APPLICATION SUPPORT FOR NETWORK DEVICES

• US 20130254675A1
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: de Andrade, David, Cook, Michael J., Ismail, Labeeb K., Vickers, Mark Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,031,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/746
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A system may receive application data in a client-incompatible format and convert at least a portion of the application data into an alternate client-compatible format. In one example, the incompatible format may comprise Enhanced Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) while a client-compatible format may include a web format such as JavaScript, XML or HTML. Interactions (e.g., commands and user input) associated with the application may be received and converted. The interactions may then be processed using the application.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first device, data in a first format relating to an interactive application, wherein the first device is compatible with the first format;

executing, by the first device, the application to generate application output;

generating, by the first device, user interface data corresponding to the application output, wherein the user interface data is generated in a second format different from the first format, wherein the second format is compatible with a second device; and

transmitting the user interface data in the second format to the second device, wherein the second device is incompatible with the first format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the user interface data includes identifying and retrieving pre-defined user interface modules in the second format corresponding to one or more user interface elements in the application output.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second format comprises a web-compatible format including at least one of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and hypertext markup language (HTML).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first format comprises Enhanced Binary Interchange Format (EBIF).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the user interface to the second device includes transmitting the user interface to the second device through a server configured to control focus of interface elements in a display of the second device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting video content associated with the interactive application to a display separate from the second device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving a request for the interactive application from the second device after initiating transmission of the video content to the display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command corresponding to at least one of a user interaction or an event from the second device in the second format;

converting the command into the first format; and

further executing the interactive application by inputting the command.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the second format as being compatible with the second device; and

generating the user interface in the second format in response to identifying the second format as being compatible with the second device.

10. An method comprising:

transmitting, to a first device, data in a first format relating to an interactive application, wherein the first device comprises is compatible with the first format;

generating a user interface corresponding to an output of said interactive application, wherein the user interface is generated in a second format different from the first format, wherein the second format is compatible with a second device; and

transmitting the user interface in the second format to the second device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second device is incompatible with the first format.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second format comprises at least one of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and hypertext markup language (HTML).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first format comprises Enhanced Binary Interchange Format (EBIF).

14. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the user interface to the second device includes transmitting the user interface to the second device through a server configured to control focus of interface elements in a display of the other apparatus.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting video content associated with the interactive application to a display separate from the second device.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first device, selection of a second device to which to provide an interactive application;

receiving, by the first device, user input corresponding to the interactive application from the second device, wherein the second device is incompatible with a first format and wherein the user input is received in a second format;

converting, by the first device, the user input into the first format;

executing, by the first device, the interactive application based on the converted user input; and

transmitting content other than the interactive application to a third device different from the first and second devices.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third device is compatible with the first format.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a user selection of the third device to which to provide the content other than the interactive application.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the interactive application corresponds to a multi-user interactive application configured to receive input from multiple devices.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein converting, by the first device, the user input into the first format includes:

identifying a display element of the interactive application in the first format corresponding to the user input; and

invoking a function in the first format based on a type of user input received.