Apparatus and method for conflict resolution in remote control of digital video recorders and the like

• US 9,706,160 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marsh, Christopher, Thomas, Jay, Webb, William, Bell, David, Nguyen, PhuDuc
• Primary Examiner(s): Topgyal, Gelek W
• Application Number:
  US12/039,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20090220216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,420 Days
• Field of Search: 386291-299, 725142
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• 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 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

At least one server is queried to obtain program data. DVR data is obtained from a digital video recorder, substantially in real time, over a content-based network. The program data and/or the DVR data are displayed on a separate remote device, in communication with the content-based network. A request to record a given program on the at least one digital video recorder is received at the separate remote device. A conflict associated with the request to record the given program is detected, and the conflict is resolved based at least on a user input received at the separate remote device.

Claims

1. A method for resolving conflicts in connection with controlling at least one digital video recorder interconnected with a content-based network, said method comprising the steps of:

querying at least one server to obtain program data from said server and DVR data from said digital video recorder;

receiving said program data from said server and said DVR data from said digital video recorder, said program data comprising electronic program guide data, and said DVR data being obtained from said digital video recorder substantially in real time over said content-based network and comprising a listing of any programs currently scheduled for recording on said digital video recorder, said listing comprising at least a unique program identifier for each of said currently scheduled programs;

displaying said program data and/or said DVR data on a device, remote from said digital video recorder and said server, in communication with said content-based network;

receiving, at said device, a request to record a given program on said at least one digital video recorder;

determining respective time slots of each of any programs currently scheduled for recording on said digital video recorder at least in part by accessing said electronic program guide data with said unique program identifiers;

detecting a conflict associated with said request to record said given program at least in part by comparing a time slot of said given program with any time slots determined for said currently scheduled programs;

offering on said device one or more options to resolve said conflict; and

resolving said conflict based at least on a user input received at said device;

wherein said resolving step comprises offering a user of said device a choice to select one of said given program and a conflicting one of said currently scheduled programs for recording;

wherein said given program and said conflicting one of said currently scheduled programs partially overlap, and wherein said resolving step further comprises offering a user of said device a choice to clip one of said given program and said conflicting one of said currently scheduled programs.