System and method for managing playback of streaming digital content

• US 9,565,475 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: Gunderson, Brady, Peters, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): KATSIKIS, KOSTAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/650,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20140108614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/203, 709/228, 709/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• 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 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• 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 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a playback device designated as a controller is associated with a playback device designated as a playback target. Association is implemented via a local network discovery protocol. The controller issues commands to the target, which then streams digital content directly from a content server. The controller is able to separately stream related digital content for independent, but synchronized playback. Server mediated operations, such as device activation and application installation, are advantageously enabled by explicit association between the controller and the target.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a controller device for directing a target device to play a first title, comprising:

discovering, by the controller device, the target device within a local network;

exchanging, by the controller device, unique identifiers with the target device to establish an association with the target device;

transmitting, by the controller device, a request to a content server machine to activate the target device, wherein the request indicates that the controller device is associated with the target device;

determining, by the controller device, whether the target device includes a service application through which the target device can communicate with the content server machine; and

if the target device includes the service application, then transmitting, by the controller device, one or more commands to the service application that direct the service application to stream the first title from the content server machine via a communication channel established between the target device and the content server machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the unique identifiers comprises a number that is unique to a particular service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein discovering comprises transmitting a multicast message to all devices in the local network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein discovering comprises receiving a unicast message from the target device in response to the multicast message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the controller device, that the target device does not include the service application; and

transmitting, by the controller device, a command to a configuration manager that resides in the target device, wherein the command identifies the service application and provides a location where the service application can be accessed by the configuration manager.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising causing, by the controller device, the configuration manager to install the service application on the target device once the service application has been located and accessed.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising instructing, by the controller device, the installed service application to request activation from the content server machine based on the exchanged unique identifiers.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor included in a controller device, cause the controller device to direct a target device to play a first title, by performing the steps of:

discovering the target device with a local network;

exchanging unique identifiers with the target device to establish an association with the target device;

transmitting a request to a content server machine to activate the target device, wherein the request indicates that the controller device is associated with the target device;

determining whether the target device includes a service application through which the target device can communicate with the content server machine; and

if the target device includes the service application, then transmitting one or more commands to the service application that direct the service application to stream the first title from the content server machine via a communication channel established between the target device and the content server machine.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein each of the unique identifiers comprises a number that is unique to a particular service.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein discovering comprises transmitting a multicast message to all devices in the local network.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein discovering comprises receiving a unicast message from the target device in response to the multicast message.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that the target device does not include the service application; and

transmitting a command to a configuration manager that resides in the target device, wherein the command identifies the service application and provides a location where the service application can be accessed by the configuration manager.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising causing the configuration manager to install the service application on the target device once the service application has been located and accessed.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructing the installed service application to request activation from the content server machine based on the exchanged unique identifiers.

15. A controller device configured to direct a target device to play a first title, the controller device comprising:

a network interface circuit configured to communicate with other devices within a local network; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and configured to;

discover the target device with the local network;

exchange unique identifiers with the target device to establish an association with the target device;

transmit a request to a content server machine to activate the target device, wherein the request indicates that the controller device is associated with the target device;

determine whether the target device includes a service application through which the target device can communicate with the content server machine; and

if the target device includes the service application, then transmit one or more commands to the service application that direct the service application to stream the first title from the content server machine via a communication channel established between the target device and the content server machine.

16. The controller device of claim 15, wherein the target device does not include the service application, and the processor is further configured to transmit a command to a configuration manager that resides in the target device, wherein the command identifies the service application and provides a location where the service application can be accessed by the configuration manager.

17. The controller device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

cause the configuration manager to install the service application on the target device once the service application has been located and accessed; and

instruct the installed service application to request activation from the content server machine based on the exchanged unique identifiers.

18. The controller device of claim 15, wherein to discover the target device, the processor is further configured to:

transmit a multicast message to all devices in the local network; and

receive a unicast message from the target device in response to the multicast message.