CLIENT-SERVER BASED INTERACTIVE TELEVISION GUIDE WITH SERVER RECORDING
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1-50. -50. (canceled)
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51. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:
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storing the program at a media server; maintaining a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to a first portion of the stored program; maintaining a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to a second portion of the stored program; receiving a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modifying the first playback pointer at the media server and distributing a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receiving a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; and modifying the second playback pointer at the media server and distributing a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:
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storage device; processing circuitry configured to;
;store the program at a storage device of a media server; maintain a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to a first portion of the stored program; maintain a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to a second portion of the stored program; receive a first playback request from the first interactive program guide implemented on a first user equipment to play back the program; modify the first playback pointer at the media server and distributing a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first playback request; receive a second playback request from the second interactive program guide implemented on a second user equipment to play back the program; and modify the second playback pointer at the media server and distributing a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification