Systems and methods for remote web query and image selection exchange to video screen

• US 8,959,565 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Nadia, Ng, Virginia S., Hill, Nicholas Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): CORBO, NICHOLAS T
• Application Number:
  US13/790,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20130191875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1063 Application servers providing network services systems providing special services to telephonic subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• 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 21/231 Content storage operation, e.g. caching movies for short term storage, replicating data over plural servers, prioritizing data for deletion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23439 for generating different versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64 Addressing network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00; support for multicast or broadcast of one-way stream services H04L65/611
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving a request to display, on an external display device, a media file, where the request comprises a first logical address for accessing the media file at a first storage location, transmitting to a set-top box, a second logical address for accessing a copy of the media file at a second storage location, where the second logical address differs from the first logical address, and where the second storage location differs from the first storage location. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an application server comprising a processor, from a handheld communications device a first network address for accessing a media file;

accessing, by the application server, the media file according to the first network address;

resizing, by the application server, the media file to generate an updated media file;

storing, by the application server, the updated media file in a storage device; and

transmitting, by the application server, a second network address comprising a link to the updated media file to a set-top box for accessing the updated media file stored in the storage device, wherein the updated media file is stored remotely, and

wherein the second network address is different from the first network address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld communications device, the application server, and the set-top box are communicatively coupled by way of a packet-based network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the packet-based network is the internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage device is a database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the handheld communications device a request to display the updated media file.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising forwarding the request to display the updated media file to the set-top box.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying that the handheld communications device and the set-top box are associated with a user account.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld communications device comprises a cellular telephone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld communications device comprises a wireless interface for communicating with the application server.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

directing the set-top box to present the updated media file responsive to receiving a request from the handheld communications device; and

directing the set-top box to present a different media file responsive to receiving a second request initiates by the handheld communications device, wherein the handheld communications device initiates the second request responsive to being shaken.

11. A server, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions the processor performs operations comprising;

receiving a media search request from a communications device over a network;

collecting a plurality of media files according to the media search request;

receiving a request to present a media file from the plurality of media files, wherein the request comprises a first network address for accessing the media file at a first storage device; and

transmitting to a set-top box a second network addresscomprising a link for accessing a remotely stored copy of the media file at a second storage device and for presenting the copy of the media file, wherein the second network address differs from the first network address, and wherein the second storage device differs from the first storage device.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise resizing the media file to generate an updated media file, wherein the copy of the media file is the updated media file.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise storing the updated media file in the second storage device, wherein the second network address is used to locate the updated media file in the second storage device.

14. The server of claim 11 wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a request from the communication device to present the media file; and

forwarding the request to the set-top box.

15. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise verifying that the communications device and the set-top box are associated with a user account.

16. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a request from the communications device to present another media file from the plurality of media files.

17. The server of claim 16, wherein the communications device initiates the request responsive to being shaken, and wherein the communications device comprises an accelerometer to detect the shaking.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a server comprising a processor, a request to display, on an external display device, a media file, wherein the request comprises a first logical address for accessing the media file at a first storage location;

generating, by the server, an updated media file by resizing the media file to a select viewing size;

remotely storing, by the server, the updated media file in a second storage location;

transmitting, by the server, to a set-top box, a second logical address comprising a link for accessing the remotely stored updated media file at the second storage location, wherein the second logical address differs from the first logical address, and wherein the second storage location differs from the first storage location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the request is received from a communications device, and wherein the communications device and the set-top box are associated according to a user account.