Intelligent remote control

• US 9,736,525 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Dischner, Donald, Batmanglidj, Jamesheed R., Capps, James, Seiden, Joshua, McMahon, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van
• Application Number:
  US15/017,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20170013300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2115 Third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security

Abstract

A content access device and system may allow portable remote devices to be paired with a variety of different devices, allowing remote control through a network connection. Content access devices may expose application program interfaces, allowing incoming network traffic to control operation of the device much in the same way that a local infrared remote would. Routing content commands through an external application server may also yield other benefits, such as allowing more customized selection of information and advertising content to users based on their viewing history.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a wireless device associated with a content access device located at a premises, a first remote control command, wherein the first remote control command is formatted based on a first format and wherein the first remote control command comprises a first parameter;

determining, by a computing device located remotely from the premises and based on the first parameter of the first remote control command, a second parameter;

transmitting, to a gateway located at the premises, a second remote control command addressed to the content access device, wherein the second remote control command is formatted based on a second format different from the first format and wherein the second remote control command comprises the second parameter; and

causing the gateway to transmit, to the content access device, the second remote control command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second remote control command comprises a digital video recorder (DVR) command and wherein the DVR command is configured to cause the content access device to output a content asset corresponding to the second parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising redirecting the content asset to the wireless device in response to receiving a third remote control command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second remote control command is configured to cause the content access device to tune to a video on demand stream.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second remote control command is configured to cause the content access device to schedule a recording based on the second parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first format adheres to Internet Protocol (IP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second format is Enhanced television Binary Interchange Format (EBIF).

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the wireless device, user demographic information; and

transmitting, to the content access device, targeted advertisements or content asset recommendations based on the user demographic information.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, from a wireless device associated with a content access device located at a premises, a first digital video recorder (DVR) command, wherein the first DVR command is formatted based on a first format and wherein the first DVR command comprises a parameter;

determining, by a computing device located remotely from the premises, a content asset corresponding to the parameter;

transmitting, to a gateway located at the premises, a second DVR command addressed to the content access device, wherein the second DVR command is formatted based on a second format different from the first format; and

causing the gateway to transmit, to the content access device, the second DVR command, wherein the second DVR command is configured to cause the content access device to output the content asset.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising redirecting the content asset to the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

collecting usage information associated with the wireless device; and

transmitting, to the content access device, targeted advertisements or content asset recommendations based on the usage information.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, in response to receiving a message from the content access device, causing the wireless device to output interactive displays.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the first DVR command occurs in response to input from a microphone on the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the first DVR command occurs in response to a selection within a program guide listing displayed on the wireless device.

15. A system comprising:

a content access device located at a premises;

a wireless device associated with the content access device and in communication with at least one computing device located remotely from the premises; and

a gateway located at the premises, wherein the gateway is configured to;

receive, from the wireless device, a first digital video recorder (DVR) command, wherein the first DVR command is formatted based on a first format and wherein the first DVR command comprises a parameter;

transmit, to the at least one computing device, the first DVR command;

receive, from the at least one computing device, a second DVR command addressed to the content access device, wherein the second DVR command is formatted based on a second format different from the first format; and

transmit, to the content access device and to control the content access device, the second DVR command, wherein the second DVR command is configured to cause the content access device to output a content asset corresponding to the parameter.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway is further configured to cause the content asset to be redirected to the wireless device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway is further configured to transmit, to the content access device, targeted advertisements or content asset recommendations based on usage information associated with the wireless device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway is further configured to:

receive a message from the content access device; and

cause the wireless device to output interactive displays based on the message.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway is further configured to receive the first DVR command in response to input from a microphone on the wireless device.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway is further configured to receive the first DVR command in response to a selection within a program guide listing displayed on the wireless device.