Digital Video Recorder Program To Mobile Device

• US 20140068684A1
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mehta, Japan A., Kassam, Shafiq
• Granted Patent: US 9,479,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224

Abstract

Method, device, and storage medium to provide programs, recorded and stored in relation to a digital video recorder (DVR) service, to a mobile device. A mobile device includes a mobile DVR application that provides for the automatic downloading or streaming of the programs. A network device provides transcoding of the programs to a format compatible with the mobile device. The mobile DVR application allows the user to set preferences pertaining to the invocation and delivery of the programs.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to record a program in relation to a digital video recorder (DVR) service;

recording the program based on the request;

storing the program in a format that is incompatible with a mobile device;

storing a user preference that causes an automatic invocation of a DVR program to mobile device service, wherein the DVR program to mobile device service includes a downloading or a streaming of the program to the mobile device;

detecting when the user preference is satisfied;

receiving a DVR request for the program in response to the detecting;

selecting the program in response to receiving the DVR request;

selecting a format that is compatible with the mobile device;

transcoding the program to the format that is compatible with the mobile device; and

downloading or streaming the program to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the user preference indicates at least one of a time or a location in relation to the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

uploading, by a set top box, the program to a network device, in response to receiving a DVR request.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving the request comprises:

receiving the request that includes information indicating that the program is designated for the DVR program to mobile device service, wherein the storing comprises;

storing the information that indicates the program is designated for the DVR program to mobile device service; and

wherein the uploading comprises;

selecting the program to upload based on the information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving DVR information that indicates programs to be recorded;

generating a user interface, based on the DVR information, that includes information indicating programs available for the DVR program to mobile device service; and

receiving, via the user interface, a user selection of the program from the programs available.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a user preference pertaining to an amount of storage allocated for storing DVR programs;

identifying whether a threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied, wherein when the threshold amount is satisfied, the downloading of the program is not permitted;

determining whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed in response to identifying that the threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied; and

refusing the downloading of the program in response to determining that the program is to be downloaded.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing mobile device capability information, and wherein the transcoding comprises;

transcoding the program to the format that is compatible with the mobile device based on the mobile device capability information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining location information pertaining to the mobile device; and

matching the location information with the user preference that indicates a location for the automatic invocation of the DVR program to mobile device service, and wherein the user preference indicates whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed.

9-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by a mobile device, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to:

provide a user interface that allows a user to record a program in relation to a digital video recorder service provided by another device;

receive a request to record a program via the user interface;

store a user preference that causes an automatic invocation of a DVR program to mobile device service, wherein the DVR program to mobile device service includes a downloading or a streaming of the program to the mobile device;

detect when the user preference is satisfied;

transmit a DVR request for the program in response to a detection that the user preference is satisfied; and

receive the program in response to a transmission of the DVR request.

18. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 17, wherein the user interface allows the user to designate the program to be recorded for the DVR program to mobile device service, and wherein the instruction further comprises instructions to:

receive, via the user interface, a user request to designate the program for the DVR program to mobile device service,

and wherein the user preference indicates at least one of a time or a location in relation to the mobile device.

19. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 18, the instructions comprise instructions to:

store a user preference pertaining to an amount of storage allocated for storing programs;

identify whether a threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied;

determine whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed in response to an identification that the threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied; and

refuse a downloading of the program in response to a determination that the program is to be downloaded.

20. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 17, wherein the DVR request includes information indicating the program, and the instructions comprise instructions to:

obtain location information pertaining to the mobile device; and

match the location information with the user preference that indicates a location for the automatic invocation of the DVR program to mobile device service, and wherein the user preference indicates whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed.

21. A method comprising:

storing a user preference that causes an automatic invocation of a DVR program to mobile device service, wherein the DVR program to mobile device service includes a downloading or a streaming of the program to a mobile device;

detecting when the user preference is satisfied;

transmitting a DVR request for a program, which is stored in relation to the DVR program to mobile device service, in response to the detecting; and

receiving the program in response to the transmitting.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

storing mobile compatibility information pertaining to the mobile device;

receiving the DVR request;

selecting the program in response to receiving the DVR request;

selecting a format that is compatible with the mobile device based on the mobile compatibility information;

transcoding the program to the format that is compatible with the mobile device; and

downloading or streaming the program to the mobile device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the user preference indicates at least one of a time or a location in relation to the mobile device, and the method comprising:

identifying at least one of the time or the location;

determining whether the at least one of the time or the location matches the user preference; and

generating the DVR request in response to determining the at least one of the time or the location matches the user preference.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the user preference indicates the program to be downloaded or streamed when the at least one of the time or the location is identified, and wherein the DVR request indicates the program and a type of program delivery.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

storing a user preference pertaining to an amount of storage allocated for storing programs;

identifying whether a threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied, wherein when the threshold amount is satisfied, a downloading of the program is not permitted;

determining whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed in response to identifying that the threshold amount is satisfied; and

refusing to receive the program in response to determining that the program is to be downloaded.

26. The method of claim 21, storing a user preference pertaining to an amount of storage allocated for storing programs;

identifying whether a threshold amount of the amount of storage allocated is satisfied, wherein when the threshold amount is satisfied, a downloading of the program is not permitted;

determining whether the program is to be downloaded or streamed in response to identifying that the threshold amount is satisfied; and

wherein the receiving comprises;

receiving the program via a streaming transmission in response to determining that the program is to be streamed.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

recording, by a set top box, the program; and

uploading, by the set top box, the program to a network device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a request that includes information indicating that the program is designated for the DVR program to mobile device service;

storing the information that indicates the program is designated for the DVR program to mobile device service; and

wherein the uploading comprises;

selecting the program to upload based on the information.