Systems and methods for translating generic requests into device specific requests based on location information

• US 9,191,689 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Fife, Brian, Ketkar, Neel Suhas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boyd, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/725,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20140181855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system 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 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416

Abstract

Systems and methods for translating generic requests into requests specific to user media devices selected based on location are provided. In some embodiments, a first instruction data structure containing a request for an action to be performed on media content is received from a user equipment device. A location for the user equipment device is determined and a user media device is selected based on its proximity to the determined location. Device specific information for the selected user media device is then used to determine whether the selected user media device is authorized to perform the requested action. The device specific information is also used to translate the first instruction data structure into a second instruction data structure. The second instruction data structure is then transmitted to the selected user media device and causes the selected user media device to perform the requested action.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting instructions to a user media device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user equipment device, a user request to log into a first user account associated with a media service, wherein the first user account has access to a first version of media content;

receiving a first instruction data structure from the user equipment device, wherein the first instruction data structure comprises a request for an action to be performed on media content wherein the action is to play the first version of media content;

determining a location of the user equipment device;

selecting a first of a plurality of user media devices based on the determined location, wherein a location of the first user media device is closer in proximity to the determined location of the user equipment device than a location of another user media device of the plurality of user media devices, wherein the first user media device is associated with a second user account associated with the media service, and wherein the second user account has access to a second version of media content but does not have access to the first version of media content;

retrieving device specific information associated with the first user media device;

determining, based on the retrieved device specific information, if the first user media device is authorized to perform the requested action;

translating, based on the retrieved device specific information, the received first instruction data structure into a second instruction data structure appropriate for the first user media device, wherein translating the received first instruction data structure comprises;

determining that the second user account does not have access to the first version of media content; and

populating the second instruction data structure with instructions for the first user media device to play the second version of media content; and

transmitting the second instruction data structure to the first user media device, wherein the second instruction data structure causes the first user media device to play the second version of media content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the received first instruction data structure comprises:

selecting a template data structure appropriate for the first user media device based on the retrieved device specific information; and

populating the template data structure based on the received first instruction data structure to generate the second instruction data structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the received first instruction data structure comprises populating an address field in the second instruction data structure based on the retrieved device specific information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the first user media device is authorized to perform the requested action occurs prior to receiving the first instruction data structure.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining, based on the retrieved device specific information, a set of actions the first user device is authorized to perform;

transmitting the set of actions to the user equipment device; and

causing the user equipment device to display selectable indications associated with each of the set of actions, wherein a user selection of an indication associated with the action causes the user equipment device to transmit the first instruction data structure.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising scanning a home network in order to identify the plurality of user media devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a request for location information to each of the plurality of user media devices;

receiving, in response to the request, location information from each of the plurality of user media devices; and

storing the received location information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a request for device specific information to the first user media device; and

receiving the device specific information from the first user media device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information identifying the first user media device; and

retrieving, based on the received information, the device specific information associated with the first user media device from a remote server.

10. A system for transmitting instructions to a user media device, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

receive, from a user equipment device, a user request to log into a first user account associated with a media service, wherein the first user account has access to a first version of media content;

receive a first instruction data structure from the user equipment device, wherein the first instruction data structure comprises a request for an action to be performed on media content wherein the action is to play the first version of media content;

determine a location of the user equipment device;

select a first of a plurality of user media devices based on the determined location, wherein a location of the first user media device is closer in proximity to the determined location of the user equipment device than a location of another user media device of the plurality of user media devices, wherein the first user media device is associated with a second user account associated with the media service, and wherein the second user account has access to a second version of media content but does not have access to the first version of media content;

retrieve device specific information associated with the first user media device;

determine, based on the retrieved device specific information, if the first user media device is authorized to perform the requested action;

translate, based on the retrieved device specific information, the received first instruction data structure into a second instruction data structure appropriate for the first user media device, wherein translating the received first instruction data structure comprises;

determining that the second user account does not have access to the first version of media content; and

populating the second instruction data structure with instructions for the first user media device to play the second version of media content; and

transmit the second instruction data structure to the first user media device, wherein the second instruction data structure causes the first user media device to play the second version of media content.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to translate the received first instruction data structure by being further configured to:

select a template data structure appropriate for the first user media device based on the retrieved device specific information; and

populate the template data structure based on the received first instruction data structure to generate the second instruction data structure.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to translate the received first instruction data structure by being further configured to populate an address field in the second instruction data structure based on the retrieved device specific information.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine if the first user media device is authorized to perform the requested action prior to receiving the first instruction data structure.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

determine, based on the retrieved device specific information, a set of actions the first user device is authorized to perform;

transmit the set of actions to the user equipment device; and

cause the user equipment device to display selectable indications associated with each of the set of actions, wherein a user selection of an indication associated with the action causes the user equipment device to transmit the first instruction data structure.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to scan a home network in order to identify the plurality of user media devices.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

transmit a request for location information to each of the plurality of user media devices;

receive, in response to the request, location information from each of the plurality of user media devices; and

store the received location information.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

transmit a request for device specific information to the first user media device; and

receive the device specific information from the first user media device.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive information identifying the first user media device; and

retrieve, based on the received information, the device specific information associated with the first user media device from a remote server.