Remote mobile voice control of digital/personal video recorder
AssigneeSprint Communications Company L.P.
InventorsDavid Uel McKinney, Tim Swan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for controlling a media host device from a mobile voice device. In accordance with a method of the present invention, a call is received from the mobile voice device. A portion of an electronic programming guide is obtained and verbally provided to the mobile voice device in response to the call. A verbal selection associated with the electronic programming guide is received from the mobile voice device and communicated to the media host device through a command encompassing the verbal selection.
Claims20
A method for controlling a media host device from a mobile voice device, the method comprising:
- receiving a call from the mobile voice device;
- determining that a version of the electronic programming guide is stored in cache on the mobile voice device;
- determining that the version of the electronic programming guide stored in the cache of the mobile device is outdated;
- receiving an updated version of the electronic programming guide;
- storing, in the cache, the updated version of the electronic programming guide;
- using the electronic programming guide to verbally communicate, through the mobile voice device, one or more titles of one or more television programs being broadcast on a cable station;
- using the electronic programming guide to verbally communicate, through the mobile voice device, when the one or more television programs are to be broadcast on the cable station;
- receiving a verbal selection associated with the electronic programming guide from the mobile voice device;
- communicating a command encompassing the verbal selection to the media host device.
A system for controlling a media host device from a mobile voice device, the system comprising:
- a voice command component configured to;
- (1) convert a verbal message from the mobile voice device to text, wherein the text indicates a request for recording a television show,
- (2) pass the text to a headend, and
- (3) receive a confirmatory message that a recording task was scheduled for the television show;
- an electronic programming guide interface component configured to obtain a portion of an electronic programming guide when requested by the voice command component for verbal presentation thereof, wherein the electronic programming guide comprises information specifying a plurality of titles of television programs and a plurality of times when the television programs will be broadcast across a plurality of cable stations, and wherein the electronic programming guide interface component determines whether a version of the electronic programming guide has previously been stored in a cache of the mobile device, and if so, determines that the version of the electronic programming guide needs to be updated;
- and
- a media host device interface component configured to communicate a user selection, from the mobile voice device, associated with the responsive portion of the electronic programming guide to the media host device.
A method for controlling a media host device from a mobile phone, the method comprising:
- receiving a call from the mobile phone;
- determining that the mobile phone is provisioned for voice command service;
- based on how the mobile phone being properly provisioned, determining a cable-television network to which a user subscribes;
- determining a profile associated with the mobile phone;
- using the profile to identify an electronic programming guide offered to the user by the cable-television network;
- obtaining a portion of the electronic programming guide;
- using the electronic programming guide to verbally communicate, through the mobile phone, one or more titles of one or more television programs being broadcast on a cable station;
- using the electronic programming guide to verbally communicate, through the mobile phone, when the one or more television programs are to be broadcast on the cable station;
- receiving a verbal selection from the mobile phone, the verbal selection indicating a request to record a television program;
- communicating a command encompassing the verbal selection to the media host device;
- receiving, on the mobile phone, a confirmatory message confirming a recording task was initiated;
- converting, on the mobile phone, the confirmatory message into a voice message;
- and
- presenting the voice message on the mobile phone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.