SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT

• US 20100287586A1
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Adams, Thomas H., Raftelis, Michael Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a first server, data from a set-top box device including login information for a user to establish a first session with a multimedia distribution system. The method includes determining at the first server that the user belongs to at least one presence group when the login information is verified. The method includes identifying one or more on-line members that are members of the at least one presence group and have established sessions with the multimedia distribution system. The method also includes sending information from the first server to the set-top box device, the information corresponding to session activity of each of the one or more on-line members. The information includes video content selected by a user of a particular set-top box corresponding to one of the one or more on-line members, where the video content is concurrently sent to the particular set-top box device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a first server, data from a set-top box device including login information for a user to establish a first session with a multimedia distribution system;

determining at the first server that the user belongs to at least one presence group when the login information is verified;

identifying, at the first server, one or more on-line members that are members of the at least one presence group and have established sessions with the multimedia distribution system; and

sending information from the first server to the set-top box device, the information corresponding to session activity of each of the one or more on-line members, wherein the information includes video content selected by a user of a particular set-top box corresponding to one of the one or more on-line members, and wherein the video content is concurrently sent to the particular set-top box device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending instructions from the first server to the set-top box device to provide a text message session with the one or more on-line members.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at the first server that the user has established one or more permanent channel links with the one or more on-line members; and

sending an instruction to a second server to provide the set-top box device with content of the one or more permanent channel links.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving at the first server a channel change to a new channel associated with a particular permanent channel link of the one or more permanent channel links; and

sending an instruction to the second server to provide the set-top box device with content of the new channel for the particular permanent channel link without prompting the user to approve the new channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information provided from the first server to the set-top box device enables the set-top box to send identifiers of the one or more on-line members and indicators for each of the one or more on-line members, wherein the indicators correspond to channels selected by each of the one or more on-line members.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifiers comprise at least one of names, avatars, symbols, and images.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the indicators comprise at least one of channel numbers, program names, program descriptions, program images, and program ratings.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia distribution system is a cable television system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia distribution system is an Internet protocol television system.

10. A set-top box device, comprising:

a processor; and

at least one memory device accessible to the processor, wherein the at least one memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the set-top box device to;

receive first video content via a multimedia distribution system to which the set-top box device is coupled;

display the first video content at a first region of a display device coupled to the set-top box device;

receive second video content at the set-top box device coupled to the multimedia distribution system, wherein a second set-top box device coupled to the multimedia distribution system determines the second video content, wherein the second video content is displayed at a display device coupled to the second set-top box device, and wherein the second video content is sent via the multimedia distribution system to two or more set-top boxes associated with a predetermined group that includes the set-top box device and the second set-top box device; and

display the second video content at a second region of the display device coupled to the set-top box.

11. The set-top box device of claim 10, wherein the second set-top box device determines the second video content based on a channel selected at the second set-top box device.

12. The set-top box device of claim 10, wherein the multimedia distribution system is an internet protocol television (IPTV) system.

13. The set-top box device of claim 10, wherein the multimedia distribution system is a cable television system.

14. The set-top box device of claim 10, wherein the second region corresponds to a permanent channel link.

15. The set-top box device of claim 14, wherein the second video content is changed without approval of any other member of the predetermined group when a member of the predetermined group changes the second video content.

16. The set-top box device of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory device includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the set-top box device to send a selectable menu option to the display device, wherein the selectable menu option enables removal of the permanent channel link.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising:

instructions executable by a processor to receive first video content at a first multimedia device coupled to a multimedia distribution system;

instructions executable by the processor to display the first video content at a first region of a first display device, wherein the first display device is coupled to the first multimedia device;

instructions executable by the processor to receive second video content at the first multimedia device coupled to the multimedia distribution system, wherein a second multimedia device coupled to the multimedia distribution system determines the second video content, wherein the second video content is displayed at a second display device, wherein the second display device is coupled to the second multimedia device, and wherein the second video content is sent via the multimedia distribution system to two or more multimedia devices associated with a predetermined group that includes the first multimedia device and the second multimedia device; and

instructions executable by the processor to display the second video content at a second region of the first display device.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to display a text messaging region at a third region of the first display device, wherein the text messaging region displays text messaging between members of the predetermined group.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to receive input for the third region from a user of the first multimedia device via a remote control device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to receive input for the third region from a user of the first multimedia device via a computer coupled to the first multimedia device.