Patent ID: 8832734
Filing Date: 2014-09-09
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a system comprising a processor, an invitation transmitted from a media processor to participate in a media session with other participants, wherein the media session comprises a presentation of a media program selected by the media processor, wherein the media processor operates in an interactive television network, and wherein the media program and a list of media devices participating in the media session are selected by accessing the media processor through an internet portal; displaying, by the system, the invitation received from the media processor, information associated with the invitation, first selectable items corresponding to options for responding to the invitation, wherein the options comprise accepting the invitation, rejecting the invitation, and ignoring the invitation, and a second selectable item corresponding to an additional option for recording the media program; transmitting, by the system, to the media processor a response to the invitation via a graphical user interface, wherein the response comprises an acceptance of the invitation, a rejection of the invitation, or an indication that the invitation has been ignored, and wherein an invitation status is displayed at the media processor for each invitation transmitted from the media processor, the invitation status being accepted, rejected, ignored, or pending; participating, by the system, in the media session if the response comprises the acceptance of the invitation; subsequently receiving, by the system, an alert transmitted from the media processor if the system is participating in the media session, the alert indicating impending presentation of the media program; transmitting, by the system, to the media processor, a response to the alert comprising an acceptance of the presentation, a rejection of the presentation, or an indication that the alert has been ignored; presenting, by the system, the media program at a scheduled viewing time while participating in the media session if the presentation has been accepted and if the scheduled viewing time of the media program is coincident with a live broadcast of the media program; downloading, by the system, the media program if the presentation has been accepted and if the scheduled viewing time of the media program is after the live broadcast of the media program; recording, by the system, the media program if the option for recording the media program is selected; receiving, by the system, control signals from the media processor for managing the media session for all participants in the media session, wherein the control signals for all the participants are transmitted by the media processor that transmitted the invitation, and wherein presentation of the media program is synchronized by the media processor in accordance with a control signal transmitted by the media processor to each device participating in the media session; presenting, by the system, the downloaded media program responsive to receiving the control signal; and filtering, by the system, communications during the media session with the other participants to remove objectionable content.