METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR COORDINATING PLAYING OF MEDIA STREAMS

• US 20130188924A1
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cypress Lake Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sitting Man LLC
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/80 Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for coordinating playing of media streams. In one aspect, an access by a media player to a presentation device to play a media stream is detected. Additionally, presentation focus information is accessed for determining whether the media player has presentation focus for playing the media stream. Further, it is determine, based on the presentation focus information, that the media player has presentation focus for playing the media stream. Still further, in response to determining the media player has presentation focus, it is indicated that the media player is allowed to play the media stream via the presentation device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, based on a first user interface element, a first media player that is assigned a first presentation focus allowing the first media player to play a first media stream in the first user interface element presented via a first presentation device;

identifying a first change in the first presentation focus;

determining, based on the first change, that the first media player is not assigned the first presentation focus; and

indicating that the detected first media player is not allowed to play the first media stream in the first user interface element, in response to the determining based on the first change,

wherein performing at least one of the preceding actions comprising the method includes execution of an instruction by a processor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting includes intercepting representation information, for presenting at least a portion of the first media stream, sent to play the at least a portion of the first media stream.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first user interface element is included in a user interface presented by a web browser and the first presentation focus is assigned by the web browser.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting includes receiving session information via a network from a remote client and the method includes detecting that the first media player is assigned the first presentation focus based on the session information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of a media player application, a graphical user interface subsystem, a graphics subsystem, a display driver, an audio driver, a user interface element handler component, and a device communicatively coupled to the first presentation device via a network is included in the detecting.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface element is not assigned input focus for any input device while the first media player is assigned the first presentation focus.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein whether the first media player is assigned the first presentation focus is based on whether the first user interface element is assigned a first input focus for a first input device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first change in the first presentation focus is based on at least one of a releasing of the first presentation focus assigned to a second media player based on a second user interface element for presenting a second media stream by the second media player.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the releasing by the second media player is based on a change in a mode of operation of the second media player from a play mode to another mode.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining includes:

detecting a second change in the first presentation focus; and

determining, based on the second change, that the first media player is assigned first presentation focus; and

indicating that the first media player is allowed to play the first media stream in the first user interface element, in response to the determining based on the second change.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining based on the first change includes:

detecting a second access to a second presentation device to play a second media stream by the first media player; and

determining whether the first media player has a second presentation focus to play the second media stream via the second presentation device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein determining whether the first media player has a second presentation focus to play the second media stream via the second presentation device includes:

determining that a second media player has the second presentation focus; and

indicating, in response to determining the second media player has the second presentation focus, that the detected first media player is not allowed to operate to play the first media stream, via the first presentation device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining that the second media player has the second presentation includes determining that the first media player does not have second presentation focus.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein indicating that the first media player is not allowed to play the first media stream includes preventing sending of representation information based on data in the first media stream to present in the first user interface element.

15. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

logic encoded in at least one data storage medium for execution by the at least one processor that when executed is operable for;

detecting a first access to a first presentation device to play a first media stream by a first media player;

determining whether the first media player has a first presentation focus for the first presentation device indicating that the first media player is allowed to play the first media stream via the first presentation device;

indicating that the first media player is allowed to play the first media stream, via the presentation device, in response to determining that the first media player has the first presentation focus; and

indicating that the first media player is not allowed to play the first media stream, via the first presentation device, in response to determining that the first media player does not have the first presentation focus.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program including instructions executable by a machine, for:

detecting a first access to a first presentation device to play a first media stream by a first media player;

determining whether the first media player has a first presentation focus for the first presentation device indicating that the first media player is allowed to play the first media stream via the first presentation device;

indicating that the first media player is allowed to play the first media stream, via the presentation device, in response to determining that the first media player has the first presentation focus; and

indicating that the first media player is not allowed to play the first media stream, via the first presentation device, in response to determining that the first media player does not have the first presentation focus.