Real-time DVR programming

• US 9,113,195 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schnurr, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): KURIEN, CHRISTEN A
• Application Number:
  US12/347,897
• Time in Patent Office: 2,421 Days
• Field of Search: 725/54
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/237 Communication with additional data server
• 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 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• 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 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts

Abstract

Techniques for real-time DVR programming employ secure instant message protocol in a DVR environment. An embodiment sends an instant message to the DVR which causes the DVR to open a new secure connection with the service provider for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider. Another embodiment uses an already established connection with an instant message server for synchronizing data on the DVR with updated programming data from the service provider.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a server having a first storage device, a first instant message from a user via a remote device in real-time, the first instant message containing a request for a programming event for a media recording device having a second storage device;

in response to receiving the first instant message, performing at the server;

updating on the first storage device, data designated to be received by the media recording device in a next synchronization between the server and the media recording device with the request for the programming event; and

delaying, until the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device, sending the updated data on the first storage device designated to be received by the media recording device to the media recording device;

sending an instant message, by the server to the media recording device, to inform the media recording device to perform a synchronization with the updated data on the first storage device;

receiving at the server, from the media recording device, an initiation of the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device, the initiation of the next synchronization being later than the first instant message; and

in response to receiving the initiation of the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device from the media recording device, sending by the server the data designated to be received by the media recording device on the first storage device to the media recording device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote device is any of:

a personal computer, a portable device, or a second server.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming event is to add, delete, or modify any of:

a media content;

a program to record;

a season pass;

a wishlist;

or

a recorded program.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media recording device is notified with a second instant message that comprises instructions that cause the media recording device to open a secure connection with the server, to use the secure connection for synchronizing data, and to close the secure connection when synchronizing data has completed.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the server, the remote device, and the media recording device each maintain a connection to an instant message server.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the media recording device is notified with a second instant message that comprises instructions that cause the media recording device to use a connection to an instant message server for synchronizing data.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein any of the server, the remote device, or the media recording device automatically reconnects to the instant message server whenever the connection to the instant message server is dropped.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first instant message is received via an instant message server and wherein the media recording device is notified with a second instant message sent via the instant message server.

9. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the media recording device synchronizes data using a combination of synchronizing via polling and synchronizing via instant messages.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver for receiving, at a server having a first storage device, a first instant message from a user via a remote device in real-time, the first instant message containing a request for a programming event for a media recording device having a second storage device;

an updating processor for, in response to receiving the first instant message, performing at the server;

updating on the first storage device, data designated to be received by the media recording device in a next synchronization between the server and the media recording device with the request for the programming event; and

delaying, until the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device, sending the updated data on the first storage device designated to be received by the media recording device to the media recording device;

a message sender that sends an instant message, by the server to the media recording device, to inform the media recording device to perform a synchronization with the updated data on the first storage device;

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive at the server, from the media recording device, an initiation of the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device, the initiation of the next synchronization being later than the first instant message; and

a sending processor for sending, by the server, the data designated to be received by the media recording device on the first storage device to the media recording device, in response to receiving the initiation of the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device from the media recording device.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the remote device is any of:

a personal computer, a portable device, or a second server.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the programming event is to add, delete, or modify any of:

a media content;

a program to record;

a season pass;

a wishlist;

or

a recorded program.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the media recording device is notified with a second instant message that comprises instructions that cause the media recording device to open a secure connection with the server, to use the secure connection for synchronizing data, and to close the secure connection when synchronizing data has completed.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the server, the remote device, and the media recording device are each configured to maintain a connection to an instant message server.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the media recording device is notified with a second instant message that comprises instructions that cause the media recording device to use a connection to an instant message server for synchronizing data.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein any of the server, the remote device, or the media recording device automatically reconnects to the instant message server whenever the connection to the instant message server is dropped.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the first instant message is received via an instant message server and wherein the media recording device is notified with a second instant message sent via the instant message server.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the media recording device is configured to synchronize data using a combination of synchronizing via polling and synchronizing via instant messages.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving, at a server having a first storage device, a first instant message from a user via a remote device in real-time, the first instant message containing a request for a programming event for a media recording device having a second storage device;

in response to receiving the first instant message, performing at the server;

updating on the first storage device, data designated to be received by the media recording device in a next synchronization between the server and the media recording device with the request for the programming event; and

delaying, until the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device, sending the updated data on the first storage device designated to be received by the media recording device to the media recording device;

sending an instant message, by the server to the media recording device, to inform the media recording device to perform a synchronization with the updated data on the first storage device;

receiving at the server, from the media recording device, an initiation of the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device, the initiation of the next synchronization being later than the first instant message; and

in response to receiving the initiation of the next synchronization between the server and the media recording device from the media recording device, sending by the server the data designated to be received by the media recording device on the first storage device to the media recording device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the remote device is any of:

a personal computer, a portable device;

or a second server.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the programming event is to add, delete, or modify any of:

a media content;

a program to record;

a season pass;

a wishlist;

or

a recorded program.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the media recording device is notified with a second instant message that comprises instructions that cause the media recording device to open a secure connection with the server, to use the secure connection for synchronizing data, and to close the secure connection when synchronizing data has completed.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for the server, the remote device, and the media recording device each to maintain a connection to an instant message server.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the media recording device is notified with a second instant message that comprises instructions that cause the media recording device to use a connection to an instant message server for synchronizing data.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for any of the server, the remote device, or the media recording device to reconnect automatically to the instant message server whenever the connection to the instant message server is dropped.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for the first instant message to be received via an instant message server and for the media recording device to be notified with a second instant message sent via the instant message server.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for the media recording device to synchronize data using a combination of synchronizing via polling and synchronizing via instant messages.