System and method for adaptively controlling the recording of program material using a program guide

• US 9,547,979 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Louie, Alex, Alvarado, Cesar, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): RABOVIANSKI, JIVKA A
• Application Number:
  US13/443,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20120198499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 725/58, 725/60, 725/80, 725/141, 725/142
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system and method for displaying an electronic program guide (“EPG”), the EPG allowing for the controlling of recording functionality of an appliance and/or playing of media. The displayable EPG includes a listing of playable media from which the user may select a program of interest for recording or playing. The EPG may also include a display of prior recorded media for playing. Options may be presented to allow for a selection of a rendering device on which selected media is to be played.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to effect playback of a program that was previously recorded by a recording device using a one of a plurality of playback devices in communication with the recording device, the method comprising:

using data maintained within a portable device to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device; and

causing the selected one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising displaying to a user a program guide including a listing for the program;

receiving input from the user requesting that the program be recorded by the recording device; and

causing the program to be recorded by the recording device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device comprises user schedule data.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, comprising changing the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device to a different one of the plurality of playback devices in response to a change in the user schedule data and causing the different one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program the program that was previously recorded by the recording device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device comprises data indicative of a determined location of the portable device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising causing the program to be recorded by the recording device and causing the recorded program to be transferred from the recording device to the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device prior to playback being effectuated by the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device comprises a designation of an appliance specified in connection with the request to record the program.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device comprises a current time.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device further comprises a current day of the week.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device further comprises a current date.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising causing the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device to playback the program in response to the portable device establishing communication with the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the portable device establishes a direct communication with the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the portable device establishes communication with the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device via an intermediate computer.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a phone.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising displaying an electronic program guide including a listing of broadcast programs and recorded programs and accepting input via the electronic program guide to select one of the listed programs to playback.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the recorded programs within the listing are stored on multiple different devices within a network.

17. A readable media, in a form of a non-transitory, physical memory device, having instructions stored thereon for enabling a user to effect playback of a program that was previously recorded by a recording device using a one of a plurality of playback devices in communication with the recording device, the instructions performing steps comprising:

using data maintained within a portable device to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device; and

causing the selected one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program.

18. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions perform steps of displaying to a user a program guide including a listing for the program;

receiving input from the user requesting that the program be recorded by the recording device; and

causing the program to be recorded by the recording device.

19. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device comprises user schedule data.

20. The readable media as recited in claim 19, wherein the instructions perform steps of changing the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device to a different one of the plurality of playback devices in response to a change in the user schedule data and causing the different one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program the program that was previously recorded by the recording device.

21. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device comprises data indicative of a determined location of the portable device.

22. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions perform steps of causing the program to be recorded by the recording device and causing the recorded program to be transferred from the recording device to the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device prior to playback being effectuated by the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device.

23. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device comprises a designation of an appliance specified in connection with the request to record the program.

24. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device comprises a current time.

25. The readable media as recited in claim 24, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device further comprises a current day of the week.

26. The readable media as recited in claim 24, wherein the data maintained within the portable device that is used to automatically select the one of the plurality of playback devices to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device further comprises a current date.

27. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions perform a step of causing the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device to playback the program in response to the portable device establishing communication with the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device.

28. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the portable device establishes a direct communication with the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device.

29. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the portable device establishes communication with the one of the plurality of playback devices selected to playback the program that was previously recorded by the recording device via an intermediate computer.

30. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the portable device comprises a phone.

31. The readable media as recited in claim 17, wherein the instructions perform a step of displaying an electronic program guide including a listing of broadcast programs and recorded programs and accepting input via the electronic program guide to select one of the listed programs to playback.

32. The readable media as recited in claim 31, wherein the recorded programs within the listing are stored on multiple different devices within a network.