Patent ID: 7636511

Claim:
A method of transmitting recorder programming data to control recording of a television program, the method comprising: generating an identifier that is unique to at least one of a plurality of user terminals by: initiating counting of a first counter and a second counter; halting the counting of the first counter responsive to receipt of a first user command; halting the counting of the second counter responsive to receipt of a second user command; and combining the first counter and the second counter to serve as the unique identifier; receiving at a remote site: the unique identifier; and program information identifying a television program to be recorded, wherein the identifier and the program information are provided from a user device separate from the at least one of a plurality of user terminals; inserting into a broadcast information signal at the remote site the unique identifier and recorder programming data, wherein the broadcast information signal includes television programming and wherein the recorder programming data is used to control the recording of the television program; and transmitting the broadcast information signal to the plurality of user terminals, such that the recorder programming data is only stored at the at least one of the plurality of user terminals having the unique identifier.