Granted Patent B2

US 12,260,076 · App. 18/204,168 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Inventor: Snehal Karia (Fremont, CA)

Assignee: Roku, Inc.

G06F3/04845G06F3/04842

Abstract

Claims (68)

1. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user control mode of a companion application, comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor, a selection of a category of content on a media device, wherein the content comprises contextual information, and wherein the media device is controlled by the companion application operated by a user; and

in response to the receiving the selection, enabling the user control mode of the companion application, comprising:

identifying a characteristic of the user based on the selection of the category of content, a media stream currently selected on the media device, or a determination of an identity of the user; and

enabling the user control mode of the companion application based on the identification of the characteristic of the user;

determining the contextual information based on identifying a topic of conversation in the media stream;

determining a control context for the companion application based on the contextual information;

causing a user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context; and

providing for displaying the modified user interface of the companion application.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the selection of the category of content comprises receiving a user input from a remote control associated with the media device, and wherein the remote control comprises a tablet, laptop computer, smartphone, smartwatch, smart device or wearable device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the selection of the category of content comprises:

receiving an audio command to select a content on the media device;

identifying metadata associated with the content; and

determining the category of content based on the metadata.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the control context for the companion application based on the contextual information comprises:

dynamically determining the control context based on a media stream currently being played on the media device, the category of content, a state of the media device, or using a machine learning mechanism.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the causing the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context comprises:

causing a display of a user interface element in the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context.

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

receiving a termination of the selection of the category of content on the media device; and

in response to the receiving the termination of the selection, disabling the user control mode of the companion application.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the causing the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context comprises:

incorporating artwork associated with the content in a playback control of the user interface.

8. A computing system for enabling a user control mode of a companion application, comprising:

one or more memories; and

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

receiving a selection of a category of content on a media device, wherein the content comprises contextual information, and wherein the media device is controlled by the companion application operated by a user; and

in response to the receiving the selection, enabling the user control mode of the companion application, comprising:

identifying a characteristic of the user based on the selection of the category of content, a media stream currently selected on the media device, or a determination of an identity of the user; and

enabling the user control mode of the companion application based on the identification of the characteristic of the user;

determining the contextual information based on identifying a topic of conversation in the media stream;

determining a control context for the companion application based on the contextual information;

causing a user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context; and

providing for displaying the modified user interface of the companion application.

9. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the operation of the receiving the selection of the category of content comprises receiving a user input from a remote control associated with the media device, and wherein the remote control comprises a tablet, laptop computer, smartphone, smartwatch, smart device or wearable device.

10. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the operation of the receiving the selection of the category of content comprises:

receiving an audio command to select a content on the media device;

identifying metadata associated with the content; and

determining the category of content based on the metadata.

11. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the operation of the determining the control context for the companion application based on the contextual information comprises:

dynamically determining the control context based on a media stream currently being played on the media device, the category of content, a state of the media device, or using a machine learning mechanism.

12. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the operation of the causing the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context comprises:

causing a display of a user interface element in the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context.

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

receiving a termination of the selection of the category of content on the media device; and

in response to the receiving the termination of the selection, disabling the user control mode of the companion application.

14. The computing system of claim 8 , wherein the operation of the causing the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context comprises:

incorporating artwork associated with the content in a playback control of the user interface.

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 a selection of a category of content on a media device, wherein the content comprises contextual information, and wherein the media device is controlled by a companion application operated by a user; and

in response to the receiving the selection, enabling a user control mode of the companion application, comprising:

identifying a characteristic of the user based on the selection of the category of content, a media stream currently selected on the media device, or a determination of an identity of the user; and

enabling the user control mode of the companion application based on the identification of the characteristic of the user;

determining the contextual information based on identifying a topic of conversation in the media stream;

determining a control context for the companion application based on the contextual information;

causing a user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context; and

providing for displaying the modified user interface of the companion application.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operation of the receiving the selection of the category of content comprises receiving a user input from a remote control associated with the media device, and wherein the remote control comprises a tablet, laptop computer, smartphone, smartwatch, smart device or wearable device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operation of the receiving the selection of the category of content comprises:

receiving an audio command to select a content on the media device;

identifying metadata associated with the content; and

determining the category of content based on the metadata.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operation of the determining the control context for the companion application based on the contextual information comprises:

dynamically determining the control context based on a media stream currently being played on the media device, the category of content, a state of the media device, or using a machine learning mechanism.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operation of the causing the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context comprises:

causing a display of a user interface element in the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operation of the causing the user interface of the companion application to be modified based on the control context comprises:

incorporating artwork associated with the content in a playback control of the user interface.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (16)