Network video unit
First Claim
1. A method for using a computer network to transmit selected content from a content provider device, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the content provider device, a unique identifier of a digital video recording device (DVR);
registering, by the content provider device, the DVR wherein registering the DVR includes providing, by the content provider device, a login name and password to a user of the DVR;
storing, by the content provider device, the unique identifier of the DVR;
transmitting, by the content provider device to a server device over the computer network, the unique identifier of the DVR, wherein the server device maintains contact information associated with the DVR, wherein the contact information includes a first network address and first port of the DVR;
receiving, by the content provider device from a browser-enabled computing device separate from the DVR after registering the DVR, the login name and password associated with the user of the DVR and a request for the selected content, wherein the content provider device connects to the server device by the computer network,transmitting, by the content provider device to the server device over the computer network after the content provider device receives the login name and password associated with the user of the DVR and the request for the selected content from the browser-enabled computing device, the unique identifier of the DVR;
receiving, by the content provider device from the server device in response to the content provider device transmitting the unique identifier of the DVR to the server device, the contact information identifying the first network address and first port of the DVR; and
transmitting, by the content provider device over the computer network, the selected content to the first network address and first port of the DVR.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.
-
Citations
47 Claims
-
1. A method for using a computer network to transmit selected content from a content provider device, the method comprising:
-
receiving, by the content provider device, a unique identifier of a digital video recording device (DVR); registering, by the content provider device, the DVR wherein registering the DVR includes providing, by the content provider device, a login name and password to a user of the DVR; storing, by the content provider device, the unique identifier of the DVR; transmitting, by the content provider device to a server device over the computer network, the unique identifier of the DVR, wherein the server device maintains contact information associated with the DVR, wherein the contact information includes a first network address and first port of the DVR; receiving, by the content provider device from a browser-enabled computing device separate from the DVR after registering the DVR, the login name and password associated with the user of the DVR and a request for the selected content, wherein the content provider device connects to the server device by the computer network, transmitting, by the content provider device to the server device over the computer network after the content provider device receives the login name and password associated with the user of the DVR and the request for the selected content from the browser-enabled computing device, the unique identifier of the DVR; receiving, by the content provider device from the server device in response to the content provider device transmitting the unique identifier of the DVR to the server device, the contact information identifying the first network address and first port of the DVR; and transmitting, by the content provider device over the computer network, the selected content to the first network address and first port of the DVR. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for transmitting selected content from a content provider device through a computer network, the method comprising:
-
receiving, by the content provider device, a unique identifier of a digital video recording device (DVR); registering, by the content provider device, the DVR, wherein registering the DVR includes providing, by the content provider device, a login name and password to a user of the DVR; storing, by the content provider device, the unique identifier of the DVR; transmitting, by the content provider device to a server device over the computer network, the unique identifier of the DVR, wherein the server device maintains contact information associated with the DVR, wherein the contact information includes a first network address and first port of the DVR; receiving, by the content provider device from a browser-enabled computing device separate from the DVR after registering the DVR, the login name and password associated with the user of the DVR and a request for the selected content, wherein the content provider device connects to the server device by the computer network; transmitting, by the content provider device to the server device over the computer network after the content provider device receives the login name and password associated with the user of the DVR and the request for the selected content from the browser-enabled computing device, the unique identifier of the DVR; receiving, by the content provider device from the server device in response to the content provider transmitting the unique identifier of the DVR to the server device, the contact information identifying the first network address and first port of the DVR; transmitting, by the content provider device to the first network address and first port of DVR, a set of content identification information adapted for automatically populating a content guide with an entry that identifies the selected content; and transmitting, by the content provider over the computer network, the selected content to the first network address and first port of the DVR. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A content provider device that is operable to transmit selected content through a computer network, the content provider device comprising:
-
a registration module that comprises instructions to obtain registration information for registration of a digital video recorder (DVR), wherein the registration information includes a unique identifier of the DVR, wherein the content provider device stores the unique identifier of the DVR, and wherein registration of the DVR includes associating a login name and password with a user of the DVR, wherein the content provider device is configured to receive, from a browser-enabled computing device separate from the DVR after registering the DVR, the login name and password associated with the user of the DVR and a request for the selected content; a delivery information acquisition module comprising instructions to provide a server device with the unique identifier of the DVR so as to obtain, from the server device, contact information including a first network address and first port of the DVR; and a download fulfillment module that communicates with the registration module and that is operable to (i) transmit, to the first network address and first port of the DVR, a set of content identification information adapted for automatic population of a content guide with an entry that identifies the selected content, and (ii) cause the selected content to be transmitted, via the computer network, to the first network address and first port of the DVR. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for updating content guides to include data associated with a content provider device, the method comprising:
-
a server maintaining a unique identifier of a digital video recorder (DVR) and contact information associated with the unique identifier of the DVR, the contact information identifying a first network address and first port of the DVR, wherein the DVR can receive content via the first network address and the first port, and wherein the DVR comprises a content guide for concurrent display of a content area and a category area, wherein the category area displays a list of multiple selectable categories, and wherein selection of a category from the category area updates the content area to list content pertaining to the selected category; the server receiving, through a computer network and from a content provider device, a request for the server to approve the content provider device as a provider of content to a plurality of content receiving devices, wherein the plurality of content receiving devices comprises the DVR; the server approving the content provider device as a tier 1 content provider of content to the plurality of content receiving devices or as a tier 2 content provider of content to the plurality of content receiving devices; and the server maintaining a list of approved tier 2 content providers, the list of approved tier 2 content providers including (i) a URL for connecting to the content provider device, and (ii) a content provider label associated with the content provider device, wherein the content provider label is selected from the group consisting of a name of the content provider device and a logo associated with the content provider device; wherein, if the server approved the content provider device as a tier 1 content provider, then the server transmitting the URL for connecting to the content provider device and the content provider label associated with the content provider device to the DVR through the computer network and the DVR automatically updating the content guide of the DVR with the URL for connecting to the content provider device and the category area of the content guide of the DVR with the content provider label associated with the content provider device as a selectable category under which content of the content provider device is categorized, wherein, if the server approved the content provider device as a tier 2 content provider, the server thereafter transmits the list of approved tier 2 content provider devices to the DVR, and wherein if the content provider device is selected from the list of approved tier 2 content provider devices transmitted to the DVR, then the DVR updating the content guide of the DVR with the URL for connecting to the content provider device and the category area of the content guide of the DVR with the content provider label associated with the content provider device as a selectable category under which content of the content provider device is categorized. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a computer processor, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
-
a server maintaining a unique identifier of a digital video recorder (DVR) and contact information associated with the unique identifier of the DVR, the contact information identifying a first network address and first port of the DVR, wherein the DVR can receive content via the first network address and first port, and wherein the DVR comprises a content guide for concurrent display of a content area and a category area, wherein the category area displays a list of multiple selectable categories, and wherein selection of a category from the category area updates the content area to list content pertaining to the selected category; the server receiving, through a computer network and from a content provider device, a request for the server to approve the content provider device as a provider of content to a plurality of content receiving devices, wherein the plurality of content receiving devices comprises the DVR; the server approving the content provider device as a tier 1 content provider of content to the plurality of content receiving devices or as a tier 2 content provider of content to the plurality of content receiving devices; and the server maintaining a list of approved tier 2 content providers, the list of approved tier 2 content providers including (i) a URL for connecting to the content provider device, and (ii) a content provider label associated with the content provider device, wherein the content provider label is selected from the group consisting of a name of the content provider device and a logo associated with the content provider device; wherein, if the server approved the content provider device as a tier 1 content provider, then the server transmitting the URL for connecting to the content provider device and the content provider label associated with the content provider device to the DVR through the computer network and the DVR automatically updating the content guide of the DVR with the URL for connecting to the content provider device and the category area of the content guide of the DVR with the content provider label associated with the content provider device as a selectable category under which content of the content provider device is categorized, wherein, if the server approved the content provider device as a tier 2 content provider, the server thereafter transmits the list of approved tier 2 content provider devices to the DVR, and wherein if the content provider device is selected from the list of approved tier 2 content provider devices transmitted to the DVR, then the DVR updating the content guide of the DVR with the URL for connecting to the content provider device and the category area of the content guide of the DVR with the content provider label associated with the content provider device as a selectable category under which content of the content provider device is categorized. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. A method for receiving selected content at a receiving device via a computer network, the method comprising:
-
outputting, by a graphics module of the receiving device to a display, signals for displaying a first content guide and a second content guide, wherein the first content guide identifies content that is available for recording at the receiving device and content that will become available for recording at the receiving device, wherein the second content guide identifies content recorded by the receiving device, content selected for recording by the receiving device, a plurality of content categories, and one or more entries that identify content associated with a currently-selected content category selected from the plurality of content categories, and wherein, when a given content category is the currently-selected content category, the entry that identifies the selected content is displayable only if the entry was categorized into the given content category; transmitting, from the receiving device, an identifier of the receiving device and a request for the selected content, wherein the selected content is selected from the first content guide; in response to the receiving device transmitting the identifier of the receiving device and the request for the selected content, the receiving device receiving (i) a request to download the selected content, (ii) data indicating a size of the selected content, (iii) a set of content identification information for populating the second content guide with an entry that identifies the selected content, and (iv) content provider identification data; adding the content provider identification data as a new category into at least one of the first content guide at the receiving device and the second content guide at the receiving device; populating, by the receiving device, the entry that identifies the selected content into the second content guide; outputting, by the graphics module of the receiving device, signals for displaying the second content guide with the entry that identifies the selected content populated into the second content guide by the receiving device; the receiving device determining that sufficient storage is available for the selected content and allocating a portion of the storage for storing the selected content; and the receiving device transmitting a communication to schedule downloading of the selected content and thereafter the receiving device receiving the selected content via the computer network; and the receiving device converting the selected content into a format compatible with a display device and providing the display device with the selected content converted into the format compatible with the display device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. An apparatus that is operable to receive selected content via a computer network, the apparatus comprising:
-
a first content guide that identifies content that is available for recording at the apparatus and content that will become available for recording at the apparatus; a second content guide that identifies content recorded at the apparatus, content selected for recording at the apparatus, a plurality of content categories, and one or more entries that identify content associated with a currently-selected content category selected from the plurality of content categories, wherein, when a given content category is the currently-selected content category, the entry that identifies the selected content is displayable only if the entry was categorized into the given content category; a graphics module to output to a display device signals for display the first content guide and the second content guide; a content identification module that transmits an identifier of the apparatus and a request for the selected content to the content provider device, wherein the selected content is selected from the first content guide; a guide module that receives from the content provider device, in response to the content identification module transmitting the identifier of the apparatus and the request for the selected content, (i) a request to download the selected content, (ii) data indicating a size of the selected content, (iii) a set of content identification information for populating the second content guide with an entry that identifies the selected content, and (iv) content provider identification data, wherein the guide module adds the content provider identification data as a new category into at least one of the first content guide at the apparatus and the second content guide at the apparatus; a content transfer module that determines that sufficient storage is available for the selected content, allocates a portion of the storage for storage of the selected content, and communicates with the content provider device to schedule downloading of the selected content, and thereafter receive the selected content from the content provider device through the computer network, and an AV output module to convert the selected content into a format compatible with a display device and to provide the display device with the selected content converted into the format compatible with the display device, wherein the apparatus populates the entry that identifies the selected content into the second content guide, and wherein the graphics module outputs signals for displaying the second content guide with the entry that identifies the selected content populated into the second content guide by the receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a computer processor, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
-
outputting, by a graphics module of the receiving device to a display, signals for displaying a first content guide and a second content guide, wherein the first content guide identifies content that is available for recording at the receiving device and content that will become available for recording at the receiving device, wherein the second content guide identifies content recorded by the receiving device, content selected for recording by the receiving device, a plurality of content categories, and one or more entries that identify content associated with a currently-selected content category selected from the plurality of content categories, and wherein, when a given content category is the currently-selected content category, the entry that identifies the selected content is displayable only if the entry was categorized into the given content category; transmitting from the receiving device, an identifier of the receiving device and a request for the selected content, wherein the selected content is selected from the first content guide; in response to the receiving device transmitting the identifier of the receiving device and the request for the selected content, the receiving device receiving (i) a request to download the selected content, (ii) data indicating a size of the selected content, (iii) a set of content identification information for populating the second content guide with an entry that identifies the selected content, and (iv) content provider identification data; adding the content provider identification data as a new category into at least one of the first content guide at the receiving device and the second content guide at the receiving device; populating, by the receiving device, the entry that identifies the selected content into the second content guide; outputting, by the graphics module of the receiving device, signals for displaying the second content guide with the entry that identifies the selected content populated into the second content guide by the receiving device; the receiving device determining that sufficient storage is available for the selected content and allocating a portion of the storage for storing the selected content; and the receiving device transmitting a communication to schedule downloading of the selected content and thereafter the receiving device receiving the selected content via a computer network; and the receiving device converting the selected content into a format compatible with a display device and providing the display device with the selected content converted into the format compatible with the display device. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
-
Specification