METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING MEDIA CONTENT VIA THE INTERNET

• US 20100095337A1
• Filed: 11/22/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syndefense
• Original Assignee: Robin Dua
• Inventors: Dua, Robin
• Granted Patent: US 8,572,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/4135 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 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 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 : HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 : involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 : by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4415 : using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861
• 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 21/462 : Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• 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 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 : involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication

Abstract

A media storage and access system and methodology including a set-top box which receives and processes a plurality of signal sources and makes programming available locally through connected devices or via a data network such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet. The system also integrates a multimedia storage system that allows programming content to be digitally stored. The system utilizes an integrated digital storage system and operating software to allow users to view a broadcast program (e.g., television, radio, etc.) with the option of instantly reviewing previous segments within the program. In addition, the system allows the user to store selected media programming while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another program. The system also allows stored media assets to be accessed locally via a media device connected to the unit or remotely via the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for sharing data between a media device and a set-top box over a data network, the method comprising the steps of:

entering an E.164 telephone number associated with the set-top box on the media device;

issuing an ENUM query on the E.164 telephone number to a DNS server;

receiving NAPTR records associated with the E.164 telephone number;

locating a NAPTR record associated with a set-top box Enumservice, selecting the corresponding URI, and using the DNS resolver to translate the domain name part of the selected URI to an IP address;

receiving an IP address associated with the set-top box from a DNS server; and

establishing a communications session between the media device and the set-top box using the IP address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing the communications session using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving by the media device an authentication query originated by the set-top box; and

responding by the media device to the query with valid authentication data input by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) of the set-top box on the media device for allowing a user to remotely control the set-top box and configure set-top box settings, access media programming guides, set recording schedules, access live programming, access digital content stored thereon, and transmit digital content to the set-top box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the media device is capable of connecting to a data network,

the media device includes an activation button for initiating the method of sharing data with a set-top box,

the media device includes a key pad configured to input an E.164 telephone number associated with the set-top box,

the media device includes an authentication input mechanism,

the media device includes an ENUM engine and DNS resolver to translate E.164 telephone numbers into a routable Internet address by using the Domain Name System,

the media device includes the ENUM engine that can locate a NAPTR record with a specific Enumservice denoting a set-top box which appears in the service field of a NAPTR record, and

the media device includes software that allows the media device to establish a communications session with the set-top box, issue commands to the set-top box, exchange digital content with the set-top box, and view content received from the set-top box.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the activation button, key pad and authentication mechanism are software-based.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

issuing by the set-top box a SIP REGISTER request to a SIP registrar; and

binding by the SIP registrar the URI of the set-top box and the IP address of the device in a database of the SIP registrar.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the URI corresponding to the set-top box being added to an ENUM NAPTR record associated with a designated E.164 telephone number in a DNS server.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the NAPTR record includes an Enumservice denoting a set-top box which appears in a services field of the NAPTR record.

10. A computer program product for sharing data between a media device and a set-top box over a data network, and including one or more computer readable instructions embedded on a tangible computer readable medium and configured to cause one or more computer processor to perform the steps of:

entering an E.164 telephone number associated with the set-top box on the media device;

issuing an ENUM query on the E.164 telephone number to a DNS server;

receiving NAPTR records associated with the E.164 telephone number;

locating a NAPTR record associated with a set-top box Enumservice, selecting the corresponding URI, and using the DNS resolver to translate the domain name part of the selected URI to an IP address;

receiving an IP address associated with the set-top box from a DNS server; and

establishing a communications session between the media device and the set-top box using the IP address.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising establishing the communications session using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving by the media device an authentication query originated by the set-top box; and

responding by the media device to the query with valid authentication data input by a user.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) of the set-top box on the media device for allowing a user to remotely control the set-top box and configure set-top box settings, access media programming guides, set recording schedules, access live programming, access digital content stored thereon, and transmit digital content to the set-top box.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the media device is capable of connecting to a data network,

the media device includes an activation button for initiating the sharing of data with a set-top box,

the media device includes a key pad configured to input an E.164 telephone number associated with the set-top box,

the media device includes an authentication input mechanism,

the media device includes an ENUM engine and DNS resolver to translate E.164 telephone numbers into a routable Internet address by using the Domain Name System,

the media device includes the ENUM engine that can locate a NAPTR record with a specific Enumservice denoting a set-top box which appears in the service field of a NAPTR record, and

the media device includes software that allows the media device to establish a communications session with the set-top box, issue commands to the set-top box, exchange digital content with the set-top box, and view content received from the set-top box.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the activation button, key pad and authentication mechanism are software-based.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

issuing by the set-top box a SIP REGISTER request to a SIP registrar; and

binding by the SIP registrar the URI of the set-top box and the IP address of the device in a database of the SIP registrar.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising the URI corresponding to the set-top box being added to an ENUM NAPTR record associated with a designated E.164 telephone number in a DNS server.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the NAPTR record includes an Enumservice denoting a set-top box which appears in a services field of the NAPTR record.

19. A system for sharing data between a media device and a set-top box over a data network, the system comprising:

a media device configured for entering an E.164 telephone number associated with a set-top box;

the media device configured for issuing an ENUM query on the E.164 telephone number to a DNS server;

the media device configured for receiving NAPTR records associated with the E.164 telephone number;

the media device configured for locating a NAPTR record associated with a set-top box Enumservice, selecting the corresponding URI, and using the DNS resolver to translate the domain name part of the selected URI to an IP address;

the media device configured for receiving an IP address associated with the set-top box from a DNS server; and

the media device configured for establishing a communications session between the media device and the set-top box using the IP address.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising the media device configured for establishing the communications session using a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

the media device configured for receiving an authentication query originated by the set-top box; and

the media device configured for responding to the query with valid authentication data input by a user.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising the media device configured for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) of the set-top box on the media device for allowing a user to remotely control the set-top box and configure set-top box settings, access media programming guides, set recording schedules, access live programming, access digital content stored thereon, and transmit digital content to the set-top box.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the media device is capable of connecting to a data network,

the media device includes an activation button for initiating the sharing of data with a set-top box,

the media device includes a key pad configured to input an E.164 telephone number associated with the set-top box,

the media device includes an authentication input mechanism,

the media device includes an ENUM engine and DNS resolver to translate E.164 telephone numbers into a routable Internet address by using the Domain Name System,

the media device includes the ENUM engine that can locate a NAPTR record with a specific Enumservice denoting a set-top box which appears in the service field of a NAPTR record, and

the media device includes software that allows the media device to establish a communications session with the set-top box, issue commands to the set-top box, exchange digital content with the set-top box, and view content received from the set-top box.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the activation button, key pad and authentication mechanism are software-based.

25. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

the set-top box configured for issuing by a SIP REGISTER request to a SIP registrar; and

the SIP registrar configured for binding the URI of the set-top box and the IP address of the device in a database of the SIP registrar.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a DNS server configured for adding the URI corresponding to the set-top box to an ENUM NAPTR record associated with a designated E.164 telephone number.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the NAPTR record includes an Enumservice denoting a set-top box which appears in a services field of the NAPTR record.