurs.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein after said set-top box device receiving said recording control command of said digital video recorder device, said set-top box device storing said recording control command of said digital video recorder device.

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

a set-top box device communicatively coupling to a digital video recorder device via two way communication, said set-top box device is a first distinct device and said digital video recorder device is a second distinct device;

after said set-top box device communicatively coupling to said digital video recorder device, said set-top box device transmitting a request signal to said digital video recorder device for a recording function command that causes said digital video recorder device to record;

after receiving said request signal, said digital video recorder device transmitting to said set-top box device said recording function command of said digital video recorder device;

said set-top box device receiving said recording function command, wherein said recording function command equips said set-top box device with the ability to control the recording functionality of said digital video recorder device;

an electronic programming guide (EPG) operating on said set-top box device;

said digital video recorder device transmitting a request for said EPG to said set-top box device via said two way communication;

said set-top box device transmitting said EPG to said digital video recorder device via said two way communication;

said set-top box device stopping transmitting of said EPG to said digital video recorder device when said EPG is not being utilized with said digital video recorder device;

determining whether a recording programming instruction to record a pay-per-view show at a designated time in the future has been received by said set-top box device via said EPG operating on said set-top box device, said recording programming instruction pertains to said recording function command;

after receiving said recording programming instruction, said set-top box device transmitting said recording programming instruction to said digital video recorder device; and

said digital video recorder device transmitting an acknowledge signal to said set-top box device after said recording programming instruction is added to a task list of said digital video recorder device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising:

after receiving said recording programming instruction, said electronic programming guide ordering said pay-per-view show associated with the programming instruction.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein said digital video recorder device does not include an internal electronic programming guide.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said method further comprising:

after said set-top box device receiving said recording function command, said set-top box device storing said recording function command of said digital video recorder device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein said set-top box device and said digital video recorder device are coupled to a display device.