Real-time DVR polling system

• US 9,565,459 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2016
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Okeke, Izunna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shayanfar, Ali
• Application Number:
  US15/049,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20160173920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• 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 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Techniques for real-time DVR usage and reporting enable using instant message protocol in a DVR environment to obtain real-time DVR usage data and to report data reflecting such usage in real-time. An example of DVR usage data comprises data reflecting that a viewer is viewing a video program which is R-rated. Another example of DVR usage data comprises a viewer entering a password, such as a kids zone password, to exit kids zone operational mode.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing, at a server, one or more database tables comprising operating data for media devices associated with users of a service;

receiving, via one or more instant messages from a first device operating in a restricted operational mode, information reporting a particular activity that has been performed at the first device, the particular activity being one of;

entering a password associated with exiting the restricted operational mode, switching operational modes, or playing a media content having particular program guide information that matches restriction criteria associated with the restricted operational mode, the restriction criteria indicating content that is restricted in the restricted operational mode;

responsive to the one or more instant messages, adding or updating a particular entry in the one or more database tables that is associated with the particular activity and the first device;

identifying particular data based on at least portions of the operating data that pertain to one or more particular media devices associated with a particular user of the service; and

responsive to detecting that the particular activity has been performed at the first device, sending a notification of the particular activity, the notification reflecting the particular activity in real-time, to a second device associated with a user having access to the restricted operational mode in the first device of the particular media devices, the second device displaying the notification on an interface of the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating data includes one or more of:

program guide data, graphical resources, service information, software programs, advertisements, or event identification data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular data includes data to initiate a customized or targeted process for the particular user at the first device, based on the particular activity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular entry is a log entry that logs performance of the particular activity at the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular activity is one of:

entering a password, switching operational modes, playing a video, playing music, or playing a media content having particular program guide information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a notification that the particular activity occurred to a second device of the particular media devices, the second device being a portable device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant message is one of:

an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol message, or a Short Messaging Service message.

8. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause performance of:

storing, at a server, one or more database tables comprising operating data for media devices associated with users of a service;

receiving, via one or more instant messages from a first device operating in a restricted operational mode, information reporting a particular activity that has been performed at the first device, the particular activity being one of;

entering a password associated with exiting the restricted operational mode, switching operational modes, or playing a media content having particular program guide information that matches restriction criteria associated with the restricted operational mode, the restriction criteria indicating content that is restricted in the restricted operational mode;

responsive to the one or more instant messages, adding or updating a particular entry in the one or more database tables that is associated with the particular activity and the first device;

identifying particular data based on at least portions of the operating data that pertain to one or more particular media devices associated with a particular user of the service; and

responsive to detecting that the particular activity has been performed at the first device, sending a notification of the particular activity, the notification reflecting the particular activity in real-time, to a second device associated with a user having access to the restricted operational mode in the first device of the particular media devices, the second device displaying the notification on an interface of the second device.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the operating data includes one or more of:

program guide data, graphical resources, service information, software programs, advertisements, or event identification data.

10. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the particular data includes data to initiate a customized or targeted process for the particular user at the first device, based on the particular activity.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the particular entry is a log entry that logs performance of the particular activity at the first device.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the particular activity is one of:

entering a password, switching operational modes, playing a video, playing music, or playing a media content having particular program guide information.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause sending a notification that the particular activity occurred to a second device of the particular media devices, the second device being a portable device.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 8, wherein the instant message is one of:

an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol message, or a Short Messaging Service message.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computer hardware, configured to store, at a server, one or more database tables comprising operating data for media devices associated with users of a service;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computer hardware, configured to receive, via one or more instant messages from a first device operating in a restricted operational mode, information reporting a particular activity that has been performed at the first device, the particular activity being one of;

entering a password associated with exiting the restricted operational mode, switching operational modes, or playing a media content having particular program guide information that matches restriction criteria associated with the restricted operational mode, the restriction criteria indicating content that is restricted in the restricted operational mode;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computer hardware, configured to, responsive to the one or more instant messages, add or update a particular entry in the one or more database tables that is associated with the particular activity and the first device;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computer hardware, configured to identify particular data based on at least portions of the operating data that pertain to one or more particular media devices associated with a particular user of the service; and

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computer hardware, configured to, responsive to detecting that the particular activity has been performed at the first device, send a notification of the particular activity, the notification reflecting the particular activity in real-time, to a second device associated with a user having access to the restricted operational mode in the first device of the particular media devices, the second device displaying the notification on an interface of the second device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the operating data includes one or more of:

program guide data, graphical resources, service information, software programs, advertisements, or event identification data.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the particular data includes data to initiate a customized or targeted process for the particular user at the first device, based on the particular activity.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the particular entry is a log entry that logs performance of the particular activity at the first device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the particular activity is one of:

entering a password, switching operational modes, playing a video, playing music, or playing a media content having particular program guide information.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, a subsystem, implemented at least partially by computer hardware, configured to send a notification that the particular activity occurred to a second device of the particular media devices, the second device being a portable device.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instant message is one of:

an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol message, or a Short Messaging Service message.