WO2012157791A1

WO2012157791A1 - Smart television for sharing additional content with associated smart apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2012157791A1
Application number: PCT/KR2011/003556
Authority: WO
Inventors: Samsoo Lee; Seunghwa CHUNG; Hwansoo Lee; Jiwan Nam; Ahreum LEE
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2011-05-13
Filing date: 2011-05-13
Publication date: 2012-11-22

Abstract

Systems, circuits, and devices of a smart television for sharing content with associated smart apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, a smart television includes a transceiver, a display unit, a memory, an input unit, and a processor. The processor is configured to identify an additional content associated with a content displayed on the display unit through processing a data stream for the content received via the transceiver, where the data stream comprises metadata of the additional content. The processor is also configured to detect an associated smart apparatus communicatively coupled via the transceiver. Further, the processor is configured to determine a suitability index measuring an appropriateness of displaying the additional content on the associated smart apparatus, and provide the additional content to the associated smart apparatus when the suitability index is greater than a threshold index.

Description

SMART TELEVISION FOR SHARING ADDITIONAL CONTENT WITH ASSOCIATED SMART APPARATUS

Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to the field of electronics, and more particularly to data sharing between smart apparatus in a network.

Smart devices are devices that are digital, active, and computer networked. The smart devices are also user configurable and can operate to some extent autonomously. Some of the examples of the smart devices may include a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart TV, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, etc. Appliances are devices that are task specific and under control of some embedded system or application specific operating system. Some of the examples of the appliances may include a home appliance, which further include major appliances (e.g., an air-conditioner, a dishwasher, a clothes dryer, a freezer, a kitchen stove, a water heater, a washing machine, a trash compactor, a microwave oven, etc.) as well as small appliances (e.g., a CD/DVD player, camcorder, a camera, a clock, a telephone, etc.).

One distinctive difference between the smart devices and the appliances may lie in the ability of the smart devices in supporting multiple tasks, whereas the appliances may be configured to perform a single task. Recently, the smart devices and the appliances are being connected through a network as an effort for automating home or office. Further, the appliances are getting equipped with more features, such as a display unit used to display information received via the network.

Systems, circuits, and devices of a smart television for sharing additional content with associated smart apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, a smart television includes a transceiver, a display unit, a memory, an input unit, and a processor coupled to the transceiver, the display unit, the memory, and the input unit. The processor is configured to identify an additional content associated with a content displayed on the display unit through processing a data stream for the content received via the transceiver, where the data stream comprises metadata of the additional content. The processor is also configured to detect an associated smart apparatus communicatively coupled via the transceiver. Further, the processor is configured to determine a suitability index measuring an appropriateness of displaying the additional content on the associated smart apparatus. Moreover, the processor is configured to provide the additional content to the associated smart apparatus when the suitability index is greater than a threshold index.

In another aspect, a smart apparatus includes a transceiver, a display unit, a memory, an input unit, and a processor coupled to the transceiver, the display unit, the memory, and the input unit. The processor is configured to access a first data of a user profile and a second data of an apparatus type stored in the memory in response to a receipt of login information via the input unit. The processor is also configured to forward the first data of the user profile and the second data of the apparatus type to a smart television communicably coupled via the transceiver, where the smart television is configured to determine an additional content associated with a content displayed on the smart television based on the first data of the user profile and the second data of the apparatus type. Further, the processor is configured to receive the additional content associated with the content via the transceiver when an access to the additional content is granted by the smart television.

In yet another aspect, a smart apparatus includes a transceiver, a display unit, a memory, an input unit, and a processor coupled to the transceiver, the display unit, the memory, and the input unit. The processor is configured to forward a data of an apparatus type stored in the memory to a smart television communicatively coupled via the transceiver, where the smart television is configured to access a metadata of an additional content associated with a content displayed on the smart television. The processor is also configured to receive the metadata of the additional content associated with the content from the smart television via the transceiver when an access to the additional content is granted by the smart television. The processor is further configured to access the additional content associated with the content from a server communicatively coupled via the transceiver based on the metadata of the additional content.

Other features of the embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary system with a plurality of smart apparatus sharing an additional content received via a network, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view of the smart TV in FIG.1 for sharing an additional content with a number of associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3a illustrates an exemplary view of the smart TV in FIG. 2 providing the additional content to an associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3b illustrates another exemplary view of the smart TV in FIG. 2 providing the additional content to the associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4a illustrates an exemplary view of the smart TV in FIG. 2 providing an additional content to a subset of the associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4b illustrates another exemplary view of the smart TV in FIG. 2 providing the additional content to another subset of the associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4c illustrates an exemplary view of the smart TV in FIG. 2 displaying additional content on the display unit of the smart TV, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4d illustrates another exemplary view of the smart TV in FIG. 2 displaying additional content on the display unit of the smart TV, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary view of a metadata of an additional content processed by the smart TV in FIG. 2, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary table of a suitability index measuring an appropriateness of the smart TV in FIG. 2 displaying an additional content on the associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process flow chart of an exemplary process performed by the smart TV in FIG. 2 for providing an additional content to an associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8a illustrates an exemplary view of an associated smart apparatus of FIG. 2 processing login information to receive an additional content, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8b illustrates an exemplary view of the smart apparatus in FIG. 2 receiving an additional content, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process flow chart of an exemplary process performed by the associated smart apparatus in FIG. 2 for receiving an additional content, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10a illustrates another exemplary view of the associated smart apparatus in FIG. 2 receiving an additional content, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10b illustrates an exemplary view of the associated smart apparatus of FIG. 2 requesting additional information related to the additional content, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates a process flow chart of another exemplary process performed by the associated smart apparatus in FIG. 2 for receiving an additional content, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary component view of the smart apparatus in FIG. 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. Further, the drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

A method, device and/or system for sharing additional content with associated smart apparatus are disclosed. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a smart TV may share additional content related to a content displayed on a display unit of the smart TV with an associated smart apparatus (e.g., a smart device, a smart appliance, etc.). In one embodiment, the smart TV may share the additional content related to the content displayed on the display unit with an associated smart device, such as a smart phone, a tablet PC, etc. The smart TV may process a data stream for content received from a content provider and display the content on a display unit of the smart TV. Upon receiving the data stream for the content, the smart TV may access additional content related to the content and selectively provide the additional content to the associated smart device. For instance, if the content displayed on the smart TV is an advertisement for a movie, the smart TV may access a discount coupon for the movie and forward the coupon to an associated smart device suitable to display the coupon. For instance, if a smart phone is detected within a vicinity of the smart TV, the coupon accessed by the smart TV may be transmitted to the smart phone.

In one embodiment, the smart TV may share the additional content related to the content displayed on the display unit with an associated smart appliance with a display unit, such as a washing machine with a display unit, a dryer with a display unit, a dishwasher with a display unit, a refrigerator with a display unit, a microwave oven with a display unit, an air conditioner with a display unit, etc. Upon receiving the data stream for the content, the smart TV may access additional content related to the content and selectively provide the additional content to the associated smart appliance. For instance, if the content displayed on the smart TV is an advertisement for a grocery store, the smart TV may access a special offer for a grocery item and forward the information to an associated smart appliance suitable to display the special offer for the grocery item. For instance, if a refrigerator with a display unit is detected within a vicinity of the smart TV, the information for the special offer accessed by the smart TV may be transmitted to the refrigerator. Thus, through selectively providing the additional contents related to the contents displayed on the smart TV to a certain type of associated smart apparatus, the user of the smart apparatus may be informed with personalized information or data, which may be additional contents of the contents being displayed on the smart TV the user is watching.

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, in the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary system with a plurality of smart apparatus sharing an additional content 114 received via a network 110, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 1, the system comprises a number of content providers 102A-N, a smart TV 104, multiple numbers of associated smart apparatus 106, and a server 108 connected through the network 110. The content providers 102 A-N may include local network television stations affiliates, cable television providers, telcos, terrestrial, and satellite TV providers. The content provider 102A-N may also be an aggregator. The smart TV 104 includes a transceiver, a display unit, a memory, an input unit, and a processor coupled to the transceiver, the display unit, the memory, and the input unit. The smart TV 104 may be a Digital TV (e.g., digital terrestrial television (DTT), cable, satellite, or IPTV), a Video on Demand (VoD) TV, a 3D TV, an HDTV, an Internet enabled TV, or a Mobile TV.

The associated smart apparatus 106 may be a mobile phone 106A, a tablet PC 106B, a refrigerator with a display unit 106C, a washing machine with a display unit, a dryer with a display unit, a dishwasher with a display unit, a microwave oven with a display unit, or an air conditioner with a display unit. In one example implementation, the server 108 may be physically incorporated as a part of the smart TV 104. In one example implementation, the server 108 may be serviced by the content provider 102A-N. In one example implementation, the server 108 may be serviced by an independent service provider. The network 110 may be a television network formed with one or more of over-the-air broadcast signals, cable, satellite, and fiber optic, a computer network, or a telecommunication network.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the content providers 102A-N provide contents to televisions connected to the network 110. In one embodiment, when one of the televisions, such as the smart TV 104 receives a data stream for the content 112 from one of the content providers 102A-N via the network 110, the smart TV 104 displays the content 112 on a display unit of the smart TV 104. In one embodiment, the smart TV 104 (e.g., the processor of the smart TV 104) is configured to identify the additional content 114 associated with the content 112 displayed on the display unit of the smart TV 104 through processing the data stream for the content 112 received via the transceiver, where the data stream comprises metadata of the additional content 114. Then, the associated smart apparatus 106 communicatively coupled with the smart TV 104 is detected by the smart TV 104. For instance, the smart TV 104 communicatively coupled with the associated smart apparatus 106 via a personal area network (PAN) may detect a presence of each associated smart apparatus 106 through pinging them.

Upon the detection of the associated smart apparatus 106, a suitability index measuring an appropriateness of displaying the additional content 114 on the associated smart apparatus 106 is determined by the smart TV 104. Further, the additional content 114 is provided to the associated smart apparatus 106 when the suitability index is greater than a threshold index. For instance, the suitability index for the refrigerator 106C may be lower than the threshold index when the additional content 114 is a coupon for a movie ticket, whereas the suitability index for the smart phone 106A may be higher than the threshold index for the same additional content 106. In such a case, the additional content 114 of the coupon for the movie ticket may be displayed on the smart phone 106A but not on the display unit of the refrigerator 106C. It is appreciated that the smart TV 104 may employ another algorithm to determine the appropriateness of displaying the additional content 114 on a particular one of the associated smart apparatus 106, although the system, smart TV, and associated smart apparatus are described with the suitability index in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view of a smart TV 204 for sharing an additional content with a number of associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates a network of a content provider 202, the smart TV 204, and a number of associated smart apparatus, which include a smart phone 206A, a tablet PC 206B, and a refrigerator 206C. It is appreciated that the smart TV 204 is an exemplary implementation of the smart TV 104 in FIG. 1, and the smart phone 206A, the tablet PC 206B, and the refrigerator 206C are exemplary implementations of the smart apparatus 106 of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, data stream for content 208 is forwarded to the smart TV 204 via a communication means (e.g., the network 110 in FIG. 1) by the content provider 202. In one embodiment, the types of contents comprise a television program, an advertisement, etc. The smart TV 204, upon receiving the data stream for content 208, may display a content 210 on a display unit 212 of the smart TV 204 once the smart TV 204 processes (e.g., parses) the data stream for content 208. The processing of the data stream for content 208 may be performed using the logical channel according to Automated Content Access Protocol (ACAP) or other type of protocol. Within a short time period from the display of the content 210 on the display unit 212, the smart TV 204 may access additional contents 214A-C from a memory of the smart TV or from a remote server (which is not shown). In one embodiment, the additional contents 214A-C comprise sales promotion data, where the sales promotion data may be data announcing a contest, data for a coupon, data for a freebie, data for a point of purchase display, data for a premium, data for a prize, data for a product sample, or data for a rebate. The additional content further comprises a trivia associated with the content, information about at least one character in the content, information about at least one item in the content, a real time poll, and a quiz associated with the content.

In one embodiment, the appropriateness of displaying the additional contents 214A-C to their respective associated smart apparatus 206A-C may be determined by suitability indices generated based on the type of the content 210, the type of the additional contents 214A-C, and the type of the associated smart apparatus 206A-C. For instance, the suitability index for the additional content 214A (e.g., a coupon for a movie ticket associated with the content 210) may be highest for the smart phone 206A among the associated smart apparatus; the suitability index for the additional content 214B (e.g., a special offer for DVD collection associated with the content 210) may be highest for the tablet PC 206B among the associated smart apparatus; and the suitability index for the additional content 214C (e.g., a discount coupon for beverage associated with the content 210) may be highest for the refrigerator 206C among the associated smart apparatus.

In one embodiment, the suitability index may be preconfigured and/or stored in the memory of the smart TV 204 in a form of a lookup table. In an alternative embodiment, the suitability index generated by a service provider of a server providing the additional contents (e.g., the additional contents 214A-C) may be embedded in the metadata of the additional contents and accessed by the smart TV 204 in determining the display of the additional contents in the associated smart apparatus. In yet another embodiment, the suitability index generated by a service provider of a server providing the additional contents (e.g., the additional contents 214A-C) may be embedded in the metadata of the additional contents and accessed by the associated smart apparatus (e.g., the smart phone 206A, the tablet PC 206B, and the refrigerator 206C) in determining the display of the additional contents.

Subsequent to the display of the additional contents 214A-C on the associated smart apparatus, information related to the additional contents 214A-C may be accessed by the smart TV 204 in response to an input from the associated smart apparatus for the requested information. Then, the requested information may be forwarded to the associated smart apparatus. For example, when the additional content 214B (e.g., an offer for the DVD collection associated with Superman: the Movie) associated with the content 210 is displayed on the display unit 216B of the tablet PC 206B, the user may enter a request for an additional information or content related to the additional content 214B. For instance, the user, by accessing a menu offered via the user interface for the additional content 214B displayed on the tablet PC 206B, may request other movie titles where the main character of Superman: the Movie appeared on. Then, the smart TV 204 may access this information from an external server or from its own memory and forward the information to the tablet PC 206B.

FIG. 3a illustrates an exemplary view of the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2 providing the additional content 214B to an associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, additional contents (e.g., the additional contents 214A-C) are stored in a server 306 communicable via the transceiver of the smart TV 204, and the additional contents are accessed by the associated smart apparatus upon getting metadata of the additional contents from the smart TV 204. As illustrated in FIG. 3a, the smart TV 204 displays the content 210 upon receiving and processing the data stream for content 208. Through processing the data stream for content 208, the smart TV 204 identifies metadata of the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 and forwards (e.g., transmits) a signal for the metadata 302 to the tablet PC 206B. Upon receiving and processing the signal for metadata 302, the tablet PC 206B forward a request signal 304 for the additional content 214B based on the metadata of the additional content (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the additional content 214B). Upon getting the request signal 304, the server 306 forward a signal for the additional content 308 which is processed and displayed by the tablet PC 206.

FIG. 3b illustrates another exemplary view of the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2 providing the additional content 214B to the associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the additional content 214B is accessed by the smart TV 204 from the server 306 based on the metadata (e.g., URL) of the additional content 214B received from a content provider, and the additional content 214B is forwarded to the tablet PC 206B from the smart TV 204. As illustrated in FIG. 3b, the smart TV 204 displays the content 210 upon receiving and processing the data stream for content 208. Through processing the data stream for content 208, the smart TV 204 identifies the metadata of the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 and forwards (e.g., transmits) a request signal for additional content 312 to the server 306. Upon getting the request signal for additional content 312, the server 306 transmits a signal for additional content 314 to the smart TV 204 which forwards the signal for additional content 314 to the tablet PC 206B. Upon receiving and processing the additional content 214B, the tablet PC 206B displays the additional content 214B on the display unit 216B.

FIG. 4a illustrates an exemplary view of the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2 providing an additional content to a subset of the associated smart apparatus 206A-C, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 4a, the smart TV 204 displays a content 410 (e.g., a scene from a movie) on the display unit 212 through processing data stream for content received from a content provider. In one embodiment, the smart TV 204 provides one or more additional contents to a selected group of the associated smart apparatus 206A-C. As illustrated in FIG. 4a, additional content 414A (e.g., a special offer for an album) is provided by the smart TV 204 to the smart phone 206A which displays the additional content 414A on the display unit 216A when the suitability index for displaying the additional content 414A on the smart phone 206A is greater than a threshold index, and/or when the suitability index for displaying the additional content 414A on the smart phone 206A is greater than the suitability index for displaying the additional content 414A on each of the remaining associated smart apparatus (e.g., the tablet PC 206B and the refrigerator 206C). Further, additional content 414B (e.g., background information of the main male character appeared on the movie) is provided by the smart TV 204 to the tablet PC 206B which displays the additional content 414B on the display unit 216B when the suitability index for displaying the additional content 414B on the tablet PC 206B is greater than the threshold index, and/or when the suitability index for displaying the additional content 414B on the tablet PC 206B is greater than the suitability index for displaying the additional content 414B on each of the remaining associated smart apparatus (e.g., the smart phone 206A and the refrigerator 206C).

However, the smart TV 204 refrains from providing any additional content to the refrigerator 206C as seen from the absence of any additional content displayed on the display unit 216C of the refrigerator 206C when the suitability index for displaying the additional content 414A, the additional content 414B, or any other additional content related to the content 410 on the refrigerator 206C is less than the threshold index, and/or when the suitability index for displaying additional content 414A, the additional content 414B, or any other additional content related to the content 410 on the refrigerator 206C is less than the suitability index for displaying the additional contents on the remaining associated smart apparatus (e.g., the smart phone 206A and the tablet PC 206B).

FIG. 4b illustrates another exemplary view of the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2 providing additional content 424 to another subset of the associated smart apparatus 206A-C, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 4b, the smart TV 204 displays the content 420 (e.g., an advertisement for a grocery store) on the display unit 212 through processing a data stream for content received from a content provider. In one embodiment, the smart TV 204 provides one or more additional contents to a selected group of the associated smart apparatus 206A-C. As illustrated in FIG. 4b, the additional content 424 (e.g., a grocery coupon) is provided by the smart TV 204 to the refrigerator 206C which displays the additional content 424 on the display unit 216C when the suitability index for displaying the additional content 424 on the refrigerator 206C is greater than the threshold index, and/or when the suitability index for displaying the additional content 424 on the refrigerator 206C is greater than the suitability index for displaying the additional content 424 on each of the remaining associated smart apparatus (e.g., the smart phone 206A and the tablet PC 206B). Moreover, the smart TV 204 refrains from providing any additional content to the smart phone 206A or the tablet PC 206B as seen from the absence of any additional content displayed on the display unit 216A of the smart phone 206A or on the display unit 216B of the tablet PC 206B.

FIG. 4c illustrates an exemplary view of the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2 displaying the additional content 414A on the display unit 212 of the smart TV 204, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 4c, the smart TV 204 displays the content 410 (e.g., the movie) on the display unit 212. In one embodiment, the smart TV 204 displays the additional content 414A to on the display unit 212 of the smart TV 204 when none of the associated smart apparatus is available to display the additional content 414A. As illustrated in FIG. 4c, the additional content 414A (e.g., the special offer for the album in FIG. 4A) is provided is displayed on the smart TV 204 when there is no associated smart apparatus detected in a vicinity, or when the detected associated smart apparatus are inactive to display the additional content 414A on their respective display units. In an alternative embodiment, the smart TV 204 may forward a signal for remotely activating the detected associated smart apparatus which are inactive, and have the detected associated smart apparatus display an appropriate additional content using push notification technology. In yet another alternative embodiment, the smart TV 204 may forward an appropriate additional content to each of the detected associated smart apparatus which is inactive to have each of the detected associated smart apparatus store the additional content for a later viewing.

FIG. 4d illustrates another exemplary view of the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2 displaying additional content 440 on the display unit 212 of the smart TV 204, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 4d, the smart TV 204 displays the content 410 (e.g., the scene from the movie) on the display unit 212. In one embodiment, the smart TV 204 displays the additional content 440 on the display unit 212 of the smart TV 204 even when one or more of the associated smart apparatus communicatively coupled to the smart TV 204 is available to display the additional content. As illustrated in FIG. 4d, the additional content 440 (e.g., an offer for a hat worn by the main female character appeared in the content 410) is displayed on the smart TV 204 even when the additional content 414A is displayed on the smart phone 206A and the additional content 414B is displayed on the tablet PC 414B.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary view of a metadata of an additional content processed by the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment the metadata illustrated in FIG. 5 may be embedded in the data stream for content 208. In one exemplary implementation, the metadata for the additional content (e.g., the grocery coupon in FIG. 4b) includes a content provider ID 502, a time code 504, a content type 506, a service type 508, and an URL 510 of the additional content. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the content provider ID 502 (e.g., CDS) may be used to identify a provider of the content received and processed by the smart TV 204. The time code 504 (e.g., 201103121824) may indicate the time when the transmission of the content took place at the content provider. The content type 506 (e.g., AD | FOOD) may be used to identify the type of the content (e.g., the advertisement for grocery store in FIG. 4b) transmitted by the content provider. The service type 508 (e.g., coupon) may be used to indicate the type of the additional content or the service provided by the additional content. The URL 510 (e.g., WWW.m.BESTDEAL.COM/PROMOTION.html) may be used to specify where the additional content is available and the mechanism for retrieving the additional content. In one exemplary implementation, the smart TV 204, upon receiving the data stream for the content, parses the data stream to process the metadata. Further, according to one embodiment, a suitability index is embedded in the metadata of the additional content.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary table of a suitability index measuring an appropriateness of the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2 displaying an additional content on the associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the suitability index of the additional content is determined based on a type of the additional content and a type of the associated smart apparatus among a plurality of suitability indices listed on a lookup table stored in the memory of the smart TV 204, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In an alternative embodiment, the suitability index of the additional content is determined based on a type of the content, a type of the additional content, and a type of the associated smart apparatus among a plurality of suitability indices listed on a lookup table stored in the memory of the smart TV 204, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In one exemplary implementation as illustrated in FIG. 6, the lookup table includes a content type 602 which lists the type of the content, a service type 604 which lists the type of the additional content, an apparatus type 606 which lists the type of the associated smart apparatus, and a suitability index 608. The lookup table with the plurality of indices may be configured based on configuration data received via the input unit of the smart TV 204 or configuration data received from the associated smart apparatus.

According to one example of the lookup table, the suitability index for ‘AD|ENTERTAINMENT’ as the type of the content and ‘coupon’ as the type of the additional content is the highest for the smart phone among the associated smart apparatus. Accordingly, the coupon is displayed on the smart phone. Alternatively, the coupon may be displayed on the smart phone as well as the tablet PC if the threshold index is set at 0.7 since the suitability index for the smart phone or the tablet PC is greater than the threshold index. In another example, the coupon for ‘AD|GROCERY’ may be displayed only on the refrigerator with the display unit when the threshold index is set at 0.8 since only the suitability index for the refrigerator is greater than the threshold index. In yet another example, the character information for ‘TV PROGRAM|MOVIE’ may be displayed only on the tablet PC when the threshold index is set at 0.5 since only the suitability index for the tablet PC is greater than the threshold index. In an alternative embodiment, the smart TV may be configured to have only one of the associated smart apparatus with the highest suitability index for an additional content to display the additional content on its display unit.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process flow chart of an exemplary process performed by the smart TV 204 in FIG. 2 for providing an additional content to associated smart apparatus, according to one embodiment. In keeping with the previous examples, particular components described with respect to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 are referenced as performing the process in FIG. 7. It should be noted that the components that are referred to as performing the process are for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, other components, or a different combination of components within a system or apparatus, may instead perform the process in FIG. 7.

In operation 702, as illustrated in FIG. 2, an additional content (e.g., the

additional content

214A, 214B, or 214C) associated with a content (e.g., the content 210) displayed on the display unit of a smart TV (e.g., the smart TV 204) through processing a data stream for the content (e.g., the data stream for content 208) received via the transceiver of the smart TV, where the data stream comprises metadata of the additional content. In operation 704, an associated smart apparatus (e.g., the smart phone 206A, the tablet PC 206B, or the refrigerator 206C) communicatively coupled with the smart TV via the transceiver is detected. In operation 706, a suitability index measuring an appropriateness of displaying the additional content on the associated smart apparatus is determined. In operation 708, the additional content is provided to the associated smart apparatus when the suitability index is greater than a threshold index. It is appreciated that the methods disclosed in FIG. 7 may be implemented in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein.

FIG. 8a illustrates an exemplary view of an associated smart apparatus of FIG. 2 processing login information to receive an additional content, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 8a, the associated smart apparatus is the tablet PC 206B equipped with a camera 802. In one embodiment, the tablet PC 206B is configured to display a user interface 804 which includes a login name 806 and a password 808 as the login information. Once the user of the tablet PC 206B enters the login information, the user may be proceeded to enter a preferred type of additional contents. In one embodiment, preferred types of additional contents 810 which are listed on the user interface 804 comprise sales promotion data, which may be data announcing a contest, data for a coupon, data for a freebie, data for a point of purchase display, data for a premium, data for a prize, data for a product sample, or data for a rebate. Further, the preferred types of additional contents 810 comprise a trivia associated with the content, information about at least one character in the content, information about at least one item in the content, a real time poll, and a quiz associated with the content. Once an item from the preferred types of additional contents 810 is entered (e.g., selected) via the tablet PC 206B by the user and communicated to the smart TV 204 along with the login information as a profile of the user, one or more additional contents of the preferred type may be provided to the tablet PC 206B by the smart TV 204.

FIG. 8b illustrates an exemplary view of the associated smart apparatus in FIG. 2 receiving an additional content, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, a first data of user profile and a second data of apparatus type are forwarded from the associated smart apparatus, and the additional contents which meet the user profile and suitable to display on the apparatus type may be subscribed by the associated smart apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 8b, the tablet PC 206B forward a first data of user profile 820 (e.g., the login information and preferred type of additional contents in FIG. 8a) and a second data of apparatus type 822 to the smart TV 204. Upon receiving the first and second data, the smart TV 204 identifies the metadata of the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 and forwards (e.g., transmits) a signal for metadata 824 to the tablet PC 206B when the additional content 214B fits the first data of user profile 820 and suitable to display on the tablet PC 206B. Upon receiving and processing the signal for metadata 824, the tablet PC 206B forward a request signal 826 for the additional content 214B based on the metadata of the additional content (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the additional content 214B). Upon getting the request signal 826, the server 306 forward a signal for additional content 828 which is processed and displayed by the tablet PC 206. In one exemplary implementation, the additional content 214B is received from the server 306 communicatively coupled to the tablet PC 206B using a push notification service.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process flow chart of an exemplary process performed by the associated smart apparatus in FIG. 2 for receiving an additional content, according to one embodiment. In keeping with the previous examples, particular components described with respect to FIG. 2 through FIG. 6, FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b are referenced as performing the process in FIG. 9. It should be noted that the components that are referred to as performing the process are for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, other components, or a different combination of components within a system or apparatus, may instead perform the process in FIG. 9.

In operation 902, as illustrated in FIG. 2 through FIG. 6, FIG. 8a and FIG. 8b, the first data of user profile 820 (e.g., the preferred type of additional contents entered by the user as illustrated in FIG. 8a) and the second data of apparatus type 822 stored in a memory of the associated smart apparatus (e.g., the tablet PC 206B) is accessed in response to a receipt of login information via an input unit of the associated smart apparatus. When the first data of user profile 820 is not available, a user interface may be provided to generate the first data of user profile 820. In operation 904, the first data of user profile 820 and the second data of apparatus type 822 are forwarded to the smart TV 204 communicably coupled to the associated smart apparatus, where the smart TV 204 is configured to determine the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 displayed on the smart TV 204 based on the first data of user profile 820 and the second data of apparatus type 822. In operation 906, the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 is received via a transceiver of the associated smart apparatus when an access to the additional content 214B is granted by the smart TV 204. It is appreciated that the methods disclosed in FIG. 9 may be implemented in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein.

FIG. 10a illustrates another exemplary view of the smart apparatus in FIG. 2 receiving the additional content 214B, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, a data of apparatus type 1002 (e.g., data indicating the type of the associated smart apparatus being a tablet PC) is forwarded from the associated smart apparatus, and additional contents which are suitable to be displayed on the apparatus type may be subscribed by the associated smart apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 10a, the tablet PC 206B forward the data of apparatus type 1002 to the smart TV 204. Upon receiving the data of apparatus type 1002, the smart TV 204 identifies the metadata of the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 and forwards (e.g., transmits) a signal for metadata 1004 to the tablet PC 206B when the additional content 214B is determined as suitable to be displayed on the tablet PC 206B (e.g., as in the case of suitability index). Upon receiving and processing the signal for metadata 1004, the tablet PC 206B forward a request signal 1006 for the additional content 214B based on the metadata of the additional content (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the additional content 214B). Upon getting the request signal 1006, the server 306 forward a signal for additional content 1008 which is processed and displayed by the tablet PC 206. In one exemplary implementation, the additional content 214B is received from the server 306 communicatively coupled to the tablet PC 206B using a push notification service.

FIG. 10b illustrates an exemplary view of the associated smart apparatus of FIG. 2 requesting additional information related to the additional content, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 10b, the associated smart apparatus is the tablet PC 206B equipped with the camera 802. In one embodiment, the tablet PC 206B is configured to display a user interface 1020 which includes a menu 1022. When the addition content (e.g., the special offer for DVD collection associated with the content 210 in FIG. 2) is displayed on the display unit 216B, the user may access the menu 1022 by touching an area on the display unit 216B. Then, the menu 1022 listing a number of additional information related to the additional content may be displayed. Then, the user may proceed to select one of the additional information (e.g., a coupon) related to the additional content. Upon selection of the additional information, a signal identifying the additional information selected by the user may be forwarded to the smart TV 204. Alternatively, the user interface 1020 may enable the user to enter the additional information rather than selecting from the available items from the menu 1022.

FIG. 11 illustrates a process flow chart of another exemplary process performed by the associated smart apparatus in FIG. 2 for receiving an additional content, according to one embodiment. In keeping with the previous examples, particular components described with respect to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, FIG. 10a, and FIG. 10b are referenced as performing the process in FIG. 11. It should be noted that the components that are referred to as performing the process are for illustrative purposes only. In some implementations, other components, or a different combination of components within a system or apparatus, may instead perform the process in FIG. 11.

In operation 1102, as illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, FIG. 10a, and FIG. 10b, the data of apparatus type 1002 stored in a memory of the smart apparatus (e.g., the tablet PC 206B) is forwarded to the smart TV 204, where the smart TV 204 is configured to access the metadata of the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 displayed on the smart TV 204. In operation 1104, the metadata of the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 is received from the smart TV 204 when an access to the additional content 214B by the associated smart apparatus is granted by the smart TV 204. In operation 1106, the additional content 214B associated with the content 210 is accessed from the server 306 communicatively coupled to the associated smart apparatus based on the metadata of the additional content. It is appreciated that the methods disclosed in FIG. 11 may be implemented in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary component view of the smart apparatus in FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 12, each of the smart apparatus (e.g., the smart TV 104 and the associated smart apparatus 106) comprises a transceiver 1202, a display unit 1204/a display module 1206, a memory 1208, an input unit 1210, and a processor 1212 coupled to the transceiver 1202, the display unit 1204/the display module 1206, the memory 1208, and the input unit 1210. In one embodiment, the processor 1212 of the smart TV 104 of FIG. 1 or the smart TV 204 of FIG. 2 is configured to identify an additional content associated with a content displayed on the display unit through processing a data stream for the content received via the transceiver, where the data stream comprises metadata of the additional content. The processor 1212 is also configured to detect an associated smart apparatus communicatively coupled via the transceiver, and determine a suitability index measuring an appropriateness of displaying the additional content on the associated smart apparatus. Further, the processor 1212 is configured to provide the additional content to the associated smart apparatus when the suitability index is greater than a threshold index.

In one embodiment, the processor 1212 of the associated smart apparatus (e.g., the smart phone 206A, the tablet PC 206B, or the refrigerator 206C of FIG. 2) is configured to access a first data of a user profile and a second data of an apparatus type stored in the memory in response to a receipt of login information via the input unit. The processor 1212 is also configured to forward the first data of the user profile and the second data of the apparatus type to a smart television communicably coupled via the transceiver, wherein the smart television is configured to determine an additional content associated with a content displayed on the smart television based on the first data of the user profile and the second data of the apparatus type. Further, the processor 1212 is configured to receive the additional content associated with the content via the transceiver when an access to the additional content is granted by the smart television.

In one embodiment, the processor 1212 of the associated smart apparatus (e.g., the smart phone 206A, the tablet PC 206B, or the refrigerator 206C of FIG. 2) is configured to forward a data of an apparatus type stored in the memory to a smart television communicatively coupled via the transceiver, wherein the smart television is configured to access a metadata of an additional content associated with a content displayed on the smart television. The processor 1212 is also configured to receive the metadata of the additional content associated with the content from the smart television via the transceiver when an access to the additional content is granted by the smart television. The processor 1212 is further configured to access the additional content associated with the content from a server communicatively coupled via the transceiver based on the metadata of the additional content.

In various embodiments, the systems, methods and apparatus described in FIG. 1 through FIG. 12 may enable sharing of additional content related to a content displayed on a display unit of the smart TV with an associated smart apparatus (e.g., a smart device, a smart appliance, etc.). In one embodiment, the smart TV may share the additional content related to the content displayed on the display unit with an associated smart device, such as a smart phone, a tablet PC, etc. In another embodiment, the smart TV may share the additional content related to the content displayed on the display unit with an associated smart appliance with a display unit, such as a washing machine with a display unit, a dryer with a display unit, a dishwasher with a display unit, a refrigerator with a display unit, a microwave oven with a display unit, an air conditioner with a display unit, etc. Thus, through selectively providing the additional contents related to the contents displayed on the smart TV to a certain type of associated smart apparatus, the user of the smart apparatus may be informed with personalized information or data, which may be additional contents of the contents being displayed on the smart TV the user is watching.

The various devices, modules, analyzers, generators, etc. described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry (e.g., complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) based logic circuitry), firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software (e.g., embodied in a machine readable medium). Further, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and/or electrical circuits (e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)). Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments.

Claims

A smart television, comprising:

a transceiver;

a display unit;

a memory;

an input unit; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver, the display unit, the memory, and

the input unit, the processor configured to:

identify an additional content associated with a content displayed on the display unit through processing a data stream for the content received via the transceiver, wherein the data stream comprises metadata of the additional content;

detect an associated smart apparatus communicatively coupled via the transceiver;

determine a suitability index measuring an appropriateness of displaying the additional content on the associated smart apparatus; and

provide the additional content to the associated smart apparatus when the suitability index is greater than a threshold index.
The smart television of claim 1, wherein the suitability index is determined based on a type of the additional content and a type of the associated smart apparatus among a plurality of suitability indices listed on a lookup table stored in the memory.
The smart television of claim 2, wherein the lookup table with the plurality of indices is configured based on configuration data received via the input unit.
The smart television of claim 2, wherein the lookup table with the plurality of indices is configured based on configuration data received from the associated smart apparatus.
The smart television of claim 1, wherein the suitability index is determined based on a type of the content, a type of the additional content and a type of the associated smart apparatus among a plurality of suitability indices listed on a lookup table stored in the memory.
The smart television of claim 1, wherein the suitability index for a type of the associated smart apparatus is embedded in the metadata of the additional content.
The smart television of claim 1, wherein the additional content is stored in a server communicable via the transceiver, and wherein the metadata of the additional content further comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) of the additional content.
The smart television of claim 7, wherein the additional content is directly accessed from the server based on the URL of the additional content and forwarded to the associated smart device when the suitability index is greater than the threshold index.
The smart television of claim 7, wherein the URL of the additional content is forwarded to the associated smart apparatus, and wherein the additional content is accessed from the server by the associated smart apparatus based on the URL of the additional content.
The smart television of claim 1, wherein the type of the associated smart apparatus is a tablet PC, a mobile phone, a washing machine with a display unit, a dryer with a display unit, a dishwasher with a display unit, a refrigerator with a display unit, a microwave oven with a display unit, or an air conditioner with a display unit.
The smart television of claim 5, wherein the type of the content comprises a television program and an advertisement.
The smart television of claim 2, wherein the type of the additional content comprises sales promotion data.
The smart television of claim 12, wherein the sales promotion data is data announcing a contest, data for a coupon, data for a freebie, data for a point of purchase display, data for a premium, data for a prize, data for a product sample, or data for a rebate.
The smart television of claim 12, wherein the type of the additional content further comprises a trivia associated with the content, information about at least one character in the content, information about at least one item in the content, a real time poll, and a quiz associated with the content.
The smart television of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to display the additional content on the display unit when the associated smart apparatus is inactive.
The smart television of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to display the additional content on the display unit if each suitability index measuring an appropriateness of displaying the additional content on each associated smart apparatus communicatively coupled via the transceiver is less than the threshold index.
The smart television of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

access requested information related to the additional content in response to an input from the associated smart apparatus for the requested information; and

forward the requested information to the associated smart apparatus.
A smart apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver;

a display unit;

a memory;

an input unit; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver, the display unit, the memory, and

the input unit, the processor configured to:

access a first data of a user profile and a second data of an apparatus type stored in the memory in response to a receipt of login information via the input unit;

forward the first data of the user profile and the second data of the apparatus type to a smart television communicably coupled via the transceiver, wherein the smart television is configured to determine an additional content associated with a content displayed on the smart television based on the first data of the user profile and the second data of the apparatus type; and

receive the additional content associated with the content via the transceiver when an access to the additional content is granted by the smart television.
The smart apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user profile comprises user preference for particular types of additional contents and contents.
The smart apparatus of claim 18, wherein the additional content is received from a server communicatively coupled via the transceiver using a push notification service.
A smart apparatus, comprising:

a transceiver;

a display unit;

a memory;

an input unit; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver, the display unit, the memory, and the input unit, the processor configured to:

forward a data of an apparatus type stored in the memory to a smart television communicatively coupled via the transceiver, wherein the smart television is configured to access a metadata of an additional content associated with a content displayed on the smart television;

receive the metadata of the additional content associated with the content from the smart television via the transceiver when an access to the additional content is granted by the smart television; and

access the additional content associated with the content from a server communicatively coupled via the transceiver based on the metadata of the additional content.
The smart apparatus of claim 21, wherein the metadata of the additional content comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) of the additional content.
The smart apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to request additional information related to the additional content to the smart television in response to an input via the input unit.