Real-time DVR usage and reporting system

• US 8,634,703 B1
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shayanfar, Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/190,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 725/81, 725/86, 386/261
• US Class Current: 386/261
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• 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 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• 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 21/47202 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Techniques for real-time DVR usage and reporting enable using instant message protocol in a DVR environment to obtain real-time DVR usage data and to report data reflecting such usage in real-time. An example of DVR usage data comprises data reflecting that a viewer is viewing a video program which is R-rated. Another example of DVR usage data comprises a viewer entering a password, such as a kids zone password, to exit kids zone operational mode.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a device, that one or more particular activities are being performed at the device, the one or more particular activities involving at least one of;

the device receiving a request that begins playback of particular content, the device starting to record particular content, the device completing recording of particular content, or the device changing to a different operational mode that applies different restriction criteria on content available for presentation through the device; and

responsive to detecting that the one or more particular activities are being performed at the device, automatically sending, by the device, message information reflecting the one or more particular activities in real-time in one or more instant messages to a receiving device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is a digital video recorder (DVR).

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving device is any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a server.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more instant messages cause the receiving device to perform one or more post-processing activities, responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the one or more post-processing activities comprise any of:

updating a log file with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device;

updating one or more database tables with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device;

or

sending a second instant message containing information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device to any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a second server.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise exiting out of a first operational mode and entering a second operational mode.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise playing a media content with a rating equal to or greater than a threshold.

8. A method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages and prior to performing one or more post-processing activities, the one or more instant messages causing the receiving device to check a rules list and to determine one or more rules to follow from the rules list;

wherein the receiving device performing one or more post-processing activities is based, in part, on the one or more determined rules.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a server, one or more instant messages from a remote device in real-time reflecting one or more particular activities taking place-in real-time at the remote device, the one or more particular activities involving at least one of the remote device receiving a request that begins playback of particular content, the remote device starting to record particular content, the remote device completing recording of particular content, or the remote device changing to a different operational mode that applies different restriction criteria on content available for presentation through the device; and

responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages, the server performing one or more post-processing activities.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the remote device is a DVR.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more post-processing activities comprise any of:

updating a log file with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device;

updating one or more database tables with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device;

or

sending a second instant message containing information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device to any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a second server.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise exiting out of a first operational mode and entering a second operational mode.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise playing a media content with a rating equal to or greater than a threshold.

14. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages and prior to performing one or more post-processing activities, the server checking a rules list and determining one or more rules to follow from the rules list based, in part, on the one or more particular activities taking place in real-time on the remote device;

wherein the receiving device performing one or more post-processing activities is based, in part, on the one or more determined rules.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a detector subsystem for detecting, by a device, that one or more particular activities are being performed at the device, the one or more particular activities involving at least one of;

the device receiving a request to begin playback of particular content, the device starting to record particular content, the device completing recording of particular content, or the device changing to a different operational mode that applies different restriction criteria on content available for presentation through the device; and

a sending subsystem for automatically sending, by the device, message information reflecting the one or more particular activities in real-time in one or more instant messages to a receiving device, responsive to detecting that the one or more particular activities are being performed at the device.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the device is a digital video recorder (DVR).

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, the receiving device is any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a server.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more instant messages cause the receiving device to perform one or more post-processing activities, responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the one or more post-processing activities comprise any of:

updating a log file with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device;

updating one or more database tables with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device;

or

sending a second instant message containing information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device to any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a second server.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise exiting out of a first operational mode and entering a second operational mode.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise playing a media content with a rating equal to or greater than a threshold.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages and prior to performing one or more post-processing activities, the one or more instant messages cause the receiving device to check a rules list and to determine one or more rules to follow from the rules list;

and

wherein the receiving device performing one or more post-processing activities is based, in part, on the one or more determined rules.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver for receiving, at a server, one or more instant messages from a remote device in real-time reflecting one or more particular activities taking place-in real-time at-the remote device, the one or more particular activities involving at least one of;

the remote device receiving a request that begins playback of particular content, the remote device starting to record particular content, the remote device completing recording of particular content, or the remote device changing to a different operational mode that applies different restriction criteria on content available for presentation through the device; and

a post-processor for performing one or more post-processing activities, at the server, responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the remote device is a second DVR.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the post-processor further comprises any of:

a logging subsystem for updating a log file with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device;

a database subsystem for updating one or more database tables with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device;

or

a sending subsystem for sending a second instant message containing information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device to any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a second server.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise exiting out of a first operational mode and entering a second operational mode.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise playing a media content with a rating equal to or greater than a threshold.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

a rules subsystem for checking a rules list and for determining one or more rules to follow from the rules list based, in part, on the one or more particular activities taking place in real-time on the remote device, responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages and prior to performing one or more post-processing activities;

wherein the receiving device performing one or more post-processing activities is based, in part, on the one or more determined rules.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

detecting, by a device, that one or more particular activities are being performed at the device, the one or more particular activities involving at least one of;

the device receiving a request to begin playback of particular content, the device starting to record particular content, the device completing recording of particular content, or the device changing to a different operational mode that applies different restriction criteria on content available for presentation through the device; and

responsive to detecting that the one or more particular activities are being performed at the device, automatically sending, by the device, message information reflecting the one or more particular activities in real-time in one or more instant messages to a receiving device.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the device is a digital video recorder (DVR).

31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the receiving device is any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a server.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the one or more instant messages cause the receiving device to perform one or more post-processing activities, responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages.

33. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 32, wherein the one or more post-processing activities comprise any of:

updating a log file with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device;

updating one or more database tables with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device;

or

sending a second instant message containing information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the device to any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a second server.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise exiting out of a first operational mode and entering a second operational mode.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 29, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise playing a media content with a rating equal to or greater than a threshold.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 32, further comprising instructions which when executed cause the step of:

responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages and prior to performing one or more post-processing activities, the one or more instant messages causing the receiving device to check a rules list and to determine one or more rules to follow from the rules list;

wherein the receiving device performing one or more post-processing activities is based, in part, on the one or more determined rules.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving, at a server, one or more instant messages from a remote device in real-time reflecting one or more particular activities taking place in real-time at the remote device, the one or more particular activities involving at least one of;

the remote device receiving a request that begins playback of particular content, the remote device starting to record particular content, the remote device completing recording of particular content, or the remote device changing to a different operational mode that applies different restriction criteria on content available for presentation through the device; and

responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages, the server performing one or more post-processing activities.

38. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the remote device is a DVR.

39. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the one or more post-processing activities comprise any of:

updating a log file with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device;

updating one or more database tables with information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device;

or

sending a second instant message containing information that is associated with the one or more particular activities being performed on the remote device to any of a DVR, a personal computer, a portable device, or a second server.

40. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise exiting out of a first operational mode and entering a second operational mode.

41. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 37, wherein the one or more particular activities comprise playing a media content with a rating equal to or greater than a threshold.

42. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 37, further comprising instructions which when executed cause:

responsive to receiving the one or more instant messages and prior to performing one or more post-processing activities, the server checking a rules list and determining one or more rules to follow from the rules list based, in part, on the one or more particular activities taking place in real-time on the remote device;

wherein the receiving device performing one or more post-processing activities is based, in part, on the one or more determined rules.