Apparatus, systems and methods for content availability notification

A method of notifying a user of content availability, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a media device, a content availability notification request from a remote device that is communicatively coupled to the media device of the user,
• wherein the content availability notification request specifies content that is of interest to the user on a restricted basis and a pre-authorization from the user for the specified content,
• wherein the specified content of interest is a current theatrical release that is listed in a content database stored at the media device,
• wherein the specified content of interest is not available to a distributer until a run of the current theatrical release has expired, and
• wherein the specified content of interest is identified in the content availability notification request by a title of the specified content of interest;
• determining, by the media device and based on the title of the specified content of interest, that the specified content of interest is not available or scheduled for presentation based upon a search of current electronic program guide (EPG) information that is stored at the media device, wherein the EPG information stores at least presentation schedule information pertaining to a plurality of scheduled programs over a predefined duration;
• receiving, at the media device, EPG information updates,
• wherein the EPG information updates are periodically received after the content availability notification request is received, and
• wherein the EPG information updates are used to update the EPG information stored at the media device;
• periodically monitoring, at the media device, the updated EPG information to determine availability of the specified content of interest based on the title of the specified content of interest;
• and
• generating, at the media device, a content availability reminder notification in response to determining during periodic monitoring that the specified content of interest is available or is scheduled for future presentation on the restricted basis,
• wherein the restricted basis comprises the pre-authorization from the user,
• wherein the content availability reminder notification is presented to the user and indicates at least a title of the specified content of interest, and
• wherein a presence of a notification icon on a display indicates the specific content of interest is scheduled for presentation on the restricted basis and the pre-authorization from the user;
• receiving, at the media device, the specified content of interest identified in the content availability notification request when the media device is presenting other content to the user;
• and
• replacing presentation of the other content with presentation of the specified content of interest when the specified content of interest is received in a program content stream received at the media device,
• wherein the other content is no longer presented, and
• wherein the specified content of interest identified by the availability reminder notification is presented to the user.

A media device, comprising:

• a memory configured to store electronic program guide (EPG) information,
• wherein the EPG information includes a schedule that identifies a plurality of programs that are available or are scheduled for future presentation over a predefined duration, and
• wherein each of the plurality of programs are identified in the EPG information using at least one identifier;
• a program content stream interface configured to receive at least one program content stream from a content service provider, wherein the plurality of programs are received in the at least one program content stream in accordance with the schedule defined in the EPG information;
• a network interface that is configured to communicatively couple the media device to a remote device via a communication network;
• and
• a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory and the program content stream interface, wherein the processor system is configured to:
• process a content availability notification request that is generated by the remote device in response to a request by a user who is using the remote device,
• wherein the content availability notification request specifies content that is of interest to the user on a restricted basis and a pre-authorization from the user for the specified content,
• wherein the specified content of interest is a current theatrical release that is listed in a content databased stored at the media device,
• wherein the specified content of interest is not available to a distributer until a run of the current theatrical release has expired, and
• wherein the content availability notification request includes an identifier that identifies the specified content of interest by a title of the specified content of interest;
• determine that the specified content of interest is not available or scheduled for presentation based upon a search of current EPG information that is stored in the memory;
• process received EPG information updates,
• wherein the EPG information updates are periodically received after the content availability notification request is received, and
• wherein the EPG information updates are used to update the EPG information stored at the media device;
• periodically monitor the updated EPG information to determine availability of the specified content of interest based on the title of the specified content of interest;
• generate a content availability reminder notification in response to determining during the periodic monitoring that the specified content of interest is available or is scheduled for future presentation on the restricted basis,
• wherein the restricted basis comprises the pre-authorization from the user,
• wherein the content availability reminder notification is presented to the user on a first display that is communicatively coupled to the media device when the user is viewing another media content event on the display that is communicatively coupled to the media device,
• wherein a presence of a notification icon on the first display indicates the specific content of interest is scheduled for presentation on the restricted basis and the pre-authorization from the user, and
• wherein the availability reminder notification indicates at least a title of the specified content of interest is available on a Video on Demand (VOD) system;
• generate the content availability reminder notification in response to the specified content of interest is available on the VOD system;
• and
• communicate the content availability reminder notification to the remote device,
• wherein the content availability reminder notification is presented on a second display of the remote device, and
• wherein the content availability reminder notification indicates that the specified content of interest is available on the VOD system.