Playing Multimedia Content on Multiple Devices

• US 20110185036A1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lanier, Brian, Barton, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• 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 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• 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 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A method for displaying multimedia content is described. The method includes causing playing of multimedia content on a first device; responsive to a first user input, on a second device, comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the playing of the multimedia content: causing an action comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing of the multimedia content on the second device at a start position that is based on the user input and a current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

causing playing of multimedia content on a first device;

responsive to a first user input, on a second device, comprising one of;

playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the playing of the multimedia content;

causing an action comprising one of;

playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing of the multimedia content on the second device at a start position that is based on the user input and a current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the playing the of multimedia content on the first device is not changed in response to receiving the user input on the second device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

responsive to a second user input, synchronizing the playing of the multimedia content on the second device with the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are communicatively coupled.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device receive the multimedia content directly from a same multimedia device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein playing the multimedia content on the second device comprises computing the start position by applying at least one of:

fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing to the current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein responsive to the first user input, playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing is caused using a locally stored copy on the second device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, perform steps comprising:

causing playing of multimedia content on a first device;

responsive to a first user input, on a second device, comprising one of;

playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the playing of the multimedia content;

causing an action comprising one of;

playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing of the multimedia content on the second device at a start position that is based on the user input and a current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

9. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the playing the of multimedia content on the first device is not changed in response to receiving the user input on the second device.

10. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 9, the steps further comprising:

responsive to a second user input, synchronizing the playing of the multimedia content on the second device with the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

11. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the first device and the second device are communicatively coupled.

12. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the first device and the second device receive the multimedia content directly from a same multimedia device.

13. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein playing the multimedia content on the second device comprises computing the start position by applying at least one of:

fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing to the current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

14. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein responsive to the first user input, playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing is caused using a locally stored copy on the second device.

15. A apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors;

logic configured to perform steps comprising;

causing playing of multimedia content on a first device;

responsive to a first user input, on a second device, comprising one of;

playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the playing of the multimedia content;

causing an action comprising one of;

playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing of the multimedia content on the second device at a start position that is based on the user input and a current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the playing the of multimedia content on the first device is not changed in response to receiving the user input on the second device.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, the steps further comprising:

responsive to a second user input, synchronizing the playing of the multimedia content on the second device with the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the first device and the second device are communicatively coupled.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the first device and the second device receive the multimedia content directly from a same multimedia device.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein playing the multimedia content on the second device comprises computing the start position by applying at least one of:

fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing to the current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein responsive to the first user input, playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing is caused using a locally stored copy on the second device.