System using selected controller for sharing and directing web content in real time among network devices

• US 7,516,188 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, LE HIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/868,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/217, 709/218, 709/209, 709/229, 709/225, 709/203, 709/224, 709/242, 709/208, 379/102.1
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

A method and system for directing content to a plurality of devices provide one of the devices as a controller, form a network between the controller and other devices of the plurality of devices, and send from the controller to the other devices a play request for the content. The play request includes a content source address and a content type. The other devices can locate a content source using the content source address and receive the content. The controller and the other devices can then play the received content. In this manner, a network of devices can be formed for the purpose of sharing or directing content in real-time. The other devices can be directed to receive the content directly from the content source or through the controller. Alternatively, the controller can be the content source. The ease and efficiency in which content is shared is thus significantly increased.

Claims

1. A method for directing content to a plurality of devices, comprising:

providing a device of the plurality of devices as a controller, wherein the providing comprises negotiating among the plurality of devices that the device is to be the controller;

forming a network between the controller and other devices of the plurality of devices; and

sending from the controller to the other devices a play request for the content, the play request including a content source address of a content source and a content type such that the other devices can locate the content source and receive the content, wherein the controller and the other devices can play the received content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating comprises:

requesting the device to be the controller; and

activating a controller module in the controller, wherein the content source address and the content type is provided to the controller module.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the negotiating comprises:

selecting the device as the controller based on user preferences.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming comprises:

sending a control request from the controller to the other devices to invite the other devices to join the network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the sending of the control request is not solicited by the other devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is the content source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller sends synchronization signals to the other devices.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the play request is not solicited by the other devices of the plurality of devices.

9. A system for directing content to a plurality of devices, comprising:

a network comprising the plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices negotiates that a device of the plurality of devices is to be a controller; and

at least one content source, wherein the controller sends to other devices of the plurality of devices a play request, the play request comprising a content source address of the at least one content source and a content type such that the other devices locate the at least one content source and receive the content, wherein the controller and the other devices play the received content.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a controller module, wherein the controller module is activated and provided the content source address and the content type.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the device is selected to be the controller based on user preferences.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller sends a control request to the other devices to invite the other devices to join the network.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the other devices comprises a receiver module and a player for the content, wherein the receiver module for each of the other devices checks the content type, selects the player, and provides the player with the content source address and the content type, wherein the player for each of the other devices connects to the at least one content source.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the player for each of the other devices receives the content from the at least one content source and plays the received content.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is the content source.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller sends synchronization signals to the other devices.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the controller serves as an access point to a content provider.

18. The system of claim 9 wherein the controller is part of a first formed network and at least one other device of the plurality of devices is part of a second formed network.

19. The system of claim 9 wherein the controller comprises a mobile computing device.

20. The system of claim 9 wherein the play request is not solicited by the other devices of the plurality of devices.

21. A computer readable storage medium with program instructions for directing content to a plurality of devices, comprising instructions for:

providing a device of the plurality of devices as a controller, wherein the providing comprises negotiating among the plurality of devices that the device is to be the controller;

forming a network between the controller and other devices of the plurality of devices; and

sending from the controller to the other devices a play request for the content the play request including a content source address of a content source and a content type such that the other devices can locate the content source and receive the content, wherein the controller and the other devices can play the received content.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the negotiating comprises instructions for:

requesting the device to be the controller; and

activating a controller module in the controller, wherein the content source address and the content type is provided to the controller module.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the negotiating comprises instructions for:

selecting the device to be the controller based on user preferences.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the forming instruction comprises instructions for:

sending a control request from the controller to the other devices to invite the other devices to join the network.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21 having further instructions for sending synchronization signals to the other devices.

26. A method for at least one device of a plurality of devices to receive content, comprising:

forming a network between a controller and the at least one device of the plurality of devices, the controller selected by negotiating among the plurality of devices that a device is to be the controller;

receiving a play request for the content from the controller, the play request including a content source address of a content source and a content type;

locating the content source; and

receiving the content, wherein the controller and the at least one device of the plurality of devices plays the received content.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

in each of the at least one device of the plurality of devices;

selecting a player for the content type;

providing the player with the content source address and the content type; and

connecting to the content source by the player.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving the content from the content source by the player in each of the at least one device of the plurality of devices; and

playing the received content by the player in each of the at least one device of the plurality of devices.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein selecting the player comprises selecting one of a streaming video player, a digital music player, and a television signal player.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the controller is the content source and receiving the content comprises receiving the content from the controller.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising prompting a user of the at least one device of the plurality of devices for permission to accept the play request.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the controller is configured to present the content on the controller as the received content is being presented on the at least one device of the plurality of devices.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein the play request is an unsolicited request.