Remote control device with integrated display screen for controlling a digital video recorder

• US 8,823,880 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, Paul, Billmaier, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US13/664,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20130051752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/552, 348/14.05, 725/81, 386/248
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A remote control for a digital video recorder includes an integrated display screen configured to display a recording list including programs scheduled to be recorded.

Claims

1. A remote control device for a digital video recorder, the remote control device comprising:

a wireless receiver operable to receive a play list from the digital video recorder, the play list comprising television programs previously recorded by the digital video recorder;

a display screen integrated into the remote control device operable to display the play list to a user, the display screen comprising a touch screen interface operable to receive input by sensing user contact with the display screen;

a plurality of user controls operable to control the digital video recorder, at least one user control for receiving a selection of a television program from the play list displayed on the integrated display screen; and

a wireless transmitter operable to transmit an indication of the selected television program to initiate playback of the selected television program.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is further operable to receive an electronic program guide comprising a plurality of upcoming television programs and the display screen is operable to display the electronic program guide.

3. The remote control device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of user controls comprise a control operable to instruct the digital video recorder to record a currently selected program from the plurality of upcoming television programs displayed within the electronic program guide, and the wireless transmitter is operable to transmit an indication of the currently selected program to schedule recording of the currently selected program.

4. The remote control device of claim 2, wherein the electronic program guide further includes a plurality of currently available television programs, and the plurality of user controls comprise a control operable to instruct the digital video recorder to record a currently selected program from the plurality of currently available television programs, and the wireless transmitter is operable to transmit an indication of the currently selected program to initiate recording of the currently selected program.

5. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is further operable to receive a recording list including one or more television programs scheduled to be recorded by the digital video recorder;

and

wherein the display screen is to display the recording list to the user.

6. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein at least one user control is configured to be used to navigate an electronic program guide comprising a list of television programs, and wherein at least one control is configured for initiating transmission of a selected television program to a set top box comprising the digital video recorder.

7. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter and wireless receiver operate according to one of an Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard, a Bluetooth™

standard, or an infrared data association (IrDA) standard.

8. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter and wireless receiver comprise a wireless transceiver operable to communicate data over radio frequency.

9. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the wireless transceiver is operable to send and receive wireless signals to and from an intermediate device operable to interface with the digital video recorder via a network interface.

10. A system for digital video recording and playback comprising:

a digital video recorder comprising;

a network interface operable to transmit a play list comprising indications of television programs to a wireless control device for display thereon, and to receive a selection of a television program displayed in the play list on the wireless control device; and

a display subsystem operable to selectively process the received selection for display on display device; and

a remote control device for the digital video recorder comprising;

a wireless receiver operable to receive the play list from the digital video recorder;

an integrated display screen for displaying the play list to a user;

a plurality of user controls for controlling the digital video recorder, at least one user control for enabling selection by the user of a television program from the play list; and

a wireless transmitter for transmitting an indication of the selected television program to the digital video recorder to initiate display of the selected television program.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital video recorder further comprises:

an encoder for digitally encoding a television program in a compressed format;

a mass storage device for storing the encoded television program and electronic program guide data associated with the television program;

a decoder for decoding a television program retrieved from the mass storage device; and

wherein the display subsystem comprises a display controller operable to provide the decoded television program for display on an external device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital video recorder is integrated with a set top box (STB) for an interactive television system.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the integrated display screen is further configured to display the play list as an electronic program guide (EPG) configured as a grid having a plurality of rows and columns corresponding to channels and timeslots, the rows and columns forming a plurality of selectable elements corresponding to television programs.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one user control is configured to receive a user command to record a selected television program from the play list, and wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the user command to the digital video recorder.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the integrated display screen is further configured to display a recording list including television programs scheduled to be recorded by the digital video recorder.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one user control is configured to receive a user command to play back a previously recorded television program, and wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the user command.