Method and system for providing set-top box remote access functions in a browser extension

Abstract

A method and a system for providing remote set-top box access functions in an Internet browser extension is disclosed. Web page content of a currently viewed web page is compared to an entertainment content database. The web page content is determined to be associated with entertainment content in the entertainment content database. Also, it is determined that there is a media manipulation action for the entertainment content, and a notification that the media manipulation action is available for the entertainment content is displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 scanning, by a system comprising a processor, a feature of a web page to identify web page content;   comparing, by the system, the web page content to a content database;   determining, by the system, whether the web page content is associated with content stored in a television program database or a digital video database according to the comparing;   receiving, by the system, a selection of a media manipulation control;   sending, by the system, a media manipulation action to a media processor to remotely control the media processor from the web page responsive to the web page content being associated with the content stored in the television program database; and   sending, by the system, the media manipulation action to a digital video service responsive to the web page content being associated with the content stored in the digital video database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web page content is one of a text box of a web page or meta-data associated with a banner advertisement of the web page. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the system, a media manipulation action for the content when the web page content is associated with the content; and   displaying, by the system, a notification at the web page that the media manipulation action is available for the content, wherein the notification comprises a browser toolbar icon that is displayed at the web page.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 detecting, by the system, a selection of the notification; and   displaying, by the system, a media manipulation control, responsive to the selection of the notification and associated with the media manipulation action for the content.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein displaying the notification further comprises blinking a browser toolbar icon or highlighting a text string associated with the content. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein displaying the notification further comprises underlining, by the system, a text string associated with the content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining, by the system, that the content is provided by a service account; 
 providing, by the system, controls to perform the media manipulation action on the service account; and 
 storing, by the system, the media manipulation action to the service account. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the content is selected from a group consisting of a television program, a video on demand movie, and digital video. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the media manipulation action is selected from a group consisting of scheduling a digital video recorder recording, and downloading a video on demand. 
     
     
         10 . A server, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:   determining whether web page content is associated with content stored in a television program database or a digital video database;   receiving a selection of a media manipulation control;   sending a media manipulation action to a media processor to remotely control the media processor from the web page responsive to the web page content being associated with the content stored in the television program database; and   sending the media manipulation action to a digital video disc rental service responsive to the selection of the media manipulation control if the web page content is associated with the content stored in the digital video database.   
     
     
         11 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the web page content is one of a text box of a web page or meta-data associated with a banner advertisement of the web page. 
     
     
         12 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 scanning a feature of a web page to identify web page content; and   comparing the web page content to a content database.   
     
     
         13 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a media manipulation action for the content when the web page content is associated with the content; and   displaying a notification at the web page that the media manipulation action is available for the content, wherein the notification comprises a browser toolbar icon that is displayed at the web page.   
     
     
         14 . The server of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 detecting a selection of the notification; and   displaying a media manipulation control, responsive to the selection of the notification and associated with the media manipulation action for the content.   
     
     
         15 . The server of  claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining that the content is provided by a service account;   providing controls to perform the media manipulation action on the service account; and   storing the media manipulation action to the service account.   
     
     
         16 . A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 comparing web page content to a content database;   determining whether the web page content is associated with content stored in a television program database or a digital video database according to the comparing;   sending a media manipulation action to a media processor to remotely control the media processor from the web page responsive to the web page content being associated with the content stored in the television program database; and   sending the media manipulation action to a digital video service responsive to the web page content being associated with the content stored in the digital video database.   
     
     
         17 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the web page content is one of a text box of a web page or meta-data associated with a banner advertisement of the web page. 
     
     
         18 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a media manipulation action for the content when the web page content is associated with the content; and   displaying a notification at the web page that the media manipulation action is available for the content, wherein the notification comprises a browser toolbar icon that is displayed at the web page.   
     
     
         19 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 detecting a selection of the notification; and   displaying a media manipulation control, responsive to the selection of the notification and associated with the media manipulation action for the content.   
     
     
         20 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18  wherein displaying the notification further comprises blinking a browser toolbar icon or highlighting a text string associated with the content.