Patent ID: 9414019
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: H04N

Claim Text:
1. A method comprising: receiving, by a primary set-top box comprising a processor, a plurality of video streams from a media distribution system, wherein the primary set-top box has a bandwidth limitation so that only a limited number of video streams can be received, and wherein the plurality of video streams from the media distribution system do not exceed the bandwidth limitation of the primary set-top box; transmitting, by the primary set-top box, the plurality of video streams to a plurality of secondary set-top boxes; receiving, by the primary set-top box, a channel request from a first set-top box of the plurality of secondary set-top boxes; determining, by the primary set-top box, that fulfilling the channel request while transmitting the plurality of video streams would result in exceeding the bandwidth limitation of the primary set-top box; providing, by the primary set-top box, a first listing of the plurality of the video streams to the first set-top box plurality of secondary set top boxes responsive to determining that fulfilling the channel request would result in exceeding the bandwidth limitation, wherein the first listing comprises a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a show name field to identify a title of each of the plurality of video streams, a status field to indicate whether each of the plurality of video streams is being shown or recorded, and a control field comprising a control button for each of the plurality of video streams to selectively terminate one of the plurality of video streams, and wherein the graphical user interface presents a thumbnail video stream for each of the plurality of video streams, and the channel request having a color that differs from each of the plurality of video streams to indicate that the channel request is not being transmitted to the primary set-top box; receiving, by the primary set-top box, a cancellation request from the first set-top box to cancel a first video stream of the plurality of video streams according to the first listing, wherein the cancellation request originates from a selection of the control button corresponding to the first video stream of the plurality of video streams; receiving, by the primary set-top box, security information from the first set-top in response to receiving the cancellation request; authenticating, by the primary set-top box, the security information associated with the cancellation request, wherein the cancelling of the transmitting of the first video stream is conditioned upon the authenticating; transmitting, by the primary set-top box, a message to at least one of the plurality of secondary set-top boxes indicating that the first video stream is going to be terminated; transmitting, by the primary set-top box, a termination request to an acquisition server to terminate transmission of the first video stream according to the cancellation request; and transmitting, by the primary set-top box, a new video stream associated with the channel request to the first set-top box in response to the termination of the first video stream.