IP Library Granted Patent US 7,802,285
Granted Patent B2
US 7,802,285 · App. 11/198,830 · Granted Sep 21, 2010

Client-server based interactive television program guide with server recording

Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,802,285
App. No.
11/198,830
Filed
Aug 4, 2005
Granted
Sep 21, 2010
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2421
USPC
725/88
Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.

Claims (50)

1. A method for use in an interactive television program guide system that provides users with access to programs, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of user equipment, each being configured to present video;

providing a server that is connected to each of the plurality of user equipment and that is configured to provide video to the plurality of user equipment;

receiving an indication from a user at a given user equipment of the plurality of user equipment to record a program on the server;

recording the program to the server;

creating an entry for the program recorded on the server in a directory of programs for the user;

receiving an indication from at least one other user to record the program recorded on the server;

receiving an indication from the user at the given user equipment of the plurality of user equipment to playback the program recorded on the server;

accessing the program from the server in response to receiving the indication;

displaying the program to the user at the given user equipment;

providing the user at the given user equipment and the at least one other user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to delete the program recorded on the server; and

in response to the user indicating a desire to delete the program, deleting the entry of the program recorded on the server in the directory of programs for the user and not deleting the program recorded on the server if the at least one other user has not indicated a desire to delete the program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of user equipment has a storage device and further comprising:

storing the program on the storage device of the given user equipment.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at least one other indication from at least one other user at least one other user equipment of the plurality of user equipment to playback the program stored on the server; and

displaying the program to the at least one other user at the at least one other user equipment, wherein the display of the program for the user at the given user equipment is simultaneous with the display of the program for the at least one other user at the at least one other user equipment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one other user is located at user equipment different than the given user equipment.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to the at least one other user indicating a desire to delete the program, deleting the program recorded on the server from the server.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

recording program guide data with the program on the server.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is a remote media server.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is a local media server.

9. An interactive television program guide system that provides users with access to programs, the interactive television program guide system comprising:

a plurality of user equipment including a given user equipment, wherein each of the plurality of user equipment is configured to present video;

a server that is connected to each of the plurality of user equipment and that is configured to:

provide video to the plurality of user equipment; and

record a program that is user-selected; and

an interactive television program guide implemented at least partially on circuitry, wherein the interactive television program guide is programmed to:

receive an indication from a user at a given user equipment of the plurality of user equipment to record a program on the server;

create an entry for the program recorded on the server in a directory of programs for the user;

receive an indication from at least one other user to playback the program recorded on the server;

receive an indication from a user at the given user equipment to playback the program recorded on the server;

access the program from the server in response to receiving the indication;

display the program to the user at the given user equipment;

provide the user at the given user equipment and the at least one other user with an opportunity to indicate a desire to delete the program recorded on the server; and

in response to the user indicating a desire to delete the program, delete the entry of the program recorded on the server in the directory of programs for the user and not delete the program recorded on the server if the at least one other user has not indicated a desire to delete the program.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to:

store the program on a storage device of the given user equipment.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to:

receive at least one other indication from at least one other user at least one other user equipment of the plurality of user equipment to playback the program stored on the server; and

display the program to the at least one other user at the at least one other user equipment, wherein the display of the program for the user at the given user equipment is simultaneous with the display of the program for the at least one other user at the at least one other user equipment.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one other user is located at user equipment different than the given user equipment.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the interactive television program guide is further programmed to:

in response to the at least one other user indicating a desire to delete the program, delete the program recorded on the server from the server.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the server is further configured to:

record program guide data with the program.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the server is a remote media server.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the server is a local media server.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: TV GUIDE, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0245 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UV CORP.
To: TV GUIDE, INC.
Reel/Frame 035848/0270 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 12, 2015
From: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: UV CORP.
Reel/Frame 035893/0241 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033396/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2012
From: ELLIS, MICHAEL D.; THOMAS, WILLIAM L.; LEMMONS, THOMAS R.
To: UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 028531/0145 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC, A BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANY; ROVI CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027039/0168 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.); ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION); ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED); ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025222/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2008
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; INDEX SYSTEMS INC; MACROVISION CORPORATION; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 020986/0074 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 0933224400 · Jun 11, 1999
Provisional Application 6009280700 · Jul 14, 1998
Related Publication 20050283810A1 · Dec 22, 2005