IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,095,950

Granted Patent B2

US 11,095,950 · App. 16/126,771 · Granted Aug 17, 2021

Displaying an actionable element over playing content

Inventors: Markus K. Cremer (Emeryville, CA); Wilson Harron (Berkeley, CA)

Assignee: ROKU, INC.

H04N21/4722 H04N21/4316 H04N21/44008 H04N21/44222 H04N21/4532 H04N21/4622 H04N21/8133 H04N21/8352

View Patent ↗

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…

Monitor This Case

Get email alerts when status or documents change.

Order Certified Copies

Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.

Order via The Patent Place →

Pre-filled with this patent's details

Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 11,095,950
App. No.: 16/126,771
Granted: Aug 17, 2021
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

Example methods and systems for displaying actionable elements over playing content, such as video content, are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems identify video content currently playing within a display environment provided by a playback device, and display an actionable element within the display environment provided by the playback device that is based on the identified video content and includes one or more user-selectable options to perform an action associated with the identified video content. Further, in some example embodiments, the methods and systems may perform an action (e.g., present supplemental content and/or information) in response to a selection of one or more of the user-selectable options.

Claims (65)

1. A method, comprising:

identifying video content currently playing within a display environment provided by a playback device;

determining a location within the display environment at which to display a channel bar, wherein determining the location comprises:

identifying, using a fingerprint representing the video content currently playing within the display environment, an area associated with a black bar, and

using the area associated with the black bar as the location;

displaying the channel bar at the determined location within the display environment, wherein the channel bar is based on the identified video content, and wherein the channel bar includes:

a user-selectable option to display a webpage that provides information about the identified video content,

a user-selectable option to present other video content that is related to the identified video content, and

a user-selectable option that facilitates navigation between channels provided within the display environment;

receiving a selection of the user-selectable option to display the webpage that provides information about the identified video content; and

displaying the webpage that provides information about the identified video content,

wherein the channel bar further includes a user-selectable option for posting about the information about the identified video content.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel bar has a configuration that is based on the area within the identified video content.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a size of the area within the identified video content; and

rendering the channel bar with a size that is based on the size of the area within the identified video content.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the channel bar has a shape that is based on a shape of the area within the identified video content.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the channel bar has a color that is based on one or more colors of the area within the identified video content.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying different video content currently playing within the display environment provided by the playback device; and

modifying the displayed channel bar to include a user-selectable option to perform an action associated with the identified different video content.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying different video content currently playing within the display environment provided by the playback device; and

modifying a configuration of the displayed channel bar based on the identified different video content.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of the user-selectable option to present the other video content that is related to the identified video content;

retrieving the other video content from a web-based resource; and

providing a user interface within the display environment that presents the other video content.

9. The method of claim 8 :

wherein the identified video content currently playing within the display environment is a show; and

wherein the other video content comprises clips of previous episodes of the show.

10. The method of claim 1 :

wherein the identified video content is a sports event; and

wherein the information is statistical information related to the sports event.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the video content comprises identifying the video content using audio or video fingerprinting.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video content comprises a stream of video content provided by a content provider to the playback device over a network, and wherein the identifying comprises accessing the stream of video content using an actionable element engine.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the channel bar at the determined location within the display environment comprises displaying the channel bar after determining the location within the display environment.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel bar further includes a user-selectable option for sending a message with the information about the identified video content.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of acts comprising: