IP Library Granted Patent US 12684040
Granted Patent B2
US 12684040 · App. 18/076,172 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

System and method for rich content browsing multitasking on device operating systems with multitasking limitations

Inventors: Casey Chow (Seattle, WA); Rohan Kapur (San Francisco, CA); Kauhi Hookano (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Backbone Labs, Inc.
H04L67/131A63F13/22A63F13/25A63F13/537A63F13/92A63F13/98G06F3/048G06F3/0481H04L67/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12684040
App. No.
18/076,172
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller can be used with a computing device to select and/or interact with content using user input devices on the controller. The content can be locally-stored on the computing device and/or streamed from a remote device. In one embodiment, a contextually-aware platform service switcher is provided. In another embodiment, a system and method for automatic content capability detection are provided. In yet another embodiment, a system and method for rich content browsing multitasking on device operating systems with multitasking limitations are provided. These embodiments can be used alone or in combination. Other embodiments are provided.

Claims (58)

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program having instructions that, when executed by one or more processors in a computing device, cause the one or more processors to provide a game controller app that is configured to:

receive an input from a game controller in communication with the computing device indicating actuation of one or more user input devices of the game controller; and

in response to receiving the input:

un-focus content while maintaining resources in the computing device for the content; and

display a subordinate view of the content, wherein the subordinate view of the content is supported by the game controller app but not by an operating system of the computing device.

2 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the subordinate view comprises a minimized display area in a picture-in-picture display.

3 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the subordinate view comprises an overlay to a display area.

4 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the subordinate view provides indicia identifying the content.

5 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the subordinate view provides information about the content.

6 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 , wherein the information comprises an indication of a user's position in a queue to play the content.

7 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the content is displayed in a browser.

8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

prevent termination of the browser.

9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the subordinate view is movable by a user in a display.

10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

automatically display the subordinate view.

11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

provide an indication to a user that the user can perform other activities while waiting in a queue.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the content is playable via the game controller app.

13 . A system comprising:

a game controller; and

a computing device comprising:

a battery;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program having instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive an input from the game controller indicating actuation of one or more user input devices of the game controller; and

in response to receiving the input:

un-focus content while maintaining resources in the computing device for the content; and

display a subordinate view of the content;

wherein the content is kept un-focused for a limited period of time to avoid draining the battery.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the subordinate view comprises a minimized display area in a picture-in-picture display.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the subordinate view comprises an overlay to a display area.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the subordinate view provides indicia identifying the content.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the subordinate view provides information about the content.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the information comprises an indication of a user's position in a queue to play the content.

19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the content is displayed in a browser.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

prevent termination of the browser.

21 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the subordinate view is movable by a user in a display.

22 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the computing device's operating system does not support the subordinate view.

23 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

automatically display the subordinate view.

24 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

provide an indication to a user that the user can perform other activities while waiting in a queue.

25 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the content is playable via a controller app in the computing device.

26 . A game controller comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program having instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

send a signal to a computing device indicating actuation of one or more user input devices of the game controller, wherein in response to receiving the signal, the computing device is configured to:

un-focus content while maintaining resources in the computing device for the content; and

display a subordinate view of the content; and

send at least one additional signal to the computing device that keeps the content active while displayed in the subordinate view.

27 . The game controller of claim 26 , wherein the information comprises an indication of a user's position in a queue to play the content.

28 . The game controller of claim 26 , wherein the content is displayed in a browser.

29 . The game controller of claim 26 , wherein the computing device's operating system does not support the subordinate view.

30 . The game controller of claim 26 , wherein the content is playable via a controller app in the computing device.

31 . The game controller of claim 26 , wherein the at least one additional signal comprises an application program interface (API) call.

32 . The game controller of claim 26 , wherein the at least one additional signal is sent in response to a request from a controller app in the computing device.