IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,526,469
Granted Patent B2
US 12,526,469 · App. 18/647,448 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Resuming playback on multiple streaming devices

Inventors: Javier Alvarez (Austin, TX); Robert Van Gulick (Austin, TX); Nicolas Hewitt (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Roku, Inc.
H04N21/43078G06F1/3206H04N21/4126H04N21/42204H04N21/4436H04N21/6587
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,526,469
App. No.
18/647,448
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for transferring streaming media playback between streaming media devices. In an example embodiment, a user may be streaming content using a first media device. The user may then send a command to the first media device to transfer the streaming content to a second media device. The first media device may identify the second media device as being on a common network and transmit a wake command to the second media device as well as media playback state information indicating a playback position to resume playback. In some embodiments, the first media device may download the media playback state information onto a mobile device. The mobile device may then provide the media playback state information to the second media device to resume playback at the first media device's playback position.

Claims (45)

1 . A computer-implemented method for transferring playback of streaming media, comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor at a second media device, a command transmitted by a first media device indicating transfer of media playback from the first media device to the second media device;

transitioning the second media device to a standby state based on receiving the command;

receiving, at the second media device and from the first media device, media playback state information indicating a playback position of media streaming on the first media device;

preloading, at the second media device, the media based on receiving the media playback state information;

detecting, at the second media device, a user interaction with a remote control device paired with the second media device; and

in response to the detecting, transitioning the second media device from the standby state to a power on state and resuming streaming of the media on the second media device at the playback position according to the media playback state information.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the command is received from the first media device via a router.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the command is received from the first media device via a server residing in a geographic location that differs from the first media device and the second media device.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the command is received from the first media device via a broadcast message intended for a plurality of media devices.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the media playback state information includes a channel identification corresponding to a content provider.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the resuming the streaming of the media comprises:

accessing a content server via an API command using the media playback state information.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the user interaction with the remote control device comprises:

receiving, at the second media device, a power on command from the remote control device generated in response to an accelerometer or gyroscope sensor signal generated at the remote control device.

8 . A system, comprising:

one or more memories; and

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

receiving, at the system, a command transmitted by a media device indicating transfer of media playback from the media device to the system;

transitioning the system to a standby state based on receiving the command

receiving, at the system and from the media device, media playback state information indicating a playback position of media streaming on the media device;

preloading, at the system, the media based on receiving the media playback state information;

detecting, at the system, a user interaction with a remote control device paired with the system; and

in response to the detecting, transitioning the system from the standby state to a power on state and resuming streaming of the media on the system at the playback position according to the media playback state information.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the command is received from the media device via a router.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the command is received from the media device via a server residing in a geographic location that differs from the media device and the system.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the command is received from the media device via a broadcast message intended for a plurality of media devices.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the media playback state information includes a channel identification corresponding to a content provider.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the resuming the streaming of the media comprises:

accessing a content server via an API command using the media playback state information.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the detecting the user interaction with the remote control device comprises:

receiving, at the system, a power on command from the remote control device generated in response to an accelerometer or gyroscope sensor signal generated at the remote control device.

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:

receiving, at the at least one computing device, a command transmitted by a media device indicating transfer of media playback from the media device to the at least one computing device;

transitioning the at least one computing device to a standby state based on receiving the command;

receiving, at the at least one computing device and from the media device, media playback state information indicating a playback position of media streaming on the media device;

preloading, at the at least one computing device, the media based on receiving the media playback state information;

detecting, at the at least one computing device, a user interaction with a remote control device paired with the at least one computing device; and

in response to the detecting, transitioning the at least one computing device from the standby state to a power on state and resuming streaming of the media on the at least one computing device at the playback position according to the media playback state information.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the command is received from the media device via a router.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the command is received from the media device via a server residing in a geographic location that differs from the media device and the at least one computing device.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the command is received from the media device via a broadcast message intended for a plurality of media devices.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the media playback state information includes a channel identification corresponding to a content provider.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the resuming the streaming of the media comprises:

accessing a content server via an API command using the media playback state information.

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 Apr 29, 2024
From: ALVAREZ, JAVIER; GULICK, ROBERT VAN; HEWITT, NICOLAS
To: ROKU, INC.
Reel/Frame 067255/0290 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 18204154 · May 31, 2023
Continuation 17389568 · Jul 30, 2021
Related Publication 20240283997A1 · Aug 22, 2024
References Cited (3)
US 20090232481A1 · Baalbergen · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20170325275A1 · Tonsgard et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20230036682A1 · Alvarez et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]