METHODS AND DEVICES FOR COORDINATING FUNCTIONS OF MULTIMEDIA DEVICES

• US 20090169171A1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: MASSEY, NOEL S., TULLIO, JOSEPH C.
• Application Number:
  US11/965,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20090169171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/343
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and devices that facilitate new interactive experiences for users of WiMAX, 4 G, or other media-sharing enabled devices. The methods and devices for delivering primary media content to a set of media systems are configured to coordinate at least one visual media system with other visual media systems to foster sharing of content. The method includes broadcasting a stream of primary media content to the set of visual media systems that are configured to control the stream of primary media content. At least one of the visual media systems can be configured to issue a command to pause the stream of media content. The method also includes generating a notification to be transmitted to the other visual media systems that a command to pause has been received. In this manner, synchronizing the pausing and resuming of playback of media content among the visual media systems can be achieved.

Claims

1. A method for delivering primary media content to a plurality of visual media systems, the method comprising:

broadcasting a stream of primary media content to a plurality of visual media systems that are configured to control the stream of media content;

receiving from at least one of the plurality of visual media systems a command to pause the stream of primary media content;

generating a notification signal that a command to pause has been received;

transmitting the notification signal to at least one of the plurality of visual media systems; and

pausing the broadcasting of the stream of primary media content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a visual media system is configured to function as a server to broadcast the stream of primary media content, receive the command to pause the stream, generate the notification signal, transmit the notification signal, and pause the stream.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pausing for a predetermined period of time; and

indicating to at least one of the plurality of visual media systems the predetermined period of time for pausing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a visual media system is configured to respond to the notification signal with at least one alert selected from the group consisting of:

an audio alert, a visual alert, a vibration alert, and a scent alert.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of the plurality of visual media systems transmitting a signal that it is prepared to resume receiving the broadcast of primary media content.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering ancillary media content during pausing.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

opening an auxiliary window in at least one visual media system during pausing.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

resuming broadcasting primary media content; and

closing the auxiliary window when primary media content broadcasting is resuming.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein closing the auxiliary window comprises closing the auxiliary window after user confirmation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying by at least one of the visual media systems of other media content while the primary media content is paused.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

resuming broadcasting primary media content; and

ceasing displaying by the at least one of the visual media systems of other media content when primary media content broadcasting is resumed.

12. A method of a system of visual media systems that are configured to communicate between each other and to receive primary media content, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast of primary media content;

generating by at least one of the visual media systems, a pause command;

transmitting by the at least one of the visual media systems, the pause command to pause the broadcast of the primary media content; and

receiving by at least one of the visual media systems, a notification signal that the broadcast of the primary media content is pausing.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

receiving a broadcast of primary media content, comprises;

receiving a broadcast of primary media content from a second of the visual media systems operating as a primary media content server;

and wherein;

transmitting by the at least one of the visual media systems, the pause command to pause the broadcast of the primary media content, comprises;

transmitting by the at least one of the visual media systems, the pause command to the second visual media system operating as a primary media content server to pause the broadcast of the primary media content.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

pausing receiving the primary media content for a predetermined period of time.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

pausing receiving the primary media content for an indeterminate period of time.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

communicating between a plurality of visual media system during pausing.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a controller;

a transceiver coupled to the controller and configured to receive a stream of broadcast primary media content;

a display coupled to the controller and configured to render the primary media content;

a user interface coupled to the controller and configured to receive input to pause and resume the stream of broadcast primary media content;

wherein;

the electronic device is configured to communicate with other similarly configured devices to synchronize pausing of the stream and to synchronize resuming of the stream.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the device is configured to notify a similarly configured device that the stream of broadcast primary media content is being paused for a period of time in accordance with a pause command.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein:

the device is configured to receive a notification signal from a similarly configured device that a stream of broadcast primary media content is being paused;

the device is configured to respond to the notification signal with an alert selected from the group consisting of;

an audio alert, a visual alert, a vibration alert, and a scent alert.

20. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the device is configured to receive ancillary media content during pausing of the stream of broadcast primary media content.