Client-server based interactive guide with server recording

• US 9,154,843 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2014
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Thomas, William L., Lemmons, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry, Hunter B
• Application Number:
  US14/254,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20140229986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 725/54, 725/89, 725 93- 95
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 recording programs in a location remote to users comprising:

receiving, over a communications path using Internet Protocol (IP), a first record request, generated by a first user equipment, to record a first program;

receiving, over the communications path using IP, an indication from the first user equipment of a video format for recording the first program;

processing the first record request;

scheduling a first recording of the first program for storage in a storage device, in the location remote to the users, in response to processing the first record request;

recording the first program to the storage device using the indicated video format;

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a first playback request for the first program from the first user equipment;

processing the first playback request;

causing the recorded first program to be transmitted to the first user equipment in response to processing the first playback request;

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a second record request, generated by a second user equipment, to record a second program;

processing the second record request;

scheduling a second recording of the second program for storage in the storage device in response to processing the second record request;

recording the second program to the storage device;

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a second playback request for the second program from the second user equipment;

processing the second playback request; and

causing the recorded second program to be transmitted to the second user equipment in response to processing the second playback request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a first access request, generated by the first user equipment, to access a user directory of program listings for programs recorded in response to receiving record requests from a first user of the first user equipment; and

transmitting, over the communications path using IP, the user directory of program listings to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first access request.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

causing an overlay, to be displayed over a program that the first user of the first user equipment is watching, in response to receiving the first access request to access the user directory of program listings.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a first retrieval request, generated by the first user equipment to retrieve the first program; and

in response to receiving the retrieval request, transmitting the program to the first user equipment for storage at the first user equipment, wherein the transmitted program is stored at the first user equipment for subsequent playback in response to a subsequent playback request generated at the first user equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an information request, generated by the first user equipment, to access information about the first program; and

in response to receiving the information request to access information about the first program, transmitting information about the first program to the first user equipment.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting media guidance data associated with the first program, over the communications path using IP, to the first user equipment, wherein the first record request is based on the transmitted media guidance data associated with the first program; and

transmitting media guidance data associated with the second program, over the communications path using IP, to the second user equipment, wherein the second record request is based on the transmitted media guidance data associated with the second program.

25. The method of claim 1, comprising:

causing the recorded first program to be transmitted to the first user equipment using IP in response to processing the first playback request; and

causing the recorded second program to be transmitted to the second user equipment using IP in response to processing the second playback request.

7. A system for recording programs in a location remote to users comprising:

a server in the location remote to the users comprising;

a storage device;

communications circuitry configured to;

receive, over a communications path using Internet Protocol (IP), a first record request, generated by a first user equipment, to record a first program,

receive over the communications path using IP, an indication from the first user equipment of a video format for recording the first program,

receive, over the communications path using IP, a second record request, generated by a second user equipment, to record a second program,

receive, over the communications path using IP, a first playback request for the first program from the first user equipment,

receive, over the communications path using IP, a second playback request for the second program from the second user equipment, and

transmit programs, over the communications path using IP, to the first user equipment and the second user equipment; and

control circuitry configured to;

process the first record request,

schedule a first recording of the first program for storage in the storage device in response to processing the first record request,

record the first program to the storage device using the indicated video format,

process the second record request,

schedule a second recording of the second program for storage in the storage device in response to processing the second record request,

record the second program to the storage device,

process the first playback request,

cause the recorded first program to be transmitted by the communications circuitry in response to processing the first playback request,

process the second playback request, and

cause the recorded second program to be transmitted by the communications circuitry in response to processing the second playback request.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the communications circuitry is further configured to;

receive, over the communications path using IP, a first access request, generated by the first user equipment, to access a user directory of program listings for programs recorded in response to receiving record requests from a first user of the first user equipment, and

transmit, over the communications path using IP, the user directory of program listings to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first access request.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the control circuitry is further configured to;

cause an overlay, to be displayed over a program that the first user of the first user equipment is watching, in response to receiving the first access request to access the user directory of program listings.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the communications circuitry is further configured to;

receive, over the communications path using IP, a first retrieval request, generated by the first user equipment to retrieve the first program; and

in response to receiving the retrieval request, transmit the program to the first user equipment for storage at the first user equipment, wherein the transmitted program is stored at the first user equipment for subsequent playback in response to a subsequent playback request generated at the first user equipment.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the communications circuitry is further configured to;

receive an information request, generated by the first user equipment, to access information about the first program; and

in response to receiving the information request to access information about the first program, transmit information about the first program to the first user equipment.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the communications circuitry is further configured to;

transmit media guidance data associated with the first program, over the communications path using IP, to the first user equipment, wherein the first record request is based on the transmitted media guidance data associated with the first program; and

transmit media guidance data associated with the second program, over the communications path using IP, to the second user equipment, wherein the second record request is based on the transmitted media guidance data associated with the second program.

13. A method for storing programs in a location remote to users comprising:

receiving, over a communications path using Internet Protocol (IP), a first storage request, generated by a first user equipment, to store a first program;

receiving, over the communications path using IP, an indication from the first user equipment of a video format for storing the first program;

processing the first storage request;

storing the first program to a storage device using the indicated video format, in the location remote to the users;

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a first playback request for the first program from the first user equipment;

processing the first playback request;

causing the stored first program to be transmitted to the first user equipment in response to processing the first playback request;

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a second storage request, generated by a second user equipment, to store a second program;

processing the second storage request;

storing the second program to the storage device;

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a second playback request for the second program from the second user equipment;

processing the second playback request; and

causing the stored second program to be transmitted to the second user equipment in response to processing the second playback request.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a first access request, generated by the first user equipment, to access a user directory of program listings for programs stored to the storage device in response to receiving storage requests from a first user of the first user equipment; and

transmitting, over the communications path using IP, the user directory of program listings to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first access request.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

causing an overlay, to be displayed over a program that the first user of the first user equipment is watching, in response to receiving the first access request to access the user directory of program listings.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, over the communications path using IP, a first retrieval request, generated by the first user equipment to retrieve the first program; and

in response to receiving the retrieval request, transmitting the program to the first user equipment for storage at the first user equipment, wherein the transmitted program is stored at the first user equipment for subsequent playback in response to a subsequent playback request generated at the first user equipment.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an information request, generated by the first user equipment, to access information about the first program; and

in response to receiving the information request to access information about the first program, transmitting information about the first program to the first user equipment.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting media guidance data associated with the first program, over the communications path using IP, to the first user equipment, wherein the first storage request is based on the transmitted media guidance data associated with the first program; and

transmitting media guidance data associated with the second program, over the communications path using IP, to the second user equipment, wherein the second storage request is based on the transmitted media guidance data associated with the second program.

26. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

causing the stored first program to be transmitted to the first user equipment using IP in response to processing the first playback request; and

causing the stored second program to be transmitted to the second user equipment using IP in response to processing the second playback request.

19. A system for storing programs in a location remote to users comprising:

a server in the location remote to the users comprising;

a storage device;

communications circuitry configured to;

receive, over a communications path using Internet Protocol (IP), a first storage request, generated by a first user equipment, to store a first program,

receive, over the communications path using IP, an indication from the first user equipment of a video format for storing the first program;

receive, over the communications path using IP, a second storage request, generated by a second user equipment, to store a second program,

receive, over the communications path using the IP, a first playback request for the first program from the first user equipment,

receive, over the communications path using the IP, a second playback request for the second program from the second user equipment, and

transmit programs, over the communications path using IP, to the first user equipment and the second user equipment; and

control circuitry configured to;

process the first storage request,

store the first program to the storage device using the indicated video format,

process the second storage request,

store the second program to the storage device,

process the first playback request,

cause the stored first program to be transmitted by the communications circuitry in response to processing the first playback request,

process the second playback request, and

cause the stored second program to be transmitted by the communications circuitry in response to processing the second playback request.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the communications circuitry is further configured to;

receive, over the communications path using IP, a first access request, generated by the first user equipment, to access a user directory of program listings for programs stored to the storage device in response to receiving storage requests from a first user of the first user equipment, and

transmit, over the communications path using IP, the user directory of program listings to the first user equipment in response to receiving the first access request.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the control circuitry is further configured to;

cause an overlay, to be displayed over a program that the first user of the first user equipment is watching, in response to receiving the first access request to access the user directory of program listings.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the communications circuitry is further configured to;

receive, over the communications path using IP, a first retrieval request, generated by the first user equipment to retrieve the first program; and

in response to receiving the retrieval request, transmit the program to the first user equipment for storage at the first user equipment, wherein the transmitted program is stored at the first user equipment for subsequent playback in response to a subsequent playback request generated at the first user equipment.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the communications circuitry is further configured to;

receive an information request, generated by the first user equipment, to access information about the first program; and

in response to receiving the information request to access information about the first program, transmit information about the first program to the first user equipment.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the communications circuitry is further configured to;

transmit media guidance data associated with the first program, over the communications path using IP, to the first user equipment, wherein the first storage request is based on the transmitted media guidance data associated with the first program; and

transmit media guidance data associated with the second program, over the communications path using IP, to the second user equipment, wherein the second storage request is based on the transmitted media guidance data associated with the second program.