US-12627854-B2 - Methods and systems for enabling communications between devices

US12627854B2US 12627854 B2US12627854 B2US 12627854B2US-12627854-B2

Abstract

Methods and systems for selecting and delivering content are provided. More particularly, content can be delivered to an output device from a user device through a device adaptor, such as an over-the-top (OTT) device. The OTT device or devices available to the user device are determined by a communication server. In particular, the OTT device or devices available to the user device are limited to those OTT devices associated with an output device in the user's room, or that the user is otherwise authorized to access.

Inventors

Derin Michael Zerr
Joel Walter Zdepski
Shaun Eugene Marko
Chad J. Schroeder
Andy Loren Anderson
Christopher Paul Wollmann

Assignees

SONIFI SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240826

Claims (20)

1 . A system for selecting and delivering content, comprising: a first network; a communication server; a first user device; and a plurality of output devices, wherein, in response to the first user device establishing a connection with the communication server via the first network, an identification of a first sub-set of output devices in the plurality of output devices determined by the communication server to be available for use by the first user device is communicated by the communication server to the first user device via the first network, wherein a content provider application launched on the first user device receives a message identifying the first sub-set of output devices available for use by the first user device and the first content provider application presents an option to display content on an output device included in the first sub-set of output devices, and wherein, in response to receiving a selection from a user to output content on a first output device included in the first sub-set of output devices, content is delivered from a content provider to the first output device without passing through the first user device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a second user device, wherein, in response to the second user device establishing a connection with the communication server via the first network, an identification of a second sub-set of the output devices in the plurality of output devices determined by the communication server to be available for use by the second user device is communicated by the communication server to the second user device via the first network.
3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising: a first content provider, wherein first content held by the first content provider and accessed using credentials associated with the first user device is delivered to a selected output device included in the first sub-set of output devices using a second network.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein second content held by the first content provider and accessed using credentials associated with the second user device is delivered to a selected output device included in the second sub-set of output devices using the second network.
5 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising: a second content provider, wherein second content held by the second content provider and accessed using credentials associated with the second user device is delivered to a selected output device included in the second sub-set of output devices using the second network.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sub-set of output devices is determined based on credentials of the first user device.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the credentials of the first user device include a room number associated with the first user device.
8 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first content is output by the selected output device.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first content is not passed through the first user device.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first content is provided to the selected output device by the first network and a first device adaptor.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first device adaptor is connected to the first user device through the communication server.
12 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first content is output by the selected output device included in the first sub-set of output devices, wherein the first content is provided to the selected output device included in the first sub-set of output devices by the second network and a first device adaptor, wherein the second content is output by the selected output device included in the second sub-set of output devices, and wherein the second content is provided to the selected output device included in the second sub-set of output devices by the second network and a second device adaptor.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first user device is one of a cellular telephone or a personal computer.
14 . A system for selecting and delivering content, comprising: a first network, the first network including: a communication server; and a first access point; a second network, the second network including: at least a first output device; and at least a first sub-set of user devices; wherein the first sub-set of user devices is registered with the communication server, wherein, in response to the first user device registering with the communication server, the communication server identifies the first sub-set of user devices as being available to the first user device, wherein, following the first user device connecting to the first access point, a first content provider application is launched on the first user device and the first content provider application presents an option to display content on at least one output device included in the first sub-set of output devices, wherein, in response to a user selection of a first output device included in the first sub-set of user devices to output content using the first output device that is entered using the first content provider application on the first user device, the content is delivered from a content provider to the first output device without passing through the first user device.
15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising: a second user device, wherein the second user device is registered with the communication server and associated with second information, and wherein the first output device is not visible to the second user device.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the first access point is a WiFi access point.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first user device is connected to the first access point using a first SSID.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second user device is connected to the first access point using a second SSID.
19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein first information associated with the first user device includes an identifier of a particular room in a hospitality establishment, and wherein the first user device is paired with the first output device in the particular room of the hospitality establishment.
20 . A method, comprising: registering a first user device with a communication server, wherein the first user device is associated with first information; connecting the first user device to a first access point; in response to the first user device connecting to the first access point, the communication server identifying a first sub-set of output devices available to the first user device; and receiving a user selection to output content from a content provider through a first output device included in the first sub-set of output devices through a first content provider application on the first user device; outputting content from the content provider on the first output device, wherein the content from the content provider does not pass through the first user device, and wherein the first output device is not visible to a second user device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/309,499, filed Apr. 28, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/710,453, filed Mar. 31, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,671,651, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/828,660, filed Mar. 24, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,330,326, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/282,556, filed Sep. 30, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,631,042, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/235,112, filed Sep. 30, 2015, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/245,146, filed Oct. 22, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/308,442, filed Mar. 15, 2016, the entire disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. FIELD Systems and methods for delivering content to an output device are provided. BACKGROUND Increasingly, video entertainment, such as movies and television shows, is delivered to users on demand over digital networks. In addition, the distribution of content has expanded to include user devices, such as smart phones. These user devices have the ability to interface with content delivery systems and to output video and other content to users. User devices are also increasingly used as a store of credentials. However, because of the need for mobility, the output capabilities of user devices are necessarily limited. Therefore, it is desirable to direct content streams associated with a user device to televisions or home theater systems. Systems and methods currently available include those that involve establishing a dedicated connection between a user device and an output device. These can be through wireline or wireless connections. However, such dedicated connections can be limited by controls put in place by digital rights management systems. Also, such arrangements rely on the user device's connection to the content provider. Accordingly, bandwidth limitations and high usage costs are significant limitations. In addition, where multiple output devices are potentially available in the vicinity of the user device, selecting and using an appropriate output device can become problematic, particularly in a hotel or other hospitality or Multiple Dwelling Unit setting. In many hospitality settings, device isolation, which prevents user devices from discovering other devices, is a requirement. In particular, Wi-Fi clients are restricted from seeing other Wi-Fi devices. The requirement of device isolation thus conflicts with the desire to allow a user device to discover and make use of other Wi-Fi devices in the vicinity of the user device. In addition, previous systems have lacked a way to connect devices on different sub-networks or nodes. SUMMARY Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for delivering content to an output device selected from a constrained or controlled set of output devices. In accordance with embodiments of the current disclosure, an exemplary system includes a communication server that operates as a proxy device. The communication server can provide functions that enable a user device to operably connect to a communication system. After a connection is established, the user can operate the user device to control an output device, send data, including, but not limited to data streams to the output device, or to perform other functions. Alternatively or in addition, the communication server can present a constrained set of output devices or associated over-the-top (OTT) devices to the user device that the user can make a selection from to operably connect to an output device. The constrained set of output devices can include one or more output devices, and can be those output devices associated with a user's room. The communication server can further provide at least one virtual client. The virtual client allows a selected output device to receive content from or on behalf of the user device. Embodiments of the present disclosure also control the output devices that are indicated as being available to the user device. Where content is received by the virtual client on behalf of the user device, that content can be delivered from the virtual client to the output device, without passing through the user device. In addition, the user device can remain operable with respect to command and control operations involving the content. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication server can provide multiple virtual clients that can each be assigned to a different user device. The communication server can be connected to one or more user devices via a first network. For a particular user device or client, the assigned virtual client can operate to receive content from a source of content, such as a content provider, connected to the virtual client. Moreover, the virtual cl