Using Personal Video Recorder Functionality in a Placeshifting System with Secure Handling of Media Content

摘要

Personal video recorder (PVR) functionality is enabled in a placeshifting system which allows a user to find, select, record and then access media programs on a PVR located on various system devices. This functionality can be accomplished by the user from locations which are physically remote from the source of the media programs. This system includes media players and media broadcasting devices. The media players may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media players identify a media program and associated schedule information. The media players instruct a media broadcasting device to receive the media program; to digitize, encode/decode, transcode, and/or transrate the media program, if necessary; and to transmit the media program to the media players and/or other media broadcasting devices when the media program is scheduled to play. The media program may be recorded in a local storage of the media broadcasting devices or the media players. The media players can also control PVR functionality in various media broadcasting devices and various other media players. The placeshifting system can use digital rights management (DRM) methods to secure media content during its handling and use.

主权项

1. A method for recording media programs in a placeshifting device for playback at a remote device in communication with the placeshifting device via a network, comprising:
receiving a first instruction from the remote device via the network that identifies a media program to be recorded at the placeshifting device; receiving the media program identified in the first instruction from a media source at the placeshifting device; recording the media program on a storage associated with the placeshifting device; receiving a second instruction via the network from the remote device for playback of the media program recorded on the storage associated with the placeshifting device; and providing, in response to the second instruction, the media program recorded on the storage associated with the placeshifting device to a media player via the network.