Distributed database management system

• US 8,478,114 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Beach, Brian, Platt, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIO, TAT CHI
• Application Number:
  US10/828,921
• Time in Patent Office: 3,360 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 386/46, 386/52, 386/95, 386/201, 386/291, 386/296, 386/297, 386/298, 386/299, 386/239, 386/240, 386/243, 386/248, 725/101
• US Class Current: 386/296
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1417 Boot up procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2097 maintaining the standby controller/processing unit updated initialisation or re-synchronisation thereof G06F11/1658 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/219 Managing data history or versioning querying versioned data G06F16/2474; querying temporal data G06F16/2477
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2246 Trees, e.g. B+trees
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2471 Distributed queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/256 in federated or virtual databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/282 Hierarchical databases, e.g. IMS, LDAP data stores or Lotus Notes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/80 Database-specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/82 Solving problems relating to consistency ensuring consistency in mirrored systems G06F11/2064
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/005 Reproducing at a different information rate from the information rate of recording for television signals H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/036 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 : for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 : characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 : comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 : by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 : involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2351 : involving encryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 : Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 : involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• 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 21/2625 : for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 : Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/42204 : 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 21/42607 : for processing the incoming bitstream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4332 : by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4335 : Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• 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 21/4353 : involving decryption of additional data arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 : Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/4583 : 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 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• 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 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 : Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A distributed database management system provides a central database resident on a server that contains database objects. Objects, e.g., program guide data, to be replicated are gathered together into distribution packages called “slices,” that are transmitted to client devices. A slice is a subset of the central database which is relevant to clients within a specific domain, such as a geographic region, or under the footprint of a satellite transmitter. The viewer selects television programs and Web content from displayed sections of the program guide data which are recorded to a storage device. The program guide data are used to determine when to start and end recordings. Client devices periodically connect to the server using a phone line and upload information of interest which is combined with information uploaded from other client devices for statistical, operational, or viewing models.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving television program guide data as database subsets at a device;

storing the television program guide data on at least one storage device at the device, the television program guide data including television program broadcast schedule information; and

communicating, by the device, an inventory of received database subsets to a server that compares the inventory with a list of database subsets that were to be sent to the device and transmits database subsets in the list of database subsets that were not in the inventory to the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step periodically receives television program guide data from a service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the television program guide data are relevant to the device'"'"'s characteristics.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a device'"'"'s characteristics include any of:

geographic region, specific domain, or footprint of a satellite transmitter.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying sections of the television program guide data to a user;

wherein the user selects a program from the television program guide data to record; and

recording the selected program onto the at least one storage device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the recording step uses the television program guide data to determine when to start and end recording of the selected program.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying sections of the television program guide data to a user;

wherein the user selects a television program from the television program guide data; and

displaying the selected television program to the user.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving television program guide data as database subsets at a device;

storing the television program guide data on at least one storage device at the device, the television program guide data including television program broadcast schedule information;

causing a tuner, among at least one tuner in communication with the device, to receive a specific television broadcast program listed in the television program guide data; and

communicating, by the device, an inventory of received database subsets to a server that compares the inventory with a list of database subsets that were to be sent to the device and transmits database subsets in the list of database subsets that were not in the inventory to the device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving step periodically receives television program guide data from a service provider.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the television program guide data are relevant to the device'"'"'s characteristics.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a device'"'"'s characteristics include any of:

geographic region, specific domain, or footprint of a satellite transmitter.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying sections of the television program guide data to a user;

wherein the user selects a program from the television program guide data to record; and

recording the selected program onto the at least one storage device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the recording step uses the television program guide data to determine when to start and end recording of the selected program.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying sections of the television program guide data to a user;

wherein the user selects a television program from the television program guide data to cause the tuner to receive the selected television program; and

displaying the selected television program to the user.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving user viewing information from a DVR at a server;

storing the user viewing information in a database at the server, the database containing user viewing information from a plurality of DVRs;

sending database subsets to the DVR based at least in part on the user viewing information;

receiving an inventory of received database subsets from the DVR;

comparing the inventory with a list of database subsets that were to be sent to the DVR; and

sending database subsets in the list of database subsets that were not in the inventory to the DVR.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

deriving demographic and/or psychographic and/or statistical analysis information about populations of DVRs by examining user viewing information in the database.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating “

rating” and

/or “

share”

values for particular multimedia broadcast programs by examining user viewing information in the database.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a DVR records operational status information that includes any of:

user actions, transactional information, automatic actions, software installation actions, and hardware exceptions of various kinds, and wherein the DVR uploads the operational status information to the server.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiving module on a device that receives television program guide data;

a storage module that stores the television program guide data on at least one storage device in communication with the device, the television program guide data including television program broadcast schedule information; and

a database inventory module at the device that communicates an inventory of received database subsets to a server that compares the inventory with a list of database subsets that were to be sent to the device and transmits database subsets in the list of database subsets that were not in the inventory to the device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the receiving module periodically receives television program guide data from a service provider.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the television program guide data are relevant to the device'"'"'s characteristics.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a DVR'"'"'s characteristics include any of:

geographic region, specific domain, or footprint of a satellite transmitter.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a program guide display module that displays sections of the television program guide data to a user;

wherein the user selects a program from the television program guide data to record; and

a recording module that records the selected program onto the at least one storage device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the recording module uses the television program guide data to determine when to start and end recording of the selected program.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a program guide display module that displays sections of the television program guide data to a user;

wherein the user selects a television program from the television program guide data; and

a program display module that displays the selected television program to the user.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one tuner in communication with a device;

a receiving module at the device that receives television program guide data;

at least one storage device at the device;

a storage module that stores television program guide data on the at least one storage device, the television program guide data including television program broadcast schedule information;

a tuning module that causes a tuner among the at least one tuner to receive a specific television broadcast program listed in the television program guide data; and

a database inventory module at the device that communicates an inventory of received database subsets to a server that compares the inventory with a list of database subsets that were to be sent to the device and transmits database subsets in the list of database subsets that were not in the inventory to the device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the receiving module periodically receives television program guide data from a service provider.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the television program guide data are relevant to the device'"'"'s characteristics.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a device'"'"'s characteristics include any of:

geographic region, specific domain, or footprint of a satellite transmitter.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a program guide display module that displays sections of the television program guide data to a user;

wherein the user selects a program from the television program guide data to record; and

a recording module that records the selected program onto the at least one storage device.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the recording module uses the television program guide data to determine when to start and end recording of the selected program.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a program guide display module that displays sections of the television program guide data to a user;

wherein the user selects a television program from the television program guide data; and

a program display module that displays the selected television program to the user.

33. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiving module at a server that receives user viewing information from a DVR;

a user viewing information storage module that stores the user viewing information in a database at the server, the database containing user viewing information from a plurality of DVRs;

an inventory receiving module that receives an inventory of received database subsets from the DVR;

a comparison module that compares the inventory with a list of database subsets that were to be sent to the DVR; and

a database subset sending module that sends database subsets in the list of database subsets that were not in the inventory to the DVR.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

a statistical module that derives demographic and/or psychographic and/or statistical analysis information about populations of DVRs by examining user viewing information in the database.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

a statistical module that generates “

rating” and

/or “

share”

values for particular multimedia broadcast programs by examining user viewing information in the database.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein a DVR records operational status information that includes any of:

user actions, transactional information, automatic actions, software installation actions, and hardware exceptions of various kinds, and wherein the DVR uploads the operational status information to the server.

37. A method, comprising:

receiving, on a device, program guide data that includes television program content broadcast schedule information selectable for recording by a user and Web content URL information selectable for recording by the user;

storing program guide data on at least one storage device communicably connected to the device;

receiving television broadcast program content listed in the program guide data at the device selectable via an input device that receives television broadcast signals;

for each content selected from the program guide data for recording by the user, listing, schedule, a recording time in the future, according to the program guide data, for the selected content;

recording automatically, at a scheduled recording time from the recording schedule, Web content listed in the program guide data retrieved via a network connection using a URL from the program guide data, the recorded Web content stored on the at least one storage device as part of a collection of recorded content available for on demand playback by the user.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the receiving step periodically receives program guide data from a service provider.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the program guide data are relevant to the device'"'"'s characteristics.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein a device'"'"'s characteristics include any of:

geographic region, specific domain, or footprint of a satellite transmitter.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

displaying sections of the program guide data to the user;

wherein the user selects television program content from the program guide data to record; and

recording the selected television program content onto the at least one storage device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the recording the selected television program content step uses the program guide data to determine a proper channel to receive the selected television program content.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the recording step uses the program guide data to determine when to start and end recording of the selected content.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

displaying sections of the program guide data to the user;

wherein the user selects Web content from the program guide data to record; and

recording the selected Web content onto the at least one storage device using the program guide data to determine a proper URL to access the selected Web content.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

displaying sections of the program guide data to the user;

wherein the user selects television program content or Web content from the program guide data to the user;

displaying the selected television program content or Web content to the user.

46. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

displaying sections of the program guide data to the user;

wherein the user selects Web content from the program guide data to record; and

recording the selected Web content onto the at least one storage device.

47. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

creating the recording schedule using the content selected from the program guide data for recording by the user, the recording schedule comprising future start and end times, for recordings, based on the program guide data; and

using the recording schedule to record Web content listed in the program guide data retrieved via a network connection using a URL from the program guide data.

48. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiving module at a device that receives program guide data that includes television program content broadcast schedule information selectable for recording by a user and Web content URL information selectable for recording by the user;

at least one storage device in communication with the device;

a storage module that stores program guide data on the at least one storage device; and

at least one television input, in communication with the device, that is configurable to receive a television broadcast program content listed in the program guide data;

a listing module that lists, in a recording schedule, a recording time in the future, according to the program guide data, for each content selected from the program guide data for recording by the user;

at least one network input that is configurable to record automatically, at a scheduled recording time from the recording schedule, Web content listed in the program guide data retrieved via a network connection using a URL from the program guide data, the recorded Web content stored on the at least one storage device as part of a collection of recorded content available for on demand playback by the user.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the receiving module periodically receives program guide data from a service provider.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the program guide data are relevant to the device'"'"'s characteristics.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein a device'"'"'s characteristics include any of:

geographic region, specific domain, or footprint of a satellite transmitter.

52. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

a program guide display module that displays sections of the program guide data to the user;

wherein the user selects television program content from the program guide data to record; and

a recording module that records the selected television program content onto the at least one storage device.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the recording module uses the program guide data to determine a proper channel to receive the selected television program content.

54. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the recording module uses the program guide data to determine when to start and end recording of the selected content.

55. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

a program guide display module that displays sections of the program guide data to the user;

wherein the user selects Web content from the program guide data to record; and

a recording module that records the selected Web content onto the at least one storage device using the program guide data to determine a proper URL to access the selected Web content.

56. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

a program guide display module that displays sections of the program guide data to the user;

wherein the user selects television program content or Web content from the program guide data; and

a program display module that displays the selected television program content or Web content to the user.

57. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

a program guide display module that displays sections of the program guide data to the user;

wherein the user selects Web content from the program guide data to record; and

a recording module that records the selected Web content onto the at least one storage device.

58. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

a creating module that creates the recording schedule using the content selected from the program guide data for recording by the user, the recording schedule comprising future start and end times, for recordings, based on the program guide data; and

a recording schedule module that uses the recording schedule to record Web content listed in the program guide data retrieved via a network connection using a URL from the program guide data.