SYSTEM AND METHOD TO EASILY RETURN TO A RECENTLY-ACCESSED SERVICE ON A SECOND DISPLAY

• US 20120210375A1
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wong, Ling Jun, McCoy, Charles, Xiong, True
• Granted Patent: US 9,544,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/93
• 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 21/25875 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 21/41265 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 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• 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 21/64322 IP

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided to implement a technique for using a second display with a content playback device. In one implementation, this feature allows users to easily return to a recently-accessed service when browsing on a second display. The most recent service may appear at the top of the list. Such systems and methods may be particularly advantageous when a user normally only visits a few services in an entire list of available services on a regular basis. The recently-accessed service may be specific to the user account, a user profile within the user account, the second display, or the content playback device. In some implementations, the second display may be a smart phone that can often be found beside the user, a laptop or tablet PC, or the like.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a user to return to a recently-accessed service, comprising:

i. upon access of a service on one second display, logging a notation of the access along with a time stamp on a list, such that a recently-accessed list is created, the recently-accessed list stored on a management server, the management server providing access to a plurality of service providers; and

ii. upon request by a second display, providing the recently-accessed service list for display on the same or another second display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing includes generating a recently-accessed service list including formatting the recently-accessed service list for display on a number of different types of second displays, the types of second displays including:

a tablet computer, a smart phone, a laptop computer, an internet appliance, or a computing device with internet access.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the access of a service on one second display includes playback of an asset from an accessed service on a content playback device, and wherein the logging is performed upon the playback of the asset.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the providing further comprises ordering the generated recently-accessed service list according to timestamp.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request for a service on the recently-accessed service list to be accessed, the request sent from the one or another second display.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising causing the requested service to be accessed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one service on the recently-accessed list has associated therewith an expiration date, and further comprising, on or after the expiration date, removing the service from the recently-accessed service list.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging data about a second display, content playback device, user account, or user profile associated with the access, and wherein the recently-accessed service list is specific to the second display, content playback device, user account, or user profile, respectively.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the logging includes data about a current location within the accessed service, such that upon a subsequent request for the service, the service access begins at the current location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the current location is a category page.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the logging includes data about a current location, and further comprising, upon a subsequent request to access the service, displaying a prompt on the second display requesting the service, inquiring as to whether access should start at a homepage of the service or at the current location.

12. The method of claim 3, further comprising filtering the generated list based on a regional ruleset corresponding to a region in which the content playback device resides.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computing device to implement the method of claim 1.

14. A method of enabling a user to access a recently-accessed service on a second display, comprising:

i. upon access of services on one second display, transmitting data about the services to a management server, the management server providing access to a plurality of service providers; and

ii. displaying on the one or another second display a most recently-accessed service or a list, the list including entries corresponding to the most recently-accessed services.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second display is a tablet computer, a smart phone, a laptop computer, an internet appliance, or a computing device with internet access.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising associating a timestamp with the transmitted data.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising ordering the list on the second display according to timestamp.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a request to access a service on the list.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a current location in the service to the management server.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

i. transmitting a request for a service on the list;

ii. receiving a request for user input, the request inquiring as to whether access of the service should be at a homepage of the service or at the current location; and

iii. transmitting a response to the request for user input to the management server.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the list is specific to the second display.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the list is specific to a user account or a user profile on the user account.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the list is specific to a content playback device or to a category of content playback devices.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising filtering the recently-accessed service list based on a regional ruleset corresponding to a region in which a content playback device associated with the user account resides.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computing device to implement the method of claim 14.