Digital media content management system and method

• US 9,924,215 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HSNi LLC (Qurate Retail Group (f/k/a Liberty Interactive Corporation))
• Original Assignee: HSNi LLC (Qurate Retail Group (f/k/a Liberty Interactive Corporation))
• Inventors: McDevitt, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendoza, Junior
• Application Number:
  US14/591,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/43079 of additional data with content streams on multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/43637 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 21/4532 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6156 specially adapted to the upstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed herein that provides a multi-device, multi-screen experience where original content, other content, and associated data can interact and flow between a primary display device and one or more secondary devices. More particularly, the system and method disclosed herein provides for the delivery and management of digital media content to an end user by providing the multi-device, multi-screen experience where original content, other content, and associated data can interact and flow between devices. The system and method enables an individual to create a virtually universal home commerce and monitoring ecosystem by integrating a device into their home Wi-Fi and content consumption systems.

Claims

1. A method for managing a presentation of data content and generating control instructions related thereto for one or more devices in a premises, the method comprising:

receiving, by a data communication hub, contextual data from at least one electronic device in the premises, wherein the contextual data is related to one or more items associated with the at least one electronic device;

interpreting, by the data communication hub, the contextual data to determine primary content that includes descriptive information included in the contextual data of the one or more items associated with the at least one electronic device;

determining, by the data communication hub, secondary content that is complementary or alternative content that is different than the determined primary content identified by the data communication hub;

coordinately transmitting the determined primary content that includes at least a portion of the identified descriptive information to a primary display device in the premises to be presented thereon and the determined secondary content that is different than the primary content to a secondary display device to be presented by a user interface of a software application running on the secondary display device, such that the primary display device displays the determined primary content that is related and different than the secondary content displayed on the secondary display device; and

upon receiving commands input to the user interface of the software application running on the secondary display device, interpreting the commands and generating and transmitting at least one instruction to the at least one electronic device to control an operation thereof,

wherein the at least one electronic device is a different device than either the primary display device or the secondary display device.

2. The method for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 1, further comprising storing a plurality of profile information in an electronic database that relates to a user of at least one of the primary display device and the secondary display device.

3. The method for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 2, further comprising accessing, by the data communication hub, electronic information from a secondary data source by performing at least one search query on the Internet to access the electronic information and the at least one search query includes at least one search term related to the profile information stored in the electronic database.

4. The method for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 3, further comprising:

receiving the contextual data from an electromagnetic field generated by an RFID tag associated with an item; and

storing the item data as the profile information relating to the user.

5. The method for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 3, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the electronic information to the secondary display device to be displayed thereon.

6. The method for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 1, wherein the receiving of the contextual data and the transmitting of the primary content to the primary display device comprises serially receiving the contextual data and transmitting the primary content to the primary display device.

7. A device for managing a presentation of data content and generating control instructions related thereto for one or more devices in a premises, the device comprising:

a communication port communicatively coupled to at least one electronic device in a premises, the communication port being configured to receive contextual data from the at least one electronic device, wherein the contextual data is related to one or more items associated with the at least one electronic device; and

at least one processor having software that, when executed on the processor, causes the processor to;

interpret the contextual data to determine primary content that includes descriptive information included in the contextual data of the one or more items associated with the at least one electronic device;

determine secondary content that is complementary or alternative content that is different than the determined primary content;

coordinately transmit the determined primary content that includes at least a portion of the identified descriptive information to a primary display device in the premises to be presented thereon and the determined secondary content that is different than the primary content to a secondary display device to be presented by a user interface of a software application running on the secondary display device, such that the primary display device displays the determined primary content that is related and different than the secondary content displayed on the secondary display device; and

upon receiving commands input to the user interface of the software application running on the secondary display device, interpret the commands and generate and transmit at least one instruction to the at least one electronic device to control an operation thereof,

wherein the at least one electronic device is a different device than either the primary display device or the secondary display device.

8. The device for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 7, further comprising an electronic database configured to store a plurality of profile information that relates to a user of at least one of the primary display device and the secondary display device.

9. The device for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 8, further comprising a wireless data interface, and wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to access electronic information by performing at least one search query on the Internet via the wireless data interface and the at least one search query includes at least one search term related to the profile information stored in the electronic database.

10. The device for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 9, further comprising an RFID reader configured to receive the contextual data from an electromagnetic field generated by an RFID tag associated with an item, wherein the item data is stored in the electronic database as the profile information relating to the user.

11. The device for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 9, wherein the electronic information is wirelessly transmitted to the secondary display device via the wireless data interface.

12. A system for managing a presentation of data content and generating control instructions related thereto for one or more devices in a premises, the system comprising:

a primary display device;

a secondary display device;

at least one electronic device in the premises and being different than either the primary display device or the secondary display device; and

a data communication hub comprising;

a communication port communicatively coupled to the at least one electronic device in a premises, the communication port being configured to receive contextual data from the at least one electronic device, wherein the contextual data is related to one or more items associated with the at least one electronic device;

at least one wireless communication interface communicatively coupled to the secondary display device; and

at least one processor having software that, when executed on the processor, causes the processor to;

interpret the contextual data to determine primary content that includes descriptive information included in the contextual data of the one or more items associated with the at least one electronic device;

determine secondary content that is complementary or alternative content that is different than the determined primary content identified by the data communication hub;

coordinately transmit the determined primary content that includes at least a portion of the identified descriptive information to the primary display device in the premises to be presented thereon and the determined secondary content that is different than the primary content to the secondary display device to be presented by a user interface of a software application running on the secondary display device, such that the primary display device displays the determined primary content that is related and different than the secondary content displayed on the secondary display device; and

upon receiving commands input to the user interface of the software application running on the secondary display device, interpret the commands and generate and transmit at least one instruction to the at least one electronic device to control an operation thereof,

wherein the at least one electronic device is a different device than either the primary display device or the secondary display device.

13. The system for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 12, wherein the data communication hub further comprises an electronic database configured to store a plurality of profile information that relates to a user of at least one of the primary display device and the secondary display device.

14. The system for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 13, wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to access electronic information by performing at least one search query on the Internet via the at least one wireless data interface and the at least one search query includes at least one search term related to the profile information stored in the electronic database.

15. The system for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 14, wherein the data communication hub further comprises an RFID reader configured to receive the contextual data from an electromagnetic field generated by an RFID tag associated with an item, and wherein the item data is stored in the electronic database as the profile information relating to the user.

16. The device for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 14, wherein the electronic information is wirelessly transmitted to the secondary display device via the at least one wireless communication interface.

17. The device for managing a presentation of data content according to claim 16, wherein the secondary display device is one of a tablet, a personal computer and a smartphone.