Media synchronization within home network using set-top box as gateway

摘要

Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for transmitting TV program related content to IP connected devices on a home network, or other local area network. Users can watch television while simultaneously receiving content related to TV programs currently being displayed on a television. TV centric and TV program related content can be transmitted to IP connected devices. Moreover, this TV program related content can be displayed at the same time as a television program is being displayed on a television. As such, the system can provide media synchronization within home network using the set-top box as a gateway for delivering the content. Users can watch TV at home, and at the same time receive TV program related content on a laptop, tablet computer, mobile phone, etc.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for media synchronization, comprising:
transmitting, to a set-top box by an electronic device, a request to receive synchronization data corresponding to a specific television channel to which the set-top box is tuned, the synchronization data including a first field containing a first uniform resource locator (URL) string that addresses displayable content, a second field containing a second URL string that addresses an application for use in presenting the displayable content for display, a third field identifying an organization that is a source of the synchronization data, and a fourth field specifying an identifier of the application that pertains to the source of the synchronization data, each of the set-top box and the electronic device being connected to a network; determining whether the organization identified by the third field included in the synchronization data corresponds to a particular organization that is the source of the synchronization data; in the event the organization identified by the third field of the synchronization data does not correspond to the particular organization:
retrieving, over the network by the electronic device, the displayable content addressed by the first URL string; andretrieving, over the network by the electronic device, the application addressed by the second URL string for use in presenting the displayable content for display on the electronic device, thereby allowing the display of the displayable content on the electronic device; and in the event the organization identified by the third field of the synchronization data corresponds to the particular organization: blocking one or more of (1) the retrieving of the displayable content addressed by the first URL string, and (2) the retrieving of the application addressed by the second URL string, thereby disallowing the display of the displayable content on the electronic device.