IP Library Granted Patent US 12,401,852
Granted Patent B2
US 12,401,852 · App. 18/601,126 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Computing device upgrading system over a wireless network

Inventors: Prateek Tandon (San Jose, CA); Cameron Esfahani (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Roku, Inc.
H04N21/4586H04N21/43635H04N21/443
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 12,401,852
App. No.
18/601,126
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for a computing device upgrading system over a wireless network. An embodiment operates by determining that a computing device is connected to an upgrader device over a wireless network connection. It is determined that an upgrader mode of the computing device is activated based on the determination that the wireless network connection to the upgrader device is active. A command at is received at the computing device. It is determined that a speed of the wireless network connection exceeds a threshold. The command is transmitted to the upgrader device based on both the determination that the upgrader mode of the computing device is active and the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection exceeds the threshold. At the computing device, a response from the upgrader device executing the command is received, and content is output.

Claims (54)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining, by at least one computer processor, that a computing device is connected to an upgrader device over a wireless network connection, wherein the upgrader device includes hardware capabilities for processing content beyond capabilities of the computing device, and wherein during an upgrader mode of the computing device, at least a portion of a functionality of the computing device is executed by the upgrader device;

receiving a command at the computing device;

determining that a speed of the wireless network connection exceeds a threshold;

transmitting the command to the upgrader device based on both the determination that the upgrader mode is active and the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection exceeds the threshold;

receiving, at the computing device, a response from the upgrader device executing the command; and

executing the received response at the computing device, wherein the received response directs the computing device to output at least a portion of the content.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content comprises streaming video game content.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the content comprises only audio content.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the upgrader device includes additional or faster memory relative to the computing device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

evaluating the command to determine whether to execute the command locally at the computing device or to provide the command for execution at the upgrader device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second command;

determining that the speed of the wireless network connection is less than the threshold; and

executing the second command at the computing device based on the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection is less than the threshold.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:

providing a visual notification that the computing device is operating in a normal mode of operation based on the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection is less than the threshold.

8. A system, comprising:

one or more memories;

at least one processor each coupled to at least one of the memories and configured to perform operations comprising:

determining that the system is connected to an upgrader device over a wireless network connection, wherein the upgrader device includes hardware capabilities for processing content beyond capabilities of the system, and wherein during an upgrader mode of the system, at least a portion of a functionality of the system is executed by the upgrader device;

receiving a command at the system;

determining that a speed of the wireless network connection exceeds a threshold;

transmitting the command to the upgrader device based on both the determination that the upgrader mode is active and the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection exceeds the threshold;

receiving, at the system, a response from the upgrader device executing the command; and

executing the received response at the system, wherein the received response directs the system to output at least a portion of the content.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the content comprises streaming video game content.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the content comprises only audio content.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the upgrader device includes additional or faster memory relative to the system.

12. The system of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

evaluating the command to determine whether to execute the command locally at the system or to provide the command for execution at the upgrader device.

13. The system of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

receiving a second command;

determining that the speed of the wireless network connection is less than the threshold; and

executing the second command at the system based on the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection is less than the threshold.

14. The system of claim 13 , the operations further comprising:

providing a visual notification that the system is operating in a normal mode of operation based on the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection is less than the threshold.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, cause the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:

determining that the at least one computing device is connected to an upgrader device over a wireless network connection, wherein the upgrader device includes hardware capabilities for processing content beyond capabilities of the at least one computing device, and wherein during an upgrader mode of the at least one computing device, at least a portion of a functionality of the at least one computing device is executed by the upgrader device;

receiving a command at the at least one computing device;

determining that a speed of the wireless network connection exceeds a threshold;

transmitting the command to the upgrader device based on both the determination that the upgrader mode is active and the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection exceeds the threshold;

receiving, at the at least one computing device, a response from the upgrader device executing the command; and

executing the received response at the at least one computing device, wherein the received response directs the at least one computing device to output at least a portion of the content.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the content comprises streaming video game content.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the content comprises only audio content.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the upgrader device includes additional or faster memory relative to the at least one computing device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

evaluating the command to determine whether to execute the command locally at the at least one computing device or to provide the command for execution at the upgrader device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

receiving a second command;

determining that the speed of the wireless network connection is less than the threshold; and

executing the second command at the at least one computing device based on the determination that the speed of the wireless network connection is less than the threshold.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2024
From: ROKU, INC.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068982/0377 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2024
From: TANDON, PRATEEK; ESFAHANI, CAMERON
To: ROKU, INC.
Reel/Frame 066763/0393 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 18137479 · Apr 21, 2023
Continuation 17699733 · Mar 21, 2022
Continuation 16700600 · Dec 2, 2019
Continuation In Part 16357740 · Mar 19, 2019
Provisional Application 62646994 · Mar 23, 2018
Provisional Application 62900919 · Sep 16, 2019
Related Publication 20240214635A1 · Jun 27, 2024
References Cited (34)
US 11190842B2 · Tandon et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11317152B2 · Tandon et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11399213B2 · Mendenhall et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11665400B2 · Tandon et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20070299858A1 · Norcott · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080208908A1 · Kashyap et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090077549A1 · Sadja et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100011404A1 · Douillet et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110078717A1 · Drummond et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120260049A1 · Yao et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130152135A1 · Hong et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130169604A1 · Cho · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130169873A1 · Lee · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130174042A1 · Kim et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130194246A1 · Na · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130194500A1 · Na et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130194502A1 · Kim · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130258195A1 · Chung et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130258204A1 · Chung et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20150046968A1 · Lee · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150289015A1 · Jung · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160105530A1 · Shribman et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170269927A1 · Yuan · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190297383A1 · Mendenhall et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200107073A1 · Tandon et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200112768A1 · Tandon et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220030326A1 · Tandon et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220210509A1 · Tandon et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230254539A1 · Tandon et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
KR 20040044236A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
KR 20060027170A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
European Search Report directed to related European Application No. 19771816.6, mailed on Aug. 6, 2021; 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion directed to related International Application No. PCT/US2019/023102, mailed on Jul. 4, 2019; 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability directed to related International Application No. PCT/US2019/023102, mailed on Sep. 29, 2020; 9 pages. [cited by applicant]