Shared experience of media content
First Claim
1. A terminal (110) for allowing a first user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users who are interconnected with the first user via a network (300), the terminal comprising:
- an input for receiving the first user'"'"'s selection of media content for presentation, substantially in real-time, by a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the terminal (110), the media presentation device using a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300);
means for determining an identifier corresponding to the selected media content;
means for sending the identifier to terminals (200, 250) of the other users in the group over the network (300); and
, means (410) for allowing the first user to discuss the media content with the other users in the group.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Terminals (110) at premises (100, 200, 250) of a group of users allow the group to collectively experience and discuss media content selected by a member of the group. Terminals (110) are interconnected via a network (internet 300). Terminal (110) receives a first user'"'"'s selection of media content, such as a television channel, for presentation by a media presentation device (e.g. television receiver 150) local to the terminal (110). Terminal (110) forwards an identifier of the selected media content to other terminals at premises (200, 250) over the network (300). Other terminals receive, via network (300), the identifiers of media content selected by the first user and instruct a media presentation device local to them to present the same media content In the event that a terminal cannot access the selected content using one of it'"'"'s local media presentation devices, it may seek an alternative source, such as an online source on the network (300).
92 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A terminal (110) for allowing a first user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users who are interconnected with the first user via a network (300), the terminal comprising:
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an input for receiving the first user'"'"'s selection of media content for presentation, substantially in real-time, by a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the terminal (110), the media presentation device using a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300);
means for determining an identifier corresponding to the selected media content;
means for sending the identifier to terminals (200, 250) of the other users in the group over the network (300); and
,means (410) for allowing the first user to discuss the media content with the other users in the group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A terminal (110) for allowing a user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users who are interconnected via a network (300) comprising:
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means for receiving an identifier of media content selected by another user of the group;
means for determining a source of media content corresponding to the received identifier; and
,means for selecting the determined source on a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the receiver which uses a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300).
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22. A method of operating a terminal (110) to allow a first user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users who are interconnected with the first user via a network (300), comprising:
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receiving the first user'"'"'s selection of media content for presentation, substantially in real-time, by a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the terminal (110), the media presentation device (150, 160, 170) using a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300);
determining an identifier corresponding to the selected media content;
sending the identifier to terminals of the other users in the group over the network (300); and
,allowing the first user to discuss the media content with the other users in the group.
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23. A method of operating a terminal (110) to allow a user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users who are interconnected with the first user via a network (300) comprising:
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receiving an identifier of media content selected by another user of the group;
determining a source of media content corresponding to the received identifier; and
,selecting the determined source on a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the terminal which uses a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300).
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24. A control apparatus for a terminal (110) for allowing a first user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users who are interconnected via a network (300) comprising:
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means for receiving the first user'"'"'s selection of media content for presentation, substantially in real-time, by a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the terminal (110), the media presentation device (150, 160, 170) using a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300);
means (420) for determining an identifier corresponding to the selected media content;
means for sending the identifier to terminals of the other users in the group over the network; and
,means (410) for allowing the first user to discuss the media content with the other users in the group.
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25. A control apparatus for a terminal (110) for allowing a user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users who are interconnected via a network (300) comprising:
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means for receiving an identifier of media content selected by another user of the group;
means for determining a source of media content corresponding to the received identifier; and
,means for selecting the determined source on a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the receiver which uses a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300).
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26. Software for causing a control apparatus of a terminal (110) for allowing a first user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users to perform the steps of:
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receiving the first user'"'"'s selection of media content for presentation, substantially in real-time, by a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the terminal (110), the media presentation device (150, 160, 170) using a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300);
determining an identifier corresponding to the selected media content;
sending the identifier to terminals of the other users in the group over the network; and
,allowing the first user to discuss the media content with the other users in the group.
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27. Software for causing a control apparatus of a terminal (110) for allowing a user to have a shared experience of media content with a group of other users who are interconnected via a network (300) to perform the steps of:
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receiving an identifier of media content selected by another user of the group;
determining a source of media content corresponding to the received identifier; and
,selecting the determined source on a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the terminal which uses a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300).
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28. A method of providing a service to a group of users who are interconnected via a network (300), comprising the steps of:
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receiving an identifier of a first user'"'"'s selection of media content which is to be viewed by the group, the identifier representing the first user'"'"'s selection of media content which is to be presented in real-time by a media presentation device (150, 160, 170) local to the first user which uses a delivery mechanism which is independent of the network (300);
sending the identifier to terminals of the other users in the group over the network (300) so as to allow terminals at those users to select the same media content on a media presentation device local to them; and
,supporting a discussion group to allow the group to discuss the selected media content.
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Specification