Method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing communications with at least one media provider

摘要

Methods, computer program products, and apparatuses are provided for allowing a user to communicate with a set top box and a media content server through a mobile communication device, such as a cellular phone. The user may be able to request and receive a customer specific interactive programming guide through the mobile communication device. The interactive programming guide may allow the user to search and record media programs, including sending recording commands to a set top box to record a particular media program. The interactive programming guide may also allow the user to order and receive media programs to the mobile communication device. Embodiments may provide a personal video recorder proxy server as an interface between the mobile communication device and the set top box and the media content server.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a personal video recorder proxy server, a request for an interactive programming guide specific to a customer from a mobile communication device operating within a telecommunication environment; sending, by the personal video recorder proxy server, a request for the customer specific interactive programming guide to at least one media content server separate from a set top box corresponding to an account of the customer, wherein the request for the customer specific interactive programming guide sent by the personal video recorder proxy server to the at least one media content server includes an identification of the set top box corresponding to the account of the customer; receiving, by the personal video recorder proxy server in response to the request that includes the identification of the set top box corresponding to the account of the customer, the customer specific interactive programming guide from the at least one media content server, the customer specific interactive programming guide including channels that are available to the customer, the availability of the channels to the customer determined based on the identification of the set top box, a location of the set top box, and a subscription of the customer to a particular channel package; sending, by the personal video recorder proxy server, the interactive programming guide received in response to the request that includes the identification of the set top box corresponding to the account of the customer to the mobile communication device through the telecommunication environment for display by the mobile communication device; receiving, by the personal video recorder proxy server by way of the customer specific interactive programming guide while the mobile communication device is displaying the customer specific interactive programming guide, a request from the mobile communications device for a parental control selection to modify one or more parental controls associated with the set top box; sending, by the personal video recorder proxy server, the request for the parental control selection to the set top box; receiving, by the personal video recorder proxy server, a confirmation regarding the request for the parental control selection from the set top box; sending, by the personal video recorder proxy server, a confirmation regarding the request for the parental control selection to the mobile communication device; receiving, by the personal video recorder proxy server by way of the customer specific interactive programming guide while the mobile communication device is displaying the customer specific interactive programming guide, a request from the mobile communication device to overlay IP data associated with the parental control selection into media programming being displayed on a television connected to the set top box, wherein the IP data comprises at least one of a message and an image; and sending, by the personal video recorder proxy server, the request to the at least one media content server.