METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A CONTEXT AWARE REMOTE CONTROLLER APPLICATION

• US 20150113567A1
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: SCHEER, Fred
• Application Number:
  US14/061,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20150113567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• 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 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

An approach for implementing a context-aware remote controller application on a controller device for interfacing with one or more target devices and controlling one or more functionalities and/or processes at the target includes determining a current state associated with one or more applications, one or more content items or a combination thereof at a user device. The approach also includes communicating a change in the current state to a controller device via a context update message, wherein the context update message encodes the current state, the change in the current state, or a combination thereof as a context identifier. Further, the approach includes initiating a presentation of one or more user interface options at the controller device based on the context update message, the context identifier, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method of comprising:

determining a current state associated with one or more applications, one or more content items or a combination thereof at a user device;

communicating a change in the current state to a controller device via a context update message, wherein the context update message encodes the current state, the change in the current state, or a combination thereof as a context identifier; and

initiating a presentation of one or more user interface options at the controller device based on the context update message, the context identifier, or a combination thereof.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command message from the controller device;

determining a target context based on a target context identifier included in the command message; and

initiating an update to the presentation of the one or more user interface options at the controller device based on the command message.

3. A method of claim 2, further comprising:

initiating a validation of the target context identifier; and

performing one or more actions at the user device based on the validation.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interface options include one or more functionalities available at the user device, a list of content items available at the user device, a content consumption progress indicator, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the presentation of the one or more user interface options at the controller device is further based on one or more activities at the controller device.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a dynamic presentation of the one or more user interface options at the controller device based on one or more user preferences, one or more user profiles, content consumption history information, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating an asynchronous communication of the current state, the change in the current state or a combination thereof between the user device and the controller device.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein communication between the user device and the controller device is via a direct communication channel, via one or more network devices, or a combination thereof.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

determine a current state associated with one or more applications, one or more content items or a combination thereof at a user device;

communicate a change in the current state to a controller device via a context update message, wherein the context update message encodes the current state, the change in the current state, or a combination thereof as a context identifier; and

initiate a presentation of one or more user interface options at the controller device based on the context update message, the context identifier, or a combination thereof.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a command message from the controller device;

determine a target context based on a target context identifier included in the command message; and

initiate an update to the presentation of the one or more user interface options at the controller device based on the command message.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate a validation of the target context identifier; and

perform one or more actions at the user device based on the validation.

12. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more user interface options include one or more functionalities available at the user device, a list of content items available at the user device, a content consumption progress indicator, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the presentation of the one or more user interface options at the controller device is further based on one or more activities at the controller device.

14. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate a dynamic presentation of the one or more user interface options at the controller device based on one or more user preferences, one or more user profiles, content consumption history information, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate an asynchronous communication of the current state, the change in the current state or a combination thereof between the user device and the controller device.

16. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein communication between the user device and the controller device is via a direct communication channel, via one or more network devices, or a combination thereof.

17. A system comprising:

a remote control application configured to determine a current state associated with one or more applications, one or more content items or a combination thereof at a user device;

communicate a change in the current state to a controller device via a context update message, wherein the context update message encodes the current state, the change in the current state, or a combination thereof as a context identifier; and

initiate a presentation of one or more user interface options at the controller device based on the context update message, the context identifier, or a combination thereof.

18. A system of claim 17, wherein the remote control application is further configured to receive a command message from the controller device;

determine a target context based on a target context identifier included in the command message; and

initiate an update to the presentation of the one or more user interface options at the controller device based on the command message.

19. A system of claim 18, wherein the remote control application is further configured to initiate a validation of the target context identifier;

and perform one or more actions at the user device based on the validation.

20. A system of claim 17, wherein the remote control application is further configured to initiate a dynamic presentation of the one or more user interface options at the controller device based on one or more user preferences, one or more user profiles, content consumption history information, or a combination thereof.