METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USING A SECOND SCREEN DEVICE TO TUNE A SET TOP BOX TO DISPLAY CONTENT PLAYING ON THE SECOND SCREEN DEVICE

• US 20130104160A1
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beeson, Charles W., Bonovich, Earl J., Nelson, Erin K., Kallin, Shannon A.
• Application Number:
  US13/280,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20130104160A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/28
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A system and method for displaying operating a receiving device includes a second screen device in communication with the receiving device. The second screen device displays streamed content having an identifier associated therewith having a touch screen, forms a tune command comprising the identifier and a receiving device identifier in response to a gesture on the touch screen and communicates the tune command to the receiving device from the second screen device. The receiving device is tuned to receive a channel corresponding to the streamed content in response to the tune command. The receiving device displays the channel.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying streamed content having an identifier associated therewith on a second screen device having a touch screen;

generating a gesture on the touch screen;

forming a tune command comprising the identifier and a receiving device identifier in response to the gesture in the second screen device;

communicating the tune command to the receiving device from the second screen device;

tuning the receiving device to receive a channel signal corresponding to the streamed content in response to the tune command; and

displaying the channel signal at a display associated with the receiving device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying streamed content having an identifier associated therewith on a second screen device comprises displaying streamed content in a media player of the second screen device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein generating the gesture comprises generating the gesture within the media player.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein generating the gesture comprises selecting a tune selection box from the media player.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying streamed content having the identifier associated therewith on the second screen device comprises displaying streamed content having a channel identifier associated.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming the tune command comprises the identifier and the address of the receiving device comprises forming the tune command comprising the identifier and an Internet-protocol (IP) address of the receiving device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming the tune command comprising the identifier and the address of the receiving device comprises forming the tune command comprising the identifier and the address of a set top box.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a tune command comprising the identifier and an address of a receiving device comprises forming the tune command comprising a channel identifier and the address of a satellite television set top box.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the tune command to the receiving device comprises communicating the tune command to the receiving device through a local area network having the second screen device in communication therewith.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the tune command to the receiving device comprises communicating the tune command to the receiving device through a local area network and a router associated with the local area network.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to displaying streamed content, comparing content data to parental controls associated with the second screen device and wherein displaying is performed when the parental controls correspond to the content data.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the parental controls comprises at least one of a rating, a channel identifier and a time restriction.

13. A method comprising:

displaying streamed content having an identifier associated therewith in a media player displayed on a second screen device;

forming a record command signal from the media player comprising the identifier and a receiving device identifier;

communicating the record command signal to the receiving device;

tuning a tuner in the receiving device to receive received content corresponding to the streamed content in response to the record command; and

storing the received content in the receiving device.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein communicating the record command signal comprises communicating the record command signal comprising a channel identifier.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein forming the record command signal comprises forming the recording command signal from a drop-down menu of the media player.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein communicating the record command signal comprises communicating the recording command signal through a local area network.

17. A system comprising:

a receiving device; and

a second screen device in communication with the receiving device and displaying streamed content having an identifier associated therewith having a touch screen, forming a tune command comprising the identifier and a receiving device identifier in response to a gesture on the touch screen and communicating the tune command to the receiving device from the second screen device;

said receiving device tuned to receive a channel corresponding to the streamed content in response to the tune command, said receiving device displaying the channel.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the receiving device comprises a set top box.

19. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the second screen device comprises a mobile touch screen device.

20. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the second screen device communicates the tune command through a local area network.

21. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the identifier comprises a channel identifier.

22. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the second screen device displays the streamed content in a media player.

23. The system as recited in claim 22 wherein the gesture is within the media player on the touch screen.

24. The system as recited in claim 22 wherein the gesture is formed using a tune selection box from the media player.