Patent · US Active

Indicia of contact viewing activity

US9258511B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
32References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 8, 2014
Grant dateFeb 9, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 8, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/42209
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments include a television appliance configured to display a selected on-screen viewing activity, and a client application. The client application is configured to maintain a list of contacts and allow a user of the media appliance to establish communication events with contacts via a network interface and packet-based network. The client application is further configured to receive a machine-readable data item via the network interface and packet-based network from a television appliance of one or more of said contacts, the machine-readable data item indicating a current television channel being viewed by the respective contact. In at least some embodiments, the client application may control operation of said user's television appliance in relation to the contact's television appliance based on the data item.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.