Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications are provided. In particular, the systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications provided herein generally relate to enhancing remote access capabilities by providing algorithms and techniques for managing and correcting disparities that may be found between program listings data used by the interactive media guidance application and the remote access server.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application, the method comprising:
 maintaining a lookup table that cross-references program identification or source identification information for a program information service provider and a media service provider, wherein the program identification or source identification information for the program information service provider and the program identification or source identification information for the media service provider are different;   receiving a program action request from a user device identifying a program using the program identification or source identification information for the program information service provider;   cross-referencing the program identification or source identification information of the program action request with the corresponding program identification or source identification information for the media service provider in the lookup table; and   transmitting scheduling information comprising the program identification information or the source identification information of the media service provider for receipt by user equipment for scheduling the action request for the program to be performed by the user equipment.   
     
     
         32 . The method defined in  claim 31  wherein transmitting the scheduling information comprises transmitting the scheduling information to a media service provider or to the user equipment. 
     
     
         33 . The method defined in  claim 31  wherein the media service provider is selected from the group consisting of: a cable service provider, and a satellite service provider. 
     
     
         34 . The method defined in  claim 31  wherein the interactive media guidance application comprises an interactive program guide. 
     
     
         35 . The method defined in  claim 31  wherein the user device is selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a notebook computer, a wireless device, and a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         36 . The method defined in  claim 31  wherein the user equipment comprises a set-top box. 
     
     
         37 - 75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . A system for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to:   maintain a lookup table that cross-references program identification or source identification information for a program information service provider and a media service provider, wherein the program identification or source identification information for the program information service provider and the program identification or source identification information for the media service provider are different;   receive a program action request from a user device identifying a program using the program identification or source identification information for the program information service provider;   cross-reference the program identification or source identification information of the program action request with the corresponding program identification or source identification information for the media service provider in the lookup table; and   transmit scheduling information comprising the program identification information or the source identification information of the media service provider for receipt by user equipment for scheduling the action request for the program to be performed by the user equipment.   
     
     
         77 . The system defined in  claim 76  wherein the processor, in transmitting the scheduling information, is further configured to transmit the scheduling information to a media service provider or to the user equipment. 
     
     
         78 . The system defined in  claim 76  wherein the media service provider is selected from the group consisting of: a cable service provider, and a satellite service provider. 
     
     
         79 . The system defined in  claim 76  wherein the interactive media guidance application comprises an interactive program guide. 
     
     
         80 . The system defined in  claim 76  wherein the user device is selected from the group consisting of: a personal computer, a notebook computer, a wireless device, and a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         81 . The system defined in  claim 76  wherein the user equipment comprises a set-top box. 
     
     
         82 - 89 . (canceled)