Playing multimedia content on multiple devices

• US 10,469,891 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2016
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lanier, Brian, Barton, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weng, Pei Yong
• Application Number:
  US15/181,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20160295268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• 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 21/41265 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 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A method for displaying multimedia content is described. The method includes causing playing of multimedia content on a first device; responsive to a first user input, on a second device, comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the playing of the multimedia content: causing an action comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing of the multimedia content on the second device at a start position that is based on the user input and a current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media, storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause performance of:

playing back a media content item at a first device;

concurrently playing back the media content item at a second device, the playback of the media content item at the first device synchronized, for a period of time, with playback of the media content item at the second device;

determining a content rating of the media content item; and

in response to determining that the content rating of the media content item exceeds a rating threshold;

while the first device is playing back a particular portion of the media content item, playing back different content on the second device in place of the particular portion; and

upon completion of playback of the particular portion at the first device, resuming synchronized playback of the media content item at the first device and the second device.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the first device is a computing device configured to display the media content item on a television screen, and the second device is a handheld device communicatively coupled to the computing device.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

sending, to the first device and the second device, from a content management device, media streams comprising the media content item, the first device and the second device playing the media content item from the media streams;

sending the different content to the second device in place of the particular portion.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the different content is a censored version of the particular portion or an uncensored version of the particular portion.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

the first device sending, to the second device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream;

censoring the particular portion for playback at the first device;

wherein playing different content comprises the first device sending an uncensored version of the particular portion in place of the particular portion.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

the first device sending, to the second device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream;

the first device generating a censored version of the particular portion;

wherein playing different content than the particular portion comprises the first device sending the censored version in place of the particular portion.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the content management device is the first device.

8. A method comprising:

causing, by a content management device, playback of a media content item at first device;

causing, by the content management device, concurrent playback of the media content item at a second device, the playback of the media content item at the first device synchronized, for a period of time, with playback of the media content item at the second device;

determining a content rating of the media content item; and

in response to determining that the content rating of the media content item exceeds a rating threshold;

while the first device is playing back a particular portion of the media content item, the content management device causing playback of different content on the second device in place of the particular portion; and

upon completion of playback of the particular portion at the first device, causing resumption of synchronized playback of the media content item at the first device and the second device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first device is a computing device configured to display the media content item on a television screen, and the second device is a handheld device communicatively coupled to the computing device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending, to the first device and the second device, from the content management device, media streams comprising the media content item, the first device and the second device playing the media content item from the media streams;

wherein causing the second device to play different content than the particular portion comprises sending the different content to the second device in place of the particular portion.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the different content is a censored version of the particular portion or an uncensored version of the particular portion.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

causing the first device to send, to the second device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream;

causing the first device to censor the particular portion for playback at the first device;

wherein causing the second device to play different content than the particular portion comprises causing the first device to send an uncensored version of the particular portion in place of the particular portion.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

causing the first device to send, to the second device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream;

causing the first device to generate a censored version of the particular portion;

wherein causing the second device to play different content than the particular portion comprises causing the first device to send the censored version in place of the particular portion.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the content management device is the first device.

15. A system comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware in one or more computing devices, configured to cause playback of a media content item at a first device;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware in one or more computing devices, configured to cause concurrent playback of the media content item at a second device, the playback of the media content item at the first device synchronized, for a period of time, with playback of the media content item at the second device;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware in one or more computing devices, configured to determine a content rating of the media content item; and

subsystems, implemented at least partially by hardware in one or more computing devices, configured, in response to determining that the content rating of the media content item exceeds a rating threshold, to;

while the first device is playing back a particular portion of the media content item, cause playback of different content on the second device in place of the particular portion; and

upon completion of playback of the particular portion at the first device, cause resumption of synchronized playback of the media content item at the first device and the second device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first device is a computing device configured to display the media content item on a television screen, and the second device is a handheld device communicatively coupled to the computing device.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a subsystem configured to send, to the first device and the second device, media streams comprising the media content item, the first device and the second device playing the media content item from the media streams;

wherein causing the second device to play different content than the particular portion comprises sending the different content to the second device in place of the particular portion.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the different content is a censored version of the particular portion or an uncensored version of the particular portion.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a subsystem configured to cause the first device to send, to the second device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream;

a subsystem configured to cause the first device to censor the particular portion for playback at the first device;

wherein causing the second device to play different content than the particular portion comprises causing the first device to send an uncensored version of the particular portion in place of the particular portion.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a subsystem configured to cause the first device to send, to the second device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream;

a subsystem configured to cause the first device to generate a censored version of the particular portion;

wherein causing the second device to play different content than the particular portion comprises causing the first device to send the censored version in place of the particular portion.