Patent ID: 9560305
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. A method comprising: receiving, at a server, search criteria from a media device associated with a user account; performing, via a processor of the server, a first search of first media content information available to the server, the first media content information descriptive of first media content that, when the first search is performed, is accessible to the media device based on the user account and includes information descriptive of second media content that, when the first search is performed, is scheduled to be available to the media device based on the user account; in response to identifying a first media content item that satisfies the search criteria, sending, via the server, a first query, the first query identifying the first media content item available via a first channel to a device associated with the user account other than the media device, wherein the first query includes a first option to receive a notification before a scheduled show time of the first media content item, a second option to record the first media content item, or both; determining a waiting period based on a search frequency parameter included in the search criteria and based on a search duration parameter included in the search criteria; after the waiting period elapses, performing, via the processor of the server, a second search of second media content information, the second media content information descriptive of third media content that, when the second search is performed, is accessible to the media device based on the user account and includes information descriptive of fourth media content that, when the second search is performed, is scheduled to be available to the media device based on the user account; in response to the second search identifying a second media content item available via the first channel that satisfies the search criteria: in response to a determination that the first title matches the second title and that the first time does not match the second time, sending a second query to the device associated with the user account, the second query identifying the second media content item; and in response to a determination that the first title matches the second title and that the first time matches the second time, refraining from sending a second query identifying the second media content item to the device associated with the user account.