Methods, systems, and media for authenticating a connection between a user device and a streaming media content device

• US 10,616,767 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2019
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Gorman, Liam, Plumley, Nate, Chawla, Jagjit Singh, Williams, Brian Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Darren B
• Application Number:
  US16/377,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20190239072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• 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: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

Mechanisms for authenticating a connection between a user device and a streaming media content device comprising: identifying a collection of candidate streaming media content devices based on beacon(s) detected by a user device; receiving an indication that one of the content devices is to be selected for connection to the user device; transmitting instructions to the content devices to broadcast a signal, wherein the signal broadcast by each of the content devices contains a value that indicates an identity of the content device; receiving, from the user device, an audio signal that includes a detected signal; processing the audio signal to extract the value indicating the identity of a particular content device associated with the detected signal contained in the received audio signal; identifying the particular content device based on the determined value; and transmitting an indication that the user device and the particular content device are authenticated to communicate.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a connection between a user device and a streaming media content device, comprising:

presenting an interface on the user device indicating that candidate streaming media content devices have been detected during playback of a media content item on the user device;

receiving an interaction with the interface indicating that one of the candidate streaming media content devices is to be selected for connection to the user device;

determining which of the candidate streaming media content devices to select for connection with the user device that includes (i) updating the interface to indicate that the user device is listening for audio signals from one or more of the candidate streaming media content devices, (ii) receiving an audio signal from a particular streaming media content device, (iii) processing the received audio signal to extract an embedded value that identifies the particular streaming media content device, and (iv) selecting the particular streaming media content device from the candidate streaming media content devices based on the embedded value extracted from the received audio signal;

connecting with the particular streaming media content device for playing back the media content item on the particular streaming media content device; and

updating the interface to indicate that the connection has been established between the user device and the particular streaming media content device in which the user device and the particular streaming media content device have been authenticated to communicate with each other.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the candidate streaming media content devices based on one or more beacons;

transmitting indications of the one or more beacons to a device detection server; and

receiving, from the device detection server, a list of the candidate streaming media content devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying the candidate streaming media content devices comprises comparing identification numbers included in the one or more beacons with a list that associates identification numbers with known streaming media content devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is received by causing an input device controller associated with a microphone of the user device to listen for audio signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the particular streaming media content device based on the embedded value indicating the identity of the particular streaming media content device comprises identifying one or more frequencies associated with a PIN embedded in the audio signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the value was extracted from the audio signal by the processing; and

if the value was not extracted, receiving a manual entry of the value.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the candidate streaming media content devices based on applications supported by each of the candidate streaming media content devices.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the candidate streaming media content devices based on applications that connect to particular streaming media content sites.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising filtering the candidate streaming media content devices based on applications that support mirroring of content between the mobile device and the streaming media content device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the received audio signal to a device detection server, wherein the audio signal includes an ultrasonic signal;

receiving the identification of the particular streaming media content device based on the ultrasonic signal extracted from the received audio signal, wherein the identification includes information associated with a relay endpoint; and

establishing the connection between the user device and the particular streaming media content device using the relay endpoint.

11. A system for authenticating a connection between a user device and a streaming media content device, comprising:

a hardware processor of the user device that;

presents an interface on the user device indicating that candidate streaming media content devices have been detected during playback of a media content item on the user device;

receives an interaction with the interface indicating that one of the candidate streaming media content devices is to be selected for connection to the user device;

determines which of the candidate streaming media content devices to select for connection with the user device that includes (i) updating the interface to indicate that the user device is listening for audio signals from one or more of the candidate streaming media content devices, (ii) receiving an audio signal from a particular streaming media content device, (iii) processing the received audio signal to extract an embedded value that identifies the particular streaming media content device, and (iv) selecting the particular streaming media content device from the candidate streaming media content devices based on the embedded value extracted from the received audio signal;

connects with the particular streaming media content device for playing back the media content item on the particular streaming media content device; and

updates the interface to indicate that the connection has been established between the user device and the particular streaming media content device in which the user device and the particular streaming media content device have been authenticated to communicate with each other.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processor also:

detects the candidate streaming media content devices based on one or more beacons;

transmits indications of the one or more beacons to a device detection server; and

receives, from the device detection server, a list of the candidate streaming media content devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein identifying the candidate streaming media content devices comprises comparing identification numbers included in the one or more beacons with a list that associates identification numbers with known streaming media content devices.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the audio signal is received by causing an input device controller associated with a microphone of the user device to listen for audio signals.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein identifying the particular streaming media content device based on the embedded value indicating the identity of the particular streaming media content device comprises identifying one or more frequencies associated with a PIN embedded in the audio signal.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processor also:

determines if the value was extracted from the audio signal by the processing; and

if the value was not extracted, receives a manual entry of the value.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processor also filters the candidate streaming media content devices based on applications supported by each of the candidate streaming media content devices.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processor also filters the candidate streaming media content devices based on applications that connect to particular streaming media content sites.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processor also filters the candidate streaming media content devices based on applications that support mirroring of content between the mobile device and the streaming media content device.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the hardware processor also:

transmits the received audio signal to a device detection server, wherein the audio signal includes an ultrasonic signal;

receives the identification of the particular streaming media content device based on the ultrasonic signal extracted from the received audio signal, wherein the identification includes information associated with a relay endpoint; and

establishes the connection between the user device and the particular streaming media content device using the relay endpoint.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of authenticating a connection between a user device and a streaming media content device, the method comprising:

presenting an interface on the user device indicating that candidate streaming media content devices have been detected during playback of a media content item on the user device;

receiving an interaction with the interface indicating that one of the candidate streaming media content devices is to be selected for connection to the user device;

determining which of the candidate streaming media content devices to select for connection with the user device that includes (i) updating the interface to indicate that the user device is listening for audio signals from one or more of the candidate streaming media content devices, (ii) receiving an audio signal from a particular streaming media content device, (iii) processing the received audio signal to extract an embedded value that identifies the particular streaming media content device, and (iv) selecting the particular streaming media content device from the candidate streaming media content devices based on the embedded value extracted from the received audio signal;

connecting with the particular streaming media content device for playing back the media content item on the particular streaming media content device; and

updating the interface to indicate that the connection has been established between the user device and the particular streaming media content device in which the user device and the particular streaming media content device have been authenticated to communicate with each other.