Methods and apparatus for sending content between client devices
First Claim
1. A method for sharing content between digital video recorder (DVR) devices, the method comprising:
- receiving digital broadcast stream media content and storing the digital broadcast stream media content on a first DVR device;
at the first DVR device, storing a unique identifier associated with a second DVR to indicate the second DVR device is enabled to send content to the first DVR device;
receiving a data transmission from the second DVR device, the data transmission comprising information describing digital media content available on the second DVR device;
generating a content guide on the first DVR device, the content guide listing digital media content stored on the first DVR device and digital media content available on the second DVR device as described by the information of the data transmission;
receiving at the first DVR device remote control commands that select at least one piece of the digital media content available on the second DVR device;
at the first DVR device, receiving the at least one piece of the digital media content available on the second DVR device; and
wherein the content guide graphically distinguishes between digital media content that has been received from the second DVR device and digital media content that is available to be sent from the second DVR device.
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Abstract
Sending content between client devices connected to a computer network is described. According to one described aspect, a server maintains a database correlating unique identifiers for client devices to their network address information. A first client device may query the server for network address information of a second client device by sending the unique identifier to the server. The server returns the network address of the second client device, which is used to send a message directly from the first client device to the second client device, indicating the availability of content. Also, the message is preferably formatted such that it automatically populates a content guide of the second client device, with an entry used to initiate a transmission of the content from the first client device to the second client device.
78 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for sharing content between digital video recorder (DVR) devices, the method comprising:
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receiving digital broadcast stream media content and storing the digital broadcast stream media content on a first DVR device; at the first DVR device, storing a unique identifier associated with a second DVR to indicate the second DVR device is enabled to send content to the first DVR device; receiving a data transmission from the second DVR device, the data transmission comprising information describing digital media content available on the second DVR device; generating a content guide on the first DVR device, the content guide listing digital media content stored on the first DVR device and digital media content available on the second DVR device as described by the information of the data transmission; receiving at the first DVR device remote control commands that select at least one piece of the digital media content available on the second DVR device; at the first DVR device, receiving the at least one piece of the digital media content available on the second DVR device; and wherein the content guide graphically distinguishes between digital media content that has been received from the second DVR device and digital media content that is available to be sent from the second DVR device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for sharing content between digital video recorder (DVR) devices, the system comprising:
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a first DVR device having a tuner for receiving broadcast digital media content, a storage device for storing digital media content, a content transfer module for transmitting information describing available digital media content stored on the first DVR device and receiving information describing available digital media content stored on a second DVR device, a content guide module for displaying a content guide listing available digital media content stored on the first DVR device and available digital media content stored on the second DVR device;
an address management module on the first DVR device that stores a unique identifier of at least the second DVR device that is receiving digital media content prior to sending digital media content to the second DVR device; anda remote control device capable of communicating with the first DVR device to select at least one piece of the available digital media content stored on the first DVR device to transmit to the second DVR device; and wherein the content guide of the first DVR device is automatically updated to incorporate the information describing currently available digital media content stored on the second DVR device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for sharing content between digital video recorder (DVR) devices, the method comprising:
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receiving digital media content and storing the digital media content on a first DVR device; receiving at the first DVR device remote control commands that select at least one piece of the digital media content stored on the first DVR device and select at least one recipient representing a second DVR device from a list of DVR devices that are stored on the first DVR device, wherein the list is generated prior to selecting digital media content to send to the second DVR device, and wherein, for each DVR device on the list, the list includes a DVR device ISN, MAC address, and custom name; transmitting a data transmission from the first DVR device to the second DVR device, the data transmission comprising information describing the at least one piece of digital media content stored on the first DVR device; receiving a request from the second DVR device at the first DVR device to initiate a transfer of at least one piece of the digital media content stored on the first DVR device; and transmitting the at least one piece of the digital media content to the second DVR device.
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Specification