Patent ID: 8943538
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, by a content distribution server, a request to facilitate web remote access to a given user's set-top device from a remote access device; retrieving, by the server, a profile of the given user, the profile including identification of the given user's set-top device; identifying to the remote access device, by the server, content available from a local electronic program guide associated with the set-top device, the set-top device operative to receive content including television content, audio content, and gaming applications; receiving, by the server from the remote access device, via the web remote access to the set-top device, one or more user-specified tags associated with the content available from the local electronic program guide associated with the set-top device, the tags including one or more identifiers identifying at least one portion of a content item specified by the given user; identifying, by the server, one or more buddies of the user as indicated in the profile, the identifying of the one or more buddies comprises: providing, by the server, a list of the one or more buddies, said list comprising information identifying the one or more buddies and a context associated with each of the one or more buddies, the context capable of indicating each of the one or more buddies watching television content, listening to audio content and executing a gaming application; receiving, by the server, a selection of the one or more buddies from the remote access device; determining, by the server, the one or more selected buddies are active buddies on one or more third party instant messaging applications; and delivering, by the server, the one or more user-specified tags from the content distribution server to the one or more selected buddies on the one or more third party instant messaging applications, the user-specified tags providing the buddies with direct access to the content item to view streaming content including the at least one portion of content item identified by the one or more identifiers.