USER-INITIATED COMMUNICATIONS DURING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT PLAYBACK ON A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE

• US 20100261455A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S Aqua Semiconductor LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Videopression LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chew, Gregory T. H., Pilcher, Donald J., Thornton, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

A multimedia display process executing in a mobile device traps user input signals to allow switching from display of multimedia to another task without requiring manual termination of the multimedia display process by the user.

Claims

1. A method for enabling user-initiated communications during playback of multimedia content on a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

associating a user interface element with the multimedia content;

associating a user prompt with the multimedia content such that playback of the multimedia content includes presentation of the user prompt to inform the user of the user interface element; and

associating data defining a communications channel with the user interface element such that actuation of the user interface element by the user causes establishment of communications through the communications channel by the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating data specifying a portion of the multimedia content during playback of which the user interface element is enabled.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining a communications channel specifies a telephone number at which to establish voice communications.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining a communications channel specifies a telephone number to which to send a data message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining a communications channel specifies an e-mail address to which to send a data message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the data defining a communications channel specifies a URL at which to browse using browsing logic of the mobile communications device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia content includes video content.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia content includes audio content.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user prompt includes a textual message.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the user prompt includes a textual message to be displayed in conjunction with video of the multimedia content.

11. A method for providing interactive communications in association with multimedia content displayed on a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

during playback of the multimedia content on the mobile communications device;

presenting a user prompt to identify a user interface element;

detecting user actuation of the user interface element; and

in response to the user actuation, establishing communications of the mobile communications device through a communications channel associated with the multimedia content and the user interface element.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein presenting comprises presenting the user prompt for less than the entirety of the playback of the multimedia content;

and

further wherein detecting is performed during the presenting of the user prompt.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein establishing communications comprises calling a telephone number to establish voice communications through the mobile communications device.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein establishing communications comprises sending a data message to a telephone number through the mobile communications device.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein establishing communications comprises sending a data message to an e-mail message through the mobile communications device.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein establishing communications comprises browsing at a URL through the mobile communications device.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the multimedia content includes video content.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the multimedia content includes audio content.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the user prompt includes a textual message.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the user prompt includes a textual message to be displayed in conjunction with video of the multimedia content.