Displaying an Environment and Related Features on Multiple Devices

• US 20110185296A1
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lanier, Brian, Barton, James M.
• Application Number:
  US12/828,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20110185296A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• 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 an environment is described. The method includes causing displaying of an environment on a primary device visible to at least a first user and a second user of a plurality of users; causing displaying of first user-specific features associated with the environment on a first mobile device associated with the first user; causing displaying of second user-specific features associated with the environment on a second mobile device associated with the second user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

causing displaying of an environment on a primary device visible to at least a first user and a second user of a plurality of users;

causing displaying of first user-specific features associated with the environment on a first mobile device associated with the first user;

causing displaying of second user-specific features associated with the environment on a second mobile device associated with the second user.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary device, the first mobile device, and the second mobile device are communicatively coupled to a multimedia device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first mobile device and the primary device are communicatively coupled.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the environment is an interactive gaming environment.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first user-specific features comprise one or more of:

special weapons, abilities, functions, or assets associated with the first user.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first user-specific features comprises a first user-specific view of the environment.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device is configured to play first user-specific sounds.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein displaying the first user-specific features on the first device comprises displaying the environment on the first device and overlaying the first-user specific features on the environment displayed on the first device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first user-specific features are different than the second user-specific features.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device is a hand-held device.

11. A method comprising:

displaying an environment on a primary device visible to at least a first team of users and a second team of users;

displaying first team-specific features associated with the environment on each mobile device of a first plurality of mobile devices associated with the first team of users;

displaying second team-specific features associated with the environment on each mobile device of a second plurality of mobile devices associated with the second team of users.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein at least a mobile device of the first plurality of mobile devices or the second plurality of mobile devices is a hand-held device.

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

causing displaying of an environment on a primary device visible to at least a first user and a second user of a plurality of users;

causing displaying of first user-specific features associated with the environment on a first mobile device associated with the first user;

causing displaying of second user-specific features associated with the environment on a second mobile device associated with the second user.

14. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the primary device, the first mobile device, and the second mobile device are communicatively coupled to a multimedia device.

15. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the first mobile device and the primary device are communicatively coupled.

16. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the environment is an interactive gaming environment.

17. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the first user-specific features comprise one or more of:

special weapons, abilities, functions, or assets associated with the first user.

18. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the first user-specific features comprises a first user-specific view of the environment.

19. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the first device is configured to play first user-specific sounds.

20. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein displaying the first user-specific features on the first device comprises displaying the environment on the first device and overlaying the first-user specific features on the environment displayed on the first device.

21. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the first user-specific features are different than the second user-specific features.

22. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device is a hand-held device.

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

displaying an environment on a primary device visible to at least a first team of users and a second team of users;

displaying first team-specific features associated with the environment on each mobile device of a first plurality of mobile devices associated with the first team of users;

displaying second team-specific features associated with the environment on each mobile device of a second plurality of mobile devices associated with the second team of users.

24. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein at least a mobile device of the first plurality of mobile devices or the second plurality of mobile devices is a hand-held device.

25. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

logic configured to perform steps comprising;

causing displaying of an environment on a primary device visible to at least a first user and a second user of a plurality of users;

causing displaying of first user-specific features associated with the environment on a first mobile device associated with the first user;

causing displaying of second user-specific features associated with the environment on a second mobile device associated with the second user.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the primary device, the first mobile device, and the second mobile device are communicatively coupled to a multimedia device.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the first mobile device and the primary device are communicatively coupled.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the environment is an interactive gaming environment.

29. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the first user-specific features comprise one or more of:

special weapons, abilities, functions, or assets associated with the first user.

30. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the first user-specific features comprises a first user-specific view of the environment.

31. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the first device is configured to play first user-specific sounds.

32. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein displaying the first user-specific features on the first device comprises displaying the environment on the first device and overlaying the first-user specific features on the environment displayed on the first device.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the first user-specific features are different than the second user-specific features.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein at least one of the first mobile device and the second mobile device is a hand-held device.

35. An apparatus comprising:

displaying an environment on a primary device visible to at least a first team of users and a second team of users;

displaying first team-specific features associated with the environment on each mobile device of a first plurality of mobile devices associated with the first team of users;

displaying second team-specific features associated with the environment on each mobile device of a second plurality of mobile devices associated with the second team of users.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein at least a mobile device of the first plurality of mobile devices or the second plurality of mobile devices is a hand-held device.