U.S. patent application number 12/609074 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for methods, systems, and computer program products for providing content synchronization or control among one or more devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to AT&T Intellectual Property I,L.P.f/k/a BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation. Invention is credited to Craig Cavanaugh, Eric Schwartz.
Application Number | 20100045568 12/609074 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38429888 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100045568 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwartz; Eric ; et
al. |
February 25, 2010 |
Methods, Systems, And Computer Program Products For Providing
Content Synchronization Or Control Among One Or More Devices
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments include a system for providing content
including: a controller in operable communication with a first
display device and a second display device that provides first
interactive content to the first display device and second
interactive content to the second display device and an interface
for receiving a command from a user or application. The controller
selectively controls the first and second content displayed by the
first and second display devices, respectively, in response to the
command.
Inventors: |
Schwartz; Eric; (Smyrna,
GA) ; Cavanaugh; Craig; (Atlanta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AT&T Legal Department - CC;Attn: Patent Docketing
Room 2A-207, One AT&T Way
Bedminster
NJ
07921
US
|
Assignee: |
AT&T Intellectual Property
I,L.P.f/k/a BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
Wilmington
DE
|
Family ID: |
38429888 |
Appl. No.: |
12/609074 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11358181 |
Feb 21, 2006 |
7627890 |
|
|
12609074 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/1.1 ;
725/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4722 20130101;
H04N 21/4307 20130101; H04N 21/8133 20130101; H04N 21/4122
20130101; H04N 7/163 20130101; H04N 7/17318 20130101; H04N 21/4316
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/1.1 ;
725/110 |
International
Class: |
G09G 5/00 20060101
G09G005/00 |
Claims
1. A system for providing content comprising: a controller in
operable communication with a first display device and a second
display device and providing first content to the first display
device and second interactive content to the second display device,
the first content and the second interactive content being
synchronized by a content provider; and an interface for receiving
a command from a user or application, wherein the controller
selectively controls the first content displayed by the first
display device and the second interactive content displayed by the
second display device in response to the command; wherein the
command is for un-synchronizing the first content and the second
interactive content such that changes to second interactive content
do not affect the first content and changes to the first content do
not affect the second interactive content, the changes including
selecting new second interactive content; wherein the interface
receives a further command, the further command for synchronizing
the first content and the second interactive content such that
changes to second interactive content affect the first content and
changes to the second interactive content affect the first
content.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives content
from at least one content provider.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the content provider is at least
one of the following: a cable television provider; a digital
satellite provider; a traditional analog television provider; an
Internet service provider; an Internet content provider; a
commercial content provider; a network gaming provider; a digital
cable provider; or a digital broadcast provider.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and
second display devices is at least one of the following: a plasma
display; a LCD display; a DLP display; a SED display; a CRT
display; or an electroluminescence display.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller communicates with
one or more content providers over at least one communications
network.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the command is for synchronizing
the first content and the second interactive content.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the command is for changing at
least one of the first content and the second interactive
content.
8. A method for providing interactive content comprising:
transmitting first content to a first display device; transmitting
second interactive content to a second display device, the first
content and the second interactive content being synchronized by a
content provider; receiving a command from a user or application;
and controlling display of the first and second interactive content
responsive to the command; wherein the command is for
un-synchronizing the first content and the second interactive
content such that changes to second interactive content do not
affect the first content and changes to the first content do not
affect the second interactive content, the changes including
selecting new second interactive content; wherein the interface
receives a further command, the further command for synchronizing
the first content and the second interactive content such that
changes to second interactive content affect the first content and
changes to the second interactive content affect the first
content.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the command is for synchronizing
the first content and the second interactive content.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the command is for changing at
least one of the first content and the second interactive
content.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and
second interactive content is at least one of the following: a
television broadcast, a webpage, a commercial, a video or audio
stream, or an audio broadcast.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the first
and the second interactive content from a content provider.
13. A computer program product for providing interactive content,
the computer program product comprising: a storage medium readable
by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by
the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:
transmitting first content to a first display device; transmitting
second interactive content to a second display device, the first
content and the second interactive content being synchronized by a
content provider; receiving a command from a user or application;
and controlling display of the first and second interactive content
responsive to the command; wherein the command is for
un-synchronizing the first content and the second interactive
content such that changes to second interactive content do not
affect the first content and changes to the first content do not
affect the second interactive content, the changes including
selecting new second interactive content; wherein the interface
receives a further command, the further command for synchronizing
the first content and the second interactive content such that
changes to second interactive content affect the first content and
changes to the second interactive content affect the first
content.
14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the command
is for synchronizing the first content and the second interactive
content.
15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the command
is for changing at least one of the first content and the second
interactive content.
16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein at least one
of the first and the second interactive content is at least one of
the following: a television broadcast, a webpage, a video game, a
commercial, or an audio broadcast.
17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the first and
the second content is received from a content provider.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/358,181 filed Feb. 21, 2006, the contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to content
synchronization. More specifically, the present disclosure relates
to methods, systems, and computer program products for providing
content synchronization or control among one or more devices.
[0003] A number of television companies have produced interactive
television (ITV) applications utilizing a home computer for the
interactivity and synchronization of the interactive content to the
television broadcast. Some examples include TBS ("Friends" and
"Dinner & A Movie"), Comedy Central ("Win Ben Stein's Money"),
Game Show Network ("Greed"), and ABC ("Who Wants To Be a
Millionaire?"). In addition, a smaller number of households have
set-top boxes (i.e., cable boxes) or net-top boxes (e.g. AOLTV,
UlitmateTV) that are capable of providing television overlays for
ITV applications. A number of television companies have either
provided ITV applications specifically for AOLTV or UltimateTV, for
example, CBS "CSI"), or have provided interactive television
applications that can be accessed by both a home computer and a
capable set-top box or net-top box (e.g., "Friends", "Greed",
etc.).
[0004] Typical ITV applications produced to date have been produced
after the show production was completed (in cases of taped shows).
The interactive content was written to complement the primary video
content. Close synchronization of the interactive content with the
primary video content to which it related was accomplished through
coordination with personnel in the broadcast studio over the
telephone. The producers of ITV applications controlled the
synchronization from a remote location, and triggered each segment
upon a cue from the broadcast operator.
[0005] Interactive content can be delivered through one of several
different techniques. In the case of a two-screen approach in which
the screen for displaying the interactive content is a computer, an
open socket can be used whereby the interactive content is pushed
to the end user. It is also possible to provide additional content
by encoding additional data with the television signal. This
process is used, for example, with closed captioning. Another known
method for providing interactive content to users, such as users of
a net-top box, is to provide a trigger to the end user device,
which uses the trigger to retrieve content from a server.
[0006] One of the main drawbacks of the current ITV applications is
that the user of the ITV applications has little or no control of
the synchronization, coordination, or criteria for association of
the content provided. For example, if a user is watching a program
and wants to view a related content on a secondary display the user
will have to manually tune the second display to the desired
related content. Additionally, the user may be unable to select a
different secondary content than that provided by the ITV
application.
SUMMARY
[0007] Exemplary embodiments contain a system for providing content
including: a controller in operable communication with a first
display device and a second display device and that provides first
interactive content to the first display device and second
interactive content to the second display device; and an interface
that receives a command from a user or application, wherein the
controller selectively controls the first interactive content
displayed by the first display device, and the second interactive
content displayed by the second display device in response to the
command.
[0008] Exemplary embodiments also contain a method for providing
interactive content including: transmitting first interactive
content to a first display device; transmitting second interactive
content to a second display device; receiving a command from a user
or application; and controlling display of the first and second
interactive content responsive to the command.
[0009] Exemplary embodiments further contain a computer program
product for providing interactive content, the computer program
product including: a storage medium that is readable by a
processing circuit and that stores instructions for execution by
the processing circuit for facilitating a method including:
transmitting first interactive content to a first display device;
transmitting second interactive content to a second display device;
receiving a command from a user or application; and controlling
display of the first and second interactive content responsive to
the command.
[0010] Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products
according to exemplary embodiments will be or become apparent to
one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and
detailed description. It is intended that all such additional
systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included
within this description, be within the scope of the present
invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are
numbered alike in the several Figures:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for providing
multi-content synchronization control in exemplary embodiments;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates another block diagram of a system for
providing multi-content synchronization control in exemplary
embodiments;
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of a method for providing
multi-content synchronization control in exemplary embodiments;
and
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a user interface for a computer program
product for providing multi-content synchronization control in
accordance with exemplary embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring now to the Figures for the purpose of
illustration, it is to be understood that standard components or
features that are within the purview of an artisan of ordinary
skill and do not contribute to the understanding of the various
exemplary embodiments are omitted from the Figures to enhance
clarity.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a system for
providing multi-content synchronization control in accordance with
exemplary embodiments is depicted generally as 10. The system 10
for providing multi-content synchronization control includes a
first display device 12, a second display device 14, a controller
16, and a content provider 18. The controller 16 is in operable
communication with the first display device 12, the second display
device 14, and the content provider 18. Although only one content
provider 18 and two display devices 12 and 14 are shown for
simplicity of illustration, it should be appreciated that any
number of display devices and content providers may be used. The
content provider 18 provides content to the controller 16, which
selectively provides a first content 20 to the first display device
12 and a second content 22 to the second display device 14,
respectively. The controller 16, responsive to a synchronization
command received from a user, may selectively synchronize the first
and second content 20 and 22 displayed by the first and second
display devices 12 and 14. The user or network can define and
change primary/secondary/tertiary/etc., content through interaction
with the controller 16. In exemplary embodiments, one display
device may be designated as the primary display device with
additional display devices designated as auxiliary display devices.
The system 10 for providing multi-content synchronization control
may also include an input device 24 that may be utilized by the
user for communicating with the controller 16 via an interface on
the controller 16. The input device 24 can be various types of
input device including, but not limited to, a remote control, a
wired/wireless keyboard, a joystick, keypad on the controller 16,
or the like. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the
interface on the controller 16 may be, e.g., an RF receiver, an IR
receiver, a keyboard, a serial port, a PS2 port, or the like. In
exemplary embodiments, the content provider(s) 18 communicates with
the controller 16 over a communications network(s) 26 (e.g., one or
more networks that the controller can switch between).
[0018] In exemplary embodiments, the controller 16 may be a set-top
box receiver similar to a cable box or satellite receiver. In
exemplary embodiments, the controller 16 may be integrated into a
cable box, a satellite receiver, a computer, television, or in to
the network. The controller 16 is capable of communicating with a
plurality of display devices including, but not limited to, the
first display device 12 and the second display device 14. The
controller 16 may also be integrated within the same device as the
first and/or second display device 12 and/or 14. The controller 16
is also capable of communicating with one or more input devices
including, but not limited to, the content provider 18, or the
input device 24. The input devices may communicate with the
controller 16 via electrical, infrared (IR), radio frequency (RF),
or other wireless protocol such as 802.11x. In other exemplary
embodiments, the input device may be integrated with the first
controller 16, e.g., a button or series of buttons on the
controller 16. In exemplary embodiments, the controller 16
communicates with the content provider 18 via the communications
network 26. The communications network 26 may include, but is not
limited to, a digital cable system, a digital satellite system, an
analog television system, a computer network, audio system,
broadband (powerline, DSL, wireless, etc.), or the Internet.
[0019] The content provider 18 can be any of various content
sources including, but not limited to, cable television providers,
digital satellite system providers, traditional analog television
providers, digital cable providers, digital broadcast providers, a
commercial content provider, a network gaming provider, video
cassettes, digital video disks, a traditional radio broadcast
provider, a satellite radio broadcast provider, and the like. In
exemplary embodiments, the content provider 18 is an Internet
content provider, which provides data, video and/or audio via the
Internet. It is also to be appreciated that the first and second
content 20 and 22 can be provided to the controller 16 using any of
a wide range of conventional mediums, including both wireless
(e.g., radio frequency) and wired (e.g., cable), and can be
received directly (e.g., using a satellite dish), or indirectly
(e.g., via a network such as the Internet or a local area network).
In exemplary embodiments, the controller 16 may receive the first
and second content 20 and 22 from two different content providers
and two different communications networks (e.g., the first content
20 may be received from a traditional analog television provider
while the second content 22 is received from a digital satellite
system provider).
[0020] In exemplary embodiments, the controller 16 may be
electrically connected to the first and second display devices 12
and 14, or may communicate with the first and second display
devices 12 and 14 wirelessly using any known form of wireless
communication, such as 802.X or Bluetooth.TM.. The first and second
display devices 12 and 14 can be any type of display devices
including, but not limited to, a traditional television, a plasma
display, an LCD display, a cellular phone display, a computer
monitor, a speaker, a scent-producing device, or the like. For
example, the first display device 12 may be a traditional
television electrically connected to the controller 16 while the
second display device 14 may be a cellular phone display in
wireless communication with the controller 16. In other exemplary
embodiments, the first and second display devices 12 and 14 may be
comprised within a single device. For example, the first display
device 12 may correspond to a first portion of the television
display while the second display device 14 may correspond to
another portion of the television display (e.g., a
Picture-in-Picture or split screen television display). In other
exemplary embodiments, the controller 16 may function as a router
or switch and direct the flow of content to the various display
devices. The controller 16 may be interacting over the
communications network to perform other functions.
[0021] In exemplary embodiments, the content provider 18 provides
the controller 16 with synchronized content including, but not
limited to, the first content 20 and the second content 22. For
example, the first content 20 that is displayed by the first
display device 12 may be a broadcast of a sporting event, and the
second content 22 that is displayed by the second display device 14
may be an interactive content, such as a webpage, related to the
sporting event including, but not limited to, stat sheets, player
biographies, team news, and the like. The user may elect to
un-synchronize the first and second content 20 and 22 such that if
the user changes the source of the first content 20, the second
content 22 displayed by the second display device 14 will remain
unchanged. In exemplary embodiments, the input device 24 may
include a synchronize button which allows the user to selectively
synchronize the first and second content 20 and 22 being displayed
by the first and second display devices 12 and 14 based on
rules/policies defined by content provider, the end user, the
communications network provider, or another provider.
[0022] Continuing with reference to the above example, the user may
wish to switch the second content 22 that is being displayed by the
second display device 14 to different content without changing the
first content 20 displayed by the first display device 12.
Additionally, the user may select to synchronize the first and
second content 20 and 22 at any time. The ability to synchronize or
correlate the first and second content 20 and 22 allows the user to
easily access additional desired information and enhances the
user's enjoyment of the first content 20. Furthermore, the ability
to selectively synchronize or correlate the content being displayed
allows the user to have control over his or her entertainment
system and allows the user to customize the system to his or her
needs. Once the user has selected a new first content 20, such as
different content on another channel, he or she may wish to
synchronize the second content 22 displayed by the second display
device 14 with the first content 20 displayed by the first display
device 12. In exemplary embodiments, the controller 16 may include
a memory, or cache, that can be used for synchronization as well as
storage of content. For example, if the controller 16 is receiving
content from two different sources and one source of content is
slightly delayed from the other, the controller 16 could use the
cache to synchronize the two contents. In another example, the
controller 16 may receive a content that can be stored on the
controller 16 and displayed by a display device at a later time
determined by the user. In exemplary embodiments, the user may use
a synchronize button on the input device 24 to selectively
synchronize the content being displayed by the various display
devices. In other exemplary embodiments, a synchronize button or
softkey may be disposed on either the first or second display
devices 12 or 14. For example, if the second display device 14 is a
cellular phone display, a softkey may be displayed on the cellular
phone display alerting the user to an available synchronized
content.
[0023] In other exemplary embodiments, the first content 20 may be
a broadcast of a sporting event from one source, and the second
content 22 may be a broadcast of a sporting event from another
source. For example, the first content 20 may be a traditional
broadcast of a NASCAR.TM. race, and the second content 22 may be a
broadcast of the race from a camera inside a car involved in the
race. The user may elect to un-synchronize the second content 22
such that if the user changes the source of the second content 22,
the first content 20 will remain unchanged. Continuing with
reference to the above example, the user may wish to switch the
second content 22 displayed by the second display device 14 to yet
another view of the sporting event or to any other source, without
changing the first content 20 displayed by the first display device
12.
[0024] The content provided by the content provider 18 can be a
digital television broadcast, an analog television broadcast, a
webpage, audio, video, and/or data content. The content provider 18
and/or the controller 16 may utilize various methods to synchronize
the first and second content 20 and 22. In exemplary embodiments,
the first and second content 20 and 22 may include a time stamp or
sequence number that allows the controller 16 to properly
synchronize the first and second content 20 and 22. In other
exemplary embodiments, the content provider 18 synchronizes the
first and second content 20 and 22 and then synchronously provides
them to the controller 16. Synchronization may be time-based, but
may also be based on any other aspect of the content, including
encoded meta-data.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a system for
providing multi-content synchronization control in accordance with
exemplary embodiments is depicted generally as 50. The system 50
for providing multi-content synchronization control includes the
first display device 12, the second display device 14, the
controller 16, a first content provider 30, a second content
provider 34, a first communications network 28, and a second
communications network 32. The controller 16 is in operable
communication with the first display device 12, the second display
device 14, the first content provider 30, and the second content
provider 34. The first content provider 30 and the second content
provider 34 both provide content to the controller 16, which
selectively provides a first content 20 to the first display device
12, and a second content 22 to the second display device 14. The
controller 16, responsive to a synchronization command received
from a user, may selectively synchronize the first and second
content 20 and 22 displayed by the first and second display devices
12 and 14. The user or network can define and change
primary/secondary/tertiary/etc., content through interaction with
the controller. In exemplary embodiments, one display device may be
designated as the primary display device with additional display
devices designated as auxiliary display devices. The system 50 for
providing multi-content synchronization control may also include
the input device 24 that may be utilized by the user for
communicating with the controller 16. In exemplary embodiments, the
first content provider 30 communicates with the controller 16 over
a first communications network 26, and the second content provider
34 communicates with the controller 16 over a second communications
network 32.
[0026] Turning now to FIG. 3, a method for providing multi-content
synchronization control in exemplary embodiments is depicted
generally as 100. The method 100 for providing multi-content
synchronization control includes transmitting a first content to a
first display device, as shown at step 102. The method 100 for
providing multi-content synchronization control also includes
transmitting a second content to a second display device, as shown
at step 104. While shown as separate steps, it should be
appreciated that steps 102 and 104 may be performed at the same
time or in any order. As shown at step 106, the method 100
providing multi-content synchronization control includes receiving
a synchronization command. After receiving the synchronization
command, the method 100 for providing multi-content synchronization
control synchronizes the first and second content responsive to the
synchronization command, as shown at step 108. In exemplary
embodiments, the controller 16 may include synchronization rules,
which may be automatically applied to the first and second content.
For example, a user may set a synchronization rule to automatically
synchronize a second content when a specific first content is being
displayed. In exemplary embodiments, a user, through the use of the
input device 24, can configure the synchronization rules developed
by the user, or provided by an application which has user
selectable options for controlling or providing the synchronization
rules.
[0027] Continuing with reference to FIG. 3, the method 100 for
providing multi-content synchronization control may also include
receiving a un-synchronization command, as shown by the dotted
lines at step 110. After receiving the un-synchronization command,
the method 100 for providing multi-content synchronization control
allows the first and/or second content displayed by the first or
second display device to be changed without affecting the content
being displayed by other display devices, as shown by the dotted
lines at step 112.
[0028] Turning now to FIG. 4, a user interface for a computer
program product for providing interactive content control in
accordance with exemplary embodiments is depicted generally as 200.
The user interface 200 allows a user to turn on and off interactive
content streams and change what interactive content is being
displayed on each available display device. The user interface 200
includes a list 202 of available display devices and an associated
refresh option 204, which may be used to update the list 202 of
available display devices. The user interface 200 also includes an
associated content field 206 corresponding to each available
display device. In an exemplary embodiment, the associated content
field 206 may be in the form of a drop-down menu, which can be used
to easily correlate an interactive content with a display device.
The user interface 200 may also include a user profile function
208, which can be used to pre-define the associations/correlations
based upon the type or source of the interactive content displayed
on the primary display device. For example, a user may wish to set
a profile to automatically display a specific secondary interactive
content, such as director's information or actors list, when a
movie is displayed on the primary display device. In exemplary
embodiments, the profile may define associations or correlations of
the primary and auxiliary interactive content, which may be based
upon the types of interactive content, the sources of the
interactive content, the format of the interactive content, or the
like.
[0029] While the multi-content synchronization control system and
method have been discussed primarily with reference to first and
second display devices, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary
skill in the art that any number of display devices may be used. In
an exemplary embodiment, a primary display device may emit a
primary content while several auxiliary display devices each emit a
secondary content, which can be synchronized with the primary
content. For example, a sporting event may be displayed by a
primary display, and multiple auxiliary display devices may emit
box scores, team news, or the like. In another example, a primary
display may emit a primary video feed of an event, and several
auxiliary display devices may emit multiple alternative
perspectives of the event. While the primary and secondary content
have been discussed primarily with reference to traditional
television broadcasts, it will be recognized by those of ordinary
skill in the art that the content may be images, text, video,
sensory information (e.g., vibrate, heat, and the like), other
types of experience-related components, or any combination
thereof.
[0030] Exemplary embodiments may include systems, methods and
computer-implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those
processes. Embodiments may also include computer program code
containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy
diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable
storage medium, wherein when the computer program code is loaded
into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus
for practicing the invention. Embodiments may further include
computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage
medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted
over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or
cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation,
wherein when the computer program code is loaded into and executed
by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the
invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor,
the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to
create specific logic circuits.
[0031] While the invention has been described with reference to
exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this
invention.
* * * * *