Intercom and chat for home media network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a first set-top box within a home media network, an announcement that announces a capability of a second set-top box to perform intercom functions via the home media network;
recognizing, by the first set-top box and based on the announcement, that the second set-top box is functional via the home media network;
receiving, by the first set-top box and after recognizing that the second set-top box is functional via the home media network, a signal from a user, of the first set-top box, to initiate an intercom message to the second set-top box;
receiving, by the first set-top box and after receiving the signal to initiate the intercom message, a message input for the intercom message,the message input being provided to the first set-top box by a human interface device associated with the first set-top box;
sending, by the first set-top box and via the home media network, the intercom message, based on the message input, to the second set-top box;
receiving, by the first set-top box, another intercom message;
formatting, by the first set-top box, the other intercom message for presentation by a presentation device associated with the first set-top box to obtain a formatted presentation; and
sending, by the first set-top box, the formatted presentation to the presentation device associated with the first set-top box.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A media client presents a menu interface for a media client intercom and receives, via the menu interface, a signal from a user to initiate an intercom message. The media client receives a message input from the user, where the message input is provided through the human interface device, and converts the message input into a digital format to create a digitized message. The digitized message is sent, exclusively via a home media network, to another media client within the home media network.
24 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a first set-top box within a home media network, an announcement that announces a capability of a second set-top box to perform intercom functions via the home media network; recognizing, by the first set-top box and based on the announcement, that the second set-top box is functional via the home media network; receiving, by the first set-top box and after recognizing that the second set-top box is functional via the home media network, a signal from a user, of the first set-top box, to initiate an intercom message to the second set-top box; receiving, by the first set-top box and after receiving the signal to initiate the intercom message, a message input for the intercom message, the message input being provided to the first set-top box by a human interface device associated with the first set-top box; sending, by the first set-top box and via the home media network, the intercom message, based on the message input, to the second set-top box; receiving, by the first set-top box, another intercom message; formatting, by the first set-top box, the other intercom message for presentation by a presentation device associated with the first set-top box to obtain a formatted presentation; and sending, by the first set-top box, the formatted presentation to the presentation device associated with the first set-top box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A first set-top box comprising:
one or more processors to; receive a signal from a user to initiate an intercom message to a second set-top box within a home media network associated with the first set-top box; receive a message input, for the intercom message, from the user, the message input being provided to the first set-top box through a human interface device; convert the message input into a digital format to create a first digitized message; send, exclusively via the home media network, the first digitized message to the second set-top box; receive, exclusively via the home media network, a second digitized message from the second set-top box; present information based on the second digitized message; record content of a program that is paused during the presentation of the information; and present the content after completing the presentation of the information. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
one or more instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a first set-top box within a home media network, cause the at least one processor to; receive an announcement that announces a capability of a second set-top box to perform intercom functions via the home media network; recognize that the second set-top box is functional via the home media network; receive, after recognizing that the second set-top box is functional via the home media network, a signal to initiate an intercom message to the second set-top box; receive, after receiving the signal to initiate the intercom message, audio input, for the intercom message, from a human interface device that receives the audio input from a user; send, via the home media network, the intercom message to the second set-top box; receive another intercom message; format, to obtain a formatted presentation, the other intercom message for presentation by a presentation device associated with the first set-top box; and send the formatted presentation to the presentation device associated with the second set-top box. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification