Apparatus and method for remote wireless control of digital video recorders and the like

• US 9,628,746 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• 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: Parmar, Vaibhav, Frey, Michael, Price, Melissa, Sheikh, Khurram P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Topgyal, Gelek W
• Application Number:
  US11/843,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,527 Days
• Field of Search: 386291-299, 725 58
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

At least one server is queried from a wireless device to obtain program data, and to obtain DVR data from a digital video recorder. The program data is received from the server and the DVR data is received from the digital video recorder The program data and/or the DVR data are displayed on the wireless device. The at least one digital video recorder is controlled by selecting a user-operable function from the program data and/or the DVR data on the wireless device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling at least one digital video recorder, said method comprising the steps of:

registering a user of said at least one digital video recorder with a wireless access to said at least one digital video recorder;

downloading a digital video recorder remote control application to a wireless device based on parameters gathered while registering said user;

determining a location of said at least one digital video recorder;

querying at least one server from said wireless device to obtain program data from said server and DVR data from said at least one digital video recorder;

receiving said program data from said server and said DVR data from said at least one digital video recorder, said program data comprising a program guide customized for said location of said at least one digital video recorder;

displaying said program data and/or said DVR data on said wireless device; 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 wireless device;

further comprising the additional step of obtaining, from said wireless device, at least one menu selection;

wherein said at least one menu selection comprises a command to record at least one television program;

wherein said command specifies at least a start time, an end time, and a channel selection; and

wherein at least one of said start time and said end time is specified as a margin from a nominal time slot of said at least one television program.