Methods, Systems, and Products for Control of Devices

• US 20140059639A1
• Filed: 11/02/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stefanik, John R., Durden, George A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,294,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/153
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products control external devices during presentation of multimedia content. When a description of the multimedia content is received, the description includes control data for controlling an external device. The control data is stripped therefrom and sent to the external device to alter a presentation of the multimedia content

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving multimedia content at a device, the multimedia content comprising control data added to a description of the multimedia content, the control data for controlling an external device;

stripping the control data from the description of the multimedia content; and

executing the control data to alter a presentation of the multimedia content.

2. The method of claim 1, furthering comprising embedding the control data in the multimedia content.

3. The method of claim 1, furthering comprising inserting the control data into the multimedia content.

4. The method of claim 1, furthering comprising processing the control data.

5. The method of claim 1, furthering comprising setting a reminder based on the control data.

6. The method of claim 1, furthering comprising adjusting home theater equipment in response to the control data.

7. The method of claim 1, furthering comprising recording the multimedia content in response to the control data.

8. The method of claim 1, furthering comprising adjusting a volume in response to the control data.

9. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing a software application that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving multimedia content having control data added to a description of the multimedia content, the control data for controlling an external device;

stripping the control data from the description of the multimedia content; and

sending the control data to the external device to alter a presentation of the multimedia content.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise processing the control data.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise setting a reminder in response to the control data.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting a volume.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise muting objectionable content.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting home theater equipment in response to the control data.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise recording the multimedia content in response to the control data.

16. A memory storing code that when executed causes a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving multimedia content having control data added to a description of the multimedia content, the control data for controlling an external device;

stripping the control data from the description of the multimedia content; and

sending the control data to the external device to alter a presentation of the multimedia content.

17. The memory of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise processing the control data.

18. The memory of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting a volume.

19. The memory of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting home theater equipment in response to the control data.

20. The memory of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise adjusting a display picture in response to the control data.