Methods, systems, and media for resuming playback of media content across multiple devices

• US 9,876,834 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Januszewski, Michal
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET D
• Application Number:
  US15/288,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20170026443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/146 Markers for unambiguous identification of a particular session, e.g. session cookie or URL-encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating cross device resumable media content consumption. In an aspect, a system includes an update component that receives a media statistics update where the media statistics update includes information identifying an account, media content identification information, and a first playback time position associated with media content. A monitoring component is also included that identifies when the account accesses the media content associated with the media content identification information. A resume component is also included that plays back the media content at the first playback time position in response to identifying an access of the media content associated with the account.

Claims

1. A method for media guidance, the method comprising:

transmitting, using a hardware processor, a plurality of media update requests associated with a media content item to a client device during the presentation of the media content item on the client device, wherein each media update request queries the client device for a response that includes a device identifier, a media content identifier, a user account identifier, and a playback time position corresponding to position information of the media content item being presented along with statistical data relating to the presentation of the media content item on the client device;

in response to receiving a response from the client device to one of the plurality of media statistics update requests, replacing, using the hardware processor, a previous playback time position that is associated with the user account identifier with the playback time position extracted from the at least one response from the client device;

receiving, from a second client device associated with the user account identifier, a request to playback the media content item, wherein the second client device is associated with a second playback time position;

in response to receiving the request to playback the media content item, comparing, using the hardware processor, the second playback time position with the playback time position to determine which playback time position to use for playback of the media content item; and

causing, using the hardware processor, the media content item to be presented on the second client device at the playback time position based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of media update requests are transmitted at predetermined time intervals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the playback time position identifies an amount of time that has elapsed from a starting point of the media content item at the time a media update request was received.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information from the second client device associated with the user account identifier in response to a browser closing operation on the second client device; and

extracting the second playback time position from the received information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the received information includes a cookie file stored on the client device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the media content item is presented on the second client device at the playback time position in response to the comparison indicating that the playback time position is later in time than the second playback time position and wherein the media content item is presented on the second client device at the second playback time position in response to the comparison indicating that the second playback time position is later in time than the playback time position.

7. A system for media guidance, the system comprising:

a hardware processor that is configured to;

transmit a plurality of media update requests associated with a media content item to a client device during the presentation of the media content item on the client device, wherein each media update request queries the client device for a response that includes a device identifier, a media content identifier, a user account identifier, and a playback time position corresponding to position information of the media content item being presented along with statistical data relating to the presentation of the media content item on the client device;

in response to receiving a response from the client device to one of the plurality of media statistics update requests, replace a previous playback time position that is associated with the user account identifier with the playback time position extracted from the at least one response from the client device;

receive, from a second client device associated with the user account identifier, a request to playback the media content item, wherein the second client device is associated with a second playback time position;

in response to receiving the request to playback the media content item, comparing the second playback time position with the playback time position to determine which playback time position to use for playback of the media content item; and

cause the media content item to be presented on the second client device at the playback time position based on the comparison.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of media update requests are transmitted at predetermined time intervals.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the playback time position identifies an amount of time that has elapsed from a starting point of the media content item at the time a media update request was received.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

receive information from the client device associated with the user account identifier in response to a browser closing operation on the client device; and

extract the second playback time position from the received information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the received information includes a cookie file stored on the client device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the media content item is presented on the second client device at the playback time position in response to the comparison indicating that the playback time position is later in time than the second playback time position and wherein the media content item is presented on the second client device at the second playback time position in response to the comparison indicating that the second playback time position is later in time than the playback time position.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for providing media guidance, the method comprising:

transmitting a plurality of media update requests associated with a media content item to a client device during the presentation of the media content item on the client device, wherein each media update request queries the client device for a response that includes a device identifier, a media content identifier, a user account identifier, and a playback time position corresponding to position information of the media content item being presented along with statistical data relating to the presentation of the media content item on the client device;

in response to receiving a response from the client device to one of the plurality of media statistics update requests, replacing a previous playback time position that is associated with the user account identifier with the playback time position extracted from the at least one response from the client device;

receiving, from a second client device associated with the user account identifier, a request to playback the media content item, wherein the second client device is associated with a second playback time position;

in response to receiving the request to playback the media content item, comparing the second playback time position with the playback time position to determine which playback time position to use for playback of the media content item; and

causing the media content item to be presented on the second client device at the playback time position based on the comparison.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the plurality of media update requests are transmitted at predetermined time intervals.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the playback time position identifies an amount of time that has elapsed from a starting point of the media content item at the time a media update request was received.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving information from the client device associated with the user account identifier in response to a browser closing operation on the client device; and

extracting the second playback time position from the received information.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the received information includes a cookie file stored on the client device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the media content item is presented on the second client device at the playback time position in response to the comparison indicating that the playback time position is later in time than the second playback time position and wherein the media content item is presented on the second client device at the second playback time position in response to the comparison indicating that the second playback time position is later in time than the playback time position.