Method and system for device discovery and content management on a network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9264751-B2
Application number	US-201313769140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2013
Priority date	Feb 15, 2013
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for downloading selected multimedia content and applications. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods enable various options or functionalities for programming content over a home network. A web-based user interface on a consumer device controls a set-top box (STB) over a local home network is utilized. An initial process connects the consumer device to an application server for the necessary web software. After discovery of both the consumer device and the STB on the local home network, an initial page of the application is loaded and the application calls the web services on the STB via the home network to retrieve data and control the STB with a compatible web browser on the consumer device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing programming content between a Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled device and a legacy device on a local network, said method comprising:
receiving an application at said IP-enabled device from an application server in a non-managed network;
detecting a message transmitted by said legacy device, said message comprising a uniform resource locator (URL), said URL being configured to contain information which at least identifies a managed network programming content server and services available via said managed network programming content server;
reading said URL to load a web-page associated to said managed network programming content server via said application;
receiving, in response to said act of reading said URL to load said web-page, a web-based user interface at said IP-enabled device from said managed network programming content server;
requesting said programming content aria said web-based user interface on said IP-enabled device; and
receiving at said IP-enabled device said programming content from said legacy device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said application received from said a non-managed application server at said IP-enabled device comprises a browser application.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said IP-enabled device comprises a Smart television (TV), said legacy device comprises a leased device provided by a said managed network, and said browser application conforms to a CEA-2014-A standard.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said IP-enabled device comprises a non-leased consumer device, and said legacy device comprises a leased device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said act of receiving said application comprises accessing said non-managed application server with a browser on said IP-enabled device and downloading said application from said non-managed application server.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said of act of receiving said application further comprises executing said application, said application configured to redirect said browser to said managed network programming content server.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising discovering said IP-enabled device on said local network, said act of discovering comprising:
obtaining from said application a first IP address associated with said IP-enabled device;
performing a search based at least in part on said first IP address; and
obtaining from said search a second IP address associated with said legacy device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said act of performing said search comprises performing a brute-force search of a subnet associated with said first IP address.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said act of obtaining said first IP address comprises use of a proprietary Javascript application programming interface (API) associated with said IP-enabled device.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said act of performing said search function comprises sending a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request for known web services on a same subnet as said first IP address.

11. A method for providing programming content to a first device associated with a premises network, said method comprising:
performing a discovery function at said first device to identify a second device configured to enable said first device to load an interactive user interface, said interactive user interface being configured to enable a user of said first device to request programming content from said second device and to enable said user of said first device to control playback of said programming content via selection of one or more playback control operations, said second device also associated with said premises network;
receiving at said first device a server uniform resource locator (URL) from said second device;
loading a user interface into a browser on said first device using said server URL;
selecting one of said one or more playback control operations via said user interface;
transmitting said selected one of said one or more playback control operations to said second device; and
receiving said programming content at said first device from said second device in accordance with said selected one of said one or more playback control operations.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said act of performing said discovery function comprises at least one of: sending from said second device an advertisement of services on a standard port and address in said premises network, and sending from said first device a multicast search message on said standard port and address in said premises network.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said act of performing said discovery function further comprises monitoring said standard port and address in said premises network until said second device receives said search message from said first device.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said multicast search message comprises a search target field.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said one or more playback control operation comprises a trick mode capability.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein said act of selecting said one of said one or more playback control operations comprises selecting an option to schedule a recording of said programming content.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein said act of selecting said one of said one or more playback control operations comprises selecting an option to obtain a list of linear programming services.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein said act of selecting said one of said one or more playback control operations comprises selecting an option to obtain a list of stored programming content on said second device.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein said act of receiving said server URL is accomplished using a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) stack by an application running on said second device.

20. A system adapted to manage media content within a network, said system comprising:
a first device configured to store said media content; and
a second device configured with a browser and a processor, said processor configured to run at least one computer program, said at least one computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed cause said second device to:
direct said browser to an application hosted on a server via entry of a uniform resource locator (URL) thereof;
load a web page based user interface associated to said application hosted on said server;
obtain network information associated with said second device from said application hosted on said server;
perform a search function, based at least in part on said network information, for devices on a same network as said second device:
receive a reply to said search function, said reply comprising network information associated with said first device; and
send messages from said second device to said first device via said network information associated with said first device and said web page based user interface, said messages configured to control said media content stored on said first device.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein said first device comprises a legacy device and said second device comprises an Internet Protocol (IP)-enabled device.

22. The system of claim 21 , Wherein said IP-enabled device comprises a Smart television (TV), said legacy device comprises a leased device provided by a managed network, and said browser conforms to a CEA-2014-A standard.

23. The syst

Assignees

• Time Warner Cable Entpr Llc

Inventors

• Sarosi George
• Thomas Jay
• Helms William
• Cholas Chris

Classifications

• G06Q30/0241 Primary

  Advertisements · CPC title

• H04N21/4622

  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 title

• H04N21/25866 Primary

  Management of end-user data (customer care in data networks H04L41/5077) · CPC title

• H04N21/254

  Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server {(arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53)} · CPC title

• H04N21/4122

  additional display device, e.g. video projector (digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423) · CPC title