System, method and device for providing a mobile application across smartphone platforms to enable consumer connectivity and control of media

• US 10,306,314 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: McCarthy, Michael Joseph, Rothschild, Keith Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Castro, Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US15/056,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20160241912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 725 9
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control

Abstract

A system, method and device for providing a mobile application across smart phone platforms to enable consumer connectivity and control of media. The viewing experience of the individual is improved by the added control and the advertising experience is enhanced by ensuring advertisements are relevant and actionable. A system for providing interactivity between a mobile device and content includes a content provider providing content for presentation on a display device and a mobile device configured with a media management module communicating to provide user interactivity with the content. The media management module enables individualized consumer media services for the mobile device.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

memory for storing data; and

a processor for processing the data, the processor to provide;

a media management application configured to;

connect the mobile device to a preferred television viewing and video programming experience for a subscriber that includes content and information services provided by a content provider;

couple the mobile device to a back office component to establish user preferences for the subscriber;

allow the mobile device to operate as a remote control as part of the preferred television viewing and video programming experience;

select one or more media environments to control with the mobile device including using the information services and supplemental content provided with the content and related to the information services, wherein the supplemental content provided with the content includes an electronic code for use in messaging by the mobile device as part of enabling user interactivity that includes information fulfillment requests between the subscriber and the content provider of the information services;

convert a first type of communication signal to a second type of communication signal in order to communicate with a conditional access device to receive the content, via the conditional access device, from the content provider; and

receive, on the mobile device, one or more recommendations for additional content for viewing, wherein the mobile device operates to send an electronic message with the electronic code provided with the supplemental content to a message processing server to direct recording, via a digital video recorder, of the additional content associated with the electronic code, wherein the mobile device tracks a television program the subscriber is watching according to a functional relationship with the conditional access device using the second type of communication signal.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to identify time-shifted content and provide interactivity during viewing of the time-shifted content.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to share preferences for viewing recommendations.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the media management application is further configured to connect to social network groups to share the preferences including media preferences.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to handle a wireless translation as part of the remote control.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to receive group suggestions for suggested content.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to use a return path between the mobile device and a data repository to allow content providers to message at an individual basis.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to control a television, playback device, or set-top box.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to infer crossover referrals to additional content not included as part of a user profile.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to allow a network to enable polling during a live broadcast.

11. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to receive different content according to the real-time viewing of a program or time delayed viewing of the program.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to communicate with a back office to provide subscriber related intelligence.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the media management application is further configured to allow the subscriber to establish preferences associated with the mobile device, process user data associated with the preferences, and provide the one or more recommendations based on identified subscriber tendencies.

14. The mobile device of claim 1 further configured to identify the content that the subscriber is watching on a display device separate from the mobile device.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium, including executable instructions which, when executed, operate to:

connect a mobile device to a preferred television viewing and video programming experience for a subscriber that includes content and information services provided by a content provider;

couple the mobile device to a back office component to establish user preferences for the subscriber;

allow the mobile device to operate as a remote control as part of the preferred television viewing and video programming experience;

select one or more media environments to control using the mobile device including using the information services and supplemental content provided with the content and related to the information services, wherein the supplemental content provided with the content includes an electronic code for use in messaging by the mobile device as part of enabling user interactivity that includes information fulfillment requests between the subscriber and the content provider of the information services;

convert, via the mobile device, a first type of communication signal to a second type of communication signal in order to communicate with a conditional access device to receive the content, via the conditional access device, from the content provider; and

receive, on the mobile device, one or more recommendations for additional content for viewing, wherein the executable instructions which, when executed, operate further to send an electronic message with the electronic code provided with the supplemental content, via the mobile device, to a message processing server to direct recording, via a digital video recorder, of the additional content associated with the electronic code, wherein the mobile device tracks a television program the subscriber is watching according to a functional relationship with the conditional access device using the second type of communication signal.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, including the executable instructions which, when executed, operate further to use a return path between the mobile device and a data repository to allow content providers to message at an individual basis.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, including the executable instructions which, when executed, operate further to use embedded content identifiers to identify the content that the subscriber is watching.

18. A system comprising:

a server computer configured with a processor and memory to interact with a mobile device to;

connect the mobile device to a preferred television viewing and video programming experience for a subscriber that includes content and information services of a content provider;

receive user preferences for the subscriber from the mobile device;

receive control commands and feedback from the mobile device;

provide the information services and supplemental content with the content and related to the information services to the mobile device, wherein the supplemental content provided with the content includes an electronic code for use in messaging by the mobile device as part of enabling user interactivity that includes information fulfillment requests between the subscriber and a content provider of the information services;

provide one or more recommendations for additional content for viewing to the mobile device;

receive tracking information from the mobile device for a television program the subscriber is watching according to a functional relationship with a conditional access device, wherein the mobile device converts a first type of communication signal to a second type of communication signal in order to communicate with the conditional access device to receive the content from provided by the content provider; and

receive an electronic message with the electronic code provided with the supplemental content from the mobile device to direct recording, via a digital video recorder, of the additional content associated with the electronic code.