COMPANION EXPERIENCE

• US 20110246437A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Berrett, Douglas D., Cirrincione, Cory J., McClanahan, Joseph L., Kollenkark, Sean E., Oakley, Andrew P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,489,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a so-called companion experience in which content consumed on a primary screen can serve as a source for an automatic search that returns related content that can be presented on an auxiliary screen. The companion experience can be considered to reside in a layer that can be moved across different screens. The different screens can include different physical screens, such as those associated with different computing devices, or the same physical screen in which the companion experience would be rendered in a frame or sub-window.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

prompting a user for a companion experience in which content consumed on a device serving as a primary screen can serve as a source for an automatic search that returns related content that can be presented on an auxiliary screen; and

responsive to the user opting for the companion experience, causing transmission of searchable information associated with the content consumed on the device to a search engine sufficient to cause related content to be returned and rendered on the auxiliary screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the prompting is performed responsive to ascertaining a proximity of a computing device that serves as the auxiliary screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device also serves as the auxiliary screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing transmission comprises transmitting the information to a device that serves as the auxiliary screen.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the searchable information includes one or more of media type, current content, or metadata associated with the content consumed on the device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the device serving as the primary screen comprises one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device serving as the primary screen comprises one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device, and wherein the auxiliary screen is supported by a device comprising one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device serving as the primary screen comprises one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device, and wherein the auxiliary screen is supported by a device comprising one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device, and wherein the device serving as the primary screen is different from the device serving as the auxiliary screen.

9. One or more computer readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

launching a companion experience module that enables content consumed on a device serving as a primary screen to serve as a source for an automatic search that returns related content that can be presented on an auxiliary screen;

receiving information associated with the content being consumed on the primary screen;

formulating a search query using the information;

transmitting the search query to a search engine;

receiving, from the search engine, related content; and

rendering the related content on the auxiliary screen.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary screen is supported by a device other than the device serving as the primary screen.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary screen is supported by the device serving as the primary screen.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the device serving as primary screen comprises one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the device serving as primary screen comprises one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device, and wherein the auxiliary screen is supported by a device comprising one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the content consumed on the device serving as the primary screen comprises entertainment content.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the content consumed on the device serving as the primary screen comprises content other than entertainment content.

16. One or more computer readable storage media embodying a companion experience module configured to:

enable content consumed on a device serving as a primary screen to serve as a source for an automatic search that returns related content that can be presented on an auxiliary screen;

conduct automatic searches for the related content using information associated with the content consumed on the device serving as a primary screen; and

cause rendering of the related content on the auxiliary screen.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the companion experience module is further configured to prompt a user for a companion experience responsive to ascertaining proximity of one or more other devices.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the information includes one or more of media type, current content, or metadata associated with the content consumed on the device.

19. A computing device embodying the one or more computer readable storage media of claim 16.

20. A computing device embodying the one or more computer readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the computing device comprises one of a mobile class device, a computer class device, or a television class device.