Systems and methods for relocating media

• US 7,917,933 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Easterbrook, Kevin B., Ellis, Michael D., Reichardt, M. Scott, Thomas, William L., Knee, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US12/200,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 725/87, 725/91, 725/97, 725/88, 725/93, 386/86
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• 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 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• 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 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files.

Claims

1. A method for use in an interactive television program guide system that provides users with access to programs, the method comprising:

displaying a program on a first user equipment device;

receiving a first indication from a user at the first user equipment device to pause the program that is displayed on the first user equipment device;

responsive to receiving the first indication from the user at the first user equipment device;

pausing the program on the first user equipment device; and

storing data associated with the paused program on the first user equipment device;

receiving a second indication from the user at a second user equipment device to resume displaying the paused program on the second user equipment device; and

responsive to receiving the second indication from the user at the second user equipment device, displaying the paused program on the second user equipment device from a point substantially near the point at which the program was paused on the first user equipment device based on the data stored on the first user equipment device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the second indication from the user at the second user equipment device, retrieving the stored data from the first user equipment device; and

providing the stored data to the second user equipment device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the second indication from the user at the second user equipment device, transmitting a communication identifying the paused program from the second user equipment device to the first user equipment device; and

receiving the communication at the first user equipment device,

wherein the stored data is retrieved responsive to receiving the communication.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the communication, transmitting the stored data from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device; and

receiving the transmitted stored data at the second user equipment device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the transmitted stored data at the second user equipment device, transmitting the stored data from the second user equipment device to a remote server;

transmitting the program from the remote server to the second user equipment device; and

receiving the program at the second user equipment device from the remote server.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the communication, transmitting the program from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device; and

receiving the program at the second user equipment device from the first user equipment device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment device comprises a server remote to the second user equipment device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device are in direct communication over a communications network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communications network is a public switched telephone network, packet-based network, wireless network, or the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored data is further associated with an account associated with the user, the first user equipment device, a content location reference, a point in the paused program where the user paused the program, or user-specific data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device comprises a mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the paused program is displayed on the second user equipment device from a point different from the point at which the program was paused on the first user equipment device.

13. A method for use in an interactive television program guide system that provides users with access to programs, the method comprising:

displaying a program on a first user equipment device;

receiving a first indication from a user at the first user equipment device to pause the program that is displayed on the first user equipment device;

responsive to receiving the first indication from the user at the first user equipment device;

pausing the program on the first user equipment device; and

storing data associated with the paused program on the first user equipment device; and

responsive to receiving a second indication from the user at a second user equipment device to resume displaying the paused program on the second user equipment device, causing the second user equipment device to display the program on the second user equipment device from a point substantially near the point at which the program was paused on the first user equipment device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the program is displayed on the second user equipment device based on the stored data in the first user equipment device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a communication at the first user equipment device from the second user equipment device, wherein the communication identifies the paused program;

responsive to receiving the communication from the second user equipment device, retrieving the stored data at the first user equipment device; and

transmitting the retrieved data from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the communication from the second user equipment device, transmitting the program from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first user equipment device comprises a server remote to the second user equipment device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device are in direct communication over a communications network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the communications network is a public switched telephone network, packet-based network, wireless network, or the Internet.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the stored data is further associated with an account associated with the user, the first user equipment device, a content location reference, a point in the paused program where the user paused the program, or user-specific data.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device comprises a mobile device.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the program is displayed on the second user equipment device from a point different from the point at which the program was paused on the first user equipment device.

23. A method for use in an interactive television program guide system that provides users with access to programs, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from a user at a first user equipment device to display a program on the first user equipment device, wherein the program was previously paused on a second user equipment device;

responsive to receiving the indication from the user at the first user equipment device, retrieving stored data associated with the paused program from the second user equipment device; and

displaying the program on the first user equipment device from a point substantially near the point at which the program was paused on the second user equipment device based on the retrieved data from the second user equipment device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the indication from the user at the first user equipment device, transmitting a communication identifying the previously paused program from the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

causing the second user equipment device to transmit the stored data to the first user equipment device; and

receiving the transmitted stored data at the first user equipment device.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the transmitted data at the first user equipment device, transmitting the stored data from the first user equipment device to a remote server;

causing the remote server to transmit the program to the first user equipment device; and

receiving the program at the first user equipment device.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

causing the second user equipment device to transmit the program to the first user equipment device; and

receiving the transmitted program at the first user equipment device.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the second user equipment device comprises a server remote to the first user equipment device.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device are in direct communication over a communications network.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the communications network is a public switched telephone network, packet-based network, wireless network, or the Internet.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the stored data is further associated with an account associated with the user, the second user equipment device, a content location reference, a point in the paused program where the user paused the program, or user-specific data.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device comprises a mobile device.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the program is displayed on the first user equipment device from a point different from the point at which the program was paused on the second user equipment device.

34. A system for use in an interactive television program guide system that provides users with access to programs, the system comprising:

a first user equipment device comprising;

a memory;

a display device configured to display a program;

an input device configured to receive a first indication from a user at the first user equipment device to pause the program that is displayed on the display; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive the first indication; and

responsive to receiving the first indication;

pause the program displayed on the display; and

store data associated with the paused program in the memory of the first user equipment device; and

a second user equipment device comprising;

a display device configured to display the program;

an input device configured to receive a second indication from the user at the second user equipment device to resume displaying the paused program on the display of the second user equipment device; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive the second indication from the user at the second user equipment device, display the paused program on the display of the second user equipment device from a point substantially near the point at which the program was paused on the first user equipment device based on the data stored in the memory of the first user equipment device.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the control circuitry of the second user equipment device is further configured to:

responsive to receiving the second indication from the user at the second user equipment device, retrieve the stored data from the memory of the first user equipment device, and

the control circuitry of the first user equipment device is further configured to provide the stored data from the memory of the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

a communications link coupled to the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device, wherein

the control circuitry of the second user equipment device is further configured to responsive to receiving the second indication from the user, transmit a communication over the communications link identifying the paused program to the first user equipment device, and

the control circuitry of the first user equipment device is further configured to receive the communication over the communications link, wherein the stored data is retrieved from the memory of the first user equipment device responsive to receiving the communication.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the control circuitry of the first user equipment is further configured to:

responsive to receiving the communication over the communications link, transmit the stored data from the memory of the first user equipment device to the second user equipment device over the communications, and

the control circuitry of the second user equipment is further configured to receive the transmitted stored data.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a remote server configured to transmit the program to the second user equipment device over the communications link,

wherein the control circuitry of the second user equipment device is further configured to;

responsive to receiving the transmitted stored data, transmit the stored data to the remote server over the communications link; and

receive the program at the second user equipment device from the remote server.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the control circuitry of the first user equipment is further configured to, responsive to receiving the communication over the communications link, transmit the program to the second user equipment device over the communications link, and

the control circuitry of the second user equipment device is further configured to receive the program from the first user equipment device.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the first user equipment device comprises a server remote to the second user equipment device.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device are in direct communication over a communications network.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the communications network is a public switched telephone network, packet-based network, wireless network, or the Internet.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the stored data stored in the memory of the first user equipment device is further associated with an account associated with the user, the first user equipment device, a content location reference, a point in the paused program where the user paused the program, or user-specific data.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device comprises a mobile device.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the paused program is displayed on the display of the second user equipment device from a point different from the point at which the program was paused on the first user equipment device.

46. A system for use in an interactive television program guide system that provides users with access to programs, the system comprising:

a first user equipment device comprising;

a memory;

a display configured to display a program;

an input device configured to receive a first indication from a user at the first user equipment device to pause the program that is displayed on the display; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive the first indication; and

responsive to receiving the first indication;

pause the program displayed on the display; and

store data associated with the paused program in the memory of the first user equipment device; and

receive a second indication from the user at a second user equipment device to resume displaying the paused program on the second user equipment device; and

responsive to receiving the second indication, cause the second user equipment device to display the program on the second user equipment device from a point substantially near the point at which the program was paused on the first user equipment device.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the program is displayed on the second user equipment device based on the stored data from the memory of the first user equipment device.

48. The system of claim 46, further comprising:

a communications link coupled to the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device, wherein

the control circuitry of the first user equipment device is further configured to;

receive a communication from the second user equipment device over the communications link, wherein the communication identifies the paused program;

responsive to receiving the communication from the second user equipment device, retrieve the stored data from the memory of the first user equipment device; and

transmit the retrieved data to the second user equipment device over the communications link.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the control circuitry of the first user equipment device is further configured to responsive to receiving the communication from the second user equipment device, transmit the program to the second user equipment device over the communications link.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein the first user equipment device comprises a server remote to the second user equipment device.

51. The system of claim 46, wherein the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device are in direct communication over a communications network.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the communications network is a public switched telephone network, packet-based network, wireless network, or the Internet.

53. The system of claim 46, wherein the stored data in the memory of the first user equipment device is further associated with an account associated with the user, the first user equipment device, a content location reference, a point in the paused program where the user paused the program, or user-specific data.

54. The system of claim 46, wherein the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device comprises a mobile device.

55. The system of claim 46, wherein the program is displayed on the second user equipment device from a point different from the point at which the program was paused on the first user equipment device.

56. A system for use in an interactive television program guide system that provides users with access to programs, the system comprising:

a first user equipment device comprising;

a display device configured to display a program;

an input device configured to receive an indication from a user at the first user equipment device to display the program on the display of the first user equipment device, wherein the program was previously paused on a second user equipment device;

control circuitry configured to;

responsive to receiving the indication from the user, retrieve stored data associated with the paused program from the second user equipment device; and

display the program on the display of the first user equipment device from a point substantially near the point at which the program was paused on the second user equipment device based on the retrieved data from the second user equipment device.

57. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

a communications link coupled to the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device, wherein

the control circuitry of the first user equipment device is further configured to responsive to receiving the indication, transmit a communication over the communications link identifying the previously paused program to the second user equipment device.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the control circuitry of the first user equipment device is further configured to:

cause the second user equipment device to transmit the stored data to the first user equipment device over the communications link; and

receive the transmitted stored data.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the control circuitry of the first user equipment device is further configured to:

responsive to receiving the transmitted data, transmit the stored data to a remote server over the communications link;

cause the remote server to transmit the program to the first user equipment device over the communications link; and

receive the transmitted program.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the control circuitry of the first user equipment device is further configured to:

cause the second user equipment device to transmit the program to the first user equipment device over the communications link; and

receive the transmitted program.

61. The system of claim 56, wherein the second user equipment device comprises a server remote to the first user equipment device.

62. The system of claim 56, wherein the first user equipment device and the second user equipment device are in direct communication over a communications network.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the communications network is a public switched telephone network, packet-based network, wireless network, or the Internet.

64. The system of claim 56, wherein the stored data is further associated with an account associated with the user, the second user equipment device, a content location reference, a point in the paused program where the user paused the program, or user-specific data.

65. The system of claim 56, wherein the first user equipment device or the second user equipment device comprises a mobile device.

66. The system of claim 56, wherein the program is displayed on the display of the first user equipment device from a point different from the point at which the program was paused on the second user equipment device.