Network Video Unit
Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired.
1 . A method for providing a piece of content to a receiving device using a computer network, the method comprising:
receiving a request for the piece of content from the receiving device, the receiving device being connected to the computer and having a first network address;
transmitting an identifier for the receiving device to a server connected to the computer network in response to receiving the request;
receiving a set of contact information including the first network address from the server in response to transmitting the identifier to the server; and
transmitting a request to download the piece of content to the receiving device.
2 - 53 . (canceled)