# US 8,789,113 B2 · Method and system for providing a reminder notification for a set-top box > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,789,113 B2 - Document ID: US8789113B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/201,249 - Filed: 2008-08-29 - Published: 2010-03-04 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-29 - Assignees: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC - Applicants: Michael Goergen; Gary W. Lafreniere; David Emerson; David Rondeau - Inventors: Michael Goergen; Gary W. Lafreniere; David Emerson; David Rondeau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8789113B2 ## CPC - H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests} - H04N 21/25891: {being end-user preferences (retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N 21/44226: {on social networks} - H04N 21/4788: communicating with other users, e.g. chatting {(arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104)} - H04N 21/4882: {for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders (arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895)} - H04N 21/6582: {Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number (arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method and system for providing a reminder notification for a set-top box is disclosed. An embodiment is disclosed that determines a reminder notification rule for a recipient with at least one descriptor of media content received by a set-top box, queries a database for one or more selections of scheduled media content in accordance with the reminder notification rule, and sends a reminder notification to the recipient based on a query result. Another embodiment is disclosed that receives a request for a usage information of a set-top box in accordance with a reminder notification preference that has a reminder notification rule with at least one descriptor of media content received by a set-top box, and sends the usage information for the set-top box based upon the reminder notification preference. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing a reminder notification, comprising: subscribing to a third party notification service; compiling, by the third party notification service, a history of media content received by a set-top box; determining, by the third party notification service, a reminder notification rule for a user based on the compiled history of media content received by the set-top box; querying, by the third party notification service, a database for one or more selections of future scheduled media content receivable by the set-top box in accordance with the reminder notification rule; sending, by the third party notification service, a reminder notification to the user based on a query result, the reminder notification indicates that one or more selections of scheduled media content based on the reminder notification rule is accessible utilizing the set-top box; receiving a voice message over a telephone network in response to the reminder notification, wherein a partial command is generated from the voice message left by the user for the set-top box, to perform commands relating to the reminder notification. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder notification rule includes a rule to notify the user of any sitcom episode broadcast during primetime viewing hours that has not been previously viewed or recorded by the user based on the compiled history of media content received by a set-top box. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder notification is provided in a web-based content feed to the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder notification comprises a message sent to a mobile device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder notification is sent to all members of a social network group associated with the user. ### Claim 6 A third party notification system for providing a content reminder, comprising: a processor operable to execute a set of instructions; and a non-transitory computer readable medium in communication with the processor, the non-transitory computer readable medium operable to store a set of instructions, wherein the processor executes the set of instructions to: enable a subscriber to subscribe to a third party notification service provided by the third party notification system; compile a history of media content received by a set-top box; determine a reminder notification rule for the subscriber, the reminder notification rule comprises identifying media content that may be of interest to the subscriber based on the compiled history of media content received by the set-top box; query a database for one or more selections of scheduled media content of the set-top box in accordance with the reminder notification rule; send a reminder notification to the subscriber based on a query result; enable the subscriber to receive a voice message over a telephone network in response to the reminder notification, wherein a partial command is generated from the voice message left by the subscriber for the set-top box, to perform commands relating to the reminder notification. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the processor further executes the set of instructions to provide the reminder notification in a web-based content feed to the subscriber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the reminder notification rule includes a rule to notify the subscriber of any sitcom episode broadcast during primetime viewing hours that has not been previously viewed or recorded by the subscriber based on the compiled history of media content received by the set-top box.