System and method for internet access to a personal television service

• US 8,656,446 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M., Platt, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHNURR, JOHN R
• Application Number:
  US12/945,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20110061071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 725/37, 725/74, 725/80, 725/85, 725/105, 725/109, 725/110, 725/131, 725/133, 725/134, 725/139, 725/141, 725/142, 725/151, 725/153, 386/362
• US Class Current: 725/134
• 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: H04N 21/21815 comprising local storage units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• 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 21/4181 for conditional access
• 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 21/4622 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 21/47214 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 21/47217 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/87 Regeneration of colour television signals H04N9/80 takes precedence

Abstract

A communication system and a family of methods for remote access to personal television service are disclosed. According to this invention, a remote personal TV service center provides centralized program guide information. A user may access to the personal TV service center through a digital video recorder which is connected to the personal TV service center via telephone modem or a network server. A user may access to the personal TV service center through a remote computer terminal or a personal digital assistant which is connected to a computer network. The user selects program events and programs the digital video recorder by using a graphical user interface installed in the front panel of the digital video recorder in case of local programming, or using a similar GUI which is incorporated into the Web pages presented to remote users by a Web server in case of remote programming. The media stream stored in one digital video recorder may be transferred to another digital video recorder. For data security protection during data transfer, all communication are authenticated and encrypted.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a media receiver, receiving input indicating criteria for choosing one or more media streams to transfer from the media receiver to a portable media playback device, the criteria explicitly selecting the one or more media streams;

after receiving the input, upon connection of the media receiver and the portable media playback device;

based on the criteria, automatically choosing, from a plurality of media streams stored at the media receiver, at least one explicitly selected media stream to transfer to the portable media playback device; and

automatically transferring the chosen at least one media stream from the media receiver to the portable media playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the input comprises receiving an explicit choice of the at least one media stream from a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria is based on user preferences.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to program information specified for the plurality of media streams.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the criteria specifies a title or a description of the at least one media stream.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to descriptive information specifying content lengths for the plurality of media streams.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to descriptive information specifying ratings for the plurality of media streams.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the media receiver downloading one or more of the at least one media stream from another device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the media receiver recording one or more of the at least one media stream from a broadcast source.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the media receiver is a server to which the portable media playback device connects over a network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the media receiver is a server at a cable head end.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the media receiver is a digital video recorder.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is a network connection facilitated by a service center.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is established by a user plugging the portable media playback device into the media receiver.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is an encrypted connection.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable media playback device is a battery driven device that operates independent of the media receiver.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable media playback device is configured to play back at least a particular media stream selected by a user via a user interface on the portable media playback device, from the at least one media stream.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the at least one media stream comprises causing the portable media playback device to store the at least one media stream in one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically transferring, with the at least one media stream, descriptive information about the at least one media stream.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically transferring, with the at least one media stream, rules that cause the portable media playback device to enforce a copy protection scheme with respect to the at least one media stream.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon a subsequent connection of the media receiver and the portable media playback device, the media receiver receiving operational information from the portable media playback device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the media receiver transferring the operational information to a server.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the media stream is encrypted.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at the media receiver maintaining a content database that describes the plurality of media streams, including the at least one media stream, wherein the content database includes the content information to which the criteria is compared;

wherein automatically choosing the at least one media stream comprises selecting which of the plurality of media streams described in the content database are to be transferred to the portable media playback device based on the criteria.

25. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:

at a media receiver, receiving input indicating criteria for choosing one or more media streams to transfer from the media receiver to a portable media playback device, the criteria explicitly selecting the one or more media streams;

after receiving the input, upon connection of the media receiver and the portable media playback device;

based on the criteria, automatically choosing, from a plurality of media streams stored at the media receiver, at least one explicitly selected media stream to transfer to the portable media playback device; and

automatically transferring the chosen at least one media stream from the media receiver to the portable media playback device.

26. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein receiving the input comprises receiving an explicit choice of the at least one media stream from a user.

27. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the criteria is based on user preferences.

28. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to program information specified for the plurality of media streams.

29. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the criteria specifies a title or a description of the at least one media stream.

30. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to descriptive information specifying content lengths for the plurality of media streams.

31. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to descriptive information specifying ratings for the plurality of media streams.

32. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause the media receiver downloading one or more of the at least one media stream from another device.

33. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause the media receiver recording one or more of the at least one media stream from a broadcast source.

34. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the media receiver is a server to which the portable media playback device connects over a network.

35. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the media receiver is a server at a cable head end.

36. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the media receiver is a digital video recorder.

37. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the connection is a network connection facilitated by a service center.

38. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the connection is established by a user plugging the portable media playback device into the media receiver.

39. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the connection is an encrypted connection.

40. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the portable media playback device is a battery driven device that operates independent of the media receiver.

41. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the portable media playback device is configured to play back at least a particular media stream selected by a user via a user interface on the portable media playback device, from the at least one media stream.

42. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein transferring the at least one media stream comprises causing the portable media playback device to store the at least one media stream in one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device.

43. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause automatically transferring, with the at least one media stream, descriptive information about the at least one media stream.

44. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause automatically transferring, with the at least one media stream, rules that cause the portable media playback device to enforce a copy protection scheme with respect to the at least one media stream.

45. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause, upon a subsequent connection of the media receiver and the portable media playback device, the media receiver receiving operational information from the portable media playback device.

46. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 45, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause the media receiver transferring the operational information to a server.

47. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the media stream is encrypted.

48. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 25, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

at the media receiver maintaining a content database that describes the plurality of media streams, including the at least one media stream, wherein the content database includes the content information to which the criteria is compared;

wherein automatically choosing the at least one media stream comprises selecting which of the plurality of media streams described in the content database are to be transferred to the portable media playback device based on the criteria.

49. An apparatus comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that receives input indicating criteria for choosing one or more media streams to transfer from the media receiver to a portable media playback device, the criteria explicitly selecting the one or more media streams;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that, after receiving the input, upon connection of the apparatus and the portable media playback device;

based on the criteria, automatically chooses, from a plurality of media streams stored at the media receiver, at least one explicitly selected media stream to transfer to the portable media playback device; and

automatically transfers the chosen at least one media stream from the apparatus to the portable media playback device.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein receiving the input comprises receiving an explicit choice of the at least one media stream from a user.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the criteria is based on user preferences.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to program information specified for the plurality of media streams.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the criteria specifies a title or a description of the at least one media stream.

54. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to descriptive information specifying content lengths for the plurality of media streams.

55. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein choosing the at least one media stream based on the criteria comprises comparing content information specified in the criteria to descriptive information specifying ratings for the plurality of media streams.

56. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that downloads one or more of the at least one media stream from another device.

57. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that records one or more of the at least one media stream from a broadcast source.

58. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the apparatus is a server to which the portable media playback device connects over a network.

59. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the apparatus is a server at a cable head end.

60. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the apparatus is a digital video recorder.

61. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the connection is a network connection facilitated by a service center.

62. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the connection is established by a user plugging the portable media playback device into the apparatus.

63. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the connection is an encrypted connection.

64. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the portable media playback device is a battery driven device that operates independent of the apparatus.

65. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the portable media playback device is configured to play back at least a particular media stream selected by a user via a user interface on the portable media playback device, from the at least one media stream.

66. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein transferring the at least one media stream comprises causing the portable media playback device to store the at least one media stream in one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device.

67. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that automatically transfers, with the at least one media stream, descriptive information about the at least one media stream.

68. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that automatically transfers, with the at least one media stream, rules that cause the portable media playback device to enforce a copy protection scheme with respect to the at least one media stream.

69. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that, upon a subsequent connection of the apparatus and the portable media playback device, receives operational information from the portable media playback device.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that transfers the operational information to a server.

71. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the media stream is encrypted.

72. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that;

at the media receiver, maintains a content database that describes the plurality of media streams, including the at least one media stream, wherein the content database includes the content information to which the criteria is compared;

wherein automatically choosing the at least one media stream comprises selecting which of the plurality of media streams described in the content database are to be transferred to the portable media playback device based on the criteria.

73. A method comprising:

upon connection of a media receiver and a portable media playback device, automatically transferring media content from the media receiver to the portable media playback device, the media content having been explicitly picked prior to the connection at the media receiver from media content available to the media receiver, the portable media playback device being a battery driven device that operates independent of the media receiver;

causing the media content transferred from the media receiver to be stored on one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device, the portable media playback device being configured to present at least particular media content selected via an interface on the portable media playback device, from the media content stored on the one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device and transferred from the media receiver.

74. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause performance of:

upon connection of a media receiver and a portable media playback device, automatically transferring media content from the media receiver to the portable media playback device, the media content having been explicitly picked prior to the connection at the media receiver from media content available to the media receiver, the portable media playback device being a battery driven device that operates independent of the media receiver;

causing the media content transferred from the media receiver to be stored on one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device, the portable media playback device being configured to present at least particular media content selected via an interface on the portable media playback device, from the media content stored on the one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device and transferred from the media receiver.

75. An apparatus comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that, upon connection of a media receiver and a portable media playback device, automatically transfers media content from the media receiver to the portable media playback device, the media content having been explicitly picked prior to the connection at the media receiver from media content available to the media receiver, the portable media playback device being a battery driven device that operates independent of the media receiver;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that causes the media content transferred from the media receiver to be stored on one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device, the portable media playback device being configured to present at least particular media content selected via an interface on the portable media playback device, from the media content stored on the one or more storage devices at the portable media playback device and transferred from the media receiver.