OPEN API DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING SAME

• US 20100232760A1
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chad Steelberg, Ryan Steelberg
• Original Assignee: Chad Steelberg, Ryan Steelberg
• Inventors: Steelberg, Ryan, Steelberg, Chad
• Granted Patent: US 9,307,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: N/A
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method of a digital video recorder. The apparatus, system and method include at least one memory device, a plurality of communication access points for receiving at least one program play, and an open application programming interface associated with the at least one memory device for programming a plurality of applications to operate on the at least one program play. Each of the plurality of applications correspondent to said open application programming interface manipulates metadata associated with ones of the programs plays. The metadata may relate to interactivity with detailed, non-topical aspects of the ones of the program plays.

Claims

1. A digital video recorder, comprising:

at least one memory device;

a plurality of communication access points for receiving at least one program play;

an open application programming interface associated with said at least one memory device for programming a plurality of applications to operate on the at least one program play, wherein each of the plurality of applications correspondent to said open application programming interface manipulates metadata associated with ones of the programs plays, and wherein the metadata relates to interactivity with detailed, non-topical aspects of the ones of the program plays.

2. The digital video recorder of claim 1, wherein ones of the communication access points comprise at least one of satellite communication, coaxial cable communication, WiFi communication, WiMax communication, LAN communication, telephonic communication, DSL communication, and Ethernet communication.

3. The digital video recorder of claim 1, further comprising an operating environment, wherein said operating environment comprises said open application programming interface, and at least one user interface.

4. The digital video recorder of claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of applications is consistent with the operating environment.

5. The digital video recorder of claim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of applications comprises at least one of a push and a pull over at least one of the communications access points as a response to the operating environment.

6. The digital video recorder of claim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of applications comprises at least one of a push and a pull over at least one of the communications access points as a command to the operating environment.

7. The digital video recorder of claim 1, wherein ones of said communication access points communicate with one or more generators of cable television channels, satellite television channels, the worldwide web, email, and data libraries.

8. The digital video recorder of claim 7, wherein each of said program plays comprises that which is generated by the one or more generators of cable television channels, satellite television channels, the worldwide web, email, and data libraries.

9. The digital video recorder of claim 1, wherein said open application programming interface associates ones of the plurality of applications for remote access by said at least one memory device.

10. The digital video recorder of claim 1, wherein ones of said plurality of application comprise exposed metadata.

11. The digital video recorder of claim 10, wherein the exposed metadata comprises metadata associated with at least one of words spoken, sounds made, and pictures shown in at least one of said program plays.

12. The digital video recorder of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of applications comprises a program play overlay available without pause of the program play.

13. The digital video recorder of claim 12, wherein the program play overlay simultaneously provides at least one of multiple windows, multiple menus, and multiple overlays.

14. The digital video recorder of claim 10, wherein the exposed metadata comprises a link to at least one media accessible over at least one of said communication access points from an external location with reference to said memory device.

15. The digital video recorder of claim 14, wherein the link comprises an internet link.

16. The digital video recorder of claim 14, wherein an activation of the link causes a departure from the program play.

17. The digital video recorder of claim 16, wherein the departure from the program play comprises a redirection to an internet auction site, wherein an item associated with the internet auction site for auction was referenced in the program play prior to the departure.

18. The digital video recorder of claim 16, wherein the departure comprises an advertisement.

19. The digital video recorder of claim 16, wherein the departure occurs upon a trigger event that causes the activation.

20. The digital video recorder of claim 19, wherein the trigger event is a user command.