Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications

• US 8,887,184 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Klappert, Walter R., Nishimura, Akitaka, Iwanaga, Asahi, Yoshimoto, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US13/092,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/10, 725/15, 725/97, 725/106
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• 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 21/47202 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 : for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• 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 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications are provided. In particular, the systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications provided herein generally relate to enhancing remote access capabilities by providing algorithms and techniques for managing and correcting disparities that may be found between program listings data used by the interactive media guidance application and the remote access server.

Claims

1. A method for remotely accessing user equipment from a mobile user device having location positioning functionality, the method comprising:

receiving an action request from the mobile user device to schedule an action for a program to be performed by the user equipment, wherein the mobile user device utilizes first-location program information to generate the action request for the program, and the first-location program information is selected based, at least in part, on a location of the mobile user device at the time of the request;

in response to receiving the action request, detecting, using program information received in the action request, a disparity between the first-location program information for the program and second-location program information for the program, wherein the second-location program information is selected based, at least in part, on a location of the user equipment on which the action is to be scheduled, and the location of the user equipment is different from the location of the mobile user device at the time of the request;

in response to detecting the disparity, searching for alternate scheduling information for the program for use in scheduling the action; and

transmitting the alternate scheduling information to the user equipment for scheduling the action.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the mobile user device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a portable television system, and an automobile television system.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the mobile user device includes a global positioning system (GPS) to perform the location positioning functionality.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the location positioning functionality is performed utilizing a cellular telephone network.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the location positioning functionality is performed by an automobile navigation system.

6. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting the action request to a media service provider or to the user equipment.

7. The method defined in claim 6 wherein the media service provider is selected from the group consisting of:

a cable service provider, and a satellite service provider.

8. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of:

scheduling a recording of the program and setting a reminder for the program.

9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising scheduling the action using an interactive media guidance application implemented on the user equipment.

10. The method defined in claim 1 wherein:

the receiving an action request comprises the receiving an action request at a server remote from a user mobile device, and

the detecting, using program information received in the action request, a disparity comprises the detecting, at the server, using program information received in the action request, a disparity.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the action request comprises one or more interactive program guide functions executed on the set-top box.

12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising transmitting to the user equipment a channel and a start time for the program.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an option on the mobile user device to select the program from a plurality of programs scheduled for future presentation at the location of the mobile user device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the receiving comprises receiving the request by a first server that is associated with a first database from which the first-location program information is obtained, the method further comprising;

transmitting the request by the first server to a second server that is associated with a second database from which the second-location program information is obtained, wherein the detecting comprises detecting the disparity by the second server.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first database includes program information for a plurality of media service providers.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

maintaining a lookup table that cross-references program information from the first database with program information for a plurality of media service providers; and

wherein searching for alternate scheduling information comprises cross-referencing a program identifier associated with the request with a corresponding program identifier for each of the plurality media service providers in the lookup table.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second server is associated with a media service provider for the user equipment and the first server is associated with a remote access service provider different from the media service provider.

18. A system for remotely accessing user equipment from a mobile user device having location positioning functionality, the system comprising a processor configured to:

receive an action request from the mobile user device to schedule an action for a program to be performed by the user equipment, wherein the mobile user device utilizes first-location program information to generate the action request for the program, and the first-location program information is selected based, at least in part, on a location of the mobile user device at the time of the request;

in response to receiving the action request, detect, using program information received in the action request, a disparity between the first-location program information for the program and second-location program information for the program, wherein the second-location program information is selected based, at least in part, on a location of the user equipment on which the action is to be scheduled, and the location of the user equipment is different from the location of the mobile user device;

in response to detecting the disparity, search for alternate scheduling information for the program for use in scheduling the action; and

transmit the alternate scheduling information to the user equipment for scheduling the action.

19. The system defined in claim 18 wherein:

the mobile user device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a portable television system, and an automobile television system.

20. The system defined in claim 18 wherein:

the mobile user device includes a global positioning system (GPS) to perform the location positioning functionality.

21. The system defined in claim 18 wherein:

the location positioning functionality is performed utilizing a cellular telephone network.

22. The system defined in claim 18 wherein:

the location positioning functionality is performed by an automobile navigation system.

23. The system defined in claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the action request to a media service provider or to the user equipment.

24. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the media service provider is selected from the group consisting of:

a cable service provider, and a satellite service provider.

25. The system defined in claim 18 wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of:

scheduling a recording of the program, and setting a reminder for the program.

26. The system defined in claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured to schedule the action using an interactive media guidance application implemented on the user equipment.

27. The system defined in claim 18 wherein:

the receive an action request comprises the receive an action request at a server remote from the user mobile device, and

the detect, using program information received in the action request, a disparity comprises the detect, at the server, using program information received in the action request, a disparity.

28. The system defined in claim 27 wherein the action request comprises one or more interactive program guide functions executed on the set-top box.

29. The system defined in claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured to transmit to the user equipment a channel and a start time for the program.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to provide on the mobile user device an option to select the program from a plurality of programs scheduled for future presentation at the location of the mobile user device.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive the request from the mobile user device using a first server that is associated with a first database from which the first-location program information is obtained;

transmit the request by the first server to a second server; and

detect the disparity using the second server, wherein the second server is associated with a second database from which the second-location program information is obtained.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first database includes program information for a plurality of media service providers.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor in further configured to:

maintain a lookup table that cross-references program information from the first database with program information for a plurality of media service providers; and

search for alternate scheduling information by cross-referencing a program identifier associated with the request with a corresponding program identifier for each of the plurality media service providers in the lookup table.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the second server is associated with a media service provider for the user equipment and the first server is associated with a remote access service provider different from the media service provider.

35. A method for remotely accessing user equipment from a mobile user device having location positioning functionality, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server remote from the mobile user device, an action request from the mobile user device to schedule an action for a program to be performed by the user equipment, wherein the mobile user device utilizes first-location program information to generate the action request for the program, and the first-location program information is selected based, at least in part, on a location of the mobile user device at the time of the request;

transmitting the action request to the user equipment;

receiving, from the user equipment, second program information for the program at the server, wherein the second-location program information is selected by the user equipment based, at least in part, on a location of the user equipment on which the action is to be scheduled, and the location of the user equipment is different from the location of the mobile user device at the time of the request;

in response to receiving the action request, detecting, with the server, using program information received in the action request and using the second program information for the program received from the user equipment, a disparity between the first-location program information for the program and second-location program information for the program;

in response to detecting the disparity, searching, with the server, for alternate scheduling information for the program for use in scheduling the action; and

transmitting the alternate scheduling information to the user equipment for scheduling the action.