Application Gadgets

• US 20090249395A1
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Neufeld, Nadav M., Seidel, Joseph J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game

Abstract

Application gadget techniques are described. In an implementation, a remote control device includes a display device and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to initiate one or more control functions related to control of a display of content by a client. The one or more modules also provide an environment to execute one or more application gadgets such that an output of the one or more application gadgets is displayable on the display device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

outputting content, by a client that is broadcast by a network operator, which includes a notification that an application gadget is available; and

receiving an input at the client that involves interaction with the notification and that causes installation of the application gadget on another device that is not the client.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the outputting of the content includes an output of an electronic program guide (EPG); and

the notification relates to one or more television programs represented within the electronic program guide.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the other device is a remote control device that:

is configured to initiate one or more control functions of the client to control the output of the content at the client;

is configured to execute the application gadget; and

includes an integral display device that is suitable to display an output from the application gadget.

4. A method as described in claim 3, wherein the input is received by the client from the remote control device.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the input is received by the client from a remote control device; and

the other device is a computing device that is not the remote control device or the client.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the other device and the remote control device are each communicatively coupled to the client using respective local network connections.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget is a software component that runs in a context of a service such that the application gadget is not executable outside of the context.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget is configured as a widget that is a downloadable interactive tool that is configured to download data over a network connection for output on the other device.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget is configured to provide an output for display on an auxiliary display device of the other device.

10. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget is:

a desktop gadget that is executable on a desktop of the other device;

a web gadget which causes the other device to interact with a web site;

or

a sideshow gadget that is executable to provide an output on an auxiliary external display of the other device.

11. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the application gadget relates to output of television programs that are broadcast by the network operator.

12. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the application gadget is executable to:

identify one or more television programs that are currently available for output by the client;

search a webpage of electronic program guide listings and content that is recorded on the client;

or

provide a list of top-rated content, the list being accessible to the client via a network connection.

14. A method as described in claim 12, wherein the configuration settings were not included with the application gadget when the application gadget was installed on the first device.

15. A method as described in claim 12, wherein the receiving and the forming are performed by a third device.

16. A method as described in claim 12, wherein the forming of the application gadget and the one or more configuration settings to be copied from the first device to the second device includes receiving a request at the first device, from a third device, which identifies the second device such that the first device is caused to form the communication.

13. A method comprising:

receiving an input which specifies that an application gadget that is installed on a first device is to be copied to a second device; and

responsive to the receiving of the input, forming a copy of the application gadget and of one or more configuration settings that were specified by a user of the first device to be communicated to and stored by the second device.

17. A remote control device comprising:

a display device; and

one or more modules to;

initiate one or more control functions related to control of a display of content by a client; and

provide an environment to execute one or more application gadgets such that an output of the one or more application gadgets is displayable on the display device.

18. A remote control device as described in claim 17, wherein:

the display device is configured as a touch screen; and

the one or more representations are displayable and selectable using the touch screen to initiate the one or more control functions, respectively.

19. A remote control device as described in claim 17, wherein the display device consumes more than forty percent of an outer surface of the remote control device.

20. A remote control device as described in claim 17, wherein the client is a television and the content includes an electronic program guide (EPG).