Method and apparatus for browsing using alternative linkbases

• US 8,646,020 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Convergent Media Solutions LLC (Strategic Intellectual Solutions, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Convergent Media Solutions LLC (Strategic Intellectual Solutions, LLC)
• Inventors: Reisman, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Chung, Jason J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US13/662,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20130074129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 725/110, 725112-113, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153
• US Class Current: 725/133
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/15 Synchronised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/426 Receiver side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2358 for generating different versions, e.g. for different recipient devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25 Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• 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 21/41407 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 21/4143 : embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 : Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 : User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 : involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4358 : for generating different versions, e.g. for different peripheral 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 21/43637 : 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 21/440263 : by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 : Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 : for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 : for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47208 : for requesting near-video-on-demand content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 : for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 : involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 : involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• 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 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8173 : End-user applications, e.g. Web browser, game
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/85 : Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8583 : by creating hot-spots
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods for navigating hypermedia using multiple coordinated input/output device sets. Disclosed systems and methods allow a user and/or an author to control what resources are presented on which device sets (whether they are integrated or not), and provide for coordinating browsing activities to enable such a user interface to be employed across multiple independent systems. Disclosed systems and methods also support new and enriched aspects and applications of hypermedia browsing and related business activities.

Claims

1. A method for use in a second computerized device set which wirelessly communicates with a first computerized device set, wherein the first and second computerized device sets include respective first and second continuous media players, the method comprising:

receiving a first input from a user, the first input indicative of a selection of a continuous media content to be presented to the user, wherein the continuous media content includes a set of encoded video data;

making available to the user a user interface that allows the user to select whether to have the continuous media content presented on either one of the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set;

receiving a second input from the user, via the user interface, the second input indicative of a selection by the user to have the continuous media content presented on the first computerized device set;

receiving discovery information at the second computerized device set in accordance with a device management discovery protocol that is implemented at a communication layer above an internet protocol layer, wherein the discovery information allows the second computerized device set to determine that the first computerized device set is capable of receiving the continuous media content and playing the continuous media content; and

wirelessly transmitting, in accordance with a wireless local area network protocol and based on the second input, a stream of data packets including the set of encoded video data to the first computerized device set for subsequent decoding by the first continuous media player and presentation to the user on the first computerized device set;

wherein the continuous media content is not presented on the second computerized device set during the wirelessly transmitting, and the first input from the user and the second input from the user are obtained via a unified media selection and presentation user interface, wherein the unified media selection and presentation user interface presents user input controls for selection of the continuous media content and for selection of either one of the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set for presentation of the continuous media content.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a user browsing session at the second computerized device set.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving via the user browsing session, from a remote source, the continuous media content.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user browsing session includes navigation of a content listing of content available from the remote source, and the receiving the first input from the user.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the user browsing session includes selection of a control function related to a parameter of the presentation of the continuous media content.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the control function is applied at both the first and second computerized device sets.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the selection of the control function related to the parameter of the presentation of the continuous media content at the first computerized device set causes the control function to be applied at both the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the continuous media content is received at the second computerized device set via streaming, and the stream of encoded media data packets including the continuous media content is synchronized with the continuous media content received at the second computerized device set via streaming.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the streaming is performed in accordance with an Internet streaming protocol.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the Internet streaming protocol is compatible at least in part with an RTSP protocol.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the Internet streaming protocol is compatible at least in part with an HTTP protocol.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the Internet streaming protocol is compatible at least in part with an RTP protocol.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the Internet streaming protocol is compatible at least in part with an SDP protocol.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the continuous media content is presented in a display region of the second computerized device set during the transmitting, wherein the display region of the second computerized device set is an incomplete portion of a display screen associated with the second computerized device set that includes at least one of:

graphical user interface controls and other information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the other information includes enhancement content related to the continuous media content.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the user browsing session includes navigation of a content listing of content available from storage within the second computerized device set, and the receiving the first input from the user.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the user browsing session includes navigation of a content listing that identifies content available from storage within a computerized device that is independent of the first and second computerized device sets and is accessible to the first and second computerized device sets via a packet network that is local to both the first and second computerized device sets, and the receiving the first input from the user.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

discovering, by the second computerized device set, at a protocol layer above an Internet protocol network layer, particular content rendering capabilities of the first computerized device set.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the discovering of the particular content rendering capabilities of the first computerized device set is performed at least partially in accordance with a universal plug and play (UPnP) protocol.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the discovering of the particular content rendering capabilities of the first computerized device set is performed at least partially in accordance with a Rendezvous protocol.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set are not previously known to one another.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

the second computerized device set receiving from the first computerized device set an authentication credential.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

the first computerized device set receiving from the second computerized device set an authentication credential.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

the second computerized device set facilitating adaptation of the continuous media content based upon the particular content rendering capabilities of the first computerized device set.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface further allows the user to have the continuous media content presented on both the first and second computerized device sets substantially simultaneously.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

the second computerized device set wirelessly transmitting time-position information to support a synchronization of the substantially simultaneous presentations on both the first and second computerized device sets.

27. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

presenting to the user at the second computerized device set a set of control functions to allow the user to control the presentation of the continuous media content on the selected one or more of the first and second computerized device sets.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the set of control functions comprise at least a play control function and a pause control function.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting at the second computerized device set, during the wirelessly transmitting, enhancement content including information related to the continuous media content.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the enhancement content is substantially synchronized with at least one particular time segment within the presentation of the continuous media content.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the enhancement content contains links to at least one source of information external to both the first and second computerized device sets.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly transmitting is performed conditionally based on a condition that the first computerized device set has supplied an associated entitlement credential to indicate that the first computerized device set is authorized to present the particular content.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly transmitting is performed conditionally based on a condition that the second computerized device set has supplied an associated entitlement credential to indicate that the second computerized device set is authorized to present the particular content.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the condition further includes a requirement that the second computerized device set has supplied an authentication credential associated with an authorized user.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless local area network protocol comprises WiFi.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless local area network protocol comprises Bluetooth.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising the second computerized device set receiving the continuous media content from a remote source via an Internet connection.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the remote source comprises a web server.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the web server comprises a media content distribution service.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the second computerized device set includes a portable computerized device set.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first computerized device set includes a television.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the second computerized device set includes a cellular telephone.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the second computerized device set includes a tablet computer.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computerized device set includes a television.

45. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuous media content is encoded in accordance with an MPEG encoding format.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the presentation on the first computerized device set interrupts a current presentation of content that was previously initiated as a result of user input.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein the discovering is facilitated at the first computerized device set by a computerized auxiliary device that supports discoverability of capabilities of the first computerized device set.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the computerized auxiliary device provides network gateway services for at least the first computerized device set.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuous media content is not presented on the second computerized device set during the transmitting.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein the continuous media content as represented by the encoded video data is a member of the group consisting of:

moving-images with accompanying sound, moving-images without accompanying sound, wherein the moving-images originate from a member of the group consisting of analog video, digitally coded video, television, Internet television (IPTV), Internet protocol (IP) video, film, animation, virtual reality data, hybrid natural and synthetic video data.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly transmitting begins in direct response to the second input, subsequent to the first input.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly transmitting begins in direct response to the first input, subsequent to the second input.

53. A method for use in a second computerized device set which is configured for wireless communication using a wireless communications protocol that enables wireless communication with a first computerized device set, wherein the first and second computerized device sets include respective first and second continuous media players, the method comprising:

enabling a user to select a continuous media content to be presented to the user, wherein the continuous media content includes a set of encoded video data;

making available to the user a user interface that allows the user to select to have the continuous media content presented on either one of the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set; and

receiving discovery information at the second computerized device set in accordance with a device management discovery protocol that is implemented at a communication layer above an internet protocol layer, wherein the discovery information allows the second computerized device set to determine that the first computerized device set is capable of receiving the continuous media content and playing the continuous media content;

wherein, in the event the user selects, via the user interface, to have the continuous media content presented on the second computerized device set, the second continuous media player decoding the continuous media content for presentation on the second computerized device set; and

wherein, in the event the user selects, via the user interface, to have the continuous media content presented on the first computerized device set, wirelessly transmitting, in accordance with a wireless local area network protocol, a stream of media data packets including the continuous media content from the second computerized device set to the first computerized device set for subsequent decoding by the first media player and presentation to the user on the first computerized device set, and

wherein the continuous media content is not presented on the second computerized device set during the wirelessly transmitting, and user selections from the user interface are obtained via a unified media selection and presentation user interface, wherein the unified media selection and presentation user interface presents user input controls for selection of the continuous media content and for selection of either one of the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set for presentation of the continuous media content.

54. A method for use in a second computerized device set which is configured for wireless communication using a wireless communications protocol that enables wireless communication with a first computerized device set, wherein the first and second computerized device sets include respective first and second continuous media players, the method comprising:

making available to the user a first user interface that allows a user to select a continuous media content to be presented to the user, wherein the continuous media content includes a set of encoded video data;

making available to the user a second user interface that allows the user to select-to have the continuous media content presented on either one of the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set; and

receiving discovery information at the second computerized device set in accordance with a device management discovery protocol that is implemented at a communication layer above an internet protocol layer, wherein the discovery information allows the second computerized device set to determine that the first computerized device set is capable of receiving the continuous media content and playing the continuous media content;

wherein, in the event the user selects, via the second user interface, to have the continuous media content presented on the second computerized device set, the second media player decoding the continuous media content for presentation on the second computerized device set; and

wherein, in the event the user selects, via the second user interface, to have the continuous media content presented on the first computerized device set, wirelessly transmitting in accordance with a wireless local area network protocol, a stream of media data packets including the continuous media content from the second computerized device set to the first computerized device set for subsequent decoding by the first continuous media player and presentation to the user on the first computerized device set, and

wherein the continuous media content is not presented on the second computerized device set during the wirelessly transmitting, and a first input from the user on the first user interface and a second input from the user on the second user interface are obtained via a unified media selection and presentation user interface, wherein the unified media selection and presentation user interface presents user input controls for selection of the continuous media content and for selection of either one of the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set for presentation of the continuous media content.

55. A method for use in a first computerized device set which wirelessly communicates with a second computerized device set, wherein the first and second computerized device sets include respective first and second continuous media players, the method comprising:

providing discovery information to the second computerized device set in accordance with a device management discovery protocol that is implemented at a communication layer above an internet protocol layer, and wherein the discovery information allows the second computerized device set to determine that the first computerized device set is capable of receiving a continuous media content and playing the continuous media content, wherein the continuous media content includes a set of encoded video data;

establishing a wireless communication session with the second computerized device set; and

receiving, via the wireless communication session, in accordance a wireless local area network protocol, a stream of encoded media data packets including the continuous media content for subsequent presentation on the first computerized device set via the first continuous media player,

wherein the wireless communication session is conducted in accordance with an Internet protocol, and

wherein the continuous media content is not presented on the second computerized device set during the wirelessly receiving of the stream of encoded media packets, and at least one input from a user is obtained via a unified media selection and presentation user interface, wherein the unified media selection and presentation user interface presents user input controls for selection of the continuous media content and for selection of either one of the first computerized device set and the second computerized device set for presentation of the continuous media content.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the continuous media content is selected based on an input associated with the second computerized device set, and wherein the receiving resulted from a selection of the first computerized device set as one of an alternative to and a supplement to presentation on the second device computerized set, based on the input associated with the second computerized device set.