Methods, Systems, And Computer Program Products For Providing Content Synchronization Or Control Among One Or More Devices

• US 20100045568A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Eric, Cavanaugh, Craig
• Application Number:
  US12/609,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• 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 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include a system for providing content including: a controller in operable communication with a first display device and a second display device that provides first interactive content to the first display device and second interactive content to the second display device and an interface for receiving a command from a user or application. The controller selectively controls the first and second content displayed by the first and second display devices, respectively, in response to the command.

Claims

1. A system for providing content comprising:

a controller in operable communication with a first display device and a second display device and providing first content to the first display device and second interactive content to the second display device, the first content and the second interactive content being synchronized by a content provider; and

an interface for receiving a command from a user or application, wherein the controller selectively controls the first content displayed by the first display device and the second interactive content displayed by the second display device in response to the command;

wherein the command is for un-synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content such that changes to second interactive content do not affect the first content and changes to the first content do not affect the second interactive content, the changes including selecting new second interactive content;

wherein the interface receives a further command, the further command for synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content such that changes to second interactive content affect the first content and changes to the second interactive content affect the first content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives content from at least one content provider.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the content provider is at least one of the following:

a cable television provider;

a digital satellite provider;

a traditional analog television provider;

an Internet service provider;

an Internet content provider;

a commercial content provider;

a network gaming provider;

a digital cable provider;

or

a digital broadcast provider.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second display devices is at least one of the following:

a plasma display;

a LCD display;

a DLP display;

a SED display;

a CRT display;

or

an electroluminescence display.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller communicates with one or more content providers over at least one communications network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the command is for synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the command is for changing at least one of the first content and the second interactive content.

8. A method for providing interactive content comprising:

transmitting first content to a first display device;

transmitting second interactive content to a second display device, the first content and the second interactive content being synchronized by a content provider;

receiving a command from a user or application; and

controlling display of the first and second interactive content responsive to the command;

wherein the command is for un-synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content such that changes to second interactive content do not affect the first content and changes to the first content do not affect the second interactive content, the changes including selecting new second interactive content;

wherein the interface receives a further command, the further command for synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content such that changes to second interactive content affect the first content and changes to the second interactive content affect the first content.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the command is for synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the command is for changing at least one of the first content and the second interactive content.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second interactive content is at least one of the following:

a television broadcast, a webpage, a commercial, a video or audio stream, or an audio broadcast.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the first and the second interactive content from a content provider.

13. A computer program product for providing interactive content, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

transmitting first content to a first display device;

transmitting second interactive content to a second display device, the first content and the second interactive content being synchronized by a content provider;

receiving a command from a user or application; and

controlling display of the first and second interactive content responsive to the command;

wherein the command is for un-synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content such that changes to second interactive content do not affect the first content and changes to the first content do not affect the second interactive content, the changes including selecting new second interactive content;

wherein the interface receives a further command, the further command for synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content such that changes to second interactive content affect the first content and changes to the second interactive content affect the first content.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the command is for synchronizing the first content and the second interactive content.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the command is for changing at least one of the first content and the second interactive content.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and the second interactive content is at least one of the following:

a television broadcast, a webpage, a video game, a commercial, or an audio broadcast.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the first and the second content is received from a content provider.