Media transfer among media output devices

• US 10,332,516 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Shah, Raunaq, Van Der Staay, Matt
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Shaun
• Application Number:
  US15/592,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20170329572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 725 39, 704231, 704275
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/28 Constructional details of speech recognition systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/30 Distributed recognition, e.g. in client-server systems, for mobile phones or network applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/20 Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4104 Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children

Abstract

A method is implemented to move media content display between two media output devices. A server system determines in a voice message recorded by an electronic device a media transfer request that includes a user voice command to transfer media content to a destination media output device and a user voice designation of the destination media output device. The server system then obtains from a source cast device instant media play information including information of a media play application, the media content that is being played, and a temporal position. The server system further identifies a destination cast device associated in a user domain coupled to the destination media output device, and sends to the destination cast device a media play request including the instant media play information, thereby enabling the destination cast device to execute the media play application for playing the media content from the temporal location.

Claims

1. A method for moving play of media content display, comprising:

at a server system including a processor and memory storing at least one program for execution by the processor, wherein the server system is configured to manage a virtual user domain in which an electronic device, a source cast device and a destination cast device are registered and linked to each other via a user account, and wherein the electronic device, the source cast device and the destination cast device are remote from the server system and communicatively coupled to the server system via one or more wireless communication networks;

receiving a voice message via the electronic device;

determining that the voice message includes a media transfer request, wherein the media transfer request includes a user voice command to transfer media content that is being played to the destination media output device and a user voice designation of the destination media output device;

obtaining from the source cast device instant media play information of the media content that is currently being played, the instant play information including at least information of a first media play application, the media content that is currently being played, and a temporal position related to playing of the media content;

in accordance with the voice designation of the destination media output device, identifying the destination cast device associated in the user domain with the electronic device and coupled to the destination media output device, wherein the destination cast device is configured to execute one or more media play applications for controlling the destination media output device to play media content received from one or more media content hosts, and the destination media output device is associated with the destination cast device in the user domain, thereby allowing identification of the destination cast device in accordance with the designation of the destination media output device, the one or more media content hosts being distinct from the server system; and

automatically and without user intervention, sending by the server system, to the destination cast device, a media play request including the instant media play information, thereby enabling the destination cast device to execute the first media play application that controls the destination media output device to play the media content from the temporal location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination cast device is identified in a device registry, and obtaining from the source cast device the instant media play information of the media content that is currently being played further comprises:

identifying that the media content is currently being played at a source media output device;

identifying in the device registry the source cast device associated in the user domain with the electronic device and coupled to the source media output device;

sending a media information request to the source cast device; and

receiving the instant media play information from the source cast device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in accordance with the user voice command, sending a media stop request to the source cast device, thereby enabling the source cast device to execute the first media play application that controls the source cast device coupled thereto to forgo the play of the media content on the source media output device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is disposed in proximity to the source cast device located at a first location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is disposed in proximity to the destination display device and the destination cast device located at a second venue.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forwarding the voice message to a voice assistance server that parses the voice message and identifies the user voice command and the voice designation of the destination media output device; and

receiving from the voice assistance server the user voice command and the voice designation of the destination media output device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination cast device is identified in a device registry, and the user voice designation of the destination media output device includes description of the destination media output device, and wherein the instruction when executed by the one or more processors further cause the processors to perform operations for:

identifying in the registry the destination media output device among a plurality of media output devices according to the description of the destination media output device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the description of the destination media output device includes at least a brand or a location of the destination media output device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant play information includes a playlist identifier.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporal location is recorded when the user requests the move of the media content to the destination display device.

11. A server system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the one or more processors cause the processors to perform operations for;

receiving a voice message via an electronic device;

determining that the voice message includes a media transfer request, wherein the media transfer request includes a user voice command to transfer media content that is being played to a destination media output device and a user voice designation of the destination media output device;

obtaining from a source cast device instant media play information of the media content that is currently being played, the instant play information including at least information of a first media play application, the media content that is currently being played, and a temporal position related to playing of the media content;

in accordance with the voice designation of the destination media output device, identifying the destination cast device associated in a user domain with the electronic device and coupled to the destination media output device, wherein the destination cast device is configured to execute one or more media play applications for controlling the destination media output device to play media content received from one or more media content hosts, and the destination media output device is associated with the destination cast device in the user domain, thereby allowing identification of the destination cast device in accordance with the designation of the destination media output device, the one or more media content hosts being distinct from the server system; and

automatically and without user intervention, sending by the server system, to the destination cast device, a media play request including the instant media play information, thereby enabling the destination cast device to execute the first media play application that controls the destination media output device to play the media content from the temporal location;

wherein the server system is configured to manage the user domain in which the electronic device, the source cast device and the destination cast device are registered and linked to each other via a user account, and wherein the electronic device, the source cast device and the destination cast device are remote from the server system and communicatively coupled to the server system via one or more wireless communication networks.

12. The server system of claim 11, wherein the instruction when executed by the one or more processors further cause the processors to perform operations for:

forwarding the voice message to a voice assistance server that parses the voice message and identifies the user voice command and the voice designation of the destination media output device; and

receiving from the voice assistance server the user voice command and the voice designation of the destination media output device.

13. The server system of claim 11, wherein the destination cast device is identified in a device registry, and the user voice designation of the destination media output device includes description of the destination media output device, and wherein the instruction when executed by the one or more processors further cause the processors to perform operations for:

identifying in the registry the destination media output device among a plurality of media output devices according to the description of the destination media output device.

14. The server system of claim 13, wherein the description of the destination media output device includes at least a brand or a location of the destination media output device.

15. The server system of claim 11, wherein the instant play information includes a playlist identifier.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by one or more processors cause the processors to perform operations comprising:

at a server system including a processor and memory storing at least one program for execution by the processor, wherein the server system is configured to manage a virtual user domain in which an electronic device, a source cast device and a destination cast device are registered and linked to each other via a user account, and wherein the electronic device, the source cast device and the destination cast device are remote from the server system and communicatively coupled to the server system via one or more wireless communication networks;

receiving a voice message via the electronic device;

determining that the voice message includes a media transfer request, wherein the media transfer request includes a user voice command to transfer media content that is being played to the destination media output device and a user voice designation of the destination media output device;

obtaining from the source cast device instant media play information of the media content that is currently being played, the instant play information including at least information of a first media play application, the media content that is currently being played, and a temporal position related to playing of the media content;

in accordance with the voice designation of the destination media output device, identifying the destination cast device associated in the user domain with the electronic device and coupled to the destination media output device, wherein the destination cast device is configured to execute one or more media play applications for controlling the destination media output device to play media content received from one or more media content hosts, and the destination media output device is associated with the destination cast device in the user domain, thereby allowing identification of the destination cast device in accordance with the designation of the destination media output device, the one or more media content hosts being distinct from the server system; and

automatically and without user intervention, sending by the server system, to the destination cast device, a media play request including the instant media play information, thereby enabling the destination cast device to execute the first media play application that controls the destination media output device to play the media content from the temporal location.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the destination cast device is identified in a device registry, and obtaining from the source cast device the instant media play information of the media content that is currently being played further comprises:

identifying that the media content is currently being played at a source media output device;

identifying in the device registry the source cast device associated in the user domain with the electronic device and coupled to the source media output device;

sending a media information request to the source cast device; and

receiving the instant media play information from the source cast device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instruction when executed by the one or more processors further cause the processors to perform operations for:

in accordance with the user voice command, sending a media stop request to the source cast device, thereby enabling the source cast device to execute the first media play application that controls the source cast device coupled thereto to forgo the play of the media content on the source media output device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the electronic device is disposed in proximity to the source cast device located at a first location.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the electronic device is disposed in proximity to the destination display device and the destination cast device located at a second venue.