Method and system for authorizing playback from multiple devices

• US 8,752,206 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Joseph, Kuriacose, Casavant, Scott D., Lee, Sean S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zecher, Cordelia
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAKHIA, VIRAL S
• Application Number:
  US13/611,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20140075576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 726/29, 726/27, 726/31
• US Class Current: 726/29
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• 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 21/25841 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 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• 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 21/4325 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

A system and method for using content on multiple devices includes a head end associating a first user device and a second user device with a user account and authorizing the first user device and the second user device to receive content. The first user device forms a selection signal corresponding to a first content. The head end communicates the first content to the first user device corresponding to the selection signal. The first user device displays the first content on a first display associated therewith. The second user device receives the first content and displays the first content on a second display associated with the second user device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

associating a first user device and a second user device with a user account at a head end;

authorizing the first user device and the second user device to receive content;

selecting a first content title for a first content from the first user device to form a selection signal;

communicating the first content to the first user device corresponding to the selection signal;

storing the first content in a memory of the first user device;

displaying the first content on a first display associated with the first user device by playing back the first content from the memory;

while displaying the first content on the display associated with the first user device, periodically communicating a playback position status signal corresponding to a last viewed playback position of the first content and a first user device identifier from the first user device to the head end;

generating a position selection screen display at the second user device comprising the first user device identifier for selecting the last viewed playback position of the first user device;

communicating a playback position selection signal to the head end;

communicating the first content to the second user device beginning at the last viewed position in response to the playback position selection signal;

communicating metadata to the second user device to decode the content;

decoding the first content to form first decoded content; and

displaying the first decoded content on a second display associated with the second user device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising associating a user device with a user account in response to a location determination.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating a selection signal to the head end and wherein communicating the first content comprises communicating the first content to the first user device from the head end in response to the selection signal.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating a selection signal to the head end from a third device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising requesting the first content title at the second user device prior to communicating the first content to the second user device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising while displaying the first content on the display associated with the first user device, communicating a position status signal corresponding to a last viewed position of the first content to the head end from the first user device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating first content to the second user device comprises communicating the first content to the second user device in response to selecting the first content title from the first user device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating first content to the second user device comprises communicating location metadata of the first content to the second user device, and obtaining the first content at the second user device using the location metadata.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating first content to the second user device comprises communicating a unique identifier of the first content to the second user device and searching for the first content at a content source using the second user device based upon the unique identifier.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising selecting the first content title from the second user device and wherein communicating first content to the second user device comprises communicating the first content to the second user device in response to selecting the first content title from the second user device.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising selecting the first content title from the second user device and wherein communicating first content to the second user device comprises communicating the first content from a position corresponding to a position status signal.

12. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising selecting the first content title from the second user device and wherein communicating first content to the second user device comprises communicating the first content from the first user device through a local area network to the second user device in response to selecting the first content title from the second user device.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising selecting the first content title from the second user device and wherein communicating first content to the second user device comprises communicating the first content from the head end to the second user device in response to selecting the first content title from the second user device.

14. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising communicating a first position status signal for the first content from the first user device to the head end.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising communicating a second position status signal having a first position associated therewith to the second user receiving device from the head end prior to displaying the first content on the second display associated with the second user receiving device.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein displaying the first content comprises displaying the first content from the first position.

17. A system comprising:

a head end associating a first user device and a second user device with a user account and authorizing the first user device and the second user device to receive content;

said first user device forming a selection signal corresponding to a first content;

said head end communicating the first content to the first user device corresponding to the selection signal;

said first user device storing the first content in a memory of the first user device, playing back the content from the memory, displaying the first content on a first display associated therewith and communicating a playback position status signal corresponding to a last viewed playback position of the first content and a first user device identifier from the first user device to the head end while displaying the first content in the first display; and

said second user device generating a position selection screen display at the second user device comprising the first user device identifier for selecting the last viewed playback position of the first user device and communicating a playback position selection signal to the head end, receiving the first content beginning at the last viewed position in response to the playback position selection signal, receiving metadata to decode the first content, decoding the first content to form first decoded content and displaying the first decoded content on a second display associated with the second user device.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the first user device communicates a selection signal to the head end and wherein the head end communicates the first content in response to the selection signal.

19. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the second user device requests the first content prior to communicating the first content to the second user device.

20. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the head end communicates the first content to the second user device in response to selecting a first content title from the first user device.

21. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the second user device generates a selection signal corresponding to the first content and wherein the head end communicates the first content to the second user device in response to the selection signal.

22. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the second user device generates a selection signal corresponding to the first content and wherein the head end communicates the content corresponding to a position corresponding to a position status signal.

23. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the second user device generates a selection signal corresponding to a content title and wherein communicating the first user device communicates the first content through a local area network in response to the selection signal.

24. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein the first user device communicates a first position status signal for the first content to the head end.

25. The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the head end communicates a second position status signal having a first position associated therewith to the second user receiving device prior to displaying the first content on the second display associated with the second user receiving device.

26. The system as recited in claim 25 wherein the second user device displays the first content from the first position.