Media content controller

• US 10,555,031 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Almeida, Heitor, Markowski, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boyd, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US15/131,568
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• 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 21/41407 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43078 for seamlessly watching content streams when changing device, e.g. when watching the same program sequentially on a TV and then on a tablet
• 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 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; 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 21/47217 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

Abstract

A system and method for controlling media devices are provided. A device controller includes a device control module. The device control module identifies media devices in a local network, such as a LAN. The device control module selects a media device from the identified media devices. Next the device control module selects content to be displayed on the selected media device. The device control module uses the local network to cause the selected media device to display the selected content.

Claims

1. A device controller for controlling operation of a plurality of media devices, comprising:

a memory that stores a device control module;

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the device control module, the device control module, when executed by the processor, configuring the processor to;

track one or more first media devices that the device controller previously caused to display first content from among the plurality of media devices within a local network;

suggest one or more second media devices from among the one or more first media devices to display second content when a location of the device controller has changed;

receive a selection of a first media device from among the one or more second media devices to display the second content; and

cause, using the local network, display of the second content on the first media device without prior configuration of the device controller to control the first media device.

2. The device controller of claim 1, further comprising a display, and

wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, further configures the processor to:

determine a change in location of the device controller; and

display the second content on the display during the change in the location.

3. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, further configures the processor to select the first media device from the one or more second media devices that is most proximate to the device controller in response to the selection.

4. The device controller of claim 3, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, further configures the processor to:

determine a change in location of the device controller;

determine that the device controller is more proximate to a second media device from the one or more second media devices; and

select the second media device to display the second content.

5. The device controller of claim 4, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, further configures the processor to cause, using the local network, display of the second content on the second media device together with the display of the second content on the first media device.

6. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, configures the processor to:

generate a message that causes the first media device to display the second content; and

transmit the message to the first media device over the local network to cause the first media device to display the second content.

7. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the second content comprises:

media content.

8. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, further configures the processor to:

initiate playback of the second content on the first media device;

determine a change in location of the device controller; and

initiate playback of the second content on the device controller when the device controller changes location.

9. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, further configures the processor to:

initiate playback of the second content on the first media device;

determine a change in location of the device controller; and

initiate playback of the second content on a second media device from the one or more second media devices when the device controller changes location and is more proximate to the second media device than the first media device.

10. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, further configures the processor to:

select a second media device from the one or more second media devices, the second media device being a similar device as the first media device and a different make, model, type, or brand of the similar device, and

cause, using the local network, display of the second content on the second media device without prior configuration of the device controller to control the second media device.

11. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, configures the processor to suggest the one or more second media devices based upon a time of day or frequencies of selection of the plurality of media devices.

12. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the device control module, when executed by the processor, further configures the processor to:

identify a viewer of the first media device, and

select the second content from among a plurality of content that is targeted to the viewer.

13. A method for controlling operation of a plurality of media devices, comprising:

tracking, by a device controller, one or more first media devices that the device controller previously caused to display first content from among the plurality of media devices within a local network;

suggesting, by the device controller, one or more second media devices from among the one or more first media devices to display second content when a location of the device controller has changed;

receiving, by the device controller, a selection of a first media device from among the one or more second media devices to display the second content; and

causing, by the device controller using the local network, display of the second content on the first media device without prior configuration of the device controller to control the first media device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining, by the device controller, a change in location of the device controller; and

displaying the second content on the device controller during the change in the location.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting the first media device comprises:

selecting the first media device from the one or more second media devices that is most proximate to the device controller in response to the selection.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining, by the device controller, a change in location of the device controller;

determining that the device controller is proximate to a second media device from the one or more second media devices; and

selecting, by the device controller, the second media device to display the second content.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

causing, by the device controller using the local network, the second media device to display the second content displayed on the first media device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the causing further comprises:

generating a message that causes the first media device to display the second content; and

transmitting the message to the first media device over the local network.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the second content comprises:

media content.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

initiating, by the device controller, playback of the second content on the first media device;

determining, by the device controller, a change in location of the device controller; and

initiating, by the device controller, playback of the second content on the device controller when the device controller changes location.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

initiating, by the device controller, playback of the second content on the first media device;

determining, by the device controller, a change in location of the device controller; and

initiating, by the device controller, playback of the second content on a second media device from the one or more second media devices when the device controller changes location and is more proximate to the second media device than the first media device.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting, by the device controller, a second media device from the one or more second media devices, the second media device being a similar device as the first media device and a different make, model, type, or brand of the similar device, and

cause, by the device controller using the local network, display of the second content on the second media device without prior configuration of the device controller to control the second media device.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the suggesting comprises:

suggesting the one or more second media devices based upon a time of day or frequencies of selection of the plurality of media devices.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying, by the device controller, a viewer of the first media device, and

selecting, by the device controller, the second content from among a plurality of content that is targeted to the viewer.

25. A system for controlling operation of a plurality of media devices coupled to a local network, comprising:

a plurality of device controllers coupled to the local network,

wherein a device controller from the plurality of device controllers is configured to;

track one or more first media devices that the device controller previously caused to display first content from among the plurality of media devices within the local network;

suggest one or more second media devices from among the one or more first media devices to display second content when a location of the device controller has changed; and

cause, in response to receiving a selection of a first media device from among the one or more second media devices using the local network, the first media device to display the second content without prior configuration of the device controller to control the first media device and while locking out one or more remaining device controllers from the plurality of device controllers from manipulating the first media device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the device controller is further configured to:

select a second media device from the one or more second media devices;

select third content for display on the second media device, wherein the third content is different from the second content; and

cause, using the local network, the second media device to display the third content while the first media device displays the second content.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the device controller is further configured to select the first media device from the one or more second media devices that is most proximate to the device controller in response to the selection.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the device controller is further configured to:

select a second media device from the one or more second media devices, the second media device being a similar device as the first media device and a different make, model, type, or brand of the similar device, and

cause, using the local network, display of the second content on the second media device without prior configuration of the device controller to control the second media device.