Systems and methods for providing interactive media guidance on a wireless communications device

• US 9,405,710 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lau, Erwin, Tam, Terry, Chiu, Kay
• Primary Examiner(s): WIENER, ERIC A
• Application Number:
  US12/495,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20100333032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,590 Days
• Field of Search: 715/835, 455/566
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/10 Program control for peripheral devices G06F13/14 - G06F13/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• 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 21/42204 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• 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 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control interactive media guidance applications running on user equipment. The wireless communications device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the interactive media guidance or other applications. The wireless communications device may function as a remote controller for user equipment.

Claims

1. A method for controlling user equipment using a wireless communications device, comprising:

receiving user input on the wireless communications device to create at least one media guidance application command for causing a user equipment device to modify playback of a media content currently being generated for display at the user equipment device, wherein the wireless communications device includes storage;

transmitting, separately from a transmission of the at least one media guidance application command, a signal from the wireless communications device to the user equipment device;

determining whether a response to the signal is received by the wireless communications device from the user equipment device;

determining, at the wireless communication device, whether the user equipment device is able to receive the at least one media guidance application command based on whether the response to the signal is received by the wireless communications device;

in response to determining that the user equipment device is not able to receive the at least one media guidance application command;

saving the at least one media guidance application command on the storage of the wireless communications device;

transmitting the at least one media guidance application command from the storage of the wireless communications device to the user equipment device after the user equipment device becomes accessible; and

generating for display an indication, on the wireless communications device, that the at least one media guidance application command has been successfully received by the user equipment device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the user equipment device is able to receive the at least one media guidance application command, transmitting the at least one media guidance application command to the user equipment device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user equipment device is able to receive the at least one media guidance application command comprises establishing a communication session with the user equipment device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user equipment device is able to receive the at least one media guidance application command comprises pinging the user equipment device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one media guidance application command is selected from the group consisting of setting a favorite channel, setting a reminder, setting a parental lock, scheduling a recording, and performing a search for media content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input comprises receiving input via a touch sensitive screen on the wireless communications device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating for display a confirmation screen on the wireless communications device after the at least one media guidance application command is transmitted to the user equipment device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one or more of an acknowledgement code, display screen, and search results on the wireless communications device after the user equipment device executes the at least one media guidance application command.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein saving the at least one media guidance application command comprises saving the at least one media guidance application command to a command queue.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the at least one media guidance application command comprises transmitting a batch command to the user equipment device, wherein the batch command comprises one or more commands saved to the command queue.

11. A system for controlling user equipment using a wireless communications device, comprising:

a wireless communications device; and

user equipment;

wherein the wireless communications device includes storage, and wherein the wireless communications device is configured to;

receive user input on the wireless communications device to create at least one media guidance application command for causing a user equipment device to modify playback of a media content currently being generated for display at the user equipment device;

transmit, separately from a transmission of the at least one media guidance application command, a signal from the wireless communications device to the user equipment device;

determine whether a response to the signal is received by the wireless communications device from the user equipment device;

determine whether the user equipment device is able to receive the at least one media guidance application command based on whether the response to the signal is received by the wireless communications device;

in response to determining that the user equipment device is not able to receive the at least one media guidance application command, the wireless communications device is configured to;

save the at least one media guidance application command on storage on the wireless communications device;

transmit the at least one media guidance application command from the storage on the wireless communications device to the user equipment device after the user equipment device becomes accessible; and

generate for display an indication, on the wireless communications device, that the at least one media guidance application command has been successfully received by the user equipment device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein in response to determining that the user equipment device is able to receive the at least one media guidance application command, the wireless communications device is configured to transmit the at least one media guidance application command to the user equipment device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein determining whether the user equipment device is able to receive the at least one media guidance application command comprises establishing a communication session with the user equipment device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein determining whether the user equipment device is able to receive the at least one media guidance application command comprises pinging the user equipment device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one media guidance application command is selected from the group consisting of setting a favorite channel, setting a reminder, setting a parental lock, scheduling a recording, and performing a search for media content.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein receiving user input comprises receiving input via a touch sensitive screen on the wireless communications device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to generate for display a confirmation screen on the wireless communications device after the at least one media guidance application command is transmitted to the user equipment device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to receive one or more of an acknowledgement code, a display screen, and search results after the user equipment device executes the at least one media guidance application command.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein saving the at least one media guidance application command comprises saving the at least one media guidance application command to a command queue.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein transmitting the at least one media guidance application command comprises transmitting a batch command to the user equipment device, wherein the batch command comprises one or more commands saved to the command queue.