Arrangement for connectivity within an advanced multimedia content framework

• US 8,010,690 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Finger, James C., Doherty, Richard E., Chavda, Praful Pratap, Torr, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mesfin; Yemane
• Application Number:
  US12/146,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20090328120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/204, 709/217, 709/219, 709/231, 463/41, 463/42
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Arrangements and methods are provided that allow integration of connected online services within a high-definition interactive framework, and in particular within an advanced content interactivity layer. In this way, the online services may enjoy enhanced features on an advanced content media device. For example, content running on an advanced content media device may be configured to detect an online service'"'"'s feature and may thus present the user with additional features that interact with the online service. An advanced content media device may detect another user'"'"'s advanced content media device through a network, and in particular a media service on the network, allowing chat and synchronized playback of content. Advanced content media devices may vary, but may include, e.g., a multimedia player, a media center, a game console, a personal computer, and so on.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device, containing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors disposed in an electronic device, perform a method for operating an advanced content media device in conjunction with a media service through a media extension, the method comprising the steps of:

a. logging a first advanced content media device onto a network, the first advanced content media device having an advanced content core engine and at least one media extension for connection to a media service, and in which the network further includes a back-end server in communication with the first advanced content media device, the media extension comprising computer-executable instructions for permitting the advanced content media device to be used with the media service without modifying the advanced content media device;

b. transmitting data from the advanced content core engine to the media extension, in which the data includes a content item and a device extension comprising information relating to the functionality of the advanced content media device;

c. transmitting data from the media extension to the back-end server, the data including user identity information and advanced content media device status information; and

d. upon receipt of an instruction from the media extension, displaying a community interface to a user, wherein the community interface includes an element selected from the group consisting of;

a message list;

a list of group members;

a list of group members that are currently on-line;

if content is being played back by the advanced content media device, a list of group members currently playing back the same content as the advanced content media device; and

if content is being played back by the advanced content media device, a list of downloadable or streamable content associated with the content being played back by the advanced content media device.

2. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, in which the method further comprises storing on the back-end server at least one notification trigger associated with the first advanced content media device, in which upon an occurrence of the notification trigger the first advanced content media device displays a first indication of the notification trigger.

3. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, in which the media service includes the back-end server.

4. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, in which the media service is a game service, an online marketplace, or a social networking service.

5. The computer-readable storage device of claim 2, in which the notification trigger includes logging a second advanced content media device onto the network, the second advanced content media device associated with the first advanced content media device.

6. The computer-readable storage device of claim 5, in which the second advanced content media device is listed in a group associated with the first advanced content media device or in which the first advanced content media device is listed in a group associated with the second advanced content media device.

7. The computer-readable storage device of claim 5, in which the method further comprises:

a. displaying a second indication of the notification trigger on the second advanced content media device; and

b. displaying at least one user option on each of the first and second advanced content media devices.

8. The computer-readable storage device of claim 7, in which the user option is to begin a synchronized playback of a content item, the playback synchronized between the first and second advanced content media devices.

9. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, in which the content item is played back, and in which the advanced content core engine performs instructions associated with the content item.

10. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, in which the instructions cause the advanced content media device to access data from the media service.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, in which the data is selected from the group consisting of:

at least one status of another user;

perform an online transaction using an identity associated with the media service; and

access content.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 9, in which the instructions cause the advanced content media device to transfer processing of the content from the advanced content core engine to a playback engine.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 1, in which if the content item is played back, the method further comprises transmitting data corresponding to a status of the playback to the media service.

14. An advanced content media device configured for connection through a network to a media service or to another advanced content media device, comprising:

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media;

an advanced content core engine for playing back content, the advanced content core engine being implemented, at least in part, using instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable media disposed in the advanced content media device;

a playback engine for playing back content, the playback engine being implemented, at least in part, using instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable media disposed in the advanced content media device; and

at least one media extension associated with communications with a media service, the media extension comprising computer-executable instructions for permitting the advanced content media device to be used with the media service and the other advanced content media device without modifying the advanced content media device,

wherein, upon receipt of an instruction from the media extension, a community interface is displayed to a user, wherein the community interface includes an element selected from the group consisting of;

a message list;

a list of group members;

a list of group members that are currently on-line;

if content is being played back by the advanced content media device, a list of group members currently playing back the same content as the advanced content media device; and

if content is being played back by the advanced content media device, a list of downloadable or streamable content associated with the content being played back by the advanced content media device.

15. The advanced content media device of claim 14, in which the media service is a game service.

16. The advanced content media device of claim 14, in which the media extension is a game extension.

17. The advanced content media device of claim 14, further comprising a module for receiving and playing back content from an optical disk.

18. An advanced content media device comprising:

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media;

an advanced content core engine for playing back content, the advanced content core engine being implemented, at least in part, using instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable media disposed in the advanced content media device;

a playback engine for playing back content, the playback engine being implemented, at least in part, using instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable media disposed in the advanced content media device; and

at least one media extension associated with communications with a media service, d. such that the playback engine is capable of playing back content and the at least one media extension comprises computer-executable instructions for allowing, at least partially in conjunction with the advanced content core engine, an accessing and consumption of at least one advanced content feature on an advanced content medium without modifying the advanced content media device,

wherein, upon receipt of an instruction from the media extension, a community interface is displayed to a user, wherein the community interface includes an element selected from the group consisting of;

a message list;

a list of group members;

a list of group members that are currently on-line;

if content is being played back by the advanced content media device, a list of group members currently playing back the same content as the advanced content media device; and

if content is being played back by the advanced content media device, a list of downloadable or streamable content associated with the content being played back by the advanced content media device.