Client-server based interactive television guide with server recording

• US 8,776,126 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Lemmons, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US13/557,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20130024893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/44, 725/86, 725/87, 725 93- 95
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23113 involving housekeeping operations for stored content, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; snloading stored programs G06F9/445; housekeeping operations in file systems, e.g. deletion policies G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2318 using striping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2353 specifically adapted to content descriptors, e.g. coding, compressing or processing of metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25435 involving characteristics of content or additional data, e.g. video resolution or the amount of advertising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26283 for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic program guide data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/274 Storing end-user multimedia data in response to end-user request , e.g. network recorder
• 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 21/4334 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 21/4335 Housekeeping operations, e.g. prioritizing content for deletion because of storage space restrictions storage management, e.g. defragmentation G06F3/0604; unloading stored programs G06F9/445; storage management in file systems G06F16/10; buffering arrangements in a network node or in an end terminal in packet networks H04L49/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 : for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• 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 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 : Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 : Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 : Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17336 : Handling of requests in head-ends

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.

Claims

1. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:

storing the program at a media server;

caching a first portion of the stored program;

maintaining a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to the cached first portion of the stored program;

caching a second portion of the stored program;

maintaining a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to the cached 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;

distributing the cached first 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;

modifying the second playback pointer at the media server;

distributing the cached second portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request;

determining that the first playback pointer is advancing towards an end of the cached first portion;

in response to the determining;

retrieving a third portion of the stored program, wherein the third portion corresponds to a portion of the program proximate to the cached first portion; and

caching the retrieved third portion of the stored program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the cached first portion and the cached second portion corresponds to non-overlapping portions of the stored program.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the first playback pointer further comprises:

modifying the first playback pointer to point to the cached second portion.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

pre-decoding the third portion of the stored program.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a record request from an interactive program guide; and

storing the program at the media server in response to receiving the record request.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

storing software associated with the program at the media server in response to receiving the record request.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

enabling the user to interact with the stored software when playing back the program.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a delete request from an interactive program guide; and

deleting the program from the media server in response to receiving the delete request.

9. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:

a memory;

a storage device at a media server;

processing circuitry configured to;

store the program at the storage device at the media server;

cache a first portion of the stored program in the memory;

maintain a first playback pointer for a first interactive program guide, wherein the first playback pointer points to the cached first portion of the stored program;

cache a second portion of the stored program in the memory;

maintain a second playback pointer for a second interactive program guide, wherein the second playback pointer points to the cached 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;

distribute the cached first 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;

modify the second playback pointer at the media server;

distribute the cached second portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request;

determine that the first playback pointer is advancing towards an end of the cached first portion;

in response to the determining;

retrieve a third portion of the stored program, wherein the third portion corresponds to a portion of the program proximate to the cached first portion; and

cache the retrieved third portion of the stored program in the memory.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein each of the cached first portion and the cached second portion corresponds to non-overlapping portions of the stored program.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

modify the first playback pointer to point to the cached second portion.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

pre-decode the third portion of the stored program.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive a record request from an interactive program guide; and

store the program at the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the record request.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

store software associated with the program at the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the record request.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

enable the user to interact with the stored software when playing back the program.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive a delete request from an interactive program guide; and

delete the program from the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the delete request.

17. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:

receiving a record request from an interactive program guide;

storing the program at a media server in response to receiving the record request;

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;

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;

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.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

storing software associated with the program at the media server in response to receiving the record request.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

enabling the user to interact with the stored software when playing back the program.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

caching all of the stored program,

wherein each of the first playback pointer and the second playback pointer points to the cached program.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a delete request from an interactive program guide; and

deleting the program from the media server in response to receiving the delete request.

22. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:

a storage device at a media server;

processing circuitry configured to;

receive a record request from an interactive program guide;

store the program at the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the record request;

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;

distribute 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;

modify the second playback pointer at the media server; and

distribute 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.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

store software associated with the program at the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the record request.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

enable the user to interact with the stored software when playing back the program.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

a memory;

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

cache all of the stored program in the memory,

wherein each of the first playback pointer and the second playback pointer points to the cached program.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive a delete request from an interactive program guide; and

delete the program from the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the delete request.

27. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:

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, pre-decoding a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer, and distributing the pre-decoded 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,

pre-decoding a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer; and

distributing the pre-decoded portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request.

28. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:

a storage device at a media server;

processing circuitry configured to;

store the program at the storage device at the 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;

pre-decode a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the first playback pointer;

distribute the pre-decoded portion, 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;

modify the second playback pointer at the media server;

pre-decode a portion of the stored program, corresponding to the second playback pointer; and

distribute the pre-decoded portion, corresponding to the second playback pointer, to the second user equipment in response to receiving the second playback request.

29. A method for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the method comprising:

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;

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;

modifying the second playback pointer at the media server;

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;

receiving a delete request from an interactive program guide; and

deleting the program from the media server in response to receiving the delete request.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

caching all of the stored program,

wherein each of the first playback pointer and the second playback pointer points to the cached program.

30. A system for providing users at one or more user equipment devices with access to a program, the system comprising:

storage device at a media server;

processing circuitry configured to;

store the program at the storage device at the 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;

distribute 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;

modify the second playback pointer at the media server;

distribute 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;

receive a delete request from an interactive program guide; and

delete the program from the storage device at the media server in response to receiving the delete request.

32. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a memory;

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to;

cache all of the stored program in the memory,

wherein each of the first playback pointer and the second playback pointer points to the cached program.