METHOD FOR SHARING TELEVISION PROGRAMS

• US 20130091527A1
• Filed: 03/19/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AmTRAN Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: AmTRAN Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Min-I, Ho, Yung-Hung
• Application Number:
  US13/423,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20130091527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/81
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/43635 HDMI
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859

Abstract

A method for sharing television programs is provided. The method includes following steps: pushing a first audio/video content presently being displayed at a first television device to a second television device connected to the first television device; displaying the first audio/video content at a first picture of the second television device and simultaneously displaying a second audio/video content obtained by a tuner of the second television device at a second picture of the second television device.

Claims

1. A method for sharing television programs, comprising:

pushing a first audio/video content presently being displayed at a first television device to a second television device connected to the first television device; and

displaying the first audio/video content at a first picture of the second television device and simultaneously displaying a second audio/video content obtained by a tuner of the second television device at a second picture of the second television device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first picture and the second picture form a picture-in-picture (PIP), wherein the first picture is a sub-picture and the second picture is a main picture.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first picture is smaller than the second picture.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein prior to pushing the first audio/video content to the second television device, the method further comprises:

transmitting a notification message from the first television device to the second television device, wherein the notification message comprises a program name corresponding to the first audio/video content; and

when the first television device receives an acknowledgment message responded by the second television device, pushing the first audio/video content to the second television device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first television device is connected to the second television device through one of a wired LAN and a wireless LAN, and the method comprises:

pushing the first audio/video content to the second television device through one of the wireless LAN, the wired LAN, a DLNA standard, a WHDI standard, a wireless HD transmission technique and a WiFi Direct transmission technique.

6. A method for sharing television programs, comprising:

when a first television device presently displays a first audio/video content obtained by a first tuner of the first television device, controlling, through a first communication module of the first television device, a second communication module of a second television device so as to activate a second tuner of the second television device, wherein a display unit of the second television device is in a deactivated state;

selecting a channel by the first television device through controlling the second tuner so as to obtain a second audio/video content; and

obtaining the second audio/video content by the first television device through the second communication module.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

displaying the first audio/video content at a first picture of the first television device and simultaneously displaying the second audio/video content at a second picture of the first television device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first picture and the second picture form a picture-in-picture (PIP), wherein the second picture is a sub-picture and the first picture is a main picture.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first television device is connected to the second television device through one of a wired LAN and a wireless LAN.

10. A method for sharing television programs, comprising:

transmitting a first command by a first television device through a first communication module thereof to a second television device;

receiving the first command by the second television device through a second communication module thereof and activating a tuner of the second television device according to the first command; and

receiving a second command transmitted from the first television device by the second television device through the second communication module thereof, and controlling the tuner of the second television device according to the second command to select a channel so as to obtain an audio/video content and transmitting the audio/video content to the first television device by the second television device through the second communication module.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a display unit of the second television device is in a turning-off state.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first television device is connected to the second television device through one of a wired LAN and a wireless LAN.

13. A method for sharing television programs, suitable for a television device with one tuner only, and comprising:

when the television device displays a first audio/video content obtained by the tuner of the television device at a first picture thereof, receiving a second audio/video content provided by one of other television devices; and

displaying the second audio/video content obtained through the another television device at a second picture of the television device.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first picture and the second picture comprise a picture-in-picture (PIP), wherein the second picture is a sub-picture and the first picture is a main picture.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the television device obtains the second audio/video content through one of a wired LAN and a wireless LAN from the another television device and obtains the second audio/video content from the another television device through a DLNA standard, a WHDI standard, a wireless HD transmission technique or a WiFi Direct transmission technique.