Systems and methods for relocating media

• US 8,973,069 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomas, William L., Ellis, Michael D., Easterbrook, Kevin B., Reichardt, M. Scott, Knee, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US14/048,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20140040938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 725/87, 725/91, 725/97, 725/25
• US Class Current: 725/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• 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 21/278 Content descriptor database or directory service for end-user access details of content or meta data based information retrieval of video data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/42204 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• 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 21/47217 : 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 21/4751 : for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 : for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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 5/85 : on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction

Abstract

A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files.

Claims

1. A method for use in an interactive media guide system, the method comprising:

receiving a first indication from a first user equipment device to pause a media content that is displayed on the first user equipment device;

in response to receiving the first indication, storing position information that is indicative of a pause point in the media content at which the media content was paused at the first user equipment device;

receiving a second indication from a second user equipment device to view the media content on the second user equipment device, wherein the media content was paused on the first user equipment device;

in response to receiving the second indication, generating for simultaneous display on the second user equipment device;

a first option that causes, responsive user selection, the second user equipment device to resume display of the media content based on the pause point; and

a second option that causes, responsive to user selection, the second user equipment device to display the media content from a point in the media content that is prior to the pause point;

determining whether the first option or the second option was selected at the second user equipment device; and

generating an instruction to display the media content at the second user equipment device from a viewing point in the media content, wherein the viewing point is based on the determining.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the first option was selected at the second user equipment device, determining the viewing point in the media content based on the stored position information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the second option was selected at the second user equipment device, determining that the viewing point in the media content is a point that is prior to the pause point.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the viewing point in the media content is selected by the user using the second equipment device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating for display a relocate option on the first user equipment device that causes, responsive to user selection, the media content that was paused at the first user equipment device to be displayed on the second user equipment device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a login option to be displayed to the user using the second user equipment device that allows the user to log into the system.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

in response to receiving selection of the login option by the user using the second user equipment device, identifying information associated with the user who logged into the system.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

in response to the identifying, retrieving the stored position information, wherein the stored position information is associated with the identified information associated with the user who logged into the system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selection of the second option causes, responsive to user selection, the second user equipment device to display the media content from the beginning of the media content.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating for display, on the second user equipment device, a third option that causes, responsive to user selection, the second user equipment device to display the media content from a point in the media content that is after the pause point, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether the third option was selected at the second user equipment device.

11. An interactive media content guide system, the system comprising a server configured to:

receive a first indication from a first user equipment device to pause a media content that is displayed on the first user equipment device;

in response to receiving the first indication, store position information that is indicative of a pause point in the media content at which the media content was paused at the first user equipment device;

receive a second indication from a second user equipment device to view the media content on the second user equipment device, wherein the media content was paused on the first user equipment device;

in response to receiving the second indication, generate for simultaneous display on the second user equipment device;

a first option that causes, responsive to user selection, the second user equipment device to resume display of the media content based on the pause point; and

a second option that causes, responsive to user selection, the second user equipment device to display the media content from a point in the media content that is prior to the pause point;

determine whether the first option or the second option was selected at the second user equipment device; and

generate an instruction to display the media content at the second user equipment device from a viewing point in the media content, wherein the viewing point is based on the determining.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured to:

in response to determining that the first option was selected at the second user equipment device, determine the viewing point in the media content based on the stored position information.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured to:

in response to determining that the second option was selected at the second user equipment device, determine that the viewing point in the media content is a point that is prior to the pause point.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the viewing point in the media content is selected by the user using the second equipment device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured to:

generate for display a relocate option on the first user equipment device that causes, responsive to user selection, the media content that was paused on the first user equipment device to be displayed on the second user equipment device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured to:

generate a login option to be displayed to the user using the second user equipment device that allows the user to log into the system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the server is further configured to:

in response to receiving selection of the login option by the user using the second user equipment device, identify information associated with the user who logged into the system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the server is further configured to:

in response to the identifying, retrieve the stored position information, wherein the stored position information is associated with the identified information associated with the user who logged into the system.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein selection of the second option causes, responsive to user selection, the second equipment device to display the media content from the beginning of the media content.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the server is further configured to:

generate for display, on the second user equipment device, a third option that causes, responsive to user selection, the second user equipment device to display the media content from a point in the media content that is after the pause point, wherein the determining further comprises determining whether the third option was selected at the second user equipment device.