Apparatus and methods for controlling digital video recorders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9253537-B2
Application number	US-201213596969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2012
Priority date	Aug 28, 2012
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder receives an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions. The set of available functions comprises a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder. Subsequently, at least in part in response to the instructions from the user, the DVR controller issues a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function. The digital video recorder is operative to present content on a presentation device controlled by the user. The DVR controller, in turn, is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder in a facility of a content provider.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method to be performed by a DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder;
determining whether the function is to be performed substantially immediately by the digital video recorder or at a future scheduled time; and
issuing, at substantially the future scheduled time, a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function for a function determined to be performed at the future scheduled time;
wherein the digital video recorder is disposed in a premises of the user and is operative to play back content on a presentation device controlled by the user in response to a command from the DVR controller, and the DVR controller is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder in a facility of a content provider.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of available functions further comprises at least one of a rewind function and a fast-forward function.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of available functions further comprises a delete function operative to cause the digital video recorder to delete content stored on the digital video recorder.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of analyzing the instruction to determine if it causes a scheduling conflict on the digital video recorder.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of resolving the scheduling conflict if it exists.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of resolving the scheduling conflict if it exists comprises at least one of canceling a recording, rescheduling a recording, and truncating a recording.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content comprises at least one of video content, audio content, image content, and text content.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital video recorder is implemented in a set-top terminal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of available functions further comprises an information function operative to cause the digital video recorder to present information to the user.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the information is presented as a menu or list.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the information relates to content available for recording.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the information is presented as an interface for selecting one or more portions of content to be recorded.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the information relates to a scheduling conflict.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the instruction from the user via a web server.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DVR controller comprises distinct software modules, each of the distinct software modules being embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the distinct software modules comprise a user device server module and a DVR record-playback command module, and wherein:
the receiving step is carried out by the user device server module executing on at least one hardware processor; and
the issuing step is carried out by the DVR record-playback command module on the at least one hardware processor.

16. A computer program product comprising a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code configured to perform the steps of:
receiving at a DVR controller an instruction from a user directing a digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder;
determining by the DVR controller whether the function is to be performed substantially immediately by the digital video recorder or at a future scheduled time; and
issuing from the DVR controller, at substantially the future scheduled time, a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function for a function determined to be performed at the future scheduled time;
wherein the digital video recorder is disposed in a premises of the user and is operative to play back content on a presentation device controlled by the user in response to a command from the DVR controller, and the DVR controller is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder in a facility of a content provider.

17. A DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder, the DVR controller comprising:
a memory; and
at least one processor, coupled to the memory, and operative to perform the steps of:
receiving an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder;
determining whether the function is to be performed substantially immediately by the digital video recorder or at a future scheduled time; and
issuing, at substantially the future scheduled time, a command to the digital video recorder to perform the function for a function determined to be performed at the future scheduled time;

wherein the digital video recorder is disposed in a premises of the user and is operative to play back content on a presentation device controlled by the user in response to a command from the DVR controller, and the DVR controller is remotely disposed from the digital video recorder in a facility of a content provider.

18. The DVR controller of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of distinct software modules, each of the distinct software modules being embodied on a computer-readable storage medium, and wherein the distinct software modules comprise a user device server module and a DVR record-playback command module, wherein:
the at least one processor is operative to perform the receiving step by executing the user device server module; and
the at least one processor is operative to perform the issuing step by executing the DVR record-playback command module.

19. A DVR controller in network communication with a digital video recorder, the DVR controller comprising:
means for receiving an instruction from a user directing the digital video recorder to perform a function among a set of available functions, the set of available functions comprising a record function operative to cause the digital video recorder to record content and store that content on the digital video recorder, and a playback function operative to cause the digital video recorder to play back content stored on the digital video recorder;
means for determining whether the function is to be performed substantially immediately by the digital video recorder or at a future scheduled time; and
means for issuing

Assignees

• Sarosi George
• Cholas Chris
• Bell David
• Helms William L
• Time Warner Cable Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Sarosi George
• Cholas Chris
• Bell David
• Helms William L

Classifications

• H04N5/765

  Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus · CPC title

• H04N21/4135

  external recorder (interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775) · CPC title

• H04N21/6587

  Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection · CPC title

• H04N21/43622

  Interfacing an external recording device · CPC title

• H04N21/47214

  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 title