One click web records

• US 9,171,851 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Matichuk, Chris E, Rosenberg, Scott A
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOUDHURY, AZIZUL Q
• Application Number:
  US09/972,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 5,136 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/34 the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement B60P3/38 takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/02 Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/027 Remotely controlled remote control systems in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2547 Third Party Billing, e.g. billing of advertiser
• 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 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• 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 21/4753 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 : by creating hot-spots
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• 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 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 : Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 41/30 : characterised by the memory core region
• CPC Class Codes: H10B 69/00 : Erasable-and-programmable ROM [EPROM] devices not provided for in groups H10B41/00 - H10B63/00, e.g. ultraviolet erasable-and-programmable ROM [UVEPROM] devices

Abstract

A method, system, computer medium, and other embodiments for integrating unrelated web services with stand-alone media-based devices are provided. Users can access and control the media-based device conveniently with a web-browser through various portals on the Internet. In an embodiment directed to a single web session, users program the media-based device by clicking on one or more hyperlinks or hypertexts in the form of advertisements of upcoming broadcasts. The advertisements may be web-hosted or sponsored by web portals.

Claims

1. A method of programming a media-based device over a network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a data integration system, a first request for information about a first broadcast program and a second request for recording a second broadcast program at a media-based device;

sending a first response to the first request from the data integration system, the first response comprising the information for the first broadcast program;

in response to the second request, storing the second request in a database of the data integration system;

receiving a query for pending transactions for a plurality of media-based devices at the database, wherein the plurality of media-based devices includes the media-based device, wherein the query is part of a series of queries sent to the data base, and wherein at least some queries in the series of queries are sent at regular intervals in time; and

in response to the query for pending transactions, sending a list of pending transactions that includes the second request from the database to at least program the media-based device to record the second broadcast program.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second request comprises a unit serial number for the media-based device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the first request for information about the first broadcast program and the second request for recording the second broadcast program comprises receiving the second request in response to selection of a link, and wherein the selection of the link utilizes one click on the link.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

allowing a second website to monitor a count of a number of times the link is selected; and

enabling periodically collection of revenue based on the count.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the revenue comprises a percentage of advertising revenue associated with the information about the broadcast program.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the media-based device comprises a video replay system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the first request for information about the first broadcast program and the second request for recording the second broadcast program comprises:

identifying a user associated with the first request and the second request; and

authenticating the user.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein identifying the user associated with the first request and the second request comprises:

identifying a cookie associated with the user; and

enabling the cookie to be forwarded to the media-based device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cookie is extracted from a client.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cookie is extracted from a computer hosting a first website.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein identifying the user associated with the first request and the second request comprises:

prompting for identification data.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein identifying the user associated with the first request and the second request comprises:

enabling determination of partner identification information.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

processing the second request so to record the second broadcast program.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein processing the second request so to record the second broadcast program further comprises:

detecting whether a previous request corresponding to the second request had been made.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information about the first broadcast program comprises program guide information about the first broadcast program.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first broadcast program comprises a television program.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first broadcast program comprises a cable program.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first broadcast program comprises a pay-per-view program.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first broadcast program comprises a satellite-based program.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the query for pending transactions, at least one pending transaction is converted to an eXtended Markup Language (XML) format.

21. A data integration system comprising a database,

wherein the data integration system is configured for:

receiving a first request for information about a first broadcast program and a second request for recording a second broadcast program at a media-based device;

sending a first response to the first request, the first response comprising the information for the first broadcast program;

in response to the second request, storing the second request in the database of the data integration system;

receiving a query for pending transactions for a plurality of media-based devices at the database, wherein the plurality of media-based devices includes the media-based device, wherein the query is part of a series of queries sent to the data base, and wherein at least some queries in the series of queries are sent at regular intervals in time; and

in response to the query for pending transactions, sending a list of pending transactions that includes the second request from the database to at least program the media-based device to record the second broadcast program.

22. The data integration system of claim 21, wherein the second request comprises a unit serial number for the media-based device.

23. The data integration system of claim 21, wherein receiving the first request for information about the first broadcast program and the second request for recording the second broadcast program comprises receiving the second request in response to selection of a link, and wherein the selection of the link utilizes one click on the link.

24. The data integration system of claim 23, wherein the data integration system is further configured for:

allowing a second website to monitor a count of a number of times the link is selected; and

enabling periodically collection of revenue based on the count.

25. The data integration system of claim 24, wherein the revenue comprises a percentage of advertising revenue associated with the information about the broadcast program.

26. The data integration system of claim 21, wherein receiving the first request for information about the first broadcast program and the second request for recording the second broadcast program comprises:

identifying a user associated with the first request and the second request; and

authenticating the user.

27. The data integration system of claim 26, wherein identifying the user associated with the first request and the second request comprises:

identifying a cookie associated with the user; and

enabling the cookie to be forwarded to the media-based device.

28. The data integration system of claim 27, wherein the cookie is extracted from a client.

29. The data integration system of claim 27, wherein the cookie is extracted from a computer hosting a first website.

30. The data integration system of claim 26, wherein identifying the user associated with the first request and the second request comprises:

prompting for identification data.

31. The data integration system of claim 26, wherein identifying the user associated with the first request and the second request comprises:

enabling determination of partner identification information.

32. The data integration system of claim 21, wherein the data integration system is further configured for:

processing the second request so to record the second broadcast program.

33. The data integration system of claim 32, wherein processing the second request so to record the second broadcast program further comprises:

detecting whether a previous request corresponding to the second request had been made.

34. The data integration system of claim 21, wherein the information about the first broadcast program comprises program guide information about the first broadcast program.

35. The data integration system of claim 34, wherein the first broadcast program comprises a television program.

36. The data integration system of claim 34, wherein the first broadcast program comprises a cable program.

37. The data integration system of claim 34, wherein the first broadcast program comprises a pay-per-view program.

38. The data integration system of claim 34, wherein the first broadcast program comprises a satellite-based program.

39. The data integration system of claim 21, wherein in response to the query for pending transactions, at least one pending transaction is converted to an eXtended Markup Language (XML) format.

40. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor, and

a non-transitory computer readable medium storing at least a program product that activates the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

receiving a first request for information about a first broadcast program and a second request for recording a second broadcast program at a media-based device;

sending a first response to the first request from the data integration system, the first response comprising the information for the first broadcast program;

in response to the second request, storing the second request;

receiving a query for pending transactions for a plurality of media-based devices at the database, wherein the plurality of media-based devices includes the media-based device, wherein the query is part of a series of queries sent to the data base, and wherein at least some queries in the series of queries are sent at regular intervals in time; and

in response to the query for pending transactions, sending a list of pending transactions that includes the second request to at least program the media-based device to record the second broadcast program.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein in response to the query for pending transactions, at least one pending transaction is converted to an eXtended Markup Language (XML) format.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the media-based device comprises a digital video recorder.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the second request comprises a unit serial number for the media-based device.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein receiving the first request for information about the first broadcast program and the second request for recording the second broadcast program comprises receiving the second request in response to selection of a link, and wherein the selection of the link utilizes one click on the link.