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

• US 10,071,395 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• 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:
  US15/800,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20180126414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 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 device for operation at a user'"'"'s area to provide and manage services for one or more endpoint devices associated with the device, the device comprising:

a processor; and

storage, coupled to the processor and positioned at the user'"'"'s area, storing;

first programming to implement a first communication channel, between the device and one or more endpoint devices including at least a television device, within the user'"'"'s area;

second programming to implement a second communication channel, via a wide area network, between one of the one or more endpoint devices and a remotely located application service management center external to the user'"'"'s area;

third programming related to a plurality of application services, including at least;

a video service, a music service;

a picture viewing service; and

a home automation service, wherein at least two of the plurality of application services are configured to locally store media received, via the wide area network, from remote media providers and use the first communication channel to cause the locally stored media to be displayed on the television device;

fourth programming to implement a third communication channel, via wireless communication, between the device and a remote control, wherein communication between the device and the remote control causes the device to implement functionality, through the first communication channel, for the television device, the functionality including causing menus to be displayed on the television device in relation to one or more of the plurality of application services; and

fifth programming to implement voice response functionality that interacts with one or more of;

the first programming, the second programming, the third programming, the fourth programming, or any combination thereof;

wherein, for at least one application service of the plurality of application services, execution of the third programming by the processor causes the device to provide functions in relation to the at least one application service, said functions including;

(1) communication, via the second communication channel, of information between one or more endpoint devices and an application server for the respective service;

(2) enforcement regarding one or more of;

authorization, authentication, configuration, or any combination thereof, in relation to the one or more endpoint devices;

(3) management of the application service based upon communications with the remotely located application service management center using the second communication channel, via the wide area network;

(4) assessment of the availability of resources for an application, wherein the assessment is in response to a request, by one of the end point devices, for services; and

(5) management of the resources for the application to implement the request such that consistent performance is provided to others of the one or more endpoint devices via a local area network while the media is displayed by the television device, wherein the media is displayed using one of the plurality of applications services that provides media control function for controlling media display.

2. The device of claim 1,

wherein the second communications channel comprises a control channel through the wide area network between the processor and the remotely located application service management center;

and

wherein the control channel is activated when the device is authenticated with the remotely located application service management center.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the resources for the specific application include network bandwidth.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the management of the resources for the specific application to implement the request include utilizing a message queue or buffer.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein execution of the third programming by the processor further causes the device to support a plurality of different user interfaces via different endpoint devices, with respect to one or more services provided via the device.

6. The device of claim 1,

wherein execution of the third programming by the processor further causes the device to support a plurality of different user interfaces;

and

wherein one of the different user interfaces is a user interface for delivery of television services.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first interface that comprises:

a component video interface,

an S-video interface,

an HDMI interface, or

a composite video interface.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein part of the second communication channel is composed of the first communication channel.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the storage further stores fourth programming that, when executed by the processor, implements platform management logic comprising two or more of:

a platform manager for implementing rules based notification services on operational failure;

a scheduler for managing scheduled device maintenance and scheduled services;

a resource manager for managing device resources and/or contention for access to the device resources;

a display manager for managing at least one display; and

a logger for tracking log-in activity of users and/or applications.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first communication channel is a wired communication channel with a television.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured for peer to peer type communications between the device and another device, with respect to at least one of the application services.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the other device is a device that is in communication with the remotely located application service management center.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is configured to establish the peer to peer type communications with the other device by signaling through the remotely located application service management center.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the device establishes the peer to peer type communications with the other device without communicating via the remotely located application service management center.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the media control function for controlling media display includes pausing or stopping playing of media on the television device.

22. The device of claim 1, further comprising a voice processing module configured to provide interactive voice response functionality with at least one of the plurality of application services.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the third programming is configured to cause the television to display a voicemail message.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the locally stored media is stored in a buffer.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that is not a carrier wave, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations for operating a device at a location, the operations comprising:

implementing a first communication channel, between the device and one or more endpoint devices including at least a television device, within the location;

implementing a second communication channel, via a wide area network, between the one or more endpoint devices and a remotely located application service management center external to the location;

implement a third communication channel, via wireless communication, between the device and a remote control, wherein communication between the device and the remote control causes menus to be displayed on the television device in relation to one or more of a plurality of application services; and

causing the device to provide functions in relation to a respective service, of the plurality of application services, for the one or more endpoint devices, wherein the plurality of application services include at least a video service and a music service, wherein at least one of the application services is configured to locally store media received, via the wide area network, from a remotely located media provider and to use the first communication channel to cause the locally stored media to be displayed on the television device;

wherein said functions include;

(1) communication, via the second communication channel, of information between one or more endpoint devices and an application server for the respective service;

(2) enforcement regarding one or more of;

authorization, authentication, configuration, use of the respective service, or any combination thereof, in relation to the one or more endpoint devices;

(3) management of the application service based upon communications with the remotely located application service management center using the second communication channel, via the wide area network;

(4) assessment of the availability of resources for an application, wherein the assessment is in response to a request, by one of the end point devices, for services;

(5) management of the resources for the application to implement the request such that consistent performance is provided to others of the one or more endpoint devices via a local area network while the media is displayed by the television device via one of the plurality of application services that provides media control function for controlling media display; and

(6) voice response functionality that provides an interface for interacting with at least one of the endpoint devices.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein:

the second communication channel is a signaling channel through the wide area network; and

the operations further comprise maintaining a communication session with the remotely located application service management center when the device is operable and authenticated by the remotely located application service management center.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein part of the second communication channel is composed of the first communication channel.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the management responsive to communications with the remotely located application service management center includes installing programming logic, at the device, received from the remotely located application service management center via the wide area network and a second interface.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15,

wherein the resources include network bandwidth;

and

wherein the management of the resources to implement the request comprises utilizing a message queue or buffer to manage the network bandwidth.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage claim 19,

wherein the first communication channel implements a wired connection to the television device for media processing;

and

wherein the message queue or buffer stores media data, received over the second communication channel, for display on the television device.

25. A device for operation at a user'"'"'s area, the device comprising:

a processor; and

storage, coupled to the processor, storing;

first programming to implement a first communication channel, between the device and one or more endpoint devices including at least a television device;

second programming to implement a second communication channel, via a wide area network, between one of the one or more endpoint devices and a remotely located application service management center external to the user'"'"'s area;

third programming related to a plurality of application services, wherein the plurality of application services include

a home automation service,

a first media service configured to locally store media received, via the wide area network, from a remotely located first media provider and to use the first communication channel to cause the locally stored first media to be displayed on the television device, and

a second media service configured to locally store media received, via the wide area network, from a remotely located second media provider and to use the first communication channel to cause the locally stored second media to be displayed on the television device; and

fourth programming to implement a third communication channel, via wireless communication, between the device and a remote control, wherein communication between the device and the remote control causes the device to implement functionality, through the first communication channel, for the television device, the functionality including causing menus to be displayed on the television device in relation to one or more of the plurality of application services; and

fifth programming to implement voice response functionality that interacts with one or more of;

the first programming, the second programming, the third programming, the fourth programming, or any combination thereof;

wherein, for at least one application service of the plurality of application services, execution of the third programming by the processor causes the device to provide functions in relation to the at least one application service, said functions including;

(1) communication, via the second communication channel, of information between one or more endpoint devices and an application server for the respective service of the at least one application service;

(2) enforcement regarding one or more of;

authorization, authentication, configuration, or any combination thereof, in relation to the one or more endpoint devices;

(3) management of the at least one application service based upon communications with the remotely located application service management center using the second communication channel, via the wide area network;

(4) assessment of the availability of resources of the device in response to a request, by one of the end point devices, for services; and

(5) management of the resources to implement the request such that consistent performance is provided to others of the one or more endpoint devices via a local area network while the media is displayed by the one or more endpoint devices via one of the plurality of application services that provides media control function for controlling media display.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of application services is configured for interactive voice response functionality.