Systems and methods for remotely controlling a media server via a network
First Claim
1. A method executable by a host communicating via a network with a client and with a media server that is configured to process media content, the method comprising:
- receiving a first message from the client at the host via the network;
in response to the first message, establishing a session between the host and the media server via the network, wherein the session is initiated by the host contacting the media server via a message server that maintains a persistent connection to the media server that was previously established prior to the host receiving the first message from the client, and wherein the media server responds to a message received from the message server via the previously-established persistent connection by establishing the session as an outgoing connection from the media server to the host;
receiving information from the media server via the session, wherein the information describes media content processed at the media server;
providing the information about the media content processed at the media server from the host to the client via the network;
receiving an instruction from the client at the host to control the media server; and
directing the media server from the host to execute the instruction received from the client via the session established as an outgoing connection from the media server to the host.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for remotely controlling a personal or digital video recorder (PVR/DVR), a set top box (STB), a placeshifting device, or any other media server. A communications session is established between a server host and the media server in response to a connection request received from the client. Information about the content processed at the media server is received via the session and provided to the client. In response to subsequent instructions received from the client, the media server can be controlled, or other actions can be taken, by providing directions to the media server from the host via the communications session. Additional or alternate features may be provided as desired.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method executable by a host communicating via a network with a client and with a media server that is configured to process media content, the method comprising:
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receiving a first message from the client at the host via the network; in response to the first message, establishing a session between the host and the media server via the network, wherein the session is initiated by the host contacting the media server via a message server that maintains a persistent connection to the media server that was previously established prior to the host receiving the first message from the client, and wherein the media server responds to a message received from the message server via the previously-established persistent connection by establishing the session as an outgoing connection from the media server to the host; receiving information from the media server via the session, wherein the information describes media content processed at the media server; providing the information about the media content processed at the media server from the host to the client via the network; receiving an instruction from the client at the host to control the media server; and directing the media server from the host to execute the instruction received from the client via the session established as an outgoing connection from the media server to the host. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system that communicates via a network with a client and with a media server that is configured to process media content, the system comprising:
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a message server configured to communicate with the media server via the network using a pre-existing persistent connection that was established as an outgoing connection from the media server to the message server; and a guide server that is separate from the message server, wherein the guide server is configured to receive a request for a connection to the media server from the client via the network, to direct the message server to contact the media server via the pre-existing persistent connection in response to the request so that the media server is directed to establish an outgoing session from the media server to the guide server via the network, to receive information about the media content via the session, to provide the information about the media content to the client, to receive an instruction from the client to control the media server, and, in response to the instruction received from the client, to direct the media server via the session to execute the instruction, wherein the media server establishes the pre-existing persistent connection to the message server before the guide server receives the request from the client and wherein the outgoing session from the media server to the guide server is established in response to the request received from the client. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method executable by a host communicating via a network with a client and with a media recorder having stored media content, wherein the media recorder is separated from the client and the host by a firewall, the method comprising:
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receiving a first message from the client at the host via the network, wherein the first message identifies the media recorder; in response to the first message, transmitting a second message from the host to a message server having a pre-existing connection with the identified media recorder via the network, the pre-existing connection being established as an outgoing connection through the firewall from the identified media recorder to the message server before the host receives the first message from the client that persists over time, the second message initiating an instruction to the media recorder to establish a session with the host via the network, wherein the session is established as an outgoing session from the media recorder to the host through the firewall; providing program guide information from the host to the client via the network; receiving an instruction to record a program identified in the program guide information from the client at the host; and in response to receiving the instruction at the host, directing the media recorder to record the identified program via the session established from the media recorder to the host through the firewall. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification