Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications

• US 8,209,424 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Klappert, Walter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDY
• Application Number:
  US11/643,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,015 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/232, 709227-228, 235/472.01, 455/3.06, 386/83, 340/3.54, 340/988, 725 38- 46, 725 55- 58, 725 60- 61, 725/62, 725/68, 725/85, 725/100
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4334 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• 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 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications are provided. In particular, the systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications provided herein generally relate to enhancing remote access capabilities by providing algorithms and techniques for managing and correcting disparities that may be found between program listings data used by the interactive media guidance application and the remote access server.

Claims

1. A method for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user device, at a server remote from the user device, an action request that includes instructions identifying a program for which to remotely schedule an action with the user equipment, wherein the user device utilizes first program information obtained from a first program information database to generate the action request for the program;

transmitting the action request for the program to be processed using second program information from a second program information database to schedule the action request for the program, wherein the second program information database is different from the first program information database;

detecting, with the server, using program information received in the action request, a disparity between the first program information for the program and the second program information for the program;

searching for alternate scheduling information for the program in response to detecting the disparity; and

transmitting a second action request to the user equipment to schedule the action, wherein the second action request is generated based on the alternate scheduling information.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein transmitting the action request comprises transmitting the action request to a media service provider or to the user equipment.

3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the media service provider is selected from the group consisting of:

a cable service provider, and a satellite service provider.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user device is selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer, a notebook computer, a wireless device, and a cellular telephone.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the action request is for an action selected from the group consisting of:

scheduling a recording of the program, and setting a reminder for the program.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the disparity between the first program information for the program and the second program information for the program is detected based at least in part on program information received from the user equipment.

7. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the action request comprises one or more interactive program guide functions executed on a set-top box.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the user equipment comprises a set-top box.

9. The method defined in claim 1 wherein transmitting the action request for the program further comprises transmitting a channel and a start time for the program based on the first program information database.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the second action request comprises transmitting the second action request without user input further to the received action request.

11. A method for remote record scheduling on a home video recorder, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user device, at a server remote from the user device, a record request that includes instructions identifying a program for which to remotely schedule a recording to be performed by the home video recorder, wherein the remote user device utilizes first program information obtained from a remote access server database to generate the record request for the program;

after and in response to receiving the record request, transmitting, with the server remote from the home video recorder, the record request including a channel and start time for the program to the home video recorder, wherein the home video recorder utilizes second program information from a media service provider database to schedule the record request for the program, and the remote access server database and the media service provider database are different;

responsive to transmitting the record request, receiving, with the server, a program title from a media service provider server based on the record request for the program scheduled by the home video recorder;

detecting, with the server, a disparity between the program title received from the media service provider server and a title of the requested program to be recorded based on the record request generated from the first program information obtained from the remote access server database;

in response to detecting the disparity, searching, with the server, for alternate scheduling information of the requested program; and

transmitting, from the server to the home video recorder, a second record request to schedule the action, wherein the second record request is generated based on the alternate scheduling information.

12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the home video recorder implements an interactive program guide.

13. A system for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application, the system comprising:

a receiver to receive, from a user device, at a server remote from the user device, an action request that includes instructions identifying a program for which to remotely schedule an action with the user equipment, wherein the user device utilizes first program information obtained from a first program information database to generate the action request for the program; and

a processor configured to;

transmit the action request for the program to be processed using second program information from a second program information database to schedule the action request for the program, wherein the second program information database is different from the first program information database;

detect, with the server, using program information received in the action request, a disparity between the first program information for the program and the second program information for the program;

search for alternate scheduling information for the program in response to detecting the disparity; and

transmit a second action request to the user equipment to schedule the action, wherein the second action request is generated based on the alternate scheduling information.

14. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to transmit the action request to a media service provider or to the user equipment.

15. The system defined in claim 14 wherein the media service provider is selected from the group consisting of:

a cable service provider, and a satellite service provider.

16. The system defined in claim 14 wherein the user device is selected from the group consisting of:

a personal computer, a notebook computer, a wireless device, and a cellular telephone.

17. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the action request is for an action selected from the group consisting of:

scheduling a recording of the program, and setting a reminder for the program.

18. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the disparity between the first program information for the program and the second program information for the program is detected based at least in part on program information received from the user equipment.

19. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the user equipment comprises a set-top box.

20. The system defined in claim 19 wherein the action request comprises one or more interactive program guide functions executed on the set-top box.

21. The system defined in claim 13 wherein the action request for the program further comprises a channel and a start time for the program based on the first program information database.

22. A system for remote record scheduling on a home video recorder, the system comprising:

a server remote from a user device and the home video recorder, the server comprising;

a receiver to receive, from the user device, a record request that includes instructions identifying a program for which to remotely schedule a recording to be performed by the home video recorder, wherein the remote user device utilizes first program information obtained from a remote access server database to generate the record request for the program; and

a processor configured to;

after and in response to receiving the record request, transmit the record request including a channel and start time for the program to the home video recorder, wherein the home video recorder utilizes second program information from a media service provider database to schedule the record request for the program, and the remote access server database and the media service provider database are different;

receive, responsive to transmitting the record request, a program title from a media service provider server based on the record request for the program scheduled by the home video recorder;

detect, with the server, a disparity between the program title received from the media service provider server and a title of the requested program to be recorded based on the record request generated from the first program information obtained from the remote access server database;

search for alternate scheduling information of the requested program in response to detecting the disparity; and

transmit to the home video recorder a second record request to the user equipment to schedule the action, wherein the second record request is generated based on the alternate scheduling information.

23. The system defined in claim 22 wherein the home video recorder implements an interactive program guide.

24. A method comprising:

receiving, at a remote access server, from a remote access user device, an action request for a program, wherein the remote access user device generates the action request using first scheduling information obtained from a remote access server data source;

transmitting, with the remote access server, the action request to be processed by an interactive media guidance application (IMGA) on user equipment;

receiving, with the remote access server, second program information located by the IMGA in an IMGA data source using information received in the transmitted action request;

detecting, with the remote access server, a disparity between the first program information and the second program information; and

transmitting, with the remote access server, in response to detecting the disparity, a request to the IMGA to search the IMGA data source for alternate scheduling information for the program, and to schedule, with the IMGA, on the user equipment, the action request for the program if the alternate scheduling information is found.

25. A system comprising control circuitry configured to:

receive, at a remote access server, from a remote access user device, an action request for a program, wherein the remote access user device generates the action request using first scheduling information obtained from a remote access server data source;

transmit, with the remote access server, the action request to be processed by an interactive media guidance application (IMGA) on user equipment;

receive, with the remote access server, second program information located by the IMGA in an IMGA data source using information received in the transmitted action request;

detect, with the remote access server a disparity between the first program information and the second program information; and

transmit, with the remote access server, in response to detecting the disparity, a request to the IMGA to search the IMGA data source for alternate scheduling information for the program, and to schedule, with the IMGA, on the user equipment, the action request for the program if the alternate scheduling information is found.