Method and system for using a second screen device for interacting with a set top box to enhance a user experience

• US 10,419,803 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cansino, Don E., Tsurutani, Brady C., Bonovich, Earl J., Beeson, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alcon, Fernando
• Application Number:
  US14/631,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20150215663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82

Abstract

A system and method for displaying data related to a content displayed through a set top box includes a second screen device generating a content information request signal requesting data corresponding to the content, communicates the content information request signal to the set top box. The set top box communicates a content information signal to the second screen device comprising a content identifier. The second screen device generates a request for related data signal corresponding to the content using the content identifier, communicates the request for related data signal through a network, receives aggregated related content data corresponding to the content from a data services center and displays the aggregated related content data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying content on a display associated with a set top box;

generating a content information request signal at a second screen device requesting data corresponding to the content;

communicating the content information request signal to the set top box;

communicating a content information signal to the second screen device from the set top box comprising a sporting event identifier corresponding to sporting event type;

generating, at the second device screen a request for statistics for a current event based on the sporting event identifier and for statistics for related events based on the sporting event identifier;

communicating the request for statistics and related events from the second screen device;

obtaining social commentary from a social media source based on the sporting event identifier;

aggregating statistics corresponding to the sporting event and related event from a data services center and social commentary from the social media source to form an aggregated related content data signal;

communicating the aggregated related content data signal to the second screen device; and

displaying the aggregated related content data at the second screen device comprising sporting event statistics, related sporting event statistics and the social commentary.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying content comprises displaying content stored with a digital video recorder of the set top box.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying content comprises displaying content in real time from a set top box tuner.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying content comprises displaying content in real time from a satellite tuner in a set top box.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content information request signal at a second screen device comprises generating the request for content data signal at a mobile device.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a content information request signal at a second screen device comprises generating the request for content data signal at a touch screen device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating a content information request signal comprises communicating the content information request signal through a local area network.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating a content information request signal comprises communicating the content information request signal through a local area network and a router associated with the local area network.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating a content information request signal comprises communicating the content information request signal using hyper-text transfer protocol (HTTP) from the second screen device to an HTTP engine of the set top box through a local area network.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating a content information signal comprises communicating the content information signal comprising a channel identifier.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating a content information signal comprises communicating the content information signal comprising the sporting event identifier comprising a sporting event name.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating a content information signal comprises communicating the content information signal through a local area network.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating a content information signal comprises communicating the content information signal using hyper-text transfer protocol (HTTP) from an HTTP engine of the set top box through a local area network to the set top box.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the request for statistics comprises communicating the request for statistics through a local area network and a router associated with the local area network to a data center.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein aggregating statistics comprises aggregating statistics at a data services center from a plurality of data sources.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying a plurality of user-selectable modules at the second screen device.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein displaying a plurality of user-selectable modules comprises displaying a currently watching module that displays at least a portion of the aggregated related content data corresponding to the content.

18. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein displaying a plurality of user-selectable modules comprises displaying a guide listing module that displays channel listings for a predetermined time.

19. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein displaying a plurality of user-selectable modules comprises displaying a channel listing module that displays channel listings for a user-selected channel.

20. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein displaying a plurality of user-selectable modules comprises displaying a sports module that simultaneously displays sports events listings and the statistics.

21. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein displaying a plurality of user-selectable modules comprises simultaneously displaying a sports module displaying statistics and a Currently Watching module.

22. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein displaying a plurality of user-selectable modules comprises displaying a sports module that displays sporting events and the statistics for the current event and related events and further comprising displaying a score toggle button on the second screen device for selectably displaying and not displaying the statistics.

23. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying a remote control user interface having a touch screen button on the second screen device.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising selecting the touch screen button displayed on the second screen device, generating a button signal corresponding to the touch screen button, and communicating the button signal to the set top box.

25. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising selecting the touch screen button, generating a button signal corresponding to the touch screen button, and communicating the button signal to the set top box through a local area network.

26. A method as recited in claim 23 further comprising selecting the touch screen button, generating a button signal using hypertext transfer protocol corresponding to the touch screen button, and communicating the button signal to the set top box through a local area network and a router.

27. A method as recited in claim 26 further comprising receiving advertising data at the second screen device and displaying the advertisement data within a touch screen button.

28. A system comprising:

a set top box displaying content on a display associated therewith; and

a second screen device generating a content information request signal requesting data corresponding to the content, communicating the content information request signal to the set top box;

said set top box communicating a content information signal to the second screen device comprising a sporting event identifier corresponding to sporting event type;

said second screen device generating a request for statistics for a current event and for statistics for related events based on the sporting event identifier, communicating the request for statistics and related events through a network, receiving social commentary from a social media source based on the sporting event identifier aggregating statistics corresponding to the sporting event and related event from a data services center and social commentary from the social media source and displaying the aggregated statistics comprising sporting event statistics and related sporting event statistics.

29. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein the set top box comprises a digital video recorder storing the content therein.

30. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein the set top box displays content in real time from a set top box tuner.

31. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein the second screen device comprises a mobile touch screen device.

32. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein the set top box communicates the content information request signal through a local area network having a router.

33. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein the content information signal comprises a channel identifier.

34. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein the content information signal comprises a content name.

35. A system as recited in claim 28 further comprising a data services center in communication with the second screen device aggregating related content data from a plurality of data sources.

36. A system as recited in claim 35 wherein aggregated related content data comprises at least one of pictures, trivia data, actor data and scores.

37. A system as recited in claim 35 wherein aggregated related content data comprises data related to an actor associated with the content or title of the content.

38. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein the display displays a plurality of user-selectable modules.

39. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein the display displays a currently watching module that displays at least a portion of the aggregated statistics relating to the content.

40. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein the plurality of user-selectable modules comprises a guide listing module that displays channel listings for a predetermined time.

41. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein the plurality of user-selectable modules comprises a channel listing module that displays channel listings for a user-selected channel.

42. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein the plurality of user-selectable modules comprises a sports module that simultaneously displays sports events listings and the statistics.

43. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein the plurality of user-selectable modules comprises a sports module simultaneously displaying statistics and a Currently Watching module.

44. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein the plurality of user-selectable modules comprises a sports module that displays sporting events and the statistics for the current event and related events and further wherein the display displays a score toggle button on the second screen device for selectably displaying and not displaying the statistics.

45. A system as recited in claim 28 wherein the second screen device displays a remote control user interface having a touch screen button on the second screen device.

46. A system as recited in claim 45 wherein the second screen device generates a button signal corresponding to the touch screen button, and communicates the button signal to the set top box.

47. A system as recited in claim 45 wherein the second screen device displays advertisement data within the touch screen button.