Satellite television network and near real-time method for downloading and verifying a subscriber remote record request
View Patent ↗Near real time downloading and verifying of a subscriber's remote record request is provided to control a DVR using the existing satellite network. The insertion of the programming request into the continuous broadcast stream enables near real time processing of the request by a subscriber IRD to accommodate same day and even last minute remote programming requests. The use of a back channel to verify the request provides the subscriber with assurance that the request has been processed successfully and flexibility to change services on the fly.
1. A method of sending a remote record request to a recording device in a broadcast system, comprising:
logging in to a system coupled to a broadcast center in the broadcast system with a wireless communications device;
accessing a programming guide for the broadcast system with the wireless communications device;
selecting a program for recording on the recording device and submitting the remote record request to the broadcast system, the remote record request comprising a program code and a subscriber ID;
sending the remote record request to the broadcast center;
verifying, at the broadcast center, that the subscriber ID is valid and the program is within a current subscription package within the broadcast system;
communicating a verification response to the wireless communications device rejecting the remote record request when the program is not within the current subscription package or is above a billing limit or rating limit;
communicating an override signal from the wireless communications device to the broadcast center to override the package, billing limit or a rating limit;
inserting, at the broadcast center, the remote record request into a broadcast stream in response to the override signal;
transmitting the broadcast stream within the broadcast system;
receiving the broadcast stream at a plurality of subscriber sites;
determining whether the remote record request in the broadcast stream is directed to the receiving subscriber site by comparing the subscriber ID to a subscriber site ID; and
validating the remote record request at the subscriber site by determining whether the selected program can be recorded.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a verification response from the subscriber site to the wireless communication device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the verification response comprises affirmation of receipt and successful initiation of recording the program in the remote record request.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the remote record request into a broadcast stream further comprises:
inserting the remote record request into a MPT packet; and
inserting the MPT packet into a transport packet in the broadcast stream.
5. A broadcast system, comprising:
a broadcast center, for receiving remote record requests comprising a program code and a subscriber ID from at least one wireless communications device, wherein the broadcast center verifies that the subscriber ID is valid and a selected program is within a current subscription package within the broadcast system, communicates a verification response rejecting the remote record request to the at least one wireless communication device when the selected program is not within the current subscription package or is above a billing limit or rating limit, receives an override signal from the at least one wireless device to override the current subscription package, billing limit or rating limit, inserts the remote record request into a broadcast stream in response to the override signal, and transmits the broadcast stream within the broadcast system;
a plurality of receivers receiving the broadcast stream from the broadcast center, wherein at least one receiver in the plurality of receivers comprising a recording device, wherein the at least one receiver determines whether the remote record request in the broadcast stream is directed to that receiver by comparing the subscriber ID to a receiver ID and validates the remote record request by determining whether the selected program can be recorded on the recording device at the receiver.
6. The broadcast system of claim 5 , further comprising sending a verification response from the receiver subscriber site to the wireless communication device.
7. The broadcast system of claim 6 , wherein the verification response comprises affirmation of receipt and successful initiation of the remote record request.
8. The broadcast system of claim 6 , wherein the verification response comprises a rejection of the remote record request.
9. The broadcast system of claim 8 , wherein the verification response further comprises a conflict message explaining the rejection of the remote record request.
10. The broadcast system of claim 5 , wherein inserting the remote record request into a broadcast stream further comprises:
inserting the remote record request into a MPT packet; and
inserting the MPT packet into a transport packet in the broadcast stream.