Method, apparatus and system for multiple screen media experience

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9591367-B2
Application number	US-201114008100-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2011
Priority date	May 27, 2011
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A current programming channel, and the content thereon, being displayed on a primary display device are tracked. Web content related to the content being displayed on the primary display device is searched and the resulting data is made available to a user on at least one secondary display device via a user interface. The results of the search are made available to a user such that when data resulting from the search is selected for display on the at least one secondary display device, the data is displayed on the at least one secondary display device without interfering with a display of content on the primary display device. In the event of a change of the programming channel or the content thereon, a new search is initiated for data related to content being currently viewed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for providing information related to content being displayed on a primary display device on at least one secondary display device, comprising:
tracking content being displayed on the primary display device;
searching for information accessible via the Internet related to the content being displayed on the primary display device and, responsive to the information not being found, using a multi-level search by performing a first narrow search directed to a specific episode of a video program series represented by the content being displayed and, responsive to information related to the episode not being found, following the first narrow search by progressively wider searches if necessary to find information relevant to the content being displayed, wherein the progressively wider searches include a second search broader than the first search and directed to the video program series, and a third search broader than the second search and directed to a content provider that provides the episode; and
providing, on the at least one secondary display device, access to the information found as a result of said search.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the access to information is provided via links to information related to the content being displayed on the primary display device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said links are automatically determined and presented to a user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said search is performed by providing a user with a local network URL that connects to a web server which, upon connection to the local network URL, initiates a search for information related to the content being displayed on the primary display device based on a current channel and program being displayed on the primary display device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein results of a search represent an enhanced electronic service guide.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said search is accomplished via REST-based search interfaces.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a current programming channel of the content being displayed and the content thereon is tracked such that when the programming channel is changed or the content on the channel changes a new search is initiated for information related to content being currently viewed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information accessible via the Internet includes web content sources related to content being displayed on the primary display including at least one of an official web site, a Wikipedia page, an Internet movie database page, streaming content providers, web images, and Twitter discussions.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein results of said search are presented using a web page having a tab format.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein results of said search are presented using a slideshow format.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein information selected for display on the secondary display device is displayed on the secondary screen device without interfering with a display of content on the primary display device.

12. An apparatus for providing information related to content being displayed on a primary display device on at least one secondary display device, comprising:
a tuner for receiving and tuning programming content;
a processor for tracking content being displayed on the primary display device;
a web service for, in conjunction with said processor, searching for information accessible via the Internet related to the content being displayed on the primary display device and, responsive to the information not being found, using a multi-level search by performing a first narrow search directed to a specific episode of a video program series represented by the content being displayed and, responsive to information related to the episode not being found, following the first narrow search by progressively wider searches if necessary to find information relevant to the content being displayed, wherein the progressively wider searches include a second search broader than the first search and directed to the video program series, and a third search broader than the second search and directed to a content provider that provides the episode, and making accessible on at least one secondary display device, the information found as a result of said search.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a database for storing at least the results of said search.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said processor and web service comprise a centralized interfacing platform that interacts with said at least one primary display device and said at least one secondary display device; wherein the centralized interfacing platform retrieves information related to content displayed on the primary display device and transmits it to the secondary display device.

15. A system for providing information related to content being displayed on a primary display device on at least one secondary display device, comprising:
a primary display device for displaying received content;
at least one secondary display device for displaying content related to said content being displayed on the primary display device without interfering with a display of content on the primary display device;
a web service for providing access to information accessible via the Internet; an apparatus comprising: a tuner for receiving content; and
a processor for tracking content being displayed on the primary display device and for, in conjunction with said web service, searching for information accessible via the Internet related to the content being displayed on the primary display device and, responsive to the information not being found, using a multi-level search by performing a first narrow search directed to a specific episode of a video program series represented by the content being displayed and, responsive to information related to the episode not being found, following the first narrow search by progressively wider searches if necessary to find information relevant to the content being displayed, wherein the progressively wider searches include a second search broader than the first search and directed to the video program series, and a third search broader than the second search and directed to a content provider that provides the episode, and making accessible on said at least one secondary display device, the information found as a result of said search.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said information resulting from said Internet search is presented on said at least one secondary display device via a user interface.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said user interface comprises a web page having a tab format.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein said user interface comprises a web page having a slideshow format.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein said primary display device and said at least one secondary display device comprise at least one of a television screen, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a net-book, a smart-phone, and a tablet.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-level search comprises a first search directed to a specific episode of a program represented by the content being displayed, a second search directed to the program represented by the content being displayed, and a third search directed to a content provider that provides the content being displayed.

Assignees

• Anderson David Brian
• Anthru Shemimon Manalikudy
• Cahnbley Jens
• Campana David Anthony
• Mandrekar Ishan Uday
• Thomson Licensing

Inventors

• Anderson David Brian
• Anthru Shemimon Manalikudy
• Cahnbley Jens
• Campana David Anthony
• Mandrekar Ishan Uday

Classifications

• H04N21/4307

  Synchronising the rendering of multiple content streams or additional data on devices, e.g. synchronisation of audio on a mobile phone with the video output on the TV screen · CPC title

• H04N21/4126

  The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones · CPC title

• H04N21/4782 Primary

  Web browsing {, e.g. WebTV} · 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

• H04N21/4722

  for requesting additional data associated with the content · CPC title