Determining local network connections of devices using tokens
US11019391B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 2019 |
| Grant date | May 25, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W4/023
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An online system determines that a mobile device of a user and content device are connected to the same local network. To determine whether the content device is associated with the user, the online system provides a token and network ports to the content device. The content device establishes a connection to the mobile device using a selected network port to send the token. Responsive to receiving the token from the mobile device, the online system determines that the devices are connected to the same local network. The online system may also determine that the devices are within physical proximity to each other. The online system may send content items to the devices, and the user may view or interact with the content items simultaneously on multiple devices. Thus, the mobile device or content device acts as a complementary “second screen” or “control device” for the other device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.