System and method of distributing multimedia content

• US 7,788,695 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• 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: Raftelis, Michael, Walter, Edward, Adams, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARRY, CHRISTOPHER L
• Application Number:
  US11/510,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 725/97, 725/43
• US Class Current: 725/97
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for enhanced multimedia distribution. The method can include displaying a multimedia selection at a display device coupled to a first receiver of a video distribution system, where the multimedia selection is determined by a user of a second receiver. A multimedia device can include a user interface module to receive a command from a first user to accept a channel selection of a second user. An indication of an attribute of multimedia content associated with a channel selected at a multimedia device can be received from a server having a channel content guide and stored to a database.

Claims

1. A method of distributing multimedia content, the method comprising:

maintaining data identifying members of a first presence group, wherein a plurality of the members are participating members;

receiving a first selection of multimedia content from a first multimedia device associated with a first member of the first presence group, wherein the first selection of multimedia content includes a first selected television channel;

providing the first selection of multimedia content to the first multimedia device via a video distribution system to be displayed at a first region of a display device coupled to the first multimedia device;

receiving a second selection of multimedia content from a second multimedia device associated with a second member of the first presence group, wherein the second selection of multimedia content includes a second selected television channel;

automatically providing the second selection of multimedia content to the first multimedia device via the video distribution system to be displayed at a second region of the display device coupled to the first multimedia device, wherein the second region depicts the second selection of multimedia content associated with the second member of the first presence group;

receiving a third selection of multimedia content from a third multimedia device associated with a first member of a second presence group, wherein the third selection of multimedia content includes a third selected television channel; and

automatically providing the third selection of multimedia content to the first multimedia device via the video distribution system to be displayed at a third region of the display device coupled to the first multimedia device, wherein the third region depicts the third selection of multimedia content associated with the first member of the second presence group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each member of the first presence group can detect and interact with other members of the first presence group via the video distribution system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each member of the first presence group may elect to receive multimedia content selected by another member of the first presence group.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia device of each member of the first presence group is a set top box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the video distribution system includes an Internet Protocol television system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal initiates display of a selectable menu at the first multimedia device of the first member of the first presence group, wherein the selectable menu includes notification of the third selected television channel, includes a first option to accept a channel change to the third selected television channel, and includes a second option to reject the channel change.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the third multimedia device associated with the first member of the second presence group to change the third selection of multimedia content to a fourth selection of multimedia content, wherein the fourth selection of multimedia content includes a fourth selected television channel; and

automatically providing the fourth selection of multimedia content to the first multimedia device via the video distribution system to be displayed at the third region of the display device coupled to the first multimedia device.

8. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying executable instructions, the executable instructions comprising:

instructions to maintain data identifying members of a first presence group, wherein a plurality of the members are participating members;

instructions to receive a first selection of multimedia content from a first multimedia device associated with a first member of the first presence group, wherein the first selection of multimedia content includes a first selected television channel;

instructions to provide the first multimedia content to the first multimedia device via a video distribution system to be displayed at a first region of a display device coupled to the first multimedia device;

instructions to receive a second selection of multimedia content from a second multimedia device associated with a second member of the first presence group, wherein the second selection of multimedia content includes a second selected television channel;

instructions to automatically provide the second selection of multimedia content to the first multimedia device via the video distribution system to be displayed at a second region of the display device coupled to the first multimedia device, wherein the second region depicts the second selection of multimedia content associated with the second member of the first presence group;

instructions to receive a third selection of multimedia content from a third multimedia device associated with a first member of a second presence group, wherein the third selection of multimedia content includes a third selected television channel; and

instructions to automatically provide the third selection of multimedia content to the first multimedia device via the video distribution system to be displayed at a third region of the display device coupled to the first multimedia device, wherein the third region depicts the third selection of multimedia content associated with the first member of the second presence group.

9. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein the video distribution system includes an Internet Protocol television system, and wherein the multimedia receiver of each member of the first presence group is a set top box.

10. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein each member of the first presence group can detect and interact with other members of the first presence group via the video distribution system, and wherein each member of the first presence group may elect to receive multimedia content selected by another member of the first presence group.