DISPLAY INSERTS, OVERLAYS, AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES FOR MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS

• US 20100231790A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prodea Automation LLC (f/k/a Kip Prod P1) (FIG LLC (d/b/a Fortress Investment Group LLC))
• Original Assignee: Prodea Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: McQuarters, Alvin R., Ramayya, Jude P., Nicholls, Leon E., Masina, Ramprakash, Cowgill, George A., Ansari, Amir, Raissyan, Atousa
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/80 : Actions related to the user profile or the type of traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 : based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 : Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 : Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 : Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 : Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 : for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 : for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• 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 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 : Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1108 : Web based protocols, e.g. webRTC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 : Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 : Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 : using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/325 : in the network layer [OSI layer 3], e.g. X.25 H04L69/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 : Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 : Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 : Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 : of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 : Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 : Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 : Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/911 : Bridge, e.g. brouter, bus extender

Abstract

A disclosed digital media device at user premises receives a media signal from a media source for presentation via a television display. The exemplary device also supports bi-directional communications with an application service provider device via user premises data communications network. The provider device, which is independent from the media source, offers an application service from a wide area network via the digital media device and user premises network. The digital media device may form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information, for example, for a composite audio and/or video signal for television type presentation to the user. The digital media device may receive a selection signal based on the presentation, for transmission to the application service provider device or to the media source. The media device also offers a GUI presenting a moveable arrangement of icons for selectively accessing application services.

Claims

1. A digital media device communicatively coupled to a television display for operation at user premises, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive a media signal from a media source for presentation via the television display;

a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and an application service provider device via a data communications link in the user premises, wherein the application service provider device, which is independent from the media source, is configured to provide an application service from a wide area network to the second interface of the digital media device via the user premises data communications network; and

a processor coupled to the first interface and the second interface, wherein the processor is configured to form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information from the provider device, wherein the composite signal comprises a composite image on the television display;

wherein the digital media device receives a selection signal based on the displayed image, and wherein the selection signal is transmitted via the user premises data communications network to the application service provider device or to the media source.

2. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the data communications link in the user premises comprises a user premises data communications network.

3. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the media signal from one or more media sources.

4. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the media signal from one or more analog video sources or one or more digital video sources.

5. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the media signal from a cable television signal source, a satellite television signal source, a television broadcast signal source, an audio signal source, a video playback device, or a game console, or any combination thereof.

6. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the media signal of the composite signal forms a primary image, and the application service information of the composite signal forms a secondary image, wherein the television display is configured to display the secondary image overlaid on or inserted into the primary image to form the composite image.

7. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the application service information of the composite signal forms a primary image, and the at least one media signal forms a secondary image, wherein the television display is configured to display the secondary image overlaid on or inserted into the primary image to form the composite image.

8. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the composite signal further comprises an audio signal from the application service information or the media signal, wherein the audio signal provides audio substantially contemporaneously with the composite image on the television display.

9. The digital media device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to form the audio signal as a composite of audio of the media signal and audio information of the application service information from the provider device.

10. The digital media device of claim 1, further comprising a digital storage device coupled via a data communications link with the processor, wherein the digital storage device is configured to record the media signal received by the first interface, or record the application service received by the second interface, or record the media signal received by the first interface and the application service received by the second interface.

11. The digital media device of claim 10, wherein the digital media device receives a selection signal, wherein the digital media device records the media signal, the application service, or the media signal and the application service upon receipt of the selection signal.

12. The digital media device of claim 11, wherein the selection signal is a pause media signal or a record signal.

13. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to synchronize the media signal and the application service information to form the composite signal.

14. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to filter at least a portion of the media signal, or the application service information, or the media signal and the application service information to form the composite signal.

15. A media and service distribution system for a user premises having a media source to supply a media signal and a user premises data communications network, comprising:

(a) a gateway device for operation at the user premises, independent of the media source, configured to receive an application service via a wide area network and further configured to provide and manage services to one or more endpoint devices associated with the gateway device; and

(b) a digital media device communicatively coupled to a television display, comprising;

a first interface configured to receive the media signal from the media source for presentation via the television display;

a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and the gateway device coupled to the user premises data communications network, wherein the gateway device is configured to provide the application service from the wide area network to the second interface of the digital media device; and

a processor coupled to the first interface and the second interface, wherein the processor is configured to form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information from the gateway device, wherein the composite signal comprises a composite image on the television display;

wherein the digital media device receives a selection signal based on the displayed image, and wherein the selection signal is transmitted via the user premises data communications network to the gateway device or to the media source.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway device is communicatively coupled to a service management center via the wide area network, and wherein the service management center is configured to provide the application service to the gateway device via the wide area network responsive to a communication from the service management center.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the media signal from one or more media sources.

18. The system claim 15, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the media signal from one or more analog video sources or one or more digital video sources.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first interface is configured to receive the media signal from a cable television signal source, a satellite television signal source, a television broadcast signal source, an audio signal source, a video playback device, or a game console, or any combination thereof.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the media signal of the composite signal forms a primary image, and the application service information of the composite signal forms a secondary image, wherein the television display is configured to display the secondary image overlaid on or inserted into the primary image to form the composite image.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the application service information of the composite signal forms a primary image, and the at least one media signal forms a secondary image, wherein the television display is configured to display the secondary image overlaid on or inserted into the primary image to form the composite image.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the composite signal further comprises an audio signal from the application service information or the media signal, wherein the audio signal provides audio substantially contemporaneously with the composite image on the television display.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured to form the audio signal as a composite of audio of the media signal and audio information of the application service information from the gateway device.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the application service information from the gateway device comprises notifications of status with regard to one or more application services managed by the gateway device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to receive the notifications of status from the gateway device and transmit a message related to the selection signal to the gateway device, via the user premises data communications network, using a presence and networking protocol.

26. The system of claim 15, further comprising a digital storage device coupled via a data communications link with the processor, wherein the digital storage device is configured to record the media signal received by the first interface, or record the application service received by the second interface, or record the media signal received by the first interface and the application service received by the second interface.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the digital media device receives a selection signal, wherein the digital media device records the media signal, the application service, or the media signal and the application service upon receipt of the selection signal.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the selection signal is a pause media signal or a record signal.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the gateway device further comprises a digital storage device configured to store media signals, application services, or media signal and application services recorded by the digital media device and communicated to the gateway device from the digital media device via the wide area network.

30. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to synchronize the media signal and the application service information to form the composite signal.

31. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to filter at least a portion of the media signal, or the application service information, or the media signal and the application service information to form the composite signal.

32. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway device comprises:

a first interface for enabling bi-directional network layer communications within the premises, with one or more of the endpoint devices;

a second interface for enabling bi-directional network layer communications for the one or more endpoint devices via a wide area network, and for enabling at least some bi-directional communications with a service management center external to the premises via the wide area network;

a processor coupled to the interfaces;

storage coupled to the processor; and

programming in the storage for a plurality of application services, wherein, for each application service, execution of the programming by the processor causes the gateway device to provide functions in relation to a respective service for one or more endpoint devices.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the programming comprises:

logic for a plurality of application services;

logic for interfaces for the application services, including at least one television interface for implementation on the television display through the digital media device;

logic for a services framework; and

logic for platform management.

34. A product comprising a machine-readable medium and programming embodied in the medium for a digital media device, wherein execution of the programming causes the digital media device to provide graphical interaction with a media and service distribution system via a television display, the graphical interaction via the television display comprising:

(a) arranging a first plurality of graphical icons in a pattern displayed on the television display, wherein the pattern has a first end and a second end, with the first end and the second end each defined by a display edge of the television display, and wherein each graphical icon of the first plurality of graphical icons represents a media application, service application, or media and service application;

(b) highlighting one of the first plurality of graphical icons located substantially at a center of the pattern to enable selection of the one graphical icon;

(c) receiving a selection to move the arrangement of the first plurality of graphical icons in the pattern in a first direction or in a second direction so as to arrange a second plurality of graphical icons for display on the television display in the pattern, wherein one or more of the graphical icons of the second plurality of graphical icons are different from one or more of the graphical icons in the first plurality of graphical icons, and wherein the movement of the arrangement of the first plurality to the second plurality enables at least one graphical icon of the first plurality to be moved beyond the display edge so that the at least one graphical icon of the first plurality is not visible on the television display;

(d) highlighting one of the second plurality of graphical icons located substantially at the center of the pattern to enable selection;

(e) receiving a selection of the highlighted icon for at least one media application, service application, or media and service application; and

(f) displaying the selected media application, service application, or media and service application on the television display.

35. The product of claim 34, wherein the pattern of graphical icons is a substantially curved pattern or a substantially linear pattern.

36. The product of claim 34, wherein the receiving a selection of the highlighted icon enables the execution of the programming embodied on the digital media device to provide a selected service application from a gateway device to the digital media device via a user premises data communications network.

37. The product of claim 34, wherein the receiving a selection of the highlighted icon enables the execution of the programming embodied on the digital media device to provide a selected media application from a media source to the digital media device.

38. The product of claim 34, wherein the execution of the programming embodied on the digital media device dynamically adds or dynamically removes one or more graphical icons from the first plurality of graphical icons or the second plurality of graphical icons.

39. The product of claim 38, wherein the dynamic adding or dynamic removing of the one or more icons is determined by subscriptions to media applications, service applications, or media and service applications.

40. A digital media device communicatively coupled to an audio-video system for providing a television type output to a viewer at a user premises, the digital media device comprising:

(a) a first interface configured to receive a media signal containing audio and video information, from a media source, for television type presentation via the audio-video system;

(b) a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and an application service provider device via a user premises data communications network, wherein;

(i) the application service provider device is independent from the media source,

(ii) the second interface is configured to receive information for an application service offered from a wide area network from the application service provider device via the user premises data communications network, and

(iii) the second interface is configured to send messages related to the application service via the user premises data communications network to the application service provider device;

(c) a third interface configured to at least provide output to the audio-video system; and

(d) a processor coupled to the first, second, and third interfaces, wherein;

(i) the processor is configured to form a composite signal containing audio and video information, responsive to the media signal and the received information for the application service, and to supply the composite signal for output via the third interface to the audio-video system for television type presentation, and

(ii) the processor is configured to respond to a user selection signal based on the television type presentation of the composite signal to cause the second interface to send a message related to a selection for the application service, via the second interface and the user premises data communications network, to the application service provider device.

41. The digital media device of claim 40, wherein the composite signal supplied for output via the third interface to the audio-video system is for audio type presentation, video type television presentation, or audio and video type presentation.

42. A media and service distribution system for a user premises having a media source to supply a media signal and a user premises data communications network, comprising:

(a) a gateway device for operation at the user premises, independent of the media source, configured to receive an application service via a wide area network and further configured to provide and manage services to one or more endpoint devices associated with the gateway device; and

(b) a digital media device communicatively coupled to an audio-video system for providing a television type output to a viewer at a user premises, the digital media device comprising;

(1) a first interface configured to receive a media signal containing audio and video information, from a media source, for television type presentation via the audio-video system;

(2) a second interface configured to enable bi-directional communications between the digital media device and an application service provider device via a user premises data communications network, wherein;

(i) the application service provider device is independent from the media source,

(ii) the second interface is configured to receive information for an application service offered from a wide area network from the application service provider device via the user premises data communications network, and

(iii) the second interface is configured to send messages related to the application service via the user premises data communications network to the application service provider device;

(c) a third interface configured to at least provide output to the audio-video system the audio-video system; and

(d) a processor coupled to the first, second, and third interfaces, wherein;

(1) the processor is configured to form a composite signal containing audio and video information responsive to the media signal and the receive information for the application service and to supply the composite signal for output via the third interface to the audio-video system for television type presentation, and

(2) the processor is configured to respond to a user selection signal based on the television type presentation of the composite signal to cause the second interface to send a message related to a selection for the application service, via the second interface and the user premises data communications network, to the application service provider device.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the composite signal supplied for output via the third interface to the audio-video system is for audio type presentation, video type television presentation, or audio and video type presentation.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the application service information from the gateway device comprises notifications of status with regard to one or more application services managed by the gateway device.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the processor is configured to receive the notifications of status from the gateway device and transmit a message related to the selection signal to the gateway device, via the user premises data communications network, using a presence and networking protocol.

46. The system of claim 42, further comprising a digital storage device coupled via a data communications link with the processor, wherein the digital storage device is configured to record the media signal received by the first interface, or record the application service received by the second interface, or record the media signal received by the first interface and the application service received by the second interface.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the digital media device receives a selection signal, wherein the digital media device records the media signal, the application service, or the media signal and the application service upon receipt of the selection signal.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the selection signal is a pause media signal or a record signal.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the gateway device further comprises a digital storage device configured to store media signals, application services, or media signal and application services recorded by the digital media device and communicated to the gateway device from the digital media device via the wide area network.

50. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor is configured to synchronize the media signal and the application service information to form the composite signal.

51. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor is configured to filter at least a portion of the media signal, or the application service information, or the media signal and the application service information to form the composite signal.

52. The system of claim 42, wherein the gateway device comprises:

a first interface for enabling bi-directional network layer communications within the premises, with one or more of the endpoint devices;

a second interface for enabling bi-directional network layer communications for the one or more endpoint devices via a wide area network, and for enabling at least some bi-directional communications with a service management center external to the premises via the wide area network;

a processor coupled to the interfaces;

storage coupled to the processor; and

programming in the storage for a plurality of application services, wherein, for each application service, execution of the programming by the processor causes the gateway device to provide functions in relation to a respective service for one or more endpoint devices.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the programming comprises:

logic for a plurality of application services;

logic for interfaces for the application services, including at least one television interface for implementation on the television display through the digital media device;

logic for a services framework; and

logic for platform management.