Apparatus and methods for controlling digital video recorders

• US 10,034,059 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sarosi, George, Cholas, Chris, Bell, David, Helms, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Rong
• Application Number:
  US15/011,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20160150287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 906 Days
• Field of Search: 386291-299, 725 88, 725102, 725 58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• 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 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• 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

Abstract

A DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder receives an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions. The set of available functions comprises a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder. Subsequently, at least in part in response to the instructions from the user, the DVR controller issues a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function. The digital video recorder is operative to present content on a presentation device controlled by the user. The DVR controller, in turn, is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder in a facility of a content provider.

Claims

1. A method to be performed by a DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder;

determining whether the function is to be performed substantially immediately by the digital video recorder or at a future scheduled time; and

issuing, at substantially the future scheduled time, a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function for a function determined to be performed at the future scheduled time;

wherein the digital video recorder is disposed in a premises of the user and is operative to play back content on a presentation device controlled by the user in response to a command from the DVR controller, and the DVR controller is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of available functions further comprises at least one of a rewind function and a fast-forward function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of available functions further comprises a delete function operative to cause the digital video recorder to delete content stored on the digital video recorder.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of analyzing the instruction to determine if it causes a scheduling conflict on the digital video recorder.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of resolving the scheduling conflict if it exists comprises at least one of canceling a recording, rescheduling a recording, and truncating a recording.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of resolving the scheduling conflict if it exists.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises at least one of video content, audio content, image content, and text content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital video recorder is implemented in a set-top terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of available functions further comprises an information function operative to cause the digital video recorder to present information to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information is presented as a menu or list.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the information relates to content available for recording.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information is presented as an interface for selecting one or more portions of content to be recorded.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the information relates to a scheduling conflict.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the instruction from the user via a web server.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the DVR controller comprises distinct software modules, each of the distinct software modules being embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the distinct software modules comprise a user device server module and a DVR record-playback command module, and wherein:

the receiving step is carried out by the user device server module executing on at least one hardware processor; and

the issuing step is carried out by the DVR record-playback command module on the at least one hardware processor.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method of:

receiving at a DVR controller an instruction from a user directing a digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder;

determining by the DVR controller whether the function is to be performed substantially immediately by the digital video recorder or at a future scheduled time; and

issuing from the DVR controller, at substantially the future scheduled time, a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function for a function determined to be performed at the future scheduled time;

wherein the digital video recorder is disposed in a premises of the user and is operative to play back content on a presentation device controlled by the user in response to a command from the DVR controller, and the DVR controller is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder.

17. A DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder, the DVR controller comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, and operative to perform the steps of;

receiving an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder;

determining whether the function is to be performed substantially immediately by the digital video recorder or at a future scheduled time; and

issuing, at substantially the future scheduled time, a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function for a function determined to be performed at the future scheduled time;

wherein the digital video recorder is disposed in a premises of the user and is operative to play back content on a presentation device controlled by the user in response to a command from the DVR controller, and the DVR controller is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder.

18. The DVR controller of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of distinct software modules, each of the distinct software modules being embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, and wherein the distinct software modules comprise a user device server module and a DVR record-playback command module, wherein:

the at least one processor is operative to perform the receiving step by executing the user device server module; and

the at least one processor is operative to perform the issuing step by executing the DVR record-playback command module.

19. A DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder, the DVR controller comprising:

means for receiving an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder;

means for determining whether the function is to be performed substantially immediately by the digital video recorder or at a future scheduled time; and

means for issuing, at substantially the future scheduled time, a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function for a function determined to be performed at the future scheduled time;

wherein the digital video recorder is disposed in a premises of the user and is operative to play back content on a presentation device controlled by the user in response to a command from the DVR controller, and the DVR controller is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder.

20. A method to be performed by a DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder; and

issuing a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function for a function determined to be performed at a future scheduled time;

wherein the digital video recorder is disposed in a premises of the user and is operative to carry out a command from the DVR controller to play back content from storage on the digital video recorder on a presentation device controlled by the user, and the DVR controller is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder in a facility of a content provider.