Providing synchronous content and supplemental experiences

• US 10,142,121 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Currier, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chou, Alan S
• Application Number:
  US13/313,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,547 Days
• Field of Search: 709248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43079 of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing synchronous supplemental experiences are presented. According to one or more aspects, a video signal may be transmitted to a display device, and a sync signal may be transmitted to at least one other device. The sync signal may include an identifier of a program currently being displayed and a time value indicating a current point in time of the program. In at least one arrangement, the sync signal may cause the at least one other device to access content synchronization data; determine, based on the content synchronization data, that at least one supplemental experience corresponds to the identifier of the program and the time value; and present the at least one supplemental experience to a user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first user device, via a first wireless protocol, and from a content consumption device, a synchronization signal for a first program being presented by the content consumption device, wherein the synchronization signal comprises information corresponding to the first program;

sending, by the first user device, via a second wireless protocol, and to a computing device, a request for content synchronization data for the first program;

receiving, by the first user device, via the second wireless protocol, and from the computing device, the content synchronization data for the first program;

providing, by the first user device and based on the content synchronization data, at least one supplemental user experience in synchronization with the first program being presented by the content consumption device;

receiving, by the first user device, a user input associated with the at least one supplemental user experience;

after the receiving the user input, transmitting, by the first user device, via the first wireless protocol, and to the content consumption device, a reverse synchronization signal comprising;

an identifier of the at least one supplemental user experience, and

information corresponding to the user input; and

causing, by the first user device and based on the information corresponding to the user input, the content consumption device to display a second program that is synchronized with the at least one supplemental user experience being presented by the first user device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to at least one additional user device remote from the first user device, the synchronization signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the synchronization signal further comprises receiving a heartbeat message indicative of at least one of:

a channel identifier indicating a channel currently being displayed by the content consumption device,

a speed identifier indicating a current playback speed,

a permission identifier indicating a current user permission level, or

a volume identifier indicating a current playback volume level.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the first user device and based on a second synchronization signal, that the second program has ended and a third program is currently being presented;

accessing, by the first user device and via the second wireless protocol, second content synchronization data for the third program;

determining, by the first user device and based on the second content synchronization data, that a second supplemental user experience is related to the third program; and

providing, by the first user device, the second supplemental user experience in synchronization with the third program currently being presented by the content consumption device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the at least one supplemental user experience is customized for a user of the first user device; and

presenting the at least one supplemental user experience based on a usage of the first user device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, via the first wireless protocol and to the content consumption device, a second reverse synchronization signal; and

causing the content consumption device to present previously recorded content based on the second reverse synchronization signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reverse synchronization signal further comprises a request for on-demand content, and wherein the causing the content consumption device to display the second program is in response to the request for the on-demand content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reverse synchronization signal further comprises a channel change request, and wherein the causing the content consumption device to display the second program is in response to the channel change request.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the receiving the user input, sending, by the first user device, via the second wireless protocol, and to the computing device, the information corresponding to the user input.

10. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

non-transitory memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

transmit, to a first user device local to the apparatus and via a first wireless protocol, a synchronization signal comprising;

an identifier of a first content item being presented by the apparatus, and

a time value indicating a current point in a timeline of the first content item;

receive, via the first wireless protocol and from the first user device, a reverse synchronization signal comprising an identifier of at least one supplemental user experience being provided by the first user device in synchronization with the first content item;

determine, based on the identifier in the reverse synchronization signal, that the at least one supplemental user experience is configured for synchronized presentation with a second content item; and

present, in synchronization with the at least one supplemental user experience being provided by the first user device, the second content item.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the synchronization signal is a heartbeat message, comprising at least one of:

a channel identifier indicating a channel currently being displayed,

a speed identifier indicating a current playback speed,

a permission identifier indicating a current user permission level, or

a volume identifier indicating a current playback volume level.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the non-transitory memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

access second content synchronization data; and

transmit, based on the second content synchronization data, a second synchronization signal for the second content item to the first user device and at least one additional user device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the non-transitory memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

receive notifications corresponding to the at least one supplemental user experience; and

cause display of the received notifications.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the non-transitory memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

determine that the at least one supplemental user experience is associated with the second content item based on the identifier in the reverse synchronization signal indicating a channel change, wherein the first content item corresponds to a first channel and the second content item corresponds to a second channel.

15. A method comprising:

transmitting, by a user device, via a first wireless protocol, and to a computing device, a request for content synchronization data associated with a first program being presented by a content consumption device;

receiving, from the computing device and via the first wireless protocol, the content synchronization data associated with the first program;

determining, based on the content synchronization data and based on a current timeline of the first program, a supplemental user experience associated with the first program;

presenting the supplemental user experience in synchronization with the first program being presented by the content consumption device;

sending, to the content consumption device and via a second wireless protocol, a reverse synchronization signal, the reverse synchronization signal comprising an identifier of at least one additional supplemental user experience being presented by the user device and an indication to change the first program being presented by the content consumption device; and

causing, based on the identifier in the reverse synchronization signal and the indication to change the first program, the content consumption device to present a second program in synchronization with the at least one additional supplemental user experience being presented by the user device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

prior to the receiving the content synchronization data associated with the first program, transmitting, by the user device, user information to the computing device, wherein the received content synchronization data is selected based on the user information.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, from the content consumption device, via the second wireless protocol, and at regular intervals, a synchronization signal indicative of the first program being presented by the content consumption device, wherein the synchronization signal is a heartbeat message comprising at least one of;

a channel identifier indicating a channel currently being displayed,

a speed identifier indicating a current playback speed,

a permission identifier indicating a current user permission level, or

a volume identifier indicating a current playback volume level.

18. The method of claim 15,

wherein the second program corresponds to on-demand content, further comprising:

transmitting, via the first wireless protocol and to the computing device, a second request containing information indicating the on-demand content;

receiving, via the first wireless protocol and from the computing device, second content synchronization data for the on-demand content indicative of a second supplemental user experience; and

presenting, based on the second content synchronization data, the second supplemental user experience in synchronization with the on-demand content being presented by the content consumption device.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting, to the computing device, the identifier of the at least one additional supplemental user experience; and

receiving, from the computing device, information for the second program.