Interaction of user devices and servers in an environment

• US 9,590,837 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Listen Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ExXothermic, Inc.
• Inventors: Glasser, Lance A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, LAN DAI T
• Application Number:
  US13/940,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/203, 709/204, 709/205, 709/217, 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems
• 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 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• 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

Abstract

In an environment where video display devices are available for simultaneous viewing, servers provide audio streams to user devices for listening. People may, thus, listen to the audio streams through their user devices while watching the video display devices. An application on the user devices determines which audio streams are available, and the servers may indicate which audio streams are available. The application sends a request to a server to transmit a selected audio stream. The server transmits the selected audio stream, e.g. over a wireless network in the environment. A variety of additional features are enabled by the interaction of the application and the servers.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing an application for downloading to a personal user device;

receiving, by the application, an image through a camera of the personal user device, wherein the image is of a video stream being presented on a display device, the display device is one of a plurality of video display devices within an environment, the video stream is one of a plurality of video streams that are being presented on the plurality of video display devices for simultaneous viewing within the environment;

transmitting, by the application to a server, the image, wherein the server provides a plurality of audio streams that are available for streaming through the personal user device, the plurality of audio streams corresponding to the plurality of video streams, and the server matches the image to the video stream to select an audio stream that is one of the plurality of audio streams and that corresponds to the video stream;

receiving, by the application, the one selected audio stream through a path, that includes a wireless link, from the at least one server and not receiving any remaining ones of the plurality of audio streams; and

providing, by the application, the one selected audio stream through a listening device included in or connected to the personal user device, the listening device being distinct from the plurality of video display devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the application placing an order for a beverage.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the application facilitating a game played within the environment.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the personal user device downloading the application.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the application registering or logging in with the server.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the application logging in with the server using an Internet-based social networking feature.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the application receiving an advertisement from the server; and

the application presenting the advertisement to a user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

the application presenting the advertisement to the user as an alternate audio stream.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the application providing the one selected audio stream through the listening device as a mono audio stream.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing the audio stream and the video stream.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the server receiving a login request from the personal user device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the login request is associated with an Internet-based social networking feature.