Apparatus and method for remote control of digital video recorders and the like
A system stores a first permission parameter associated with a first user of a set of digital video recorders (DVRs) and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of the set. The second permission parameter defines a different level of permission for controlling the set than the first permission parameter. At least one server receives a first request to control the set from the first user and a second request to control the set from the second user. The set is controlled in accordance with: (i) the first request, based on the first permission parameter, and (ii) the second request, based on the second permission parameter. The controlling includes at least communicating with the set over a network. Techniques are also provided for directly obtaining information on a DVR in real time over a content network.
1. A method for controlling a set of digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said method comprising the steps of:
storing information regarding the set of digital video recorders;
storing at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of said set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of said set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling said set than said first permission parameter;
receiving, at at least one server remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises, a first request to control said set from said first user and a second request to control said set from said second user;
obtaining, at said at least one server, at least a portion of said stored information regarding the set of one or more digital video recorders; and
controlling said set in accordance with: (i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter, and (iii) said obtained information regarding the set, said controlling comprising at least communicating with said set over a network;
wherein said storing said at least first and second permission parameters comprises storing in storage accessible to an identity management server operatively coupled to said at least one server which receives said first and second requests;
wherein said storing said information regarding said set comprises storing in storage accessible to a division head end application server remote to said at least one server which receives said first and second requests; and
wherein said obtained information regarding said set comprises a quantity of digital video recorders in said set and a respective MAC address for each of said digital video recorders in said set, said set comprising at least first and second digital video recorders.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least first permission parameter grants said first user permission to perform substantially all available control functions in connection with said set, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access that is limited based at least on ratings of programs.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least first permission parameter grants said first user permission to perform substantially all available control functions in connection with said set, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access limited that is limited based at least on channels.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least first permission parameter grants said first user permission to perform substantially all available control functions in connection with said set, and wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access that is limited based at least on specific programs.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user access to a subset of said at least first and second digital video recorders different than that granted to said first user by said at least first permission parameter.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least second permission parameter grants said second user a lower level of permission to override choices of said first user than a level of permission to override choices of said second user granted to said first user by said at least first permission parameter.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least second permission parameter prevents said second user from viewing what selections are programmed on said first digital video recorder.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said division head end application server is remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises.
9. A system for controlling a set of digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said system comprising:
a network coupled to the set;
a division head end application module coupled to said network and configured to store information regarding the set of digital video recorders;
an identity management module configured to store at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of said set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of said set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling said set than said first permission parameter; and
a DVR control application module coupled to said network and said identity management module, said DVR control application module being remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises, said DVR control application module configured to:
receive a first request to control the set from said first user and a second request to control the set from said second user;
obtain at least a portion of said information regarding the set of one or more digital video recorders from said division head end application module; and
control the set in accordance with: (i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter, and (iii) said information regarding the set obtained from said division head end application module, said controlling comprising at least communicating with the set over said network;
wherein said obtained information regarding said set comprises a quantity of digital video recorders in said set and a respective MAC address for each of said digital video recorders in said set, said set comprising at least first and second digital video recorders.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said division head end application module is remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein said division head end application module is remote to said identity management module.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein said division head end application module is remote to said DVR control application module.
13. A system for controlling a set of digital video recorders located at one or more user premises, said system comprising:
at least one server remote to said set and remote to said one or more user premises;
means for storing information regarding the set of digital video recorders;
means for storing at least a first permission parameter associated with a first user of the set and at least a second permission parameter associated with a second user of the set, said second permission parameter defining a different level of permission for controlling the set than said first permission parameter;
means for receiving, at said at least one server, a first request to control the set from said first user and a second request to control the set from said second user;
means for obtaining, at said at least one server, at least a portion of said stored information regarding the set of one or more digital video recorders; and
means for controlling the set in accordance with: (i) said first request, based on said first permission parameter, (ii) said second request, based on said second permission parameter, and (iii) said obtained information regarding the set, said controlling comprising at least communicating with the set over a network;
wherein said obtained information regarding said set comprises a quantity of digital video recorders in said set and a respective MAC address for each of said digital video recorders in said set, said set comprising at least first and second digital video recorders.