Server-based programming of appliances via an information network

摘要

The invention includes a system and method of programming a recording device to record at least one broadcast program. The method receives at a server, through a communications network, a request to program the recording device. The server customizes a page of programming information, including an identification of the one broadcast program. The customizing includes attaching a hyper link to the identified broadcast program and embedding an instruction to the recording device in the hyper link. The server transmits the customized page of programming information for user selection of the identified broadcast program through the hyper link. The request to program the recording device is transmitted through the communications network from a device, such as a cellular telephone, a personal computer or a personal digital assistant.