APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDERS AND THE LIKE

• US 20160007074A1
• Filed: 07/13/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Marsh, Christopher, Thomas, Jay, Webb, William, Bell, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,034,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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 21/43615 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 21/4532 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 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A system stores a first permission parameter associated with a first user of a set of digital video recorders (DVRs) and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of the set. The second permission parameter defines a different level of permission for controlling the set than the first permission parameter. At least one server receives a first request to control the set from the first user and a second request to control the set from the second user. The set is controlled in accordance with: (i) the first request, based on the first permission parameter, and (ii) the second request, based on the second permission parameter. The controlling includes at least communicating with the set over a network. Techniques are also provided for directly obtaining information on a DVR in real time over a content network.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a set of one or more digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said method comprising the steps of:

storing at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of said set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of said set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling said set than said first permission parameter;

receiving, at at least one server remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises, a first request to control said set from said first user and a second request to control said set from said second user; and

controlling said set in accordance with;

(i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, and (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter said controlling comprising at least communicating with said set over a network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least first permission parameter grants said first user permission to perform substantially all available control functions in connection with said set, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access that is limited based at least on ratings of programs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least first permission parameter grants said first user permission to perform substantially all available control functions in connection with said set, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access limited that is limited based at least on channels.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least first permission parameter grants said first user permission to perform substantially all available control functions in connection with said set, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access that is limited based at least on specific programs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said set comprises at least first and second digital video recorders, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access to a subset of said at least first and second digital video recorders different than that granted to said first user by said at least first permission parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user a lower level of permission to override choices of said first user than a level of permission to override choices of said second user granted to said first user by said at least first permission parameter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said set comprises at least first and second digital video recorders, and wherein said at least second permission parameter prevents said second user from viewing what selections are programmed on said first digital video recorder.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing comprises storing in storage accessible to an identity management server operatively coupled to said at least one server which receives said first and second requests.

9. A method for controlling at least one digital video recorder interconnected with a network, said method comprising the steps of:

querying at least one server to obtain program data from said server and DVR data from said digital video recorder, said at least one server being remote to said at least one digital video recorder;

receiving said program data from said server and said DVR data from said digital video recorder, said DVR data being obtained from said digital video recorder substantially in real time over said network;

displaying said program data and/or said DVR data on a separate device in communication with said network; and

controlling said at least one digital video recorder by selecting a user-operable function from said program data and/or said DVR data on said separate device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said separate device comprises an Internet-connected personal computer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein an elapsed time between said querying of said server, and said displaying of said DVR data on said separate device, comprises an interval of no more than about thirty seconds.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said elapsed time comprises an interval of no more than about five seconds.

13. A system for controlling at least one digital video recorder with another device, said system comprising:

a network coupled to the at least one digital video recorder; and

a DVR control application module coupled to said network and the device and configured to;

obtain program data from at least one server remote to the at least one digital video recorder;

obtain DVR data from the digital video recorder, said DVR data being obtained from the digital video recorder substantially in real time over said network;

facilitate display of said program data and/or said DVR data on the device; and

control the at least one digital video recorder by receiving a selection of a user-operable function from said program data and/or said DVR data on the device.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein said at least one digital video recorder is located at one or more user premises, and wherein said at least one server is remote to said one or more user premises.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein said at least one server is collocated with said DVR control application module.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein a single provider supplies both said digital video recorder and said network.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein said network is a content-based network.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said DVR data is obtained from said digital video recorder over said content-based network, and wherein said program guide data is obtained from said server via Internet.

14. A system for controlling a set of one or more digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said system comprising:

a network coupled to the set;

an identity management module configured to store at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of said set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of said set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling said set than said first permission parameter; and

a DVR control application module coupled to said network and said identity management module, said DVR control application module being remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises, said DVR control application module configured to;

receive a first request to control the set from said first user and a second request to control the set from said second user; and

control the set in accordance with;

(i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, and (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter, said controlling comprising at least communicating with the set over said network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least first permission parameter grants said first user permission to perform substantially all available control functions in connection with said set, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access that is limited based on at least one of:

(i) ratings of programs, (ii) channels, and (iii) specific programs.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the set comprises at least first and second digital video recorders, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access to a subset of the at least first and second digital video recorders different than that granted to said first user by said at least first permission parameter.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the set comprises at least first and second digital video recorders, and wherein said at least second permission parameter prevents said second user from viewing what selections are programmed on the first digital video recorder.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user a lower level of permission to override choices of said first user than a level of permission to override choices of said second user granted to said first user by said at least first permission parameter.

19. A system for controlling a set of one or more digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said system comprising:

at least one server remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises;

means for storing at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of the set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of the set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling the set than said first permission parameter;

means for receiving, at said at least one server, a first request to control the set from said first user and a second request to control the set from said second user; and

means for controlling the set in accordance with;

(i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, and (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter, said controlling comprising at least communicating with the set over a network.

20. A system for controlling, from a separate device, at least one digital video recorder interconnected with a network, said system comprising:

at least one server remote to said digital video recorder;

means for querying said at least one server to obtain program data from said server and DVR data from the digital video recorder;

means for receiving said program data from said server and said DVR data from the digital video recorder, said DVR data being obtained from said digital video recorder substantially in real time over the network;

means for displaying said program data and/or said DVR data on the separate device in communication with the network; and

means for controlling the at least one digital video recorder by selecting a user-operable function from said program data and/or said DVR data on the separate device.