(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Chilvers et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`USOO8327403B1
`
`4. W4-
`
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3151492
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`(Continued)
`
`S.
`
`DE
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/332,244, filed Jun. 11, 1999, Ellis, et al.
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner — Pinkal R Chokshi
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Ropes & Gray LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Methods and systems for remotely scheduling for recording
`or ordering a program advertised on a web page of a website.
`A program advertisement is displayed on a user device. In
`response to a user's selection of the advertisement, informa
`tion is transmitted from the user device to a web server of the
`web page without navigating the user away from the website.
`The information includes information that identifies a user's
`equipment to a remote access server. A record request or an
`order request is transmitted by the web server to the remote
`access server. The remote access server cross-references the
`record or order request with an action request. The action
`request is transmitted to the user's television equipment to
`record or access the advertised program.
`25 Claims, 23 Drawing Sheets
`
`(54) SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING
`REMOTE PROGRAM ORDERING ON AUSER
`DEVICEVA AWEB SERVER
`
`(75) Inventors: Henry C. Chilvers, Valencia, CA (US);
`Craig Alan Olague, Moorpark, CA
`(US); Kuan Hidalgo Archer, Los
`Angeles, CA (US)
`(73) Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc., Los
`Angles, CA (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 519 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/851,573
`
`Sep. 7, 2007
`
`(22) Filed:
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 3/00
`(2006.01)
`G06F I3/00
`(2006.01)
`H04N 5/445
`(2006.01)
`HO)4N 7/173
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................ 725/58; 725/31; 725/39; 725/42;
`725/43; 725/61; 725/86; 725/104; 725/109;
`725.7133
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................... 725/31,
`725/32, 39, 42, 43,51,58, 61, 86, 104, 109,
`725/1 10, 131, 133, 153: 348/552. 386/299
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
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`950
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`
`ULTIVATE
`
`s’ Orr NOW
`FGHTERS
`a’
`ey
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`
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`
`Comcast, Ex. 1007
`
`1
`
`

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`0015-0.142 (Translation, pp. 1-9).
`* cited by examiner
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2012
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`Sheet 1 of 23
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`US 8,327.403 B1
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`US 8,327.403 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2012
`Dec. 4, 2012
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`US 8,327.403 B1
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`Dec. 4, 2012
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`Dec. 4, 2012
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`Dec. 4, 2012
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2012
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`Sheet 12 of 23
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`US 8,327,403 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 4, 2012
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`Sheet 13 of 23
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`US 8,327.403 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 14 of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`US 8,327,403 B1
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 15 Of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`12O2 Y
`
`
`
`ACTION REQUEST DEF
`
`FIG. 12A
`1222
`
`1218
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`<?xml version = “1.0" encoding = "ISO-8859-1"?> AN 1204
`<action requests>
`<request>
`7-1226 - 1224
`<Channel 100 <!channel)
`<start time> “14:00:00 EST"<lstart time>
`<action requested> “Record'<faction requested>
`2 - )
`
`1216
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`<start time> “14:00:00 EST'</start time>
`<prog title> "Sex and the City' </prog title>
`
`19
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 16 of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`1300
`
`1304
`
`Receive user equipment
`identification information
`
`1306
`
`(
`
`Select a user equipment format
`
`Receive action request
`in generic format
`
`( 1308
`
`C 1310
`
`Cross-reference received action
`request with a corresponding
`action request
`
`( 1312
`
`( 1314
`
`Transmit Corresponding
`action request
`
`Transmit notification
`acknowledging receipt of the
`Corresponding action request
`
`FIG. 13A
`
`20
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 17 Of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`X-ACT 90/\O ?SEOLLIDO
`
`
`
`21
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 18 of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`provide program advertisement from
`Web Server to user device
`
`1410
`
`receive at Web Server information from
`the user device indicating a user's
`selection of the advertisement, the
`information includes equipment
`identification information
`
`142O
`
`transmit from the Web Server to a remote
`access server a record request to record
`the advertised program
`
`
`
`1430
`
`CrOSS-reference at a remote access Server
`the record request with an action request
`
`1440
`
`transmit from the remote access Server the
`action request in a user equipment format
`for recording the advertised program
`
`1450
`
`FIG. 14
`
`22
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 19 Of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`1500
`
`receive at a user device a program
`advertisement from a Web Server
`
`1510
`
`display the advertisement on the user device r 152O
`
`1530
`receive a uSer Selection of the advertisement r
`
`transmit from the user device to a remote
`access server a record request to record the
`advertised program, the request includes
`equipment identification information
`
`1540
`
`cross-reference at the remote access server - 1550
`the record request with an action request
`
`
`
`
`
`transmit from the remote access Server the
`action request in a user equipment format
`for recording the advertised program
`
`1560
`
`FIG. 15
`
`23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 20 of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`
`
`provide program advertisement from
`Web server to user device, the advertised
`program requiring a program Specific Order
`request to enable access to the program
`
`receive at Web Server information from the
`user device indicating a user's selection of
`the advertisement, the information
`includes equipment identification
`information
`
`1610
`
`162O
`
`transmit from the Web Server to a remote
`access server an order request to order
`the advertised program
`
`1630
`
`CrOSS-reference at a remote access SerWer
`the order request with an action request
`
`1640
`
`transmit from the remote access SerWer the
`action request in a user equipment format
`for accessing the advertised program
`
`1650
`
`FIG. 16
`
`24
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 21 of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`receive at a user device a program
`advertisement from a web server, the advertised
`program requiring a program specific Order
`request to enable access to the program
`
`1710
`
`display the advertisement on the user device
`
`172O
`
`receive a user Selection of the advertisement
`
`receive a user selection of the advertisement
`
`1730
`
`transmit from the user device to a remote
`access server an order request to order the
`advertised program, the request includes
`equipment identification information
`
`1740
`
`
`
`
`
`CrOSS-reference at the remote access Server
`the order request with an action request
`
`1750
`
`transmit from the remote access Server the
`action request in a user equipment format
`for accessing the advertised program
`
`1760
`
`FIG. 17
`
`25
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 22 of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`RAS = Remote ACCeSS Server
`MGA = Interactive Media Guidance Application
`
`1800
`
`1812
`\
`
`Receive Action Request
`on User Equipment with IMGA
`
`1814 | Locate Second Program information in
`IMGA Data Source Using information
`Received in Action Request
`
`
`
`1820
`Program information
`Located?
`
`YES
`
`- 1822
`
`Transmit Failure information to
`RAS (Acknowledgement)
`
`Transmit Second Program
`information to RAS
`(Acknowledgement)
`- 1826
`
`Receive Second Program
`Information at RAS
`
`FIG. 18A
`
`26
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 4, 2012
`
`Sheet 23 of 23
`
`US 8,327.403 B1
`
`RAS = Remote ACCeSS Server
`MGA = Interactive Media Guidance Application
`
`
`
`1800
`
`1860 -->
`Disparity Between
`First Program information
`and Second Program
`Information?
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`Schedule Requested
`Action for the Program
`With MGA
`
`1868
`- -
`Receive Alternate
`Scheduling information at
`User Equipment
`
`Store information
`Regarding Disparity to
`Remote ACCeSS Database
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Transmit Search Request for
`Alternate Scheduling information
`for the Program to IMGA Data
`Source/Media Guidance ACCeSS
`Server
`
`Search IMGA Data Source for
`Alternate Scheduling information
`for the Program
`1863 -
`Receive Search Results from
`IMGA Data Source/Media
`Guidance Access Server
`1864
`Found
`Alternate Scheduling
`information?
`
`Transmit Alternate Scheduling
`Information to User Equipment
`1870
`t
`Transmit Information Regarding
`Disparity to Data Provider for
`Remote Access Service
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 874's
`Send Failure Notification to
`Remote Access User Device
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 18B
`
`27
`
`

`

`US 8,327,403 B1
`
`1.
`SYSTEMIS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING
`REMOTE PROGRAM ORDERING ON AUSER
`DEVICEVA AWEB SERVER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to media systems, and
`more particularly, to systems and methods for providing
`remote program ordering on a user device via a web server.
`Recent advances in media communications technology
`have made it possible for users to access interactive media
`guidance applications implemented on user equipment with
`out being in physical proximity to the user equipment. For
`example, users of interactive media guidance applications in
`Some systems may remotely schedule recordings of televi
`sion programs. In Such systems, the user's set-top box is
`coupled to a remote program guide access server through a
`communications network. When away from home, the user
`may connect to the remote access server (or an intermediate
`server Such as a web server) through a device, such as a
`personal computer, to remotely schedule recording with the
`interactive media guidance application on the users in-home
`set-top box.
`In some cases, a user may want to be able to access more
`than one set-top box, for example, if they have more than one
`televisionathome, each with its own set-top box. Each set-top
`box may be remotely accessible, however, the remote access
`server for one set-top box may not be compatible with the
`interactive media guidance application of another set-top box
`(e.g., if the boxes have different application program inter
`faces), requiring the user to connect to multiple remote access
`servers to access the multiple set-top boxes. In some cases, a
`user may prefer to use a particular remote access server for
`accessing set-top boxes, in which case it would be desirable if
`the remote access server could access different types of set
`top boxes regardless of vendor, model, or other characteristics
`of set-top boxes.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide
`remote access systems and methods that Support algorithms
`and techniques for facilitating the communication of requests
`initiated at remote locations for transmittal to interactive
`media guidance applications. In particular, it would be desir
`able to provide a remote access system capable of communi
`cating record requests to multiple interactive media guidance
`applications.
`In accordance with principles of the present invention,
`systems and methods for remotely ordering a program for
`access on user equipment implementing an interactive media
`guidance application are provided. In particular, a general
`remote access service for enabling communication and man
`agement of multiple user equipment devices, such as digital
`video recorders that may be from multiple vendors, is pro
`vided. A user may use the general remote access service to
`send requests. Such as Scheduling a recording, placing an
`order, or reminder or setting user preferences, either directly
`to the user equipment device (e.g., a digital video recorder
`located at an addressable internet protocol address) or to an
`intermediate server Such as a service provider backend in
`communication with the user equipment device. The general
`remote access service may include a web server for receiving
`user requests, which are cross-referenced with action
`requests that are in a format compatible with the user equip
`ment device and/or the intermediate server. The general
`remote access service may maintain a lookup table that cross
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`references user requests with action requests in a plurality of
`formats, each compatible with a different user equipment
`device. A particular format may be selected based on charac
`teristics of the user equipment device. Such as its vendor
`and/or model.
`According to one aspect of the invention, a method for
`remotely accessing user equipment includes the steps of
`receiving user equipment identification information indicat
`ing at least one characteristic of the user equipment and
`receiving from a user device a user request indicating instruc
`tions for the user equipment. The user request is cross-refer
`enced with an action request in a user equipment format
`selected from a plurality of formats to be compatible with the
`user equipment. The action request in the user equipment
`format is transmitted for receipt by the user equipment for
`enabling execution of the indicated instructions.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a program
`advertised on a web page of a website provided by a web
`server is scheduled for recording using a remote access server.
`This allows the user to browse websites on the Internet and
`when presented with a program advertisement of interest on a
`particular website, the user may schedule the advertised pro
`gram for recording seamlessly without being required to pro
`vide any further input or being browsed away to a different
`website (to Schedule the program for recording). In particular,
`a program advertisement may be displayed on a user device.
`In response to a user's selection of the advertisement, infor
`mation may be transmitted from the user device to a web
`server of the web page without navigating the user away from
`the website. The information transmitted by the user device
`may include information that identifies a user's equipment to
`a remote access server. The information may be stored in a
`cookie on the user device. A record request may be transmit
`ted by the web server to the remote access server. The remote
`access server may cross-reference the record request with an
`action request. The action request may be transmitted by the
`remote access server to the user's television equipment to
`instruct the user's television equipment to schedule the adver
`tised program for recording.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a program
`advertised on a web page of a website provided by a web
`server is ordered from a remote access server. This allows the
`user to browse websites on the Internet and when presented
`with a program advertisement of interest on a particular web
`site, the user may order the advertised program, for accessing