Methods and Systems for Providing Synchronized Display of Content

• US 20090089824A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: BEYABANI, Syed Zafar
• Granted Patent: US 8,887,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/17
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• 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 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods may include receiving a device identifier that identifies a first device, the first device being capable of causing display of first content at a first display device, and communicating a synchronization request that includes the device identifier via a network. Systems and methods may further include receiving an event message from the first device via the network, the event message identifying the first content the first device is causing display at the first display device, wherein the event message is useable to synchronize second content a second device causes display at a second display device with the first content the first device is causing display at the first display device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a device identifier that identifies a first device at a second device, the first device being capable of causing display of first content at a first display device;

communicating, from the second device, a synchronization request that includes the device identifier via a network;

receiving an event message at the second device from the first device via the network, the event message identifying the first content being displayed at the first display device, wherein the event message is useable to synchronize second content the second device causes display at a second display device with the first content the first device is causing display at the first display device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the event message to synchronize the second content with the first content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the event message includes a content identifier associated with the first content, and wherein processing the event message causes display the second display device to display the second content associated with the content identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an authentication code, wherein the synchronization request further comprises the authentication code.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the synchronization request is communicated to a server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the server processes the synchronization request to authenticate the authentication code to determine whether to permit covert synchronization with the first device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein server communicates a covert synchronization request to the first device if the authentication coded is authenticated.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization request is communicated to the first device via the network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an acceptance message from the first device, the acceptance message indicating acceptance of the synchronization request.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a set top box.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are located at a user premises.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are located remote from one another or at different locations within a user premise.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an end synchronization request;

generating an end synchronization message based on the end synchronization request; and

communicating the end synchronization message to the first device via the network, wherein the end synchronization message instructs the first device to end transmission of the event message.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device may cause display of the second content and unsynchronized content at the second display device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the second content and the unsynchronized content is displayed in a picture in picture display at the second display device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the event message includes metadata describing the content, wherein the second device causes display of a graphical user interface based on the metadata.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising causing display of a graphical user interface when the metadata satisfies a rule.

18. A computer readable media comprising code to perform the acts of the method of claim 1.

19. The method comprising:

receiving a synchronization request from a first device via a network, the synchronization request comprising a device identifier of a second device and an authentication code;

querying a database using the device identifier and the authentication code to determine whether to permit covert monitoring of the second device based on the authentication code; and

in the event that the authentication code is authenticated, communicating a covert synchronization request to the second device, the covert synchronization request to instruct the second device to monitor content being displayed at a second display device, and to generate an event message based on the content; and

in the event that the authentication code is not authenticated, communicating a reject message to the first device via the network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second device communicates the event message to the first device to permit the first device to synchronize second content the first device causes display with the content.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a synchronization request via a network;

processing the synchronization request to determine whether the synchronization request is a covert synchronization request or an overt synchronization request;

in the event the synchronization request is a covert synchronization request,

causing display of content at a display device,

monitoring the content being displayed to identify an event,

generating an event message based on the event, and

communicating the event message to a first device via the network; and

in the event the synchronization request is an overt synchronization request,

causing display of a graphical user interface at a display device prompting a viewer to input a response to accept or deny the overt synchronization request.

22. A system comprising:

a display module to cause display of a graphical user interface and to receive a device identifier that identifies a first device, the first device causing display of first content at a first display device;

a request module communicatively coupled to the display module, the request module to generate a synchronization request that includes the device identifier;

a communication module communicatively coupled to the request module and to a network, the communication module to communicate the synchronization request via the network and to receive an event message from the first device via the network, the event message identifying the first content the first device is causing display at the first display device, wherein the display module processes the event message to cause display of second content synchronized with the first content.

23. A system comprising:

means for receiving a device identifier that identifies a first device, the first device being capable of causing display of first content at a first display device;

means for communicating a synchronization request that includes the device identifier via a network;

means for receiving an event message from the first device via the network, the event message identifying the first content the first device is causing display at the first display device, wherein the event message is useable to synchronize second content a second device causes display at a second display device with the first content the first device is causing display at the first display device.