System and method for sharing television programming information using universal identifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10091535-B2
Application number	US-94751810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2010
Priority date	Nov 16, 2010
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A system and method for sharing television data includes a first device and an encoded content identifier module in communication with the first device generating an encoded content identifier for a content and communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network. The first device includes a user interface for selecting the content identifier. The first device performs a function in response to a type of device, the encoded content identifier and selecting the content identifier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
generating an encoded content identifier for video content by encoding a content identifier;
communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device and a second device through a network;
selecting the encoded content identifier at the first device using a first user interface of the first device;
selecting the encoded content identifier at the second device using a second user interface of the second device;
in response to a first type of the first device, the encoded content identifier and selecting the encoded content identifier at the first device, performing a first function at the first device, said first function comprising one of tuning a tuner of the first device to television content, initiating a recording application, generating an outgoing message content identifier with a third device, and recording the content corresponding to the television content; and
in response to a second type of the second device, the encoded content identifier and selecting the encoded content identifier at the second device, performing a second function different than the first function at the second device, said second function comprising one of tuning a tuner of the second device to the television content, initiating a recording application, generating an outgoing message content identifier with the third device, and recording the content corresponding to the television content.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier in a content processing system.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating an encoded content identifier link corresponding to a unique content or content attribute provided from the content processing system.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier for a portion of a content in a content processing system.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier and a content format identifier.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier for television content available from a content processing system.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating the encoded content identifier, a channel identifier, a date identifier and a time identifier.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an encoded content identifier comprises generating at least one of a channel link, an actor link or a category link.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to the first device comprising a set top box.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein performing a first function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising an electronic mail.

12. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message.

13. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message having a comment or rating.

14. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a text message.

15. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein performing a first function comprises tuning to content corresponding to the encoded content identifier.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein performing a first function comprises recording the content corresponding to the encoded content identifier.

17. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein prior to communicating, authenticating the set top box with an external website and further comprising receiving the encoded content identifier through the external website.

18. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a message from a social networking site to the set top box.

19. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in an electronic mail message to the set top box.

20. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a text message to the set top box.

21. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to the first device comprising a mobile device.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein performing a second function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising an electronic mail.

24. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message.

25. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a social networking message having a comment or rating.

26. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein sharing comprises generating an outgoing message comprising a text message.

27. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein performing a second function comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to the content processing system and streaming content corresponding to the encoded content identifier to the mobile device.

28. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein performing a second function comprises initiating a recording application the first device in response to the encoded content identifier.

29. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a message from a social networking site to the mobile device.

30. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in an electronic mail message to the mobile device.

31. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier in a text message to the mobile device.

32. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the encoded content identifier to a first device through a network comprises communicating the encoded content identifier to the first device comprising a personal computer.

33. A method as recited in claim 32 wherein performing a first function comprises sharing the encoded content identifier.

34.

Assignees

• Thompson Matthew J
• Arsenault Robert G
• Directv Group Inc

Inventors

• Thompson Matthew J
• Arsenault Robert G

Classifications

• H04N21/222 Primary

  Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end {(provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56)} · CPC title

• H04N21/4826

  using recommendation lists, e.g. of programmes or channels sorted out according to their score · CPC title

• H04N21/25825 Primary

  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 title