Methods and apparatus for client aggregation of television programming in a networked personal video recording system

• US 8,737,801 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Putterman, Daniel, Dietrich, Brad, Toeman, Jeremy, Freitas, Pedro, Legrand, Ludovic, McCaffrey, Shawn, Grimm, James, Novaes, Paul, Jin, Lijia
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhao, Daquan
• Application Number:
  US12/252,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,050 Days
• Field of Search: 386/212, 386/213, 386/214, 386/291, 386/297, 725/82, 725/91, 725/103, 725/114
• US Class Current: 386/212
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/47202 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• 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 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A networked personal video recording (“PVR”) system couples a plurality of clients to one or more PVR media servers over a network. One or more PVR media servers include television tuners to tune television signals. A storage medium buffers the television signals to implement PVR functionality. For example, the PVR media server records television programs for clients. Clients are assigned to television tuners, and the clients display television programs received at the assigned tuner. The network transfers the buffered television signals to the clients.

Claims

1. A method for aggregating television programming in a personal video recording (“

PVR”

) system, said method comprising the steps of;

transmitting a request from a client device for a list of television programming available from a media server on a network, wherein the media server is configured to;

receive a plurality of television signals;

tune to each of the plurality of television signals using a respective tuner of a plurality of tuners, wherein each of the plurality of tuners has an associated continuous ring buffer; and

store each of the plurality of television signals in a continuous ring buffer associated with a respective tuner of the signal;

receiving, from the media server, a list of television programming available through the media server; and

aggregating, at the client device, a list of television programming information available from the media server based on the received list.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving the stored television signals from the media server, so as to display television programs of said television signals at the client device.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting a request for a list of television programming is responsive to discovering the media server on said network.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming across a plurality of media servers.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming across at least one media server comprising a plurality of television tuners.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming across a plurality of television service providers.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said television programming comprises buffered live television.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said television programming comprises television programming previously stored on a storage medium.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system further comprises the step of determining whether television programming is unique from other television programming.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by channel.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by time slots.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by television shows.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by genre.

14. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by television show episodes.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by actors appearing in television shows.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform the step of:

transmitting a request from a client device for a list of television program available from a media server on a network, wherein the media server is configured to;

receive a plurality of television signals;

tune to each of the plurality of television signals using a respective tuner of a plurality of tuners, wherein each of the plurality of tuners has an associated continuous ring buffer; and

store each of the plurality of television signals in a continuous ring buffer associated with a respective tuner of the signal;

receiving, from the media server, a list of television programming available through the media server; and

aggregating, at the client device, a list of television programming information available from the media server based on the received list.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving the stored television signals from the media server, so as to display television programs of said television signals at said clients.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of transmitting a request for a list of television programming is responsive to discovering the media server.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming across a plurality of media servers.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming across at least one media server comprising a plurality of television tuners.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming across a plurality of television service providers.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein said television programming comprises buffered live television.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein said television programming comprises television programming previously stored on a storage medium.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of determining whether television programming is unique from other television programming.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by channel.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by time slots.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by television show.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by genre.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by television show episodes.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein the step of aggregating a list of television programming available on said PVR system comprises the step of aggregating a list of television programming by actors appearing in television shows.

31. A personal video recording (“

PVR”

) system comprising;

a client device configured to;

transmit a request from a client device for a list of television programming available from a media server on a network, wherein the media server is configured to;

receive a plurality of television signals;

tune to each of the television signals using a respective tuner of a plurality of tuners, wherein each of the plurality of tuners has an associated continuous ring buffer; and

store each of the plurality of television signals in a continuous ring buffer associated with a respective tuner of the signal;

receive, from the media server, a list of television programming available through the media server; and

aggregate, at the client device, a list of television programming information available from the media server based on the received list.