Systems and Methods for Remote Web Query and Image Selection Exchange to Video Screen

• US 20110072470A1
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hill, Nicholas Peter, Morris, Scott, Ng, Virginia Seid
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64 Addressing network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00; support for multicast or broadcast of one-way stream services H04L65/611
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed which relate to browsing through search results on a handheld communications device, and displaying a desired search result on an external display device. The system includes a handheld communications device having a user interface to search for a plurality of media resources, an application server to deliver the media resources, and a set-top box to receive a request to display a desired media resource on a display device coupled to the set-top box, such as an IPTV. The user interface presents novel methods to send the desired search result to the IPTV via the application server. The user may “throw” the media resource to the set-top box using a hand gesture to invoke an accelerometer in the handheld communications device.

Claims

1. A system for sharing a media file, comprising:

a handheld communications device, the device including a display, a transceiver, a device memory, a device processor, and a media logic unit on the device memory;

an application server in communication with the handheld communications device, the application server including a server memory, a server processor, and a media sharing logic unit on the server memory;

a set-top box in communication with the application server; and

a display device in communication with the set-top box;

wherein the handheld communications device transmits a first address of the media file to the application server, and

wherein the application server transmits a second address of the media file to the set-top box so that the media file can be displayed on the display device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a packet-based network connecting the handheld communications device, the application server, and the set-top box.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the packet-based network is the INTERNET.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second address is the same as the first address.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the application server stores a copy of the media file on a database, and wherein the second address of the media file corresponds to the copy of the media file stored on the database.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld communications device transmits a request to display the media file to the application server, and wherein the application server forwards the request to display the media file to the set-top box.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an authentication server in communication with the application server to verify that the handheld communications device and the set-top box are associated with one or more user accounts on the network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld communications device is one of a cellular telephone and PDA

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver uses one of cellular RF, BLUETOOTH, and WiFi.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld communications device includes an accelerometer.

11. A method for sharing a media resource on a handheld communications device, the method comprising:

receiving a media search request from a handheld communications device over a network;

gathering from the network a set of media resources corresponding to the media search request;

receiving from the handheld device a request to display a media resource from the set of media resources on an external display device; and

transmitting an address of the media resource over the network to a set-top box coupled to the external display device;

wherein the set-top box is configured to display the media resource on the external display device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a first address of the media resource from the handheld communications device, and transmitting the first address to the set-top box.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

resizing the media resource to an optimal viewing size;

storing the media resource on a database in communication with the server; and

transmitting a second address to the set-top box, wherein the second address corresponds to the copy of the media resource stored on the database.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising forwarding the request to display the media resource from the handheld communications device to the set-top box.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising verifying that the handheld communications device and the set-top box are associated with one or more user accounts on the network.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a request for additional media results from the handheld communications device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the request for additional media results is activated by shaking the handheld communications device, wherein the handheld communications device includes an accelerometer to detect the shaking.

18. A method for sharing a media resource on a handheld communications device, the method comprising:

transmitting a media search query to a server over a network;

retrieving from the network a set of media resources corresponding to the media search query;

transmitting to the server a request to display, on an external display device, a media resource from the set of media resources; and

transmitting, from the server to a set-top box coupled to the external display device, an address of the media resource;

wherein the set-top box is configured to display the media resource on the external display device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting to the server a first address of the media resource, wherein the server forwards the first address to the set-top box.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

resizing the media resource to an optimal viewing size;

storing the media resource on a database in communication with the server; and

transmitting a second address to the set-top box, wherein the second address corresponds to the copy of the media resource stored on the database.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising forwarding the request to display the media resource from the handheld communications device to the set-top box.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising verifying that the handheld communications device and the set-top box are associated with one or more user accounts on the network.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a request for additional media results by shaking the handheld communications device, wherein the handheld communications device includes an accelerometer to detect the shaking.