Claims
- 1. A system for recording purchased programming, the system comprising:
a device by which a user places an order for purchased programming; and a recording device controller connected through at least one communication medium to a recording device, the recording device controller verifying that the recording device is programmed to record the purchased programming and the recording device controller canceling the order if it is not verified that the recording device is programmed to record the programming.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording device is a digital video recorder.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication medium is a different medium than a transmit medium used to deliver the purchased programming.
- 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device which sends the order to a distributor of the purchased programming.
- 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording device controller sends the order to a distributor of purchased programming.
- 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording device controller instructs the recording device to record the purchased programming.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording device controller notifies the user of a status of the order.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the recording device cannot transfer the purchased programming to any other device.
- 9. A system for the delivery of programming, the system comprising:
an order processor; a program source device; and a user recording device; the order processor executing instructions to:
receive from a user and process an order for a program, communicate commands with the user recording device, communicate commands with the program server, and store user data; the program source device executing instructions to:
communicate commands with the order processor, send a program to the user recording device, and authorize the receiving of the program by the user recording device; and the user recording device executing instructions to:
communicate commands with the order processor, receive the program from the program service device, and record the program.
- 10. The system of claim 9, the user recording device further executing instructions to confirm its ability to receive and/or record the program.
- 11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:
a stream assembly device; the stream assembly device executing instructions to:
select programs for a programming stream based on predetermined criteria, create the programming stream, create a programming schedule for the programming stream, encrypt the programming stream, transmit the encrypted programming stream, and transmit the programming schedule.
- 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:
the user recording device further executing instructions to:
receive the encrypted programming stream; receive the programming schedule; and decrypt the encrypted programming stream.
- 13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:
the user recording device further executing instructions to: receive the encrypted programming stream; receive the programming schedule; and decrypt a portion of the programming stream containing the program included in the order.
- 14. A system for the delivery of programming, the system comprising:
an order processor; and a program source device; the order processor executing instructions to:
receive from a user and process an order for a program, communicate commands with a user recording device, communicate commands with the program server, store user data, and instruct the user recording device to record the program; the program source device executing instructions to:
communicate commands with the order processor, send a program to the user recording device, and authorize the receiving of the program by the user recording device.
- 15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:
a stream assembly device; the stream assembly device executing instructions to:
select programs for a programming stream based on predetermined criteria, create the programming stream, create a programming schedule for the programming stream, encrypt the programming stream, transmit the encrypted programming stream, transmit the programming schedule.
- 16. A system for the delivery of programming, the system comprising:
a user recording device executing instructions to:
communicate commands a program controller, receive a program from a program service device, and record the program pursuant to a command from the program controller.
- 17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:
the user recording device further executing instructions to:
receive an encrypted programming stream; decrypt a portion of the encrypted programming stream; and record at least part of the decrypted portion of the program stream pursuant to a command from the program controller.
- 18. The system of claims 16 or 17, wherein the program is received from the program service device along the same medium as the commands are communicated with the program controller.
- 19. A method for producing an encrypted programming stream, the method comprising:
receiving program orders; selecting programs based on the program orders; assembling the selected programs into a sequential stream of programming; and encrypting the sequential stream.
- 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising publishing a schedule of the programs contained in the sequential stream.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the publishing is electronic.
- 22. The method of claims 19 or 21, wherein the publishing is over the Internet.
- 23. A system for recording purchased programming, the system comprising:
a recording device that performs actions comprising:
receiving purchased programming, recording purchased programming, and communicating instructions with a programming delivery mechanism; and the programming delivery mechanism that performs actions comprising:
receiving at least one order for purchased programming, sending purchased programming, communicating instructions with the recording device, and instructing the recording device to record the purchased programming.
- 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the actions performed by the programming delivery mechanism further comprise encoding the purchased programming.
- 25. The system of claim 23 or 24, wherein the actions performed by the recording device further comprise decoding the purchased programming.
- 26. The system of claim 23 or 24, further comprising:
a decoding device that performs actions comprising:
decoding the purchased programming; and sending the decoded purchased programming to the recording device.
- 27. A system for recording purchased programming, the system comprising:
a programming delivery mechanism that performs actions comprising:
receiving an order for purchased programming; communicating instructions with a recording device; instructing the recording device to record the purchased programming; and verifying that the recording device is programmed to record the purchased programming.
- 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the actions performed by the programming delivery mechanism further comprise:
if the recording device is not programmed to record the purchased programming perform one or more of the following functions:
cancel the order; send a notification that the order was cancelled; reschedule the order; and instruct the recording device to record the purchased programming according to the rescheduled order.
- 29. The system of claim 27 or 28, wherein the actions performed by the programming delivery mechanism further comprise sending the purchased programming to the recording device.
- 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the actions performed by the programming delivery mechanism further comprise encoding the purchased programming.
- 31. A system for recording purchased programming, the system comprising:
a recording device that performs actions comprising:
receiving purchased programming; recording the purchased programming; communicating instructions with a programming delivery mechanism; and verifying to the programming delivery mechanism that the recording device is programmed to record a particular purchased program.
- 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the actions performed by the recording device further comprise displaying the particular purchased program.
- 33. The system of claim 31, wherein the actions performed by the recording device further comprise decoding the purchased programming.
- 34. The system of claims 31, 32 or 33, wherein the actions performed by the recording device further comprise encoding the particular purchased program.
- 35. A method for recording purchased programming, the method comprising:
placing an order for purchased programming; verifying that a recording device is programmed to record the purchased programming; and if it is not verified that the recording device is programmed to record the programming either:
canceling the order, attempting to reschedule the order, or notifying the entity which placed the order.
- 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the recording device is a digital video recorder.
- 37. The method of claim 35, wherein the order is placed over the Internet.
- 38. The method of claim 35, further comprising sending the order to a distributor of the purchased programming.
- 39. The method of claim 35, further comprising instructing the recording device to record the purchased programming.
- 40. The method of claim 35, wherein the verifying includes determining that the recording device cannot transfer the program to any other device.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This applications claims the benefit of the filing date of provisional application No. 60/264,158 filed on Jan. 25, 2001 and of provisional application No. 60/276,384 filed on Mar. 14, 2001 both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60264158 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
|
60276384 |
Mar 2001 |
US |