Portable video programs

Abstract

A method for providing portability of television programs involves at a first television receiving device, requesting at least a portion of program identifying information associated with a television program currently playing on a second television receiving device; at the first television receiving device, receiving the at least a portion of the program identifying information associated with the currently playing television program from the second television receiving device; identifying a source compatible with the first television receiving device for receipt of the television program using the at least a portion of the program identifying information as mechanism for identification of the television program; transmitting an order for the television program from the first television receiving device; and receiving a transmission of the television program at the first television receiving device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments deviate from the features described in this abstract.

1 . A method for providing portability of television programs, comprising:
 at a first television receiving device, requesting at least a portion of program identifying information associated with a television program currently playing on a second television receiving device;   at the first television receiving device, receiving the at least a portion of the program identifying information associated with the currently playing television program from the second television receiving device;   identifying a source compatible with the first television receiving device for receipt of the television program using the at least a portion of the program identifying information as mechanism for identification of the television program;   transmitting an order for the television program from the first television receiving device; and   receiving a transmission of the television program at the first television receiving device.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving the transmission comprises receiving at least one of a download and a streaming transmission of the television program. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first television receiving device one of a television set, a personal video recorder (PVR) and a television set top box. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first television receiving device comprises a portable wireless device (PWD). 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second television receiving device one of a television set, a personal video recorder (PVR) and a television set top box. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second television receiving device comprises a portable wireless device (PWD). 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the source compatible with the first television receiving device comprises a format for receipt of television content using a cellular telephone infrastructure. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises identifying a source of a television program having an identical attribute in the metadata. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the request comprises transmitting a wireless signal from the first television receiving device to the second television receiving device. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the order comprises placing an order via a cellular telephone infrastructure. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving a wireless transmission of the television program comprises receiving a high speed data transmission via a cellular telephone infrastructure. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second television receiving devices comprise a cellular telephone. 
   
   
       13 . A computer readable storage medium carrying instructions that, when executed on a programmed processor carry out the process according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       14 . A method for providing portability of television programs, comprising:
 at a first television receiving device, requesting at least a portion of program identifying information associated with a television program currently playing on a second television receiving device, wherein transmitting the request comprises transmitting a wireless signal from the first television receiving device to the second television receiving device;   at the first television receiving device, receiving the at least a portion of the program identifying information associated with the currently playing television program from the second television receiving device;   identifying a source compatible with the first television receiving device for receipt of the television program using the at least a portion of the program identifying information as mechanism for identification of the television program, wherein the identifying comprises identifying a source of a television program having an identical attribute in the program identifying information;   transmitting an order for the television program from the first television receiving device; and   receiving a transmission of the television program at the first television receiving device.   
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein receiving the transmission comprises receiving at least one of a download and a streaming transmission of the television program. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the first television receiving device one of a television set, a personal video recorder (PVR) and a television set top box. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the first television receiving device comprises a portable wireless device (PWD). 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the second television receiving device one of a television set, a personal video recorder (PVR) and a television set top box. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the second television receiving device comprises a portable wireless device (PWD). 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the source compatible with the first television receiving device comprises a format for receipt of television content using a cellular telephone infrastructure. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein transmitting the order comprises placing an order via a cellular telephone infrastructure. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein receiving a wireless transmission of the television program comprises receiving a high speed data transmission via a cellular telephone infrastructure. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second television receiving devices comprise a cellular telephone.