System and a method adapted to display EPG media content from the world wide web

• US 9,813,752 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magine Holding AB (Magine AB)
• Original Assignee: Magine Holding AB (Magine AB)
• Inventors: Hjelmstedt, Mattias, Liseborn, Mats Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US14/531,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20150052557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• 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 21/41265 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 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

The invention relates to a system, a method of a remote control adapted to display media content from the World Wide Web. This is accomplished by utilizing a smart-phone as a remote control by an application program, and transmitting the media content through a backend system utilizing WI-FI adapters to transmit streaming media to for instance a HDMI TV. Moreover, the invention provides viewing already aired programs through an electronic program guide (EPG).

Claims

1. A method of displaying media content through an on screen electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

providing an electronic program guide (EPG) from a backend system to a client device, the EPG including a graphical user interface graphically showing (a) a menu listing in a column direction a plurality of broadcast channels on which live media content is currently broadcast and for each broadcast channel a listing of programs in time slots along a row direction and depicting, in real time, which of the programs are available, the backend system configured to stream the live media content to a display apparatus and (b) a graphical element extending in the column direction and across all displayed rows indicating current point in time of broadcasting; and

effecting selection by a user, via the graphical user interface, media content already broadcast at an earlier point in time for current streaming from the backend system to the display apparatus by scrolling the graphical element in the row direction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content already broadcast at the earlier point in time includes media content on a selected one of the plurality of broadcast channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical element is in the form of a line shaped bar.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each row includes a plurality of fields, each field corresponding to a program airing within a given time block.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, a field is blank if no content is being or was broadcast for the respective channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the live media content and the media content already broadcast at the earlier point in time each include TV content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content already broadcast at the earlier point in time includes an already aired TV program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein media content broadcast on all of the plurality of broadcast channels is stored by the backend system and made available for a given period of time after the broadcast.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content already broadcast at the earlier point in time includes an earlier portion of a live program that is currently airing.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a tablet, or a computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device functions as the display apparatus.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device has a remote control function that controls what media content is streamed from the backend system to the display apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the client device is selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a tablet, and a computer.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the display apparatus includes a TV set.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is located remotely from the display apparatus, the display apparatus being a TV set.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium on which are stored computer executable instructions for an electronic program guide (EPG), which instructions when executed by a processor, cause the display of the EPG on a display screen, the EPG comprising:

a menu listing in a column direction a plurality of broadcast channels on which live media content is currently broadcast and for each broadcast channel a listing of programs in time slots along a row direction and depicting, in real time, which of the programs are available, the backend system configured to stream the live media content to a display apparatus; and

a graphical element extending in the column direction and across all displayed rows indicating current point in time of broadcasting, wherein scrolling the graphic element in the row direction selects media content already broadcast at an earlier point in time for current streaming from the backend system to the computing device.

17. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the media content already broadcast at the earlier point in time includes media content on a selected one of the plurality of broadcast channels.

18. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the graphical element is in the form of a line shaped bar.

19. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the graphical element is a line shaped bar that is moveable between the current position and the backward position.

20. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein each row includes a plurality of fields, each field corresponding to a program airing within a given time block.

21. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the fields include a first plurality of fields associated with the live media content and a second plurality of fields associated with an already broadcast media content.

22. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the live media content and the media content already broadcast at the earlier point in time each include TV content.

23. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the media content already broadcast at the earlier point in time includes an already aired program.

24. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the media content already broadcast at the earlier point in time includes an earlier portion of a live program that is currently airing.

25. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the EPG includes data in an XML format.

26. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the EPG provides information about media content on the plurality of broadcast channels.

27. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface includes an area that displays media content being currently broadcast on a selected one of the plurality of broadcast channels.