Display inserts, overlays, and graphical user interfaces for multimedia systems

• US 9,924,235 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kip Prod P1 LP
• Original Assignee: Kip Prod P1 LP
• Inventors: Ansari, Amir, Cowgill, George A., Nicholls, Leon E., Raissyan, Atousa, Ramayya, Jude P., Masina, Ramprakash, McQuarters, Alvin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US15/360,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/305 Curtain coating
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/002 Pretreatement
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/04 by exposure to gases
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/044 Pretreatment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/10 by electric discharge treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 417/12 linked by a chain containing hetero atoms as chain links
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 417/14 containing three or more hetero rings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2807 Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving network analysis for automatically determining the actual topology of a network H04L41/12; hardware or software tools for network management using graphical user interfaces H04L41/22; address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• 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 21/25875 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 21/42204 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 21/43615 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 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 : for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 : for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08

Abstract

A disclosed digital media device operational at user premises to receive media signals from a media source for presentation via endpoint devices such as a television display. The digital media device can include gateway and digital media management functionality and can be referred to as a gateway and digital media device. The device offers application services obtained over a wide area network and a user premises network. The digital media device may form a composite signal from the media signal and application service information, for example, for a composite audio and/or video signal for television type presentation to the user. The digital media device may receive a selection signal based on the presentation, for transmission to the application service provider device or to the media source. The media device also offers a GUI presenting a moveable arrangement of icons for selectively accessing application services.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

establishing, via a wireless network at a user premises, a wireless connection with a media delivery device at the user premises, wherein the media delivery device is configured to provide media from a service provider;

storing a plurality of media applications that include a first media application associated with media available from a first service provider and a second media application associated with media available from a second service provider;

receiving, via the wireless network, a transmission for enabling at least one of the first media application or the second media application based on received user information;

displaying, via a display of an endpoint device at least one composite image that includes a plurality of application icons representing the plurality of media applications for accessing media, wherein the plurality of application icons includes

a first application icon that represents the first media application, wherein the first application icon is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with the first service provider, and

a second application icon that represents the second media application, wherein the second application icon is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with the second service provider independent of the first service provider,

wherein, one or more icons of the at least one composite image are added or removed based on subscription information, wherein the one or more icons include at least one of the application icons or an icon representing streamable media,

moving the application icons along the display of the endpoint device in response to receiving one or more first signals from a remote control;

in response to receiving one or more second signals from the remote control for selecting the first application icon, the second application icon, or the icon representing streamable media, receiving, via the wireless network and the media delivery device at the user premises, streamable media associated with the selected first media application, second media application, or the icon representing streamable media; and

displaying, via the endpoint device, the received streamable media.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving login information from a user, wherein the login information is associated with one of the media applications; and

sending the login information to the media delivery device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the login information includes a username and a password.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically managing the one or more icons of the at least one composite image based on the subscription information associated with the user information, wherein the icon representing streamable media is a graphical icon representing video available for video streaming.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising modifying access to media provided by the media delivery device based on the subscription information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, via the endpoint device, a dynamic graphical interface with the application icons; and

adding application icons to or removing application icons from the dynamic graphical interface based on the user information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via the wireless network, one or more updates for the media applications; and

automatically installing the received one or more updates.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the at least one composite image includes:

determining a composite signal including a primary image corresponding to one or more of the plurality of application icons and a secondary image corresponding to a selected application icon of the one or more application icons, and

sending the composite signal to the endpoint device for displaying the primary and secondary images.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading, via the wireless network, media from at least one of the first or second service providers; and

storing the downloaded media locally in a media library on the media streaming device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the endpoint device is a first endpoint device, and wherein the downloaded media is capable of being displayed on a second endpoint device different than the first endpoint device, and wherein the second endpoint device is wirelessly connected to the media streaming device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the endpoint device is a first endpoint device, and wherein the media available from the first and second service providers is streamable to a second endpoint device at the user premises based on the received user information.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the media delivery device is configured to send first authentication information for authentication by the first server and send second authentication information for authentication by the second server, wherein the first authentic information and the second authentication information each correspond to streamable media associated with the first media application and the second media application, respectively.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the application icons are user-selectable icons, and wherein when one of the user-selectable icons is selected the at least one composite image including the selected user-selectable icon and a secondary image corresponding to the user-selectable icon is displayed on the television display.

9. A media streaming device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the media streaming device to;

establish, via a local wireless network, a wireless connection with a media delivery device configured to receive media from a remote server of a service provider,

store, via the media streaming device located at a user premises, a plurality of media applications that includes a first media application associated with media available from a first server associated with a first service provider and a second media application associated with media available from a second server associated with a second service provider,

cause the endpoint device to display at least one composite image including a plurality of application icons representing the plurality of media applications, wherein the plurality of application icons include

a first application icon that represents the first media application, wherein the first application icon is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with the first service provider, and

a second application icon that represents the second media application, wherein the second application icon is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with the second service provider independent of the first service provider;

add or remove one or more icons associated with the at least one composite image for display by the endpoint device based on user information, wherein the one or more icons include at least one of the application icons or a media icon,

in response to receiving one or more inputs from a remote control, receive, via the local wireless network, media from at least one of the first service provider or the second service provider, and

cause the received media to be displayed on the endpoint device.

10. The media streaming device of claim 9, wherein user information is associated with at least one subscription, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to dynamically manage the application icons based on the at least one subscription.

11. The media streaming device of claim 10, wherein the user information is associated with the at least one subscription, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

add application icons to or remove application icons from a dynamic graphical interface based on the at least one subscription.

12. The media streaming device of claim 9, wherein the media delivery device includes a gateway, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions to cause the media streaming device to:

wirelessly communicate with a user media source configured to communicate with the media delivery device, wherein the user media source is independent from the gateway;

receive media from the user media source; and

display, via the endpoint device, the received media from the user media source.

22. The media streaming device of claim 9, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the media streaming device to:

download, via the wireless network, streamable media from the first or second service providers to be stored locally on the media streaming device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the endpoint device is a first endpoint device, and wherein the downloaded streamable media is capable of being displayed on a second endpoint device different than the first endpoint device, wherein the second endpoint device is wirelessly connected to the media streaming device.

24. The method of claim 9, wherein the endpoint device is a first endpoint device, and wherein the media available from the first and second service providers is further streamable to a second endpoint device at the user premises.

13. A method, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection with a media delivery device located at a user premises, wherein the media delivery device is configured to provide media from service providers;

storing a plurality of media applications on the media delivery device, wherein the media applications include a first media application associated with media from a first service provider and a second media application associated with media from a second service provider;

causing a television to display a dynamic graphical interface with at least one composite image having a plurality of icons including

a first media application icon corresponding to the first media application, wherein the first media application icon is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with the first service provider and

a second media application icon corresponding to the second media application, wherein the second media application icon is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with the second service provider independent of the first service provider;

adding or removing one or more icons of the at least one composite image for display by the television based on subscription information associated with one or more of the media applications or media,

in response to receiving user inputs for selecting one or more of the icons of the at least one composite image,

streaming media from at least one of the first service provider or the second service provider to the media streaming device; and

causing the streamed media to be displayed on the television.

14. The method of claim 13, further including sequentially displaying subsets of the icons based on signals from a remote control.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising moving one or more of the icons along a display area of the television based on one or more signals from a remote control.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving one or more transmissions from the plurality of service providers; and

adding icons to or removing icons from the dynamic graphical interface based on the one or more transmissions.

17. A media streaming device, comprising:

memory storing a plurality of media applications; and

at least one processor in communication with the memory and being configured to;

wirelessly communicate, via a local network, with a media delivery device configured to provide media from a plurality of service providers to the memory streaming device, wherein the media streaming device is at a user premises and is configured to display the media on an endpoint device,

store at least a first media application and a second media application on the media streaming device, wherein the first media application is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with a first service provider, wherein the second media application is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with a second service provider different than the first service provider;

cause at least one composite image to be displayed by the endpoint device;

add or remove one or more icons of the at least one composite image based on subscription information, wherein the one or more icons include at least one of the application icons or an icon representing streamable media,

receiving one or more user inputs for selecting the first or second application icon or the icon representing streamable media; and

in response to receiving the one or more user inputs, receive, via the local network, media from the first media application or second media application, wherein media from the first media application is available from a first server associated with the first service provider, and media from the second media application is available from a second server independent from the first server and associated with the second service provider; and

cause a display of the received media to be generated on the endpoint device.

18. The media streaming device of claim 17, wherein the media streaming device is configured to provide peer-to-peer communication.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

download, via the local network, media from the first or second service providers to be stored locally on the media streaming device.

27. A method, comprising:

establishing, via a wireless network at a user premises, a wireless connection with a media delivery device at the user premises, wherein the media delivery device is configured to establish bi-direction communication with individual service providers;

storing, at the user premises, a plurality of media applications associated with media available from the service providers, wherein the plurality of media applications includes a first media application associated with media available from a first service provider and a second media application associated with media available from a second service provider;

displaying, via an endpoint device, a composite image comprising a plurality of user selectable application icons representing the plurality of media applications for accessing available media, wherein the composite image includes—

a first application icon that represents the first media application, wherein the first application icon is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with the first service provider, and

a second application icon that represents the second media application, wherein the second application icon is selectable to establish bi-directional communication with the second service provider independent of the first service provider;

dynamically adding or removing one or more icons associated with the composite image for display by the endpoint device based on subscription information;

receiving one or more second signals from a remote control for selecting the first or second application icon; and

in response to receiving the one or more second signals—

establishing a connection with the first or second service provider represented by the selected first media application or second media application,

streaming, via the selected first media application or second media application, the selected media; and

displaying, via the endpoint device, the streamed selected media.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the composite image includes a primary image and dynamically managed user selectable application icons.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving a composite signal that provides audio substantially contemporaneously with the streamed selected media.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the composite signal is a composite of audio and audio information associated with the streamed selected media.