Location based user aware video on demand sessions

• US 8,621,504 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IDTP Holdings Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson Television Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Jennifer Ann, Dasher, Charles Hammett, Canter, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUNG, JASON
• Application Number:
  US13/858,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20130212614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/52 of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/222 Secondary servers, e.g. proxy server, cable television Head-end provisioning of proxy services in data packet switching networks H04L67/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A system and a method are described herein for enabling a user with a location-aware mobile device to have at least partial control of a closest set top box associated with a closest television. The closest set top box does not need to be associated with the user'"'"'s home television but instead can be any set top box that is associated with a television located for instance at a stranger'"'"'s house, an airport, a bar, or wherever.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a user with a location-aware mobile device to have at least partial control of a closest set top box associated with a closest television, the system comprising:

a login server;

a location system configured to store fixed locations of a plurality of set top boxes; and

an accounting system configured to maintain account details of the user,

the login server configured to receive a login command from the location-aware mobile device, the login command includes at least account information associated with the user and a current location of the location-aware mobile device;

the login server configured to send the current location of the location-aware mobile device to the location system;

the location system configured to store the current location of the location-aware mobile device;

the login server configured to send a query to the location system to determine which one of a plurality of set top boxes is located closest to the current location of the location-aware mobile device;

the location system configured to determine which one of the plurality of set top boxes is located closest to the current location of the location-aware mobile device;

the location system configured to send information identifying the closest set top box to the login server;

the login server configured to send the information identifying the closest set top box to the location-aware mobile device;

the login server configured to send a request to the accounting system for at least a portion of the account details of the user stored therein;

the accounting system configured to send the at least a portion of the account details of the user to the login server;

the login server configured to send the at least a portion of the account details of the user to the closest set top box;

the login server configured to send a login confirmation to the location-aware mobile device to indicate to the user that they now have at least partial control of the closest set top box to control content displayed on the closest television;

an advertising system configured to interact with the location system to track demographics of the user and other users who are checked-in to have limited control of the closest set to box;

the advertising system configured to send target advertising to the user and other users based on an aggregate of the tracked demographics of the user and the other users who are checked-in to have limited control of the closest set top box; and

wherein the closest set top box is located outside of a home of the user but when the user has at least partial control of the closest set to box then the closest set top box functions in an identical manner as the one or more set to boxes located in the home of the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location-aware mobile device of further comprising a user interface configured to enable the user to control the closest set top box.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the login server is configured to log-out the user from the closest set top box if the user utilizes the location-aware mobile device to actively close the at least partial control of the closest set top box or the user moves the location-aware mobile device a predetermined distance away from the closest set top box.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the login server is configured to send a logout message to the accounting system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the login server is configured to receive a request from the location-aware mobile device to save information about the content such that the user can access and continue playing the content at a later time at the closest step top box or any other set top box.

6. A method for enabling a user with a location-aware mobile device to have at least partial control of a closest set top box associated with a closest television, the method implemented by a system comprising a login server, a location system, an accounting system, and an advertising system, the method comprising the steps of:

storing, at the location system, fixed locations of a plurality of set top boxes;

maintaining, at the accounting system, account details of the user,

receiving, at the login server, a login command from the location-aware mobile device, the login command includes at least account information associated with the user and a current location of the location-aware mobile device;

sending, from the login server, the current location of the location-aware mobile device to the location system;

storing, at the location system, the current location of the location-aware mobile device;

sending, from the login server, a query to the location system to determine which one of a plurality of set top boxes is located closest to the current location of the location-aware mobile device;

determining, at the location system, which one of the plurality of set top boxes is located closest to the current location of the location-aware mobile device;

sending, from the location system, information identifying the closest set top box to the login server;

sending, from the login server, the information identifying the closest set top box to the location-aware mobile device;

sending, from the login server, a request to the accounting system for at least a portion of the account details of the user stored therein;

sending, from the accounting system, the at least a portion of the account details of the user to the login server;

sending, from the login server, the at least a portion of the account details of the user to the closest set top box;

sending, from the login server, a login confirmation to the location-aware mobile device to indicate to the user that they now have at least partial control of the closest set top box to control content displayed on the closest television;

interacting, by the advertising system, with the location system to track demographics of the user and other users who are checked-in to have limited control of the closest set to box;

sending, by the advertising system, target advertising to the user and other users based on an aggregate of the tracked demographics of the user and the other users who are checked-in to have limited control of the closest set top box; and

wherein the closest set top box is located outside of a home of the user but when the user has at least partial control of the closest set to box then the closest set to box functions in an identical manner as the one or more set to boxes located in the home of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of enabling the user to interact with a user interface in the location-aware mobile device to control the closest set top box.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of logging-out, by the login server, the user from the closest set top box if the user utilizes the location-aware mobile device to actively close the at least partial control of the closest set top box or the user moves the location-aware mobile device a predetermined distance away from the closest set top box.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of sending, by the login server, a logout message to the accounting system.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of receiving, by the login server, a request from the location-aware mobile device to save information about the content such that the user can access and continue playing the content at a later time at the closest step top box or any other set top box.