Display inserts, overlays, and graphical user interfaces for multimedia systems

• US 10,069,643 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kip Prod P1 LP
• Original Assignee: Kip Prod P1 LP
• Inventors: Ansari, Amir, Cowgill, George A., Nicholls, Leon E., Raissyan, Atousa, Ramayya, Jude P., Masina, Ramprakash, McQuarters, Alvin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US15/360,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20170111182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/305 Curtain coating
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/002 Pretreatement
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/04 by exposure to gases
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/044 Pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/10 by electric discharge treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 417/12 linked by a chain containing hetero atoms as chain links
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 417/14 containing three or more hetero rings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• 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 21/25875 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/47217 : 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 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 : for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08

Abstract

A disclosed digital media device operational at user premises to receive media signals from a media source for presentation via endpoint devices such as a television display. The digital media device can include gateway and digital media management functionality and can be referred to as a gateway and digital media device. The device offers application services obtained over a wide area network and a user premises network. The digital media device may form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information, for example, for a composite audio and/or video signal for television type presentation to the user. The digital media device may receive a selection signal based on the presentation, for transmission to the application service provider device or to the media source. The media device also offers a GUI presenting a moveable arrangement of icons for selectively accessing application services.

Claims

1. A digital media device at a user premises for providing a dynamic graphical user interface for display by a television display, the digital media device comprising:

at least one interface configured to receive media for presentation via the television display and configured to communicate with a gateway device and a plurality of digital devices at the user premises, wherein the gateway device is configured to provide, via a network, access to one or more application services;

memory that locally stores one or more media applications, wherein the media applications include

a first media application associated with media available from a first service provider, the first media application being configured to establish bidirectional communication with the first service provider, and

a second media application associated with media available from a second service provider, the second media application being configured to establish bidirectional communication with the second service provider;

at least one processor coupled to the memory and the at least one interface, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide

a first composite signal for displaying a composite image on the television display, wherein the composite image represents

media obtained and/or accessible via the at least one interface and

the one or more application services, the first media application, and/or the second media application provided via the gateway device, and

a second composite signal for displaying, via the television display, user selectable icons that represent at least one of

respective digital devices at the user premises and/or media available from the respective digital devices, or

streamable video media available and/or obtained from at least one of the first service provider or second service provider,

wherein the digital media device is configured to provide graphical interaction with one or more distribution systems via a graphical user interface displayed on the television display, wherein the graphical interaction, via the graphical user interface, includes access to the user selectable icons displayed by the television display; and

wherein one or more of the user selectable icons, when selected, are configured to generate a respective image corresponding to the selected user selectable icon, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the television display to display the respective image overlaid on or inserted into the composite image to form a separate composite image.

2. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the user input device includes a remote control configured to communicate with the digital media device.

3. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the digital media device is configured to dynamically add or dynamically remove one or more of the icons based on at least one subscription.

4. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the gateway device is independent from a media source, and wherein the at least one interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with the gateway device and/or the media source.

5. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the at least one interface is configured to receive one or more media signals from one or more analog video sources and/or one or more digital video sources.

6. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the digital media device is configured to provide peer-to-peer communication.

7. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the at least one interface includes one or more USB interfaces, local area network interfaces, wireless network interfaces, HDMI interfaces, component video interfaces, composite video interfaces, S-video interfaces, digital audio interfaces, or combination thereof.

19. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the first and second media application icons are concurrently available for the user to access via the graphical user interface, and wherein the streamable video media available from the first service provider is routed from a first server to the digital media device, and the streamable video media available from the second service provider is routed from a second server, independent from the first server, to the media delivery device.

20. The digital media device of claim 1, wherein the digital media device is further configured to receive automatic updates for the first media application and/or second media application.

21. The digital media device of claim 20, wherein the digital media device is further configured to automatically check for updates from at least the first service provider associated with the first media application and/or the second service provider associated with the second media application.

8. A digital media device, comprising:

at least one interface configured to receive media data for presentation on a television display and to enable bi-directional communications with (i) a media delivery device to receive application service data via a communication network at a user premises, and (ii) a plurality of digital devices at the user premises; and

memory that locally stores one or more media applications, wherein the media applications include at least

a first media application associated with media from a first service provider, the first media application being configured to establish bidirectional communication with the first service provider, and

a second media application associated with media from a second service provider, the second media application being configured to establish bidirectional communication with the second service provider; and

at least one processor in communication with the memory and the at least one interface, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide

a first signal for displaying, via the television display, a composite image that represents at least one of (a) media obtained and/or accessible via the at least one interface, (b) the first media application, or (c) the second media application, and

one or more second signals for displaying, via the television display, one or more icons that represent respective digital devices at the user premises and media available and/or obtained from at least one of the first service provider or second service provider,

wherein the digital media device is configured to communicate with the television display to provide graphical interaction with a distribution system via a dynamic graphical user interface displayed on the television display and, wherein the graphical interaction via the dynamic graphical user interface includes access to graphical interface elements that are user-selectable, displayed by the television display and associated with the one or more media applications, and

wherein the one or more of the icons are selectable to cause a respective image corresponding to the selected icon to be displayed by the television display, wherein the respective image is overlaid on or inserted into the composite image to form another composite image.

9. The digital media device claim 8, wherein the digital media device is further configured to communicate with an input received in the form of a selection signal based on a user selecting one or more of the graphical interface elements displayed by the television display.

10. The digital media device claim 8, wherein the graphical interface elements are selectable to control programming provided by the digital media device.

11. The digital media device claim 8, wherein the at least one interface includes:

a first interface configured to receive the media data from at least one media source; and

a second interface configured to communicate with the media delivery device, wherein the media delivery device is configured to provide the one or more media applications and provide access to the media available from the first and second service providers.

12. The digital media device claim 8, wherein the graphical interface elements represent media displayable by the television display via the digital media device.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, via at least one interface, media data for presentation on a television;

establishing, via a user network at a user premises, bi-directional communication with a media delivery device and a plurality of digital devices at the user premises;

receiving application service data via the user network, wherein the application service data includes notifications of status regarding at least one application service provided by the media delivery device;

storing one or more media applications on a digital media device, wherein the media applications include at least a first media application associated with media from a first service provider and a second media application associated with media from a second service provider;

sending a first signal for displaying a composite image via the television, wherein the composite image represents

media obtained and/or accessible via the at least one interface, and

the one or more application services, the first media application, and/or the second media application,

sending a second signal for displaying, via the television, user selectable icons that represent respective digital devices at the user premises and streamable video media available and/or obtained from at least one of the first service provider or second service provider, wherein user selectable icons are selectable to generate a respective image corresponding to the selected user selectable icon such that the television displays the respective image overlaid on or inserted into the composite image for providing another composite image;

displaying, via the television, a dynamic graphical user interface to provide graphical interaction with media and service distribution systems, wherein the graphical interaction includes access to user-selectable graphical interface elements displayed by the television display and associated with the streamable video media from at least one of the first service provider or the second service provider;

receiving a selection signal from a remote control for interacting with the dynamic graphical user interface; and

transmitting, via the user network, the selection signal to the media delivery device to provide a selected service application from the media delivery device via the user network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the media delivery device is a gateway device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising dynamically adding or removing one or more icons of the dynamic graphical user interface based on the one or more subscriptions.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising streaming media associated with the selection signal from the media delivery device to the television.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving the media signal from a cable television signal source, a satellite television signal source, a television broadcast signal source, an audio signal source, a video playback device, a game console, or any combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the secondary images overlaid on or inserted into the primary image, and wherein each of the secondary images is based on application service information from the media delivery device.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the graphical user elements includes a first graphical user element associated with the first media application and a second graphical user element associated with the second media application, and wherein the first and second graphical user elements are concurrently available for the user to access via the graphical user interface.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving notifications of software updates from the first service provider for the first media application and the second service provider for the second media application.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising automatically updating the first media application based on instructions from the first service providers and/or the second media application based on instructions from the second service providers.

25. A digital media device at a user premises for providing a dynamic graphical user interface displayed by a television display, the digital media device comprising:

at least one interface configured to receive media for presentation and configured to communicate with a gateway device and a plurality of digital devices, wherein the gateway device is configured to provide, via a network, access to one or more application services;

memory that locally stores a first media application associated with media available from a first service provider and configured to establish bidirectional communication with the first service provider and a second media application associated with media available from a second service provider configured to establish bidirectional communication with the second service provider; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory and the at least one interface, wherein the one or more processors are configured to provide

a first composite signal for displaying a composite image via the television display, wherein the composite image represents

media obtained and/or accessible via the at least one interface,

the first media application, and

the second media application, and

a second composite signal for displaying, via the television display, icons that represent respective digital devices at the user premises and streamable video media available and/or obtained from at least one of the first service provider or second service provider,

wherein the digital media device is configured to provide graphical interaction via a graphical user interface displayed on the television display, wherein the graphical interaction, via the graphical user interface, includes access to the icons, and

wherein one or more of the icons are selectable to generate a respective image corresponding to the selected icon, wherein the digital media device is configured to cause the television display to display the respective image overlaid on or inserted into the composite image to form another composite image.