Systems and Methods for Remote Access to Programming Information

• US 20090293088A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Scott, Scott, Charles, Mukerji, Ankur
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/47
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for remotely accessing selected content can include receiving a list of content separate from a video stream. The list of content can include content previously recorded according to a user-defined recording schedule. The method can further include sending a request for content selected from the list of content, receiving the content through a network, and displaying the content.

Claims

1. A method for remotely accessing selected content, comprising:

receiving a list of content separate from a video stream, the list of content including content previously recorded according to a user-defined recording schedule;

sending a request for content selected from the list of content;

receiving the requested content through a network; and

displaying the requested content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is a packet switched network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is a cellular network.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying the user-defined recording schedule.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the requested content includes receiving streaming content.

6. A method for providing remote access to content, comprising:

providing a list of content to a remote viewing device separate from a video stream, the list of content including content previously recorded according to a user-defined recording schedule;

receiving a request from the remote viewing device for content selected from the list of content; and

providing the requested content to the remote viewing device for playback.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein providing the content includes providing streaming content.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising retrieving the content from a remote storage prior to providing the content to the remote viewing device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the remote storage is a set-top box.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising re-encoding the content into a reduced bandwidth format prior to providing the content.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the remote viewing device is a cell phone.

12. A set-top box comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to;

record selected content according to a user-defined recording schedule;

provide a list of content to a remote viewing device separate from a video stream;

receive a request from the remote viewing device to provide content selected from the list of content; and

provide the requested content to the remote viewing device for playback.

13. The set-top box of claim 12 wherein providing the content includes providing streaming content.

14. The set-top box of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the content from a remote storage prior to providing the content to the remote viewing device.

15. The set-top box of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to re-encode the content into a reduced bandwidth format prior to providing the content.

16. The set-top box of claim 12 wherein the remote viewing device is a cell phone.

17. A remote viewing device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to;

receive a list of content separate from a video stream, the list of content including content previously recorded according to a user-defined recording schedule;

send a request for content selected from the list of content;

receive the requested content through a network; and

display the requested content.

18. The remote view device of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to modify the user-defined recording schedule.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein receiving the content includes receiving streaming content.

20. A network server comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the processor configured to;

provide a list of content to a remote viewing device separate from a video stream, the list of content including content recorded according to a user-defined recording schedule;

receive a request from the remote viewing device to provide selected content; and

provide the requested content to the remote viewing device for playback.

21. The network server of claim 20 wherein providing the content includes providing streaming content.

22. The network server of claim 20 wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the content from a remote storage prior to providing the content to the remote viewing device.

23. The network server of claim 22 wherein the remote storage includes a set-top box.

24. The network server of claim 20 wherein the processor is further configured to re-encode the content into a reduced bandwidth format prior to providing the content.

25. The network server of claim 20 wherein the remote viewing device is a cell phone.