NETWORK ENABLED REMOTE CONTROLS AND METHOD FOR HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
First Claim
1. A method for controlling tuning selections through remote-to-remote communications comprising:
- determining a number of remote control devices in a system, the number of remote control devices including a primary remote control device and one or more secondary remote control devices;
creating a remote control device profile for each secondary remote control device, the profile defining control limitations for each remote control device;
detecting at the primary remote control device an attempt by a secondary remote control device to access a program channel through a local program tuner device;
identifying the specific secondary remote control device making the access attempt;
identifying the program channel that is the target of the access attempt; and
determining whether the secondary remote control device making the access is allowed to access the program channel that is the target of the access attempt.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method comprises a primary remote control device and one or more secondary remote control devices. The primary remote device communicates directly with a set top tuner device to control programming between the tuner and the remote in the multiple remote system. The primary remote can communicate with the tuner and secondary remotes through local area or wide area networks. This system decentralizes control of actual broadcast or recorded program away from a set-top tuner box, to a portable decentralized electronic device such as a specialized remote control. With this system, a user can retrieve programming information without the need to be in close proximity to the tuner box. Each person has his/her own remote controller that may be used to access content permitted for that user. To prevent any user from accessing another user'"'"'s remote controller along with private data or personal profile, strict access control would be implemented.
12 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for controlling tuning selections through remote-to-remote communications comprising:
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determining a number of remote control devices in a system, the number of remote control devices including a primary remote control device and one or more secondary remote control devices; creating a remote control device profile for each secondary remote control device, the profile defining control limitations for each remote control device; detecting at the primary remote control device an attempt by a secondary remote control device to access a program channel through a local program tuner device; identifying the specific secondary remote control device making the access attempt; identifying the program channel that is the target of the access attempt; and determining whether the secondary remote control device making the access is allowed to access the program channel that is the target of the access attempt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling tuning selections through remote-to-remote communications comprising:
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determining a number of remote control devices in a system, the number of remote control devices including a primary remote control device and one or more secondary remote control devices; creating a remote control device profile for each secondary remote control device, the profile defining control limitations for each remote control device; detecting at the primary remote control device a request by a secondary remote control device to access a program channel that is not permitted in the profile of the secondary remote device making the access request; identifying the specific secondary remote control device making the access attempt; identifying the program channel that is the target of the access attempt; determining whether to allow the secondary remote control device making the access request to access the program channel that is the target of the access request; and when access to the requested program channel is allowed, determining whether to update the user profile. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A system for controlling tuning selections through remote-to-remote communications comprising:
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a central tuner device capable of receiving information transmitted on a plurality of frequencies; a programming service provider capable of transmitting programming over a plurality of frequencies; a primary remote control device capable of communicating with the central tuner device and switching frequencies of the central tune device in order to select a frequency from which the tuner device will receive transmitted programming from the programming service provider; one or more secondary remote control devices capable of communicating with the primary remote and with the central tuner and wherein the central tuner, primary remote control device and the one or more secondary remote control devices comprise a local communication network; and a software module for allowing the primary remote controller device to control access capabilities of the secondary remote control devices to programming through the central tuner. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification