System and method for sharing television programming information using universal identifier

• US 10,091,535 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, Matthew J., Arsenault, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chae, Kyu
• Application Number:
  US12/947,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20170085919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,877 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37, 725 38, 725 39, 725 40, 725112
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score

Abstract

A system and method for sharing television data includes a first device and an encoded content identifier module in communication with the first device generating an encoded content identifier for a content and communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network. The first device includes a user interface for selecting the content identifier. The first device performs a function in response to a type of device, the encoded content identifier and selecting the content identifier.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating an encoded content identifier for video content by encoding a content identifier;

communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device and a second device through a network;

selecting the encoded content identifier at the first device using a first user interface of the first device;

selecting the encoded content identifier at the second device using a second user interface of the second device;

in response to a first type of the first device, the encoded content identifier and selecting the encoded content identifier at the first device, performing a first function at the first device, said first function comprising one of tuning a tuner of the first device to television content, initiating a recording application, generating an outgoing message content identifier with a third device, and recording the content corresponding to the television content; and

in response to a second type of the second device, the encoded content identifier and selecting the encoded content identifier at the second device, performing a second function different than the first function at the second device, said second function comprising one of tuning a tuner of the second device to the television content, initiating a recording application, generating an outgoing message content identifier with the third device, and recording the content corresponding to the television content.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier in a content processing system.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating an encoded content identifier link corresponding to a unique content or content attribute provided from the content processing system.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier for a portion of a content in a content processing system.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier and a content format identifier.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier for television content available from a content processing system.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier, a channel identifier, a date identifier and a time identifier.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating at least one of a channel link, an actor link or a category link.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to the first device comprising a set top box.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein performing a first function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising an electronic mail.

12. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message.

13. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message having a comment or rating.

14. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a text message.

15. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein performing a first function comprises tuning to content corresponding to the encoded content identifier.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein performing a first function comprises recording the content corresponding to the encoded content identifier.

17. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein prior to communicating, authenticating the set top box with an external website and further comprising receiving the encoded content identifier through the external website.

18. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a message from a social networking site to the set top box.

19. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in an electronic mail message to the set top box.

20. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a text message to the set top box.

21. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to the first device comprising a mobile device.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein performing a second function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising an electronic mail.

24. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message.

25. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message having a comment or rating.

26. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a text message.

27. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein performing a second function comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to the content processing system and streaming content corresponding to the encoded content identifier to the mobile device.

28. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein performing a second function comprises initiating a recording application the first device in response to the encoded content identifier.

29. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a message from a social networking site to the mobile device.

30. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in an electronic mail message to the mobile device.

31. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a text message to the mobile device.

32. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to the first device comprising a personal computer.

33. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein performing a first function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier.

34. A method as recited in claim 33 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising an electronic mail.

35. A method as recited in claim 33 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message.

36. A method as recited in claim 33 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message having a rating.

37. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein performing a first function comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to a content processing system and streaming content corresponding to the encoded content identifier to the personal computer.

38. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein performing a first function comprises initiating recording in response to the encoded content identifier.

39. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a message from a social networking site to the personal computer.

40. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in an electronic mail message to the personal computer.

41. A system comprising:

a first device;

a second device;

an encoded content identifier module in communication with the first device and the second device generating an encoded content identifier for video content formed by encoding a content identifier and communicating the encoded content identifier to the first device and the second device through a network; and

said first device comprising a first user interface for selecting the encoded content identifier;

said second device comprising a second user interface for selecting the encoded content identifier;

wherein said first device performs a first function in response to a first type of the first device, the encoded content identifier and selecting the encoded content identifier and wherein said second device performs a second function different than the first function in response to a second type of the second device, the encoded content identifier and selecting the encoded content identifier, said first function comprising one of tuning a tuner of the first device to television content, initiating a recording application, generating an outgoing message content identifier with a third device, and recording the content corresponding to the television program content, said second function comprising one of tuning a tuner of the second device to television content, initiating a recording application, generating an outgoing message content identifier with a third device, and recording the content corresponding to television content.

42. A system as recited in claim 41 further comprising a content processing system generating the encoded content identifier.

43. A system as recited in claim 42 wherein the encoded content identifier comprises an encoded content identifier link corresponding to a unique content or content attribute provided from the content processing system.

44. A system as recited in claim 42 wherein the encoded content identifier corresponds to a portion of content in the content processing system.

45. A system as recited in claim 41 wherein the encoded content identifier comprises the encoded content identifier and a content identifier format identifier.

46. A system as recited in claim 41 wherein the encoded content identifier corresponds to television content available from a content processing system.

47. A system as recited in claim 46 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier and a channel identifier, a date identifier and a time identifier.

48. A system as recited in claim 41 wherein the encoded content identifier comprises a channel link, an actor link or a category link.

49. A system as recited in claim 41 wherein the first device comprises a set top box.

50. A system as recited in claim 49 wherein the first function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier in a message.

51. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the message comprises an electronic mail.

52. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the message comprises a social networking message.

53. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the message comprises an outgoing message comprising a social networking message having a comment or rating.

54. A system as recited in claim 50 wherein the message comprises a text message.

55. A system as recited in claim 41 wherein the first function comprises tuning to content corresponding to the encoded content identifier.

56. A system as recited in claim 41 wherein the first function comprises recording the content corresponding to the encoded content identifier.

57. A system as recited in claim 49 further comprising a social networking site communicating the encoded content identifier in a message to the set top box.

58. A system as recited in claim 49 further comprising the second device communicating the encoded content identifier in an electronic mail message to the set top box.

59. A system as recited in claim 49 further comprising the second device communicating the encoded content identifier in a text message to the set top box.

60. A system as recited in claim 41 wherein the first device comprises a mobile device.

61. A system as recited in claim 60 wherein the first function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier in a message.

62. A system as recited in claim 61 wherein the message comprises an electronic mail.

63. A system as recited in claim 61 wherein the message comprises a social networking message.

64. A system as recited in claim 61 wherein the message comprises a social networking message having a comment or rating.

65. A system as recited in claim 61 wherein the message comprises a text message.

66. A system as recited in claim 60 further comprising a content processing system;

said first device communicating the encoded content identifier to the content processing system; and

said content processing system streaming content corresponding to the encoded content identifier to the mobile device.

67. A system as recited in claim 60 wherein the first function comprises initiating a recording application the first device.

68. A system as recited in claim 60 further comprising a social networking site communicating the encoded content identifier in a message to the mobile device.

69. A system as recited in claim 60 further comprising the second device communicating the encoded content identifier in an electronic mail message to the mobile device.

70. A system as recited in claim 60 further comprising the second device communicating the encoded content identifier in a text message to the mobile device.

71. A system as recited in claim 41 wherein the first device comprises a personal computer.

72. A system as recited in claim 71 wherein the second function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier in a message.

73. A system as recited in claim 72 wherein the message comprises an electronic mail.

74. A system as recited in claim 72 wherein the message comprises an outgoing message comprising a social networking message.

75. A system as recited in claim 72 wherein the message comprises an outgoing message a social networking message having a comment or rating.

76. A system as recited in claim 71 wherein the first device communicates the encoded content identifier to a content processing system and said content processing system streams content corresponding to the encoded content identifier to the personal computer.

77. A system as recited in claim 71 wherein performing a second function comprises initiating recording in response to the encoded content identifier.

78. A system as recited in claim 71 further comprising a social networking website communicating the encoded content identifier in a message to the personal computer.

79. A system as recited in claim 71 further comprising the second device communicating the encoded content identifier in an electronic mail message to the personal computer.