Digital video recorder program to mobile device

• US 9,479,804 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mehta, Japan A., Kassam, Shafiq
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tilahun, Alazar
• Application Number:
  US13/598,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20140068684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 725/37, 725/62, 725/68, 725/100, 725/110, 725/139, 725 80- 85
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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

Abstract

Method, device, and storage medium to provide programs, recorded and stored in relation to a digital video recorder (DVR) service, to a mobile device. A mobile device includes a mobile DVR application that provides for the automatic downloading or streaming of the programs. A network device provides transcoding of the programs to a format compatible with the mobile device. The mobile DVR application allows the user to set preferences pertaining to the invocation and delivery of the programs.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a customer premises equipment, a request to record a program in relation to a digital video recorder (DVR) service;

recording, by the customer premises equipment, the program based on the request;

storing, by the customer premises equipment, the program in a video and audio compression codec format that is incompatible with a mobile device;

receiving, via a user interface, a user preference configured by a user of a DVR program to mobile device service;

storing the user preference that causes an automatic invocation of the DVR program to mobile device service, wherein the DVR program to mobile device service includes a downloading or a streaming of the program from a network device to the mobile device, wherein the user preference indicates a time of day and a location that the mobile device is to receive the program, and wherein the time of day indicates a time window comprising a start time and an end time during which the program can begin to be received by the mobile device;

detecting when the user preference is satisfied in relation to the mobile device, subsequent to the storing of the user preference;

receiving, by the network device, a DVR request for the program in response to the detecting;

selecting the program in response to receiving the DVR request;

selecting a video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device;

transcoding the program to the video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device; and

downloading or streaming, by the network device, the transcoded program to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is a location outside of a customer premises associated with the customer premises equipment, and the user preference indicates whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed, and wherein the network device is outside of the customer premises associated with the customer premises equipment, and wherein the DVR request includes data indicating the video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

uploading, by the customer premises equipment, the program to the network device, in response to receiving a DVR request, wherein the video and audio compression codec format that is incompatible with the mobile device is a Moving Picture Experts Group 2 (MPEG-2) format and the video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device is one of an H.264 format or an MPEG-4 format.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving the request to record comprises:

receiving the request that includes information indicating that the program is designated for the DVR program to mobile device service, wherein storing the program comprises;

storing the information that indicates that the program is designated for the DVR program to mobile device service; and

wherein the uploading comprises;

selecting the program to upload based on the information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving DVR information that indicates programs to be recorded;

generating a user interface, based on the DVR information, that includes information indicating programs available for the DVR program to mobile device service; and

receiving, via the generated user interface, a user selection of the program, wherein the program is one of the programs available for the DVR program to mobile device service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the mobile device, a user preference pertaining to an amount of storage allocated for storing DVR programs;

identifying, by the mobile device, whether a threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated for storing DVR programs is satisfied, wherein when the threshold amount is satisfied, the downloading of the program is not permitted;

determining, by the mobile device, whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed in response to identifying that the threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated for storing DVR programs is satisfied; and

refusing, by the mobile device, the downloading of the program in response to determining that the program is to be downloaded.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing mobile device capability information, and wherein the transcoding comprises;

transcoding the program to the video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device based on the mobile device capability information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining, by the network device, location information pertaining to the mobile device; and

matching, by the network device, the location information with the user preference that indicates the location for the automatic invocation of the DVR program to mobile device service, and wherein the user preference indicates whether the program is to be stored by the customer premises equipment or stored by the network device.

9. A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a device, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to:

provide a user interface that allows a user to record a program in relation to a digital video recorder (DVR) service provided by a customer premises equipment;

receive a request to record the program via the user interface;

record the program in a video and audio compression codec format that is incompatible with a mobile device;

receive a user preference configured by the user of a DVR program to mobile device service;

store the user preference that causes an automatic invocation of the DVR program to mobile device service, wherein the DVR program to mobile device service includes a downloading or a streaming of the program from a network device to the mobile device, wherein the user preference indicates a time of day and a location that the mobile device is to receive the program and whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed, and wherein the time of day indicates a time window comprising a start time and an end time during which the program can begin to be received by the mobile device;

detect when the user preference is satisfied subsequent to the user preference being stored;

transmit a DVR request to the network device for the program in response to a detection that the user preference is satisfied; and

receive the program from the network device in response to a transmission of the DVR request, wherein the program is in a video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device.

10. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 9, wherein the user interface allows the user to designate the program to be recorded for the DVR program to mobile device service, and wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:

receive, via the user interface, a user request to designate the program for the DVR program to mobile device service, and wherein the location is a location outside of a customer premises.

11. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, the instructions comprise instructions to:

store a user preference pertaining to an amount of storage allocated for storing programs;

identify whether a threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied;

determine whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed in response to an identification that the threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied; and

refuse a downloading of the program in response to a determination that the program is to be downloaded.

12. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 9, wherein the DVR request includes information indicating the program, and the instructions comprise instructions to:

obtain location information pertaining to the mobile device; and

match the location information with the user preference that indicates the location for the automatic invocation of the DVR program to mobile device service, and wherein the DVR request indicates the video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device.

13. A system comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions to;

provide a user interface that allows a user to record a program in relation to a digital video recorder (DVR) service;

receive a request to record the program via the user interface;

record the program in a video and audio compression codec format that is incompatible with a mobile device;

receive a user preference configured by the user of a DVR program to mobile device service;

store the user preference that causes an automatic invocation of the DVR program to mobile device service, wherein the DVR program to mobile device service includes a downloading or a streaming of the program from a network device to the mobile device, wherein the user preference indicates a time of day and a location that the mobile device is to receive the program and whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed, and wherein the time of day indicates a time window comprising a start time and an end time during which the program can begin to be received by the mobile device;

detect when the user preference is satisfied subsequent to the user preference being stored;

transmit, via the communication interface, a DVR request to the network device for the program in response to the detection that the user preference is satisfied; and

receive, via the communication interface, the program from the network device in response to a transmission of the DVR request, wherein the program is in a video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

store mobile compatibility information pertaining to the mobile device;

receive the DVR request;

select the program in response to the receipt of the DVR request;

select the video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device based on the mobile compatibility information;

transcode the program to the video and audio compression codec format that is compatible with the mobile device; and

download or stream, via the communication interface, the transcoded program to the mobile device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

determine whether the time of day and the location match the user preference; and

generate the DVR request in response to a determination that the time of day and the location match the user preference.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the DVR request indicates the program and a type of program delivery, wherein the type of program delivery indicates whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed, and wherein the user preference indicates whether the program is to be stored by a customer premises equipment or the network device, and wherein the network device is outside of the customer premises associated with the customer premises equipment.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

store a user preference pertaining to an amount of storage allocated for storing programs;

identify whether a threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied, wherein when the threshold amount is satisfied, a downloading of the program is not permitted;

determine whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed in response to an identification that the threshold amount is satisfied; and

refuse to receive the program in response to a determination that the program is to be downloaded.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

store a user preference pertaining to an amount of storage allocated for storing programs;

identify whether a threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied, wherein when the threshold amount is satisfied, a downloading of the program is not permitted;

determine whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed in response to an identification that the threshold amount is satisfied; and

wherein the receiving comprises;

receive, via the communication interface, the program via a streaming transmission in response to a determination that the program is to be streamed.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

record the program; and

upload, via the communication interface, the program to the network device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor further executes the instructions to:

receive a request that includes information indicating that the program is designated for the DVR program to mobile device service;

store the information that indicates the program is designated for the DVR program to mobile device service; and

wherein when uploading, the processor further executes the instructions to;

select the program to upload based on the information.