Patent Abstract:
There is provided a device including a display and a processor to receive, from a user, a user selection of a message share setting for enabling the user to post across a plurality of social networking services, send, to a server, the user selection for enabling the user to post across the plurality of social networking services, play a video on the display, in response to a video request by the user, and receive, from the user, a request to post across the plurality of social networking services, provide a dialog entry on the display, in response to receiving the request, receive, from the user, via the dialog entry on the display, a message to be shared across the plurality of social networking services, and send, to the server, the message from the user to be posted on the plurality of social networking services.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to transmitting data to a playback device. More particularly, the present invention relates to transmitting a services list to a playback device. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    Blu-ray players and other digital video disc playback devices allow users to connect to the Internet to access additional features and data during playback of Blu-ray Discs and other digital discs. Many digital video discs have incorporated capabilities to allow users to access their accounts on numerous third-party services, including social networking services such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus (Google+). 
         [0005]    Presently, a digital video disc, such as a Blu-ray Disc, provides capability for users to access accounts on a fixed number of third-party services. While the availability of new and existing third-party services may change over time, present digital video discs are hard-coded with a fixed set of supported third-party services that may be managed from menu options. In order to gain access to additional third-party services unavailable on a particular digital video disc, users may have to purchase or exchange for newly updated discs with updated support code, which may be costly and inconvenient. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by providing a method that provides updated access to third-party services on digital video discs without resorting to replacement discs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    There is provided systems and methods for transmitting a services list to a playback device, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  presents an environment in which a mediator server may support transmitting a services list to a playback device, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  presents a diagram of a menu displaying the services list transmitted to a playback device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3   a  presents a diagram of the menu from  FIG. 2  presenting the updated services list, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3   b  presents a diagram of the menu from  FIG. 3   a  displaying an activation interface for creating an activation request, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3   c  presents a diagram of the menu from  FIG. 3   b  displaying a login success interface in response to a successful verification of an activation request, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4   a  presents a diagram of a display device displaying a pop-up menu and a text message dialog, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4   b  presents a diagram of a display device displaying the pop-up menu from  FIG. 4   a  and a services interface, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4   c  presents a diagram of a display device displaying the pop-up menu from  FIG. 4   b  and a success dialog, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a flowchart describing the steps, according to one embodiment of the invention, by which a services list may be transmitted to a playback device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The present application is directed to a system and method for transmitting a services list to a playback device. The following description contains specific information pertaining to the implementation of the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be implemented in a manner different from that specifically discussed in the present application. Moreover, some of the specific details of the invention are not discussed in order not to obscure the invention. The specific details not described in the present application are within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art. The drawings in the present application and their accompanying detailed description are directed to merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. To maintain brevity, other embodiments of the invention, which use the principles of the present invention, are not specifically described in the present application and are not specifically illustrated by the present drawings. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  presents an environment in which a mediator server may support transmitting a services list to a playback device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Environment  100  includes display device  101 , playback device  102 , network  140 , servers  141 ,  142 , and  143 , application programming interface (API)  150 , and mediator server  161 . Playback device  102  includes device memory  103 , digital video disc  107 , and device processor  106 . Device memory  103  includes credential file  104  and device application  105 . Digital video disc  107  includes disc application  108 . Mediator server  161  includes processor  162  and memory  163 . Memory  163  includes services list  164  and mediator application  165 . 
         [0020]    Display device  101  may be any type of visual output device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) television, for example. Display device  101  may be connected to playback device  102  through a wireless or physical connection. Playback device  102  may be any type of device capable of presenting audio and visual contents stored in digital video disc  107  onto display device  101 . In one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , playback device  102  may be a Blu-ray Disc player. Device memory  103  may be any type of computer readable storage device. Credential file  104  may comprise any type of data file. Credential file  104  may store prior history information such as, for example, previously used account login information, including usernames and passwords for prior accessed third-party services. Credential file  104  may be encrypted or otherwise protected from unauthorized access. Device processor  106  may be any type of computing processor. Device application  105  may be a software application executed by device processor  106  to direct the behavior of playback device  102 . Digital video disc  107  may comprise any type of optical data disc or another physical media format, such as a flash memory card. In one embodiment, digital video disc  107  may be a Blu-ray Disc. Disc application  108  may be a software application used by playback device  102  for media playback or to present other functionalities, such as menu options, from digital video disc  107 . 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, mediator server  161  may be any type of server machine. Processor  162  may be any type of processor. Memory  163  may be any type of machine-readable digital data storage device. Services list  164  may be an updatable data file comprising a list of third-party services presently recognized by mediator server  164 . Mediator application  165  may be a software application executed and controlled by processor  162 . Application programming interface  150  may comprise a data file containing a set of rules and specifications for implementing the interfaces of software applications. Both disc application  108  and mediator application  165  may be implemented in conformity to a common application programming interface  150 . Accordingly, mediator server  161 , using mediator application  165 , and playback device  102 , using disc application  108 , may communicate through a common application programming interface  150 . Accordingly, when mediator application  165  is updated to reflect additional functionalities, mediator application  165  may still fully communicate with device processor  106 , executing disc application  108 . In one embodiment, application programming interface  150  may reside within mediator server  161 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, network  140  may comprise any type of network, such as the Internet. Servers  141 - 143  may represent server hardware clusters or data centers connected to network  140 . In one embodiment, servers  141 - 143  may host the third-party services listed in services list  164 . In alternative embodiments, other servers (not shown) may host some third-party services listed in services list  164 . Third-party services may be social networking services such as, for example, Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus, respectively. In alternative embodiments, servers  141 - 143  may host other types of third-party services, for example e-commerce sites and other services. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, device processor  106 , executing disc application  108 , may send a service request for services list  164  through network  140  to mediator server  161 , and mediator application  165  may be configured to receive, from playback device  102 , that service request for services list  164  or a subset of the contents of services list  164 . In the present embodiment, the general service request may be transmitted to request the entire services list  164 . In other embodiments, a specific service request may be transmitted to request a subset of the contents of services list  164 . As an example, a specific service request may seek a list of third-party services that may perform a specific function. That specific functionality may be the capability to allow users to create and retrieve an online cash account with a balance so the user may make online purchases, for example. The returned list of third-party services may include Amazon.com or any other e-commerce sites with similar functionalities but may not include social networking sites such as Facebook, for example. The specific functionality may be associated with a category in the metadata file, as will be explained below. Therefore, in alternative embodiments, service requests may be specific service requests that contain a specific functionality, and the associated transmitted services list may comprise contents associated with that specific functionality. 
         [0024]    In the present embodiment, the service request may comprise a BD-Live (Blu-ray Disc Live) access request from playback device  102 . When playback device  102  attempts to acquire any contents or features associated with digital video disc  107  across network  140  or to gain access to a third-party service across network  140 , playback device  102  may transmit a BD-Live access request across network  140 , as is known in the art. In alternative embodiments, a service request may comprise other types of access requests that may be transmitted to and received by mediator application  165 . 
         [0025]    In the present embodiment, mediator application  165  may be further configured to send services list  164  for presenting on display device  101  in response to receiving the service request from playback device  102 . Sending services list  164  may cause mediator application  165  to duplicate services list  164  and send the duplicated service list  164  to playback device  102 . In one embodiment, prior to sending services list  164 , mediator application  165  may be further configured to dynamically update services list  164  to reflect a present availability of third-party services. Since some third-party services may be created and other third-party services may become inaccessible, service list  164  may require updating in order to reflect such changes. Device processor  106 , executing disc application  108 , may present services list  164  on display device  102  in response to receiving the services list  164 . Device processor  106 , executing disc application  108 , may present services list  164  by displaying services list  164  through a built-in menu of digital video disc  107  or other graphical components. In one embodiment, sending services list  164  may further comprise delivering a metadata file associated with services list  164 , wherein the metadata file comprises information categorizing the contents within services list  164 . 
         [0026]    In other embodiments, the metadata file may be initially and automatically transmitted to playback device  102  when the user accesses a main menu setting in order to populate the main menu with selectable categories. A category may be selected and such a selection may result in a specific service request requesting a subset of the list of third-party services listed in services list  164  matching the specific function associated with the category. 
         [0027]    In the present embodiment, even if a transmitted services list contains less than all of the contents listed in services list  164 , the metadata file may still contain all of the category information. Using the metadata file, device processor  106 , using disc application  108 , may display the contents of services list  164  in several categories based on, for example, the operational functionalities associated with the contents. In order to use display area economically, device processor  106  may not present all categories in the metadata list. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, after presenting services list  164  onto display device  101 , device processor  106 , executing disc application  108 , may transmit an activation request for a third-party service listed in services list  164 . Transmitting the activation request from playback device  102  may further comprise accessing credential file  104  in order to obtain an account login information. As previously explained, credential file  104  may contain prior history information including an account login information. The account login information may be stored within the activation request and transmitted to mediator server  161  to facilitate activating a third-party service from the mediator server  161 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, mediator application  165  may be configured to receive from playback device  102 , an activation request for a third-party service listed in services list  164 . In order for mediator application  165  to access a third-party service listed in services list  164 , a user of playback device  102  may be initially required to create and send an activation request for that third-party service listed in services list  164  to mediator server  161 . Descriptions for  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , and  3   c  below will further describe how to create an activation request. Mediator server  161 , using mediator application  165 , may activate that third-party service associated with the activation request in response to receiving the activation request. In this instance, the third-party service may be a social networking service, such as Facebook, for example. In one embodiment, mediator server  161 , using mediator application  165 , may activate the third-party service by establishing a connection to that third-party service, which may be hosted within any one of server  141 - 143  or within another location in network  140 . In one embodiment, activating the third-party service may comprise mediator application  165 , using the activation request, logging into a user account within that third-party service. As explained previously, an activation request may comprise an account login information, for example. In alternative embodiments, mediator server  161 , using mediator application  165 , may activate a third-party service by using the activation request to log into a plurality of user accounts of the third-party service. Some users may have multiple user accounts within the same third-party service, and mediator application  165  may use an appropriately created activation request to log into all of the multiple user accounts. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, whenever mediator server  161 , using mediator application  165 , successfully activates a third-party service, mediator server  161  may transmit a successful verification to playback device  102  through network  140 . Device processor  106 , executing disc application  108 , may update display device  101  with a login success interface in response to receiving a successful verification of the activation request. The successful verification may be any type of appropriate digital notification. Login success interface may comprise a message regarding the successful activation of the third-party service. In the present embodiment, updating display device  101  in response to a successful verification may comprise storing an account login information of the activation request back into credential file  104  if such account login information does not already exist in credential file  104 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  presents a diagram of a menu displaying the services list transmitted to a playback device. Diagram  200  of  FIG. 2  includes display device  250 . Display device  250  includes menu  210 . Menu  210  includes settings component  201 , account settings component  202 , share settings component  204 , and plurality of service components  205 . Plurality of service components  205  comprises service components  206  and  207 . Display device  250  corresponds to display device  101  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, menu  210  may comprise a graphical user interface (GUI) of options shown on display device  250  while disc application  108  of  FIG. 1  may be executing in playback device  102  of  FIG. 1 . Menu  210  may be a subsection of a main menu generated from digital video disc  107  of  FIG. 1  using disc application  108  of  FIG. 1 . Thus, rather than being accessed through a separate application, the third-party services listed in services list  164  of  FIG. 1  may be integrated directly into the built-in main or pop-up menus of digital video disc  107 . Settings component  201  may be a graphical component of menu  210 . Settings component  201  may be a conventional graphical drop down bar with additional components. Account settings component  202  may be another drop down bar within settings component  201 . Share settings component  204  may also be a drop down bar under account settings component  202 . Plurality of service components  205  may comprise the graphical presentation of services list  164  of  FIG. 1 . Each of service components  206  and  207  may comprise a graphical component associated with a third-party service listed in services list  164 . Service components  206  or  207  may be used to cause mediator server  161  to access the associated third-party service that may be hosted on servers  141 - 143  of  FIG. 1 , or on any other locations connected to network  140  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0033]    As previously explained, device processor  106  of  FIG. 1  may present services list  164  as plurality of service components  205  on display device  250 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , device processor  106  may present plurality of service components  205  through a built-in menu  210 . Presently, services list  164  may contain a list of the Facebook and Twitter services. Thus, service components  206  and  207  may be associated with Facebook and Twitter services, respectively. In the present embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 2 , service components  206  and  207  under share settings component  204  may only be used to cause mediator server  161  of  FIG. 1  to activate the third-party services associated with service components  206  and  207 . Other uses for the plurality of service components  205  may be performed at other areas of menu  210  or through other built-in pop-up menus of digital video disc  107 . 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 2 , share settings component  204  may represent a category of third-party services with the specific functionality to share contents, such as status updates, across a social network. No other categories are shown in  FIG. 2 . However, as previously explained, information for all available categories may be stored in the metadata file associated with services list  164  and transmitted to playback device  102 . In alternative embodiments, a user may request account settings component  202  to display more categories in the metadata file, if any exists. The user may select any of these additional categories, which may be populated with contents listed in services list  164 . Various categories may even comprise overlapping third-party service components. Therefore, in alternative embodiments, a user may have numerous categories to choose from in menu  210  in order to search for and activate a third-party service that can perform a desired functionality or service. As previously explained, the categories may be pre-determined by mediator server  161  and each displayed category may represent a functionality or service with a list of associated third-party components. For example, the categories may include any e-commerce service, online banking service, movie streaming service, or any other types of services recognized by mediator server  161 . Each of the displayed categories may be populated with additional relevant third-party components associated with existing third-party services. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3   a  presents a diagram of the menu from  FIG. 2  presenting an updated services list, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  300   a  of  FIG. 3  includes display device  350 . Display device  350  includes menu  310 . Menu  310  comprises settings component  301 , account settings component  302 , share settings component  304 , and plurality of service components  305 . Plurality of service components  305  comprises service components  306 ,  307 , and  309 . Display device  350 , menu  310 , settings component  301 , account settings component  302 , share settings component  304 , and service components  306  and  307  may correspond to display device  250 , menu  210 , settings component  201 , account settings component  202 , share settings component  204 , and service components  206  and  207  of  FIG. 2 , respectively. 
         [0036]    Menu  310  may correspond to menu  210  of  FIG. 2  being accessed at a later time. Mediator server  161  of  FIG. 1  may have become aware of a new third-party service since the most recent access of services list  164 , and services list  164  may be dynamically updated with new information to reflect a present availability of third-party services. Presently, device processor  106 , executing disc application  108 , may once again send a service request to mediator server  161  and may receive in return a dynamically updated services list  164 . Accordingly, plurality of service components  305 , being the graphical presentation of an updated services list  164 , may also be different from plurality of service components  205  of  FIG. 2 . Plurality of service components  305  may comprise not only service components  306  and  307 , but also service component  309 . Service component  309  may be associated with a new third-party service, such as, for example, Google Plus service. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3   b  presents a diagram of the menu from  FIG. 3   a  displaying an activation interface for creating an activation request, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  300   b  of  FIG. 3   b  includes display device  350 . Display device  350  includes menu  310 . Menu  310  includes settings component  301 , account settings component  302 , share settings component  304 , service components  306 ,  307 , and  309 , and activation interface  320 . With respect to  FIG. 3   b , elements with like numbers may correspond to similar elements in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0038]    In  FIG. 3   b , service component  306  may be selected for activation. As previously explained, in order to initially activate any third-party service, device processor  106  of  FIG. 1 , using disc application  108  of  FIG. 1 , may transmit an activation request to mediator server  161  of  FIG. 1  for activating the third-party service associated with service component  306 . In one embodiment, the activation request may be created using activation interface  320 . Activation interface  320  may comprise GUI components that may allow the user to input any required information, such as credential information. The types of credential information required may be contained in services list  164  of  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, activation interface  320  may provide text fields for inputting a username and password of a user account of a third-party service. Activation request may be created to contain the username and password. Once the activation request is transmitted to mediator server  161 , mediator application  165  may activate the third-party service associated with service component  306  by using the activation request to log into an account within that third-party service. In the present embodiment, device processor  106  may obtain the username, password and other relevant credential information from credential file  104  and automatically input the username, password, and other relevant credential information into activation interface  320 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3   c  presents a diagram of the menu from  FIG. 3   b  displaying a login success interface in response to a successful verification of an activation request, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  300   c  of  FIG. 3   c  includes display device  350 . Display device  350  includes menu  310 . Menu  310  includes settings component  301 , account settings component  302 , share settings component  304 , service components  306 ,  307 , and  309 , and login success interface  321 . With respect to  FIG. 3   c , elements with like numbers may correspond to similar elements in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0040]    Mediator server  161  of  FIG. 1 , using mediator application  165  of  FIG. 1 , may be configured to transmit a successful verification to playback device  102  of  FIG. 1  upon successfully activating the third-party service associated with service components  306 . As explained previously, a successful activation may entail that third-party service successfully verifying the activation request and allowing mediator server  161  to log into a user account of that third-party service. Accordingly, upon a successful verification, mediator server  161  may establish access to a user account within that third-party service. 
         [0041]    Playback device  102 , upon receiving the successful verification, may update display device  350  with login success interface  321 . If service component  306  may have already been activated or activation results in failure, then service component  306  may simply display a message stating that activation for the associated third-party service has previously been performed or has presently failed. In one embodiment, service components  306 ,  307 , and  309  may only be used to activate or deactivated their associated third-party services under menu  310 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4   a  presents a diagram of a display device displaying a pop-up menu and a text message dialog, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  400   a  of  FIG. 4   a  includes display device  401 . Display device  401  includes movie scene  402 , selection cursor  403 , share button  404 , viewing options button  406 , exit button  408 , and text message dialog  409 . Text message dialog  409  includes individual message  407 , post message button  410 , and cancel button  411 . Display device  401  may correspond to display device  101  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0043]    Mediator application  165  of  FIG. 1  may be further configured to implement a user induced interaction for a third-party service that has been activated. The user induced interaction may comprise posting a public status update or any other interactive actions allowed by the plurality of service components during playback of content from digital video disc  107  of  FIG. 1  in playback device  102  of  FIG. 1 . Together, share button  404 , viewing options button  406 , and exit button  408  may comprise a pop-up menu that may be accessible while playback device  102  may be presenting movie scene  402  from digital video disc  107 . Share button  404 , viewing options button  406 , and exit button  408  may be any type of conventional graphical button. Share button  404  may be used to share a text message or post a status update with any third-party services that may be activated. Using share button  404  may cause text message dialog  409 , containing a predetermined message, to appear. Individual message  407  may be used to replace any predetermined messages in text message dialog  409 . Post message button  410 , which may be any type of graphical button, may be used to cause mediator application  165  to post individual message  407  into a third-party service. In the present embodiment, the user may direct pop-up menu to display additional buttons corresponding to additional categories from the metadata file associated with services list  164  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 4   b  presents a diagram of a display device displaying the pop-up menu from  FIG. 4   a  and a services interface, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  400   b  of  FIG. 4   b  includes display device  401 . Display device  401  includes movie scene  402 , selection cursor  403 , share button  404 , viewing options button  406 , exit button  408 , and services interface  412 . Services interface  412  includes service components  413 ,  414 , and  415 . With respect to  FIG. 4   b , elements with like numbers may correspond to similar elements in  FIG. 4   a.    
         [0045]    In one embodiment, after using post message button  410  in  FIG. 4   a , services interface  412  may appear. Any combination of service components  413 - 415  may be selected to cause mediator application  165  of  FIG. 1  to transmit individual message  407  of  FIG. 4   a  to the third-party services associated with the selected service components  413 - 415 . In one embodiment, service component  413  may be associated with Twitter, service component  414  may be associated with Google Plus, and service component  415  may be associated with Facebook. In one embodiment, service component  415  may be selected to receive individual message  407 . Such a selection may cause mediator server  161  of  FIG. 1  to post individual message  407  into an account in Facebook. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4   c  presents a diagram of a display device displaying the pop-up menu from  FIG. 4   b  and a success dialog, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  400   c  of  FIG. 4   c  includes display device  401 . Display device  401  includes movie scene  402 , selection cursor  403 , share button  404 , viewing options button  406 , exit button  408 , and success dialog  416 . With respect to  FIG. 4   c , elements with like numbers may correspond to similar elements in  FIG. 4   a.    
         [0047]    When mediator application  165  of  FIG. 1  successfully implements a user induced interaction such as posting a status update by using service components  413 - 415  of  FIG. 4   b , the status update may be displayed in the appropriate third-party services, such as a social networking service like Facebook, for example, and success dialog  416  may appear within display device  401 . Success dialog  416  may be any type of dialog with a text message indicating a successful implementing of the user induced interaction. In one embodiment, if mediator server  161  fails to post the text message into the selected third-party service, then mediator server  161 , using mediator application  165 , may display an error message on display device  401 . Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, if the selected third-party service has not been activated, then mediator server  161 , using mediator application  165 , may transmit a notification to playback device  102  indicating that the selected third-party service requires activation, and device processor  106  of  FIG. 1  may automatically replace pop-up menu with display menu  310  of  FIG. 3   b  in order to allow the user to create an activation request for a selected third-party service. 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  shows a flowchart describing the steps, according to one embodiment of the invention, by which a services list may be transmitted to a playback device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Certain details and features have been left out of flowchart  500  that are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, a step may comprise one or more sub-steps or may involve specialized equipment or materials, for example, as known the art. While steps  510  through  540  indicated in flowchart  500  are sufficient to describe one embodiment of the present method, other embodiments may utilize steps different from those shown in flowchart  500 , or may include more, or fewer steps. 
         [0049]    Referring to step  510  of flowchart  500  in  FIG. 5  and environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  510  of flowchart  500  comprises mediator application  165  receiving, from playback device  102 , a service request for services list  164 . As previously explained, a service request, such as a BD-Live access request, for example, may contain a request services list  164  in mediator server  161 . 
         [0050]    Referring to step  520  of flowchart  500  in  FIG. 5 , environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  520  of flowchart  500  comprises mediator application  165  sending services list  164  for presenting on display device  101  in response to receiving the service request from step  510 . As previously explained, mediator server  161 , using mediator application  165 , may transmit services list  164  to playback device  102  in response to receiving service request. Mediator server  161  may create an exact duplicate of services list  164  to send to playback device  161 . 
         [0051]    Referring to step  530  of flowchart  500  in  FIG. 5 , environment  100  of  FIG. 1  and diagram  300   b  of  FIG. 3   b , step  530  of flowchart  500  comprises mediator application  165  receiving an activation request for a third-party service listed in services list  164 . As previously explained, playback device  102  may transmit an activation request to mediator server  161 . The activation request may be associated with a particular third-party service listed in services list  164 . 
         [0052]    Referring to step  540  of flowchart  500  in  FIG. 5 , environment  100  of  FIG. 1 , step  540  of flowchart  500  comprises mediator application  165  activating a third-party service in response to receiving the activation request from step  530 . As previously explained, mediator application  165  may use information contained in the activation request to connect to the third-party service associated with the activation request by logging into an account within that third-party service. 
         [0053]    Thus, a system and method for transmitting a services list to a playback device for a digital video disc has been disclosed. By storing an updatable services list containing information on available third-party services, mediator server may send such services list to playback device in order for playback device to present a list of dynamically adjustable third-party services for a digital video disc on a display device. Accordingly, by programming a digital video disc such as a Blu-ray disc according to an API using a mediator server, a dynamically adjustable services list may be supported without changing the disc application code. 
         [0054]    From the above description of the invention it is manifest that various techniques can be used for implementing the concepts of the present invention without departing from its scope. Moreover, while the invention has been described with specific reference to certain embodiments, a person of ordinary skills in the art would recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. As such, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of many rearrangement, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7