Video interaction with a mobile device and a video device

• US 8,549,578 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACK Ventures Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: ACK Ventures Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Herigstad, Dale, Kargman, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): HOSSAIN, FARZANA E
• Application Number:
  US12/771,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20100218211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 725/38, 725/109, 725/112
• US Class Current: 725/133
• 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 21/41265 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6156 specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method and apparatus for displaying information and content on a handheld wireless or other mobile device that is related to video content being presented on a nearby video device. The video content presented on the video device is delivered over a first communication channel and the related information and content displayed on the mobile device is delivered over a separate second communication channel from a remote server. The information and content received over the second communication channel is synchronized with the first primary video content so as to change automatically to correspond as the primary video content is presented on the video device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while primary video content is being presented through a first communication channel on a primary video device,

on a handheld wireless device, displaying information describing video content available for viewing on the primary video device, the information delivered as a mobile feed to the handheld wireless device at least partly wirelessly from a remote server through a second communication channel, the information delivered in response to an identification of the video content and being generated and sent to the remote server by the handheld wireless device, the identification not based on information received from the primary video device, the mobile feed including interactive material that is related to the primary video content, the mobile feed synchronized with the primary video content so as to change automatically to correspond as the primary video content is presented on the primary video device, the second communication channel separate from the first communication channel; and

subsequent to user input in response to the displayed information, displaying and storing a graphical element representing the information for later retrieval.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying second information describing second video content available for viewing on the primary video device, the second information received through the second communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying information on the handheld wireless device related to the primary video content displayed on the primary video device.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the information describing video content available for viewing is displayed in response to user input.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the user input comprises an invocation of the graphical element.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising receiving the information describing video content from an Internet server.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising displaying a graphical element representing interactivity material.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the information describing video content includes an image.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the image comprises a thumbnail image.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the information describing video content includes video.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the information describing video content includes text.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the user input comprises a selection of a channel.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the information describing video content is provided by an electronic program guide.

14. The method of claim 1 comprising accepting a choice by the user of displaying, on the primary video device, the video content available for viewing.

15. The method of claim 1 comprising generating a tag representative of the information represented by the graphical element.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the tag is generated by capturing a time and a channel of video content.

17. The method of claim 15 in which the tag is generated by sending a query from the handheld wireless device to a server in response to user input.

18. The method of claim 17 in which information or functions corresponding to the query are received from the server and stored in the handheld wireless device for use in interacting with the user.

19. The method of claim 15 in which the tag is generated by a server in response to a query from the handheld wireless device.

20. The method of claim 1 in which the information describing video content comprises a promotion.

21. The method of claim 20 in which the promotion is user-targeted.

22. The method of claim 1 in which the information describing video content comprises an advertisement.

23. The method of claim 22 in which the advertisement is user-targeted.

24. The method of claim 22 in which the information comprises an advertisement for video content.

25. The method of claim 24 comprising displaying video content represented by the advertisement.

26. The method of claim 24 in which the advertisement for video content is a television advertisement.

27. The method of claim 1 comprising sending, to another user, a reference to the information.

28. The method of claim 1 comprising sending, to another mobile device, a reference to the information.

29. The method of claim 1 comprising sending, to a computer, a reference to the information.

30. The method of claim 1 comprising sending, to a video device, a reference to the information.

31. The method of claim 1 comprising storing a reference to the information.

32. The method of claim 1 in which the information is displayed in a first portion of a display of the handheld wireless device.

33. The method of claim 32 in which the graphical element is displayed in a second portion of the display of the handheld wireless device.

34. The method of claim 1 in which the graphical element is an icon.

35. The method of claim 1 in which the graphical element is received through the second communication channel.

36. A method comprising:

while primary video content is being presented through a primary communication channel on a video device,

on a handheld wireless device, displaying a graphical element representing interactivity material matched with the primary video content, the interactivity material capable of being received through a second communication channel, the second communication channel separate from the first communication channel, the graphical element received as part of a mobile feed delivered to the handheld wireless device at least partly wirelessly from a remote server, the interactivity material delivered in response to an identification of the primary video content generated and sent to the remote server by the handheld wireless device, the identification not based on information received from the video device, the mobile feed synchronized with the primary video content so as to change automatically to correspond as the primary video content is presented on the video device;

in response to a change in the primary video content, automatically, and absent user input, receiving through the second communication channel information usable to access second interactivity material matched with the primary video content; and

displaying a second graphical element representing the second interactivity material.

37. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material is received from another user.

38. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material is an advertisement.

39. The method of claim 38 in which the advertisement is user-targeted.

40. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material involves an e-commerce opportunity.

41. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material is a promotion.

42. The method of claim 41 in which the promotion is user-targeted.

43. The method of claim 36 in which the user input comprises an invocation of the graphical element.

44. The method of claim 36 in which the user input comprises a voice command.

45. The method of claim 36 in which the user input comprises keyboard input.

46. The method of claim 36 in which the user input comprises microphone input.

47. The method of claim 36 comprising, in response to user input, storing a reference to the interactivity material.

48. The method of claim 36 comprising, in response to user input, retrieving a stored reference to the interactivity material.

49. The method of claim 36 comprising, in response to user input, sending a reference to the interactivity material to another user.

50. The method of claim 36 comprising, in response to user input, sending a reference to the interactivity material to another device.

51. The method of claim 36 comprising, in response to user input, sending a reference to the interactivity material to a web site.

52. The method of claim 36 comprising receiving the interactivity material from another user.

53. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material comprises an image.

54. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material comprises video.

55. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material comprises text.

56. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material comprises an embedded link.

57. The method of claim 36 in which the interactivity material is displayed in a first portion of a display of the handheld wireless device.

58. The method of claim 36 in which the graphical element is displayed in a second portion of the display of the handheld wireless device.

59. The method of claim 36 in which the graphical element is an icon.

60. A method comprising:

at a mobile device separate from a video device that is presenting first primary video content received over a first communication channel, communicating, to a remote server separate from the source of the first primary video content, an identification of the first primary video content, the identification not based on information received from the video device,

automatically receiving from the server with the mobile device, in response to the identification communicated to the server, a mobile feed of first secondary content related to the first primary video content, the mobile feed received at least partly wirelessly over a second communication channel, the second communication channel separate from the first communication channel over which the primary video is received by the video device, the mobile feed synchronized with the first primary video content so as to change automatically to correspond as the primary video content is presented on the video device

displaying the first secondary content related to the first video content, based on a selection by a user of the mobile device of second primary video content different from the first primary video content,

directing the video device to present the second primary video content and communicating an identification of the second primary video content to the server, and

automatically receiving, from the server, and displaying second secondary content related to the second primary video content.

61. The method of claim 60 comprising, at the mobile device, while displaying the second secondary content, displaying an icon corresponding to the first secondary content.

62. The method of claim 60 comprising, at the mobile device, in response to a user input, displaying the first secondary content and displaying an icon corresponding to the second secondary content.

63. The method of claim 60 comprising, at the mobile device, generating an indication of user interest in the first secondary content or the second secondary content, and receiving from the server information usable to access interactivity material related to the primary video content corresponding to the indicated secondary content.

64. The method of claim 63 comprising, at the mobile device, receiving the interactivity material.

65. The method of claim 63 comprising, at the mobile device, in response to user input, displaying the interactivity material.

66. The method of claim 65 comprising, at the mobile device, while displaying the interactivity material, displaying icons corresponding to one or more of the first or second primary video content or the first or second secondary content.

67. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content comprises an electronic programming guide.

68. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content comprises a program schedule.

69. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content is used to set the mobile device to record future video content.

70. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content relates directly or indirectly to what is being shown on a television program.

71. The method of claim 70 in which the secondary content that relates to what is being shown on a television program comprises video content.

72. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content comprises ancillary information to complement the video content.

73. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content comprises an advertisement.

74. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content comprises a targeted promotion.

75. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content allows a user to purchase goods.

76. The method of claim 75 in which the goods are associated with the primary video content.

77. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content is based on a user profile.

78. The method of claim 60 in which the secondary content comprises content available on a web page on the Internet.

79. An apparatus comprising:

a mobile device having a first display screen and configured to;

communicate, to a remote server separate from a second display screen on a video device, an identification of first primary video content being presented on the second display screen of the video device, the first primary video content received over a first communication channel, the identification not based on information received from the video device,

automatically receive from the server with the mobile device a mobile feed of first secondary content related to the first primary video content, the mobile feed received at least partly wirelessly over a second communication channel, the second communication channel separate from the first communication channel over which the primary video is received by the video device, the mobile feed synchronized with the first primary video content so as to change automatically to correspond as the primary video content is presented on the video device,

based on a selection by a user of the mobile device of second primary video content different from the first primary video content, direct the second display screen to present the second primary video content and communicate an identification of the second primary video content to the server, and

automatically receive, from the server, and display on the first display screen second secondary content related to the second primary video content.

80. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld wireless device configured to;

while primary video content is being presented through a first communication channel on a primary video device, display information describing video content available for viewing on the primary video device, the information delivered as a mobile feed to the handheld wireless device at least partly wirelessly through a second communication channel, the information delivered in response to an identification of the video content generated and sent to a remote server by the handheld wireless device, the identification not based on information received from the primary device, the mobile feed including interactive material that is related to the primary video content, the mobile feed synchronized with the primary video content so as to change automatically to correspond as the primary video content is presented on the primary video device, the second communication channel separate from the first communication channel; and

subsequent to user input in response to the displayed information, display and store a graphical element representing the information for later retrieval.

81. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld wireless device configured to;

while primary video content is being presented through a primary communication channel on a video device, display a graphical element representing interactivity material matched with the primary video content, the interactivity material capable of being received through a second communication channel, the second communication channel separate from the first communication channel, the graphical element received as part of a mobile feed delivered to the handheld wireless device at least partly wirelessly from a remote server, the interactivity material delivered in response to an identification of the primary video content generated and sent to the remote sever by the handheld wireless device, the identification not based on information received from the video device, the mobile feed synchronized with the primary video content so as to change automatically to correspond as the primary video content is presented on the video device;

in response to a change in the primary video content, automatically, and absent user input, receive through the second communication channel information usable to access second interactivity material matched with the primary video content; and

display a second graphical element representing the second interactivity material.