METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE SCREEN MEDIA EXPERIENCE

• US 20140020025A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnolia Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Anderson, David Brian, Anthru, Shemimon Manalikudy, Cahnbley, Jens, Campana, David Anthony, Mandrekar, Ishan Uday
• Granted Patent: US 9,591,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/43
• 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 21/43079 of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82

Abstract

A current programming channel, and the content thereon, being displayed on a primary display device are tracked. Web content related to the content being displayed on the primary display device is searched and the resulting data is made available to a user on at least one secondary display device via a user interface. The results of the search are made available to a user such that when data resulting from the search is selected for display on the at least one secondary display device, the data is displayed on the at least one secondary display device without interfering with a display of content on the primary display device. In the event of a change of the programming channel or the content thereon, a new search is initiated for data related to content being currently viewed.

Claims

1. A method for providing a multiple screen content experience, comprising:

tracking content being displayed on a primary display device;

searching for data accessible via the Internet related to the content being displayed on the primary display device; and

providing, on at least one secondary display device, access to the data found as a result of said search.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the access to data is provided via links to data related to the content being displayed on the primary display device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said links are automatically determined and presented to a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said search is performed by providing a user with a local network URL that connects to a web server which, upon connection to the local network URL, initiates a search for data related to the content being displayed on the primary display device based on a current channel and program being displayed on the primary display device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein results of a search are provided via an HTML page.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said HTML page represents an enhanced electronic service guide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said search is accomplished via REST-based search interfaces.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a current programming channel of the content being displayed and the content thereon is tracked such that when the programming channel is changed or the content on the channel changes a new search is initiated for data related to content being currently viewed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said data accessible via the Internet includes web content sources related to content being displayed on the primary display including at least one of an official web site, a Wikipedia page, an Internet movie database page, streaming content providers, web images, and Twitter discussions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein results of said search are presented using a web page having a tab format.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein results of said search are presented using a slideshow format.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein data selected for display on the secondary display device is displayed on the secondary screen device without interfering with a display of content on the primary display device.

13. An apparatus for providing a multiple screen content experience, comprising:

a tuner for receiving and tuning programming content;

a processor for tracking content being displayed on a primary display device;

a web service for, in conjunction with said processor, searching for data accessible via the Internet related to the content being displayed on the primary display device and making accessible on at least one secondary display device, the data found as a result of said search.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a database for storing at least the results of said search.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said processor and web service comprise a centralized interfacing platform that interacts with said at least one primary display device and said at least one secondary display device;

wherein the centralized interfacing platform retrieves data related to content displayed on the primary display device and transmits it to the secondary display device.

16. A system for providing a multiple screen content experience, comprising:

a primary display device for displaying received content;

at least one secondary display device for displaying content related to said content being displayed on the primary display device without interfering with a display of content on the primary display device;

a web service for providing access to data accessible via the Internet;

an apparatus comprising;

a tuner for receiving content; and

a processor for tracking content being displayed on the primary display device and for, in conjunction with said web service, searching for data accessible via the Internet related to the content being displayed on the primary display device and making accessible on said at least one secondary display device, the data found as a result of said search.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said data resulting from said Internet search is presented on said at least one secondary display device via a user interface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said user interface comprises a web page having a tab format.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said user interface comprises a web page having a slideshow format.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said primary display device and said at least one secondary display device comprise at least one of a television screen, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a net-book, a smart-phone, and a tablet.