Responding to a video request by displaying information on a TV remote and video on the TV

• US 8,660,545 B1
• Filed: 01/06/2010
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ilook Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ilook Corporation
• Inventors: Chander, Bala, Redford, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US12/683,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/414.1, 455/556.1, 725/39, 348/552
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A handheld device displays multiple applications (“apps”), from which a user selects one app. The selected app displays multiple descriptions of videos, from which the user selects one video. The handheld device transmits a video request containing an identification of the user-selected video. The computer system transmits the user-selected video to the television and transmits a signal to the handheld device, based on the video request. The television responds by automatically displaying on a television screen, a series of frames in the video, on receipt therein. The handheld device automatically displays on a handheld screen, information that is directly or indirectly based on the video request, as the signal is received from the computer system. Two displays based on a single video request, provide a richer viewing experience than a single display.

Claims

1. A method of displaying video on a television and displaying information on a handheld device, using a computer system coupled to at least the television, the computer system comprising a computer, each of the computer, the handheld device and the television comprising at least a processor and a memory, the method comprising:

the handheld device displaying a plurality of items in an electronic program guide, of a corresponding plurality of videos available for display on the television via a network;

the handheld device receiving user input indicative of an item selected from among the plurality of items in the electronic program guide, corresponding to a video comprised in the plurality of videos available for display;

the handheld device transmitting to the computer system, an identification of the video;

in response to receipt of the identification, the computer system transmitting to the television, a sequence of frames in the video;

in response to receipt of the identification, the computer system additionally transmitting to the handheld device, a signal comprising at least one of (a) information to be displayed or (b) an identifier of said information;

the television automatically displaying on a television screen therein, the sequence of frames on receipt thereof from the computer system; and

the handheld device automatically displaying on a handheld screen therein, said information on receipt of the signal from the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said user input is hereinafter “

first user input”

, and said information to be displayed is hereinafter “

first information”

, the method further comprising;

the handheld device receiving a second user input during the display of said first information;

in response to the second user input, the handheld device automatically displaying second information related to said first information; and

the handheld device transmitting to the computer system, another signal based on receipt of a third user input.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer system using a keyword associated with the video to select said information to be displayed.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer system using a keyword associated with a frame comprised in the sequence of frames in the video, to select from a storage device, said information to be displayed.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer system additionally transmitting to the television, an additional series of frames in an additional video;

the television automatically displaying on the television screen, the additional series of frames; and

the computer system using a keyword associated with one of the video and the additional video, to select from a storage device, said information.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer system using a criterion associated with the handheld device to filter said information prior to transmission to the handheld device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer system selecting said information independent of the video, from a repository.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the video is associated with a first keyword;

at least a portion of said information is associated with a second keyword; and

the method further comprises the computer system matching the first keyword and the second keyword to one another.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer system automatically identifying a subset of computer files from among a plurality of computer files using a predetermined technique;

the computer system automatically sorting identifiers of computer files in the subset into a sorted list based on a ranking criterion; and

the computer system automatically identifying a computer file from the top of the sorted list;

wherein at least a portion of said information is comprised in the computer file.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

a first computer comprised in the computer system performs the transmitting of the signal to the handheld device;

a second computer comprised in the computer system performs the transmitting of the sequence of frames to the television;

the first computer transmits to the second computer, another signal comprising the identification of the video and an identification of the television; and

the second computer comprises a storage device and said storage device comprises the video.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one of the television or the handheld device transmitting to the computer system an association between an identification of the handheld device and an identification of the television.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the handheld device comprises a cellular phone;

said identification is transmitted by the cellular phone to a cellular base station outside a building comprising the television.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the handheld device comprises a cellular phone;

the method further comprises downloading into the cellular phone an application comprising the electronic program guide.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said user input is hereinafter “

first user input”

, the method further comprising;

in response to the first user input, the handheld device automatically displaying a description of the video; and

the handheld device receiving a second user input during the display of said description;

wherein the handheld device performs said transmission of the identification of the video in response to receipt of the second user input.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld device performs said transmission of the identification of the video in response to receipt of said user input.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said information comprises a plurality of messages;

a first message in said plurality of messages is a social media message comprising a user name and a string of text input by a user having said user name; and

a second message in said plurality of messages is a promotional message comprising a name of a product.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the handheld device comprises a wireless antenna;

said identification is transmitted by the wireless antenna to a wireless access point inside a building comprising the television.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the computer system maintaining in a database, additional information in which the television and the handheld device are associated with one another.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the computer is hereinafter first computer;

the signal is transmitted by the first computer; and

the sequence of frames are transmitted by a second computer in the computer system.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said information is matched to the sequence of frames by use of a globally unique identifier associated with each of said information and the sequence of frames.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said information is transmitted from the computer system, through a data network, to the handheld device.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said identification is transmitted from the handheld device, through a data network, to the computer system.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein:

said identification is transmitted from the handheld device, via a data network interface circuit, to the data network; and

the data network interface circuit is comprised in an Internet-enabled television.

24. A system for displaying video on a television and displaying information on a handheld device, the system comprising a computer system coupled to at least the television, each of the computer system, the handheld device and the television comprising at least a processor and a memory, wherein:

the handheld device comprises means for displaying a plurality of items in an electronic program guide, of a corresponding plurality of videos available for display on the television;

the handheld device comprises means for receiving user input indicative of an item selected from among the plurality of items in the electronic program guide, corresponding to a video comprised in the plurality of videos available for display;

the handheld device comprises means for transmitting to the computer system, an identification of the video;

the computer system comprises means, responsive to receipt of the identification, for transmitting to the television, a sequence of frames in the video;

the computer system further comprises means, responsive to receipt of the identification, for additionally transmitting to the handheld device, a signal comprising at least one of (a) information to be displayed or (b) an identifier of said information;

the television comprises means for automatically displaying on a television screen therein, the sequence of frames on receipt thereof from the computer system; and

the handheld device comprises means for automatically displaying on a handheld screen therein, said information on receipt of the signal from the computer system.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the computer system comprises means for using a keyword associated with the video to select said information to be displayed.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the computer system comprises means for using a keyword associated with a frame comprised in the sequence of frames in the video, to select from a storage device, said information to be displayed.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein:

the means for transmitting is comprised in a first computer in the computer system; and

the means for additionally transmitting is comprised in a second computer in the computer system.

28. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising a plurality of instructions to cause displaying of video on a television and to cause displaying of information on a handheld device, using a computer system coupled to at least the television, the computer system comprising a computer, each of the computer, the handheld device and the television comprising at least a processor and a memory, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions to the handheld device to display a plurality of items in an electronic program guide, of a corresponding plurality of videos available for display on the television via a network;

instructions to the handheld device to receive user input indicative of an item selected from among the plurality of items in the electronic program guide, corresponding to a video comprised in the plurality of videos available for display;

instructions to the handheld device to transmit to the computer system, an identification of the video;

responsive to receipt of the identification, instructions to the computer system to transmit to the television, a sequence of frames in the video;

responsive to receipt of the identification, instructions to the computer system to additionally transmit to the handheld device, a signal comprising at least one of (a) information to be displayed or (b) an identifier of said information;

instructions to the television to automatically display on a television screen therein, the sequence of frames on receipt thereof from the computer system; and

instructions to the handheld device, to automatically display on a handheld screen therein, said information on receipt of the signal from the computer system.

29. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein said user input is hereinafter “

first user input”

, and said information to be displayed is hereinafter “

first information”

, wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise;

instructions to the handheld device to receive a second user input during the display of said first information;

instructions to the handheld device, responsive to the second user input, to automatically display second information related to said first information; and

instructions to the handheld device to transmit another signal based on receipt of a third user input.

30. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions to the computer system to use a keyword associated with the video to select said information to be displayed.

31. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions to the computer system to use a keyword associated with a frame comprised in the sequence of frames in the video, to select from a storage device, said information to be displayed.

32. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions to the computer system to additionally transmit to the television, an additional series of frames in an additional video;

instructions to the television to automatically display on the television screen, the additional series of frames; and

instructions to the computer system to use a keyword associated with one of the video and the additional video, to select from a storage device, said information.

33. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions to the computer system to use a criterion associated with the handheld device to filter said information prior to transmission to the handheld device.

34. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions to the computer system to select said information independent of the video, from a repository.

35. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein:

the video is associated with a first keyword;

at least a portion of said information is associated with a second keyword; and

the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions to the computer system to match the first keyword and the second keyword to one another.

36. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions to the computer system to automatically identify a subset of computer files from among a plurality of computer files using a predetermined technique;

instructions to the computer system to automatically sort identifiers of computer files in the subset into a sorted list based on a ranking criterion; and

instructions to the computer system to automatically identify a computer file from the top of the sorted list;

wherein at least a portion of said information is comprised in the computer file.

37. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein:

a first computer comprised in the computer system executes the instructions to transmit the signal to the handheld device;

a second computer comprised in the computer system executes the instructions to transmit the sequence of frames to the television; and

the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions to the first computer to transmit to the second computer, another signal comprising the identification of the video and an identification of the television.

38. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions to at least one of the television or the handheld device transmitting to the computer system an association between an identification of the handheld device and an identification of the television.

39. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the handheld device comprises a cellular phone and the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to the cellular phone to transmit said identification to a cellular base station outside a building comprising the television.

40. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the handheld device comprises a cellular phone and the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to download into the cellular phone an application comprising the electronic program guide.

41. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein said user input is hereinafter “

first user input” and

the plurality of instructions comprise;

instructions, responsive to the first user input, to the handheld device to automatically display a description of the video; and

instructions to the handheld device to receive a second user input during the display of said description.

42. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to the handheld device to perform said transmission of identification of the video in response to receipt of said user input.

43. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein:

said information comprises a plurality of messages;

a first message in said plurality of messages is a social media message comprising a user name and a string of text input by a user having said user name; and

a second message in said plurality of messages is a promotional message comprising a name of a product.

44. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the handheld device comprises a wireless antenna and the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to the handheld device to transmit said identification via the wireless antenna to a wireless access point inside a building comprising the television.

45. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to the computer system to maintain in a database, additional information in which the television and the handheld device are associated with one another.

46. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the computer is hereinafter first computer, the signal is transmitted by the first computer, and the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to a second computer in the computer system to transmit the sequence of frames.

47. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to match said information to the sequence of frames by use of a globally unique identifier associated with each of said information and the sequence of frames.

48. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to transmit said information from the computer system, through a data network, to the handheld device.

49. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 28 wherein the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to transmit said identification from the handheld device, through a data network, to the computer system.

50. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 49 wherein the plurality of instructions comprise:

instructions to transmit said identification from the handheld device, via a data network interface circuit, to the data network;

wherein the data network interface circuit is comprised in an Internet-enabled television.