Controlling content presentation
First Claim
1. A computing system configured to control at least one media device, the computing system comprising:
- one or more processors; and
a content management system that when executed by the one or more processors communicatively couples to the at least one media device, the content management system including;
a core module to generate control requests and data requests related to operation of the at least one media device, the control requests including a first request for the at least one media device to search at least one media server for media available for presentation, the data request including a second request for the at least one media device to provide data indicative of a result of the search;
at least one gateway module corresponding to each media device, the gateway module being in communication with the core module to receive the first request and the second request from the core module, and further being in communication with the core module to provide responses to the first request and the second request to the core module; and
a communication interface included with each gateway module to provide the first request and the second request from the core module to the at least one media device using a communication protocol, and to receive the responses to the first request and the second request from the at least one media device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A content management (CM) system is provided to centrally control operation of one or more connected devices by issuing control requests and/or data requests. In some situations the connected device(s) include devices that control presentation of television programming-related content, such as digital video recorder (“DVR”) devices and media center devices, and in other situations may include other types of media devices and/or other electromechanical (“E/M”) devices that may be centrally controlled, such as E/M devices for home automation that may operate independently or in conjunction with the media devices. In some situations, the CM system communicates with the connected devices via a network and using appropriate protocol(s), and may be accessed remotely via a network so as to allow a user to remotely operate the CM system. The CM system may further control searching, identification, selection, and presentation of pieces of media content by the connected device(s).
144 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computing system configured to control at least one media device, the computing system comprising:
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one or more processors; and
a content management system that when executed by the one or more processors communicatively couples to the at least one media device, the content management system including;
a core module to generate control requests and data requests related to operation of the at least one media device, the control requests including a first request for the at least one media device to search at least one media server for media available for presentation, the data request including a second request for the at least one media device to provide data indicative of a result of the search;
at least one gateway module corresponding to each media device, the gateway module being in communication with the core module to receive the first request and the second request from the core module, and further being in communication with the core module to provide responses to the first request and the second request to the core module; and
a communication interface included with each gateway module to provide the first request and the second request from the core module to the at least one media device using a communication protocol, and to receive the responses to the first request and the second request from the at least one media device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for a computing device to control at least one media device, the method comprising:
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establishing a connection and a communication protocol between the computing device and the at least one media device on at least one communication network;
generating a first control request that instructs the at least one media device to search at least one media server for available media, and sending the first control request from the computing device to the at least one media device on the established connection and using the communication protocol;
generating a data request, from the computing device, that requests results of the search for available media;
presenting at least some of the results of the search on a graphical user interface in a manner that at least one piece of available media represented in the results of the search can be selected for presentation; and
generating a second control request that instructs the at least one media device to initiate presentation of the selected piece of available media, and sending the second control request from the computing device to the at least one device on the established connection and using the communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-readable medium whose contents enable a computing device to control at least one media device, by performing a method comprising:
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establishing a connection and a communication protocol between the computing device and the at least one media device on at least one communication network;
generating a first control request that instructs the at least one media device to search at least one media server for available media, and sending the first control request from the computing device to the at least one media device on the established connection and using the communication protocol;
generating a data request, from the computing device, that requests results of the search for available media;
presenting at least some of the results of the search on a graphical user interface in a manner that at least one piece of available media represented in the results of the search can be selected for presentation; and
generating a second control request that instructs the at least one media device to initiate presentation of the selected piece of available media, and sending the second control request from the computing device to the at least one device on the established connection and using the communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification