Device and method for transferring the rendering of multimedia content

• US 10,425,454 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Conan, Martin, Lepoil, Elisabeth, Leduby, Jean-Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Serrao, Ranodhi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fiorillo, James N
• Application Number:
  US15/300,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20170019443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 709217, 709219, 709224, 725 28, 725 31, 725 93, 715234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• 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 transfer method and a method for controlling the transfer of digital content. The content is available on a content server, accessible via a service gateway, and can be processed by at least two devices of a user, namely a first device known as the mobile device and at least one second device known as the rendering device. The rendering device is connected to a transfer device. The content is selected on the mobile device and rendered on the rendering device. The transfer method includes: opening a point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device; receiving an identifier of a service gateway over the point-to-point communication channel; connecting the transfer device to a local network using the gateway identifier received; receiving an identifier of content to be rendered; accessing the identified content on the content server via the identified gateway.

Claims

1. A transfer method for transferring playback of digital content,

said content being available on a content server accessible via at least one service gateway of at least a local network and being suitable for being processed by at least two user devices,

a first device referred to as a mobile device and at least one second device referred to as a playback device, the playback device being connected to a transfer device capable of connecting itself to the mobile device through point to point communication or to said local network through the at least one service gateway, said content being selected on the mobile device and being played back on the playback device, the method comprising the following acts performed in the transfer device:

opening a point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device, wherein only the mobile device and the transfer device have access to said point to point communication channel;

receiving over the point-to-point communication channel, a gateway identifier for a service gateway of the at least one service gateway, wherein the gateway identifier is specific to the local network accessible by the playback device;

storing the received gateway identifier in a memory of the transfer device;

connecting the transfer device to the local network by using the received gateway identifier;

receiving over the point-to-point communication channel, an identifier of the digital content to be played back; and

accessing the identified content on the content server via the identified service gateway, accessing the identified content on the content server via the identified service gateway, wherein the identified content is transferred to the playback device.

2. The transfer method according to claim 1, wherein opening a communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device is followed by an act of transmitting an identifier of the transfer device over the communication channel.

3. The transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device is set up over a low-power link.

4. The transfer method according to claim 1, wherein opening a point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device is followed by an act of pairing during which a user puts the transfer device into a pairing state.

5. A control method for controlling the-transfer of the playback of digital content,

said content being available on a content server accessible via at least one service gateway of at least a local network and being suitable for being processed by at least two user devices, a first device referred to as a mobile device and at least one second device referred to as a playback device, the playback device being connected to a transfer device capable of connecting itself to the mobile device through point to point communication or to said local network through the at least one service gateway, said content being selected on the mobile device and being played back on the playback device, the method being comprising the following acts performed in the mobile device:

opening a point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device, wherein only the mobile device and the transfer device have access to said point to point communication channel;

receiving an identifier of the transfer device over the point-to-point communication channel;

storing the received identifier of the transfer device in a memory of the mobile device;

sending over the point-to-point communication channel an identifier of a service gateway of the at least one service gateway, wherein the identifier of the service gateway specific to the local network;

selecting one transfer device from a plurality as a function of the received identifier of the transfer device; and

sending over the point-to-point communication channel, an identifier of a content to be played back, wherein the selected transfer device can access the identified content on the content server via the identified service gateway and transfer to the playback device.

6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the received gateway identifier is the identifier of the mobile device.

7. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising an act of connecting the mobile device to the local network by using a received gateway identifier.

8. A transfer device for transferring digital content available on a content server that is accessible via at least one service gateway of at least a local network and that is suitable for being processed by at least two user devices, a first device referred to as a mobile device and at least one second device referred to as a playback device, the playback device being connected to the transfer device, which is capable of connecting itself to the mobile device through point to point communication or to said local network through the at least one service gateway, said content being selected on the mobile device and being played back on the playback device, the transfer device comprising:

at least one hardware component;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor configure the transfer device such that the processor and the at least one hardware component together perform the following acts;

opening a point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device, wherein only the mobile device and the transfer device have access to said point to point communication channel;

receiving over the point-to-point communication channel an identifier of a service gateway of the at least one service gateway, wherein the identifier of the service gateway is specific to the local network accessible by the playback device;

storing the received identifier of the service gateway in a memory of the transfer device;

connecting the transfer device to the local network by using the received identifier of the service gateway;

receiving over the point-to-point communication channel, an identifier of a content for playing back; and

accessing the identified content on the content server via the identified service gateway, wherein the identified content is transferred to the playback device.

9. An electronic key including a transfer device according to claim 8.

10. A control device for controlling transfer of digital content available on a content server that is accessible via at least one service gateway of at least a local network and that is suitable for being processed by at least two user devices, a first device referred to as a mobile device and at least one second device referred to as a playback device, the playback device being connected to a transfer device capable of connecting itself to the mobile device through point to point communication or to said local network through the at least one service gateway, said content being selected on the mobile device and being played back on the playback device, the control device comprising:

at least one hardware component;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor configure the control device such that the processor and the at least one hardware component together perform the following acts;

opening a point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device, wherein only the mobile device and the transfer device have access to said point to point communication channel;

receiving an identifier of the transfer device over the point-to-point communication channel;

storing the received identifier of the transfer device in a memory of the mobile device;

sending over the communication channel an identifier of a service gateway of the at least one service gateway, wherein the identifier is specific to the local network;

selecting one transfer device from a plurality as a function of the received identifier of the transfer device; and

sending over the point-to-point communication channel, an identification of a content to be played back wherein the selected transfer device can access the identified content on the content server via the identified service gateway and transfer to the playback device.

11. A terminal including a control device according to claim 10 for controlling transfer.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon including code instructions for performing a method for transferring the playback of a digital content when the program is executed by a processor of a transfer device, said content being available on a content server accessible via at least one service gateway of at least a local network and being suitable for being processed by at least two user devices, a first device referred to as a mobile device and at least one second device referred to as a playback device, the playback device being connected to the transfer device, which is capable of connecting itself to the mobile device through point to point communication or to said local network through the service gateway, said content being selected on the mobile device and being played back on the playback device, the method comprising the following acts performed in the transfer device:

opening a point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device, wherein only the mobile device and the transfer device have access to said point to point communication channel;

receiving over the point-to-point communication channel a gateway identifier for a service gateway of the at least one service gateway, wherein the gateway identifier is specific to the local network accessible by the playback device;

connecting the transfer device to a-the local network by using the received gateway identifier;

receiving over the point-to-point communication channel, an identifier of the digital content to be played back; and

accessing the identified content on the content server via the identified service gateway, wherein the identified content is transferred to the playback device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon including code instructions for performing a method of controlling transfer of playback of digital content when the program is executed by a processor of a mobile device, said content being available on a content server accessible via at least one service gateway of at least a local network and being suitable for being processed by at least two user devices, a first device referred to as the mobile device and at least one second device referred to as a playback device, the playback device being connected to a transfer device capable of connecting itself to the mobile device through point to point communication or to said local network through the at least one service gateway, said content being selected on the mobile device and being played back on the playback device, the method being comprising the following acts performed in the mobile device:

opening a point-to-point communication channel between the mobile device and the transfer device, wherein only the mobile device and the transfer device have access to said point to point communication channel;

receiving an identifier of the transfer device over the point-to-point communication channel;

storing the received identifier of the transfer device in a memory of the mobile device;

sending over the point-to-point communication channel an identifier of a service gateway of the at least one service gateway, wherein the identifier of the service gateway is specific to the local network;

selecting one transfer device from a plurality as a function of the received identifier of the transfer device; and

sending over the point-to-point communication channel, an identifier of a content to be played back, wherein the selected transfer device can access the identified content on the content server via the identified service gateway and transfer to the playback device.