SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING PLAYBACK OF STREAMING DIGITAL CONTENT

• US 20140108614A1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: GUNDERSON, Brady, PETERS, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 9,565,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/43615 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 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for managing playback of digital content on two or more different playback devices. A playback device designated as a controller is associated with a playback device designated as a playback target. Association is implemented via a local network discovery protocol. The controller issues commands to the target, which then streams digital content directly from a content server. The controller is able to separately stream related digital content for independent, but synchronized playback. Server mediated operations, such as device activation and application installation, are advantageously enabled by explicit association between the controller and the target.

Claims

1. A method for directing a target device to play a selected title, comprising:

discovering the target device with a local network;

exchanging unique identifiers with the target device to establish an association with the target device;

identifying to a content server the target device as an associated device;

determining whether the target device includes a service application through which the target device can communicate with the content server; and

if the target device includes the service application, then causing the service application to request the selected title from the content server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the unique identifiers comprises a number that is unique to a particular service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein discovering comprises transmitting a multicast message to all devices in the local network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein discovering comprises receiving a unicast message from the target device in response to the multicast message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the target device does not include the service application; and

causing the target device to retrieve the service application from the content server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein causing comprises transmitting a command to a configuration manager that resides in the target device, wherein the command identifies the service application and provides a location where the service application can be accessed.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising causing the configuration manager to install the service application on the target device once the service application has been located and accessed.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising instructing the installed service application to request activation from the content server based on the exchanged unique identifiers.

9. A computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to direct a target device to play a selected title, by performing the steps of:

discovering the target device with a local network;

exchanging unique identifiers with the target device to establish an association with the target device;

identifying to a content server the target device as an associated device;

determining whether the target device includes a service application through which the target device can communicate with the content server; and

if the target device includes the service application, then causing the service application to request the selected title from the content server.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein each of the unique identifiers comprises a number that is unique to a particular service.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein discovering comprises transmitting a multicast message to all devices in the local network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein discovering comprises receiving a unicast message from the target device in response to the multicast message.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising:

determining that the target device does not include the service application; and

causing the target device to retrieve the service application from the content server.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein causing comprises transmitting a command to a configuration manager that resides in the target device, wherein the command identifies the service application and provides a location where the service application can be accessed.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising causing the configuration manager to install the service application on the target device once the service application has been located and accessed.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructing the installed service application to request activation from the content server based on the exchanged unique identifiers.

17. A controller device configured to direct a target device to play a selected title, the controller device comprising:

a network interface circuit configured to communicate with other devices within a local network; and

a processing unit coupled to the network interface and configured to;

discover the target device with the local network;

exchange unique identifiers with the target device to establish an association with the target device;

identify to a content server the target device as an associated device;

determine whether the target device includes a service application through which the target device can communicate with the content server; and

if the target device includes the service application, then cause the service application to request the selected title from the content server.

18. The controller device of claim 17, wherein to discover the target device, the processing unit is further configured to:

transmit a multicast message to all devices in the local network; and

receive a unicast message from the target device in response to the multicast message.

19. The controller device of claim 17, wherein the target device does not include the service application, and to cause, the processing unit is further configured to transmit a command to a configuration manager that resides in the target device, wherein the command identifies the service application and provides a location where the service application can be accessed.

20. The controller device of claim 19, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

cause the configuration manager to install the service application on the target device once the service application has been located and accessed; and

instruct the installed service application to request activation from the content server based on the exchanged unique identifiers.