Accessing programs using networked digital video recording devices
First Claim
1. A method performed by a first digital video recorder (DVR), wherein the first DVR is communicatively coupled using a local area network (LAN) to a second DVR, wherein the second DVR is additionally communicatively coupled to a second display via a second audio-video (AV) output link, wherein the first DVR includes an AV output module for communicatively coupling with a first display via a first AV output link, the method comprising:
- determining that the first DVR is a current DVR;
outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals for initially displaying a content guide on the first display, wherein the content guide includes a unit identification area and a content area, wherein an initially-displayed unit identification area identifies the first DVR as the current DVR, and wherein an initially-displayed content area that includes a first list of a first set of programs stored in the first DVR and selectable for viewing on the first display;
receiving, by the first DVR, a request to select the second DVR;
after receiving the request to select the second DVR, the first DVR;
determining that the second DVR is the current DVR,obtaining, from the second DVR, information to populate the content guide, andoutputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals to update the content guide on the first display based on the information to populate the content guide obtained from the second DVR, wherein the updated content guide displays an updated unit identification area identifying the second DVR as the current DVR and an updated content area for displaying a second list of a second set of programs stored in the second DVR;
receiving, by the first DVR, a command to play a program stored in the second DVR and selected from among the programs in the second list of the second set of programs;
retrieving, by the first DVR, a first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped;
outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals for displaying on the first display the first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR in the unit identification area and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped;
receiving, by the first DVR, a command to play the selected program starting from the viewing termination location identified by the first viewing termination location identifier;
receiving, by the first DVR from the second DVR, the selected program starting from the first viewing termination location so that the first DVR receives signals for playing the selected program on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location; and
outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, the signals for playing the selected program accessed from the second DVR on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Access to programs using network connected digital video recording devices is disclosed. A DVR causes display of a content guide including a unit identification area. When the unit identification area is updated, the content guide also updates to reflect programs available on the currently selected DVR. The content guide of a remotely connected DVR can thus be displayed, from which programs are selected for playback. Playback can be resumed from a point at which a viewer terminated viewing, either at the local or remote location, or from the beginning of the program.
131 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method performed by a first digital video recorder (DVR), wherein the first DVR is communicatively coupled using a local area network (LAN) to a second DVR, wherein the second DVR is additionally communicatively coupled to a second display via a second audio-video (AV) output link, wherein the first DVR includes an AV output module for communicatively coupling with a first display via a first AV output link, the method comprising:
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determining that the first DVR is a current DVR; outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals for initially displaying a content guide on the first display, wherein the content guide includes a unit identification area and a content area, wherein an initially-displayed unit identification area identifies the first DVR as the current DVR, and wherein an initially-displayed content area that includes a first list of a first set of programs stored in the first DVR and selectable for viewing on the first display; receiving, by the first DVR, a request to select the second DVR; after receiving the request to select the second DVR, the first DVR; determining that the second DVR is the current DVR, obtaining, from the second DVR, information to populate the content guide, and outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals to update the content guide on the first display based on the information to populate the content guide obtained from the second DVR, wherein the updated content guide displays an updated unit identification area identifying the second DVR as the current DVR and an updated content area for displaying a second list of a second set of programs stored in the second DVR; receiving, by the first DVR, a command to play a program stored in the second DVR and selected from among the programs in the second list of the second set of programs; retrieving, by the first DVR, a first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped; outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals for displaying on the first display the first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR in the unit identification area and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped; receiving, by the first DVR, a command to play the selected program starting from the viewing termination location identified by the first viewing termination location identifier; receiving, by the first DVR from the second DVR, the selected program starting from the first viewing termination location so that the first DVR receives signals for playing the selected program on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location; and outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, the signals for playing the selected program accessed from the second DVR on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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10. A first digital video recorder (DVR) communicatively coupled to a second DVR via a local area network (LAN), the second DVR additionally communicatively coupled to a second display via a second audio-video (AV) output link, wherein the first DVR comprises:
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an AV output module for communicatively coupling with a first display via a first AV output link; a processor; a non-transitory memory storing software executable by the processor, wherein the software comprises a current unit identification module, a guide module, and a remote operations module; and a network interface; wherein the first DVR is configured to determine the first DVR is a current DVR; wherein the AV output module is configured to output signals received from the guide module for initially displaying a content guide on the first display, wherein the content guide includes a unit identification area and a content area, wherein an initially-displayed unit identification area identifies the first DVR as the current DVR, and wherein an initially-displayed content area that includes a first list of a first set of programs stored in the first DVR and selectable for viewing on the first display, wherein the first DVR is configured to receive a request to select the second DVR, after receiving the request to select the second DVR, determining that the second DVR is the current DVR, and obtaining, from the second DVR, information to populate the content guide; wherein the AV output module is configured to output, in response to the request to select the second DVR, signals to update the content guide on the first display based on the information to populate the content guide obtained from the second DVR, wherein the updated content guide displays an updated unit identification area identifying the second DVR as the current DVR, and an updated content area for displaying a second list of a second set of programs stored in the second DVR, wherein the remote operations module, in communication with the guide module, is configured to receive a command to play a program stored in the second DVR and selected from among the programs in the second list of the second set of programs, wherein the remote operations module is configure to retrieve a first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped, wherein the AV output module is configured to output signals for displaying on the first display the first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR in the unit identification area and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped, wherein the remote operations module is configure to receive a command to play the selected program starting at the first viewing termination location indicated by the first viewing termination location identifier, wherein the network interface is configured to receive from the second DVR the selected program starting from the first viewing termination location so that the first DVR receives signals for playing the selected program on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location, and wherein the AV output module is configured to output the signals for playing the selected program accessed from the second DVR on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions, wherein the computer-readable medium is within a first digital video recorder (DVR) communicatively coupled to a second DVR via a local area network (LAN);
- the second DVR additionally communicatively coupled to a second display via a second audio-video (AV) output link, wherein the first DVR includes an AV output module connectable to a first display via a first AV output, wherein the computer program instructions are executable by a processor for the first DVR to perform operations comprising;
determining that the first DVR is a current DVR; outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals for initially displaying a content guide on the first display, wherein the content guide includes a unit identification area and a content area, wherein an initially-displayed unit identification area identifies the first DVR as the current DVR, and wherein an initially-displayed content area that includes a first list of a first set of programs stored in the first DVR and selectable for viewing on the first display; receiving, by the first DVR, a request to select the second DVR; after receiving the request to select the second DVR, the first DVR; determining that the second DVR is the current DVR, obtaining, from the second DVR, information to populate the content guide, and outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals to update the content guide on the first display based on the information to populate the content guide obtained from the second DVR, wherein the updated content guide displays an updated unit identification area identifying the second DVR as the current DVR, and an updated content area for displaying a second list of a second set of programs stored in the second DVR; receiving, by the first DVR, a command to play a program stored in the second DVR and selected from among the programs in the second list of the second set of programs; retrieving, by the first DVR, a first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped; outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, signals for displaying on the first display the first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR in the unit identification area and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped; receiving, by the first DVR, a command to play the selected program starting from the viewing termination location identified by the first viewing termination location identifier; receiving, by the first DVR from the second DVR, the selected program starting from the first viewing termination location so that the first DVR receives signals for playing the selected program on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location; and outputting, by the AV output module of the first DVR, the signals for playing the selected program accessed from the second DVR on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- the second DVR additionally communicatively coupled to a second display via a second audio-video (AV) output link, wherein the first DVR includes an AV output module connectable to a first display via a first AV output, wherein the computer program instructions are executable by a processor for the first DVR to perform operations comprising;
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28. A first digital video recorder (DVR) communicatively coupled to a second DVR via a local area network (LAN), the second DVR additionally communicatively coupled to a second display via a second audio-video (AV) output link, wherein the first DVR includes an AV output module for communicatively coupling with a first display via a first AV output link, the first DVR comprising:
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means for determining the first DVR is a current DVR; means for the first DVR to output signals for initially displaying a content guide on the first display, wherein the content guide includes a unit identification area and a content area, wherein an initially-displayed unit identification area identifies the first DVR as the current DVR, and wherein an initially-displayed content area that includes a first list of a first set of programs stored in the first DVR and selectable for viewing on the first display; means for receiving a request to select the second DVR; means for, after receiving the request to select the second DVR; determining that the second DVR is the current DVR; obtaining, from the second DVR, information to populate the content guide, and outputting signals to update the content area on the first display based on the information to populate the content guide obtained from the second DVR, wherein the updated content guide displays an updated unit identification area identifying the second DVR as the current DVR and an updated content area for displaying a second list of a second set of programs stored in the second DVR; means to receive a command to play a program stored in the second DVR and selected from among the programs in the second list of the second set of programs; means to retrieve a first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped; means to output signals for displaying on the first display the first viewing termination location identifier for the selected program that identifies the second DVR in the unit identification area and a viewing termination location at which viewing of the selected program at the second display was paused or stopped; means to receive a command to play the selected program starting from the viewing termination location identified by the first viewing termination location identifier; means to receive from the second DVR, the selected program starting from the first viewing termination location so that the first DVR receives signals for playing the selected program on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location; and means to output the signals for playing the selected program from the second DVR on the first display starting from the first viewing termination location. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification