Abstract:
An application for a television interfacing to a social network includes an interface to the social network relating to a program or activity of the user. For example, if the user is watching a sporting event, using their remote control, the user easily informs other social network subscribers or groups of subscribers of the sporting event, in case they are unaware that the sporting event is being televised. With a simple command initiative, the receiving subscriber changes to the recommended content/program.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of social networking and more particularly to a system for socially interacting on a display screen of a device such as a television. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Social networks such as MySpace and FaceBook are well known for use by computer and cell-phone users. Early social networks provided a dating service whereby a user would register and create a profile containing a posting. In this, they would describe themselves, their likes, dislikes, hobbies, work, etc. Once created, the posting is advertised to others looking for, perhaps, a date. 
         [0003]    Later, such networks evolved to concentrate on needs other than dating. Web sites the likes of MySpace and FaceBook appeal to the social needs of people, providing a canvas on which members write about themselves, post pictures and the like. 
         [0004]    Web sites such as Linkedin and Plaxo provide online business networking similar to other social networks. Such networks provide secure access and features that enhances business relationship networking. For example, once you are invited to become a friend (or buddy) to another member and accept, you have the ability to keep in contact with that member even when they change jobs, move, etc. Furthermore, if friends of your friend allow, you will be able to network with people that you haven&#39;t met, but trust because of your buddy. 
         [0005]    Social networking has hereto for been practiced primarily by users of computer systems such as personal computers, notebooks and even cellular phones. In such, the networking session is somewhat private to the user of the computer system (e.g., the user is one-on-one with the computer system) and these systems have privacy and security already in place. 
         [0006]    Recently, certain devices such as televisions have progressed to encompass increased computational and display capabilities. Typical high-definition televisions currently have far better display and processing power than many personal computers. Furthermore, these devices are being networked to for example, provide enhanced content from the Internet. With such capability, there is now room for social networking features. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a system that will provide an extension of social networking to a device such as a television. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    A device, such as a television, interfaces to a social network and provides an interface to the social network relating to a program or activity of the user. For example, if the user is watching a sporting event, using their remote control, the user easily informs other social network subscribers of the sporting event, in case they are unaware that the sporting event is being televised, etc. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, a social network system is disclosed including a network and a plurality of televisions, each of the televisions has a processor and each processor is interfaced to the network. A social network system includes a server that is also interfaced to the network. There is software for registering each of the televisions with the social network and software for signaling a first television of the televisions to initiate a social network function, responsive to the signaling, the first television of the televisions sends an information packet over the network to the server where software on the server distributes a request packet from the social network to one or more of the televisions over the network. At the one or more of the televisions, software receives the request packet, displays information from the request packet and changes content shown on the one or more of the televisions based on viewer approval. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a method of providing social network features to a television is disclosed including, providing a network and a plurality of televisions, each of the televisions having a processor, each processor interfaced to the network and providing a social network system that has a server, the server also interfaced to the network. Next, registering each of the televisions with the social network. Signaling a first television of the televisions to initiate a social network function and responsive to the signaling, the first television of the televisions sending an information packet over the network to the server where the server distributes a request packet to one or more of the televisions over the network and at the one or more of the televisions, the request packet is received, information from the request packet is displayed and a content shown on the one or more of the televisions is changed based on viewer approval. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, a system for providing social network features to a television is disclosed including, a network, a first television and a second television. Each of the televisions has a processor and each processor is interfaced to the network. The system includes a social network system that has a server also interfaced to the network. Software running on each of the processors registers each of the televisions with the social network and software running on the processor of the first television initiates a social network function responsive to a command from a remote control associated with the first television by sending an information packet over the network to the server where software running on the server receives the information packet and, responsive to the information packet, distributes a request packet over the network to one or more televisions, including the second television. Software running on the processor of the second television receives the request packet, displays information from the request packet, reads a viewer&#39;s command from a remote control associated with the second television, and changes a content shown on the second televisions based on approval of the viewer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a social network. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of a typical television showing a first content being viewed by an originating user. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a plan view of a typical television showing the first content and a pop-up selection being viewed by the originating user. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a plan view of a typical television showing the first content and a highlighted selection being viewed by the originating user. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of a typical television showing a second content being viewed by a receiving user. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates a plan view of a typical television showing the second content and a pop-up message being viewed by the receiving user. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates a plan view of a typical television showing the first content now being viewed by the receiving user. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates a plan view of a typical television showing the second content still being viewed by the receiving user. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates a first flow chart operating on a processor within the typical television. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  illustrates a second flow chart operating on the processor within the typical television. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  illustrates a first flow chart operating on a processor of a social network. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  illustrates a third flow chart operating on the processor within the typical television. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  illustrates a fourth flow chart operating on the processor within the typical television. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  illustrates a block diagram of a typical television system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of a social network will be described. In this, multiple devices  5 / 5 A/ 5 B/ 8 / 9  are connected to a network  4  such as the Internet  4 . Some of the devices are televisions  5 / 5 A/ 5 B while some of the devices are computers  8 / 9 . The televisions  5 / 5 A/ 5 B are typically controlled by a remote control  6 / 6 A/ 6 B. Also interfaced to the network  4  is a social network system  30 , typically having a server  32  (or group of servers) and data storage  34  in which subscriber account data is stored, including, security credentials, lists of friends or buddies and groups of friends or buddies (e.g. a group of buddies that enjoy NASCAR racing). 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a plan view of a typical television  5  showing a first content  7  being viewed by an originating user will be described. In this, the originating user is watching a first television program or content  7 . In this example, the originating user is watching an automobile race. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a plan view of a typical television  5  showing the first content  7  and a pop-up selection  50  being viewed by the originating user will be described. In this, the originating user has operated their remote control  6  to initiate a menu  50  that is displayed over any part of the television program or content  7 . The art of such menus is well known and includes, but is not limited to, overlays, pop-up messages, translucent messages, etc. In this example, the originating user is a member of social network groups related to sewing  52 , racing  54 , golf  56  and bridge  58 . This is an exemplary list of groups and it is anticipated that any list of groups or individual subscribers/users of one or more disparate social networks be displayed in the menu  50 . a similar menu  50  includes one or more identities of individual subscribers to one or more social networks selected by the originating user either by making those individual subscribers buddies or through a user interface of the television  5 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a plan view of a typical television showing the first content  7  and a highlighted selection  54  as viewed by the originating user will be described. In this, the originating user has operated their remote control  6  to initiate a menu  50  that is displayed over any part of the television program or content  7  and highlighted the second selection  54  (racing) of the possible selections  52 / 54 / 56 / 58 . It is well known in the industry to present a menu  50  and provide users with keys or input devices that navigate the menu  50  to select or highlight one particular item  54  within the menu and all known navigation methods are included here within, including but not limited to, arrow keys, joy sticks, roller balls, mice, sliders, touch pads, etc. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a plan view of a typical television  5 A showing a second content  7 A being viewed by a receiving user will be described. In this, the receiving user is watching a second television program or content  7 A. In this example, the receiving user is watching a news program. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a plan view of a typical television  5 A showing the second content  7 A and a pop-up message being viewed by the receiving user will be described. In this, the receiving user has received a signal from, for example, a social network to which the first and receiving user subscribe. The message  60  is from the originating user and the message  60  explains that the race that the originating user is watching is being televised. The message  60  indicates, in this exemplary user interface, that if the receiving user presses, for example, the select key  62 , the television  5 A will switch channels to show the race, instead of the news program. In some embodiments, the message  60  is displayed in a picture-in-picture (PIP) window and is either accepted, rejected or, in some embodiments, times out. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a plan view of a typical television  5 A showing the first content  7 A now being viewed by the receiving user will be described. If the receiving user accepts the change by, for example, pressing the “Select” key or function, the television  5 A changes channels to view the first content/program or race  7 . As will be described, it is anticipated that the originating user and receiving user are served by the same or different content providers (e.g. cable, satellite, fiber, etc). In situations in which the originating user and receiving user are served by different content providers, it is anticipated that, in some situations, the first content  7  (e.g. race  7 ) is on a different channel or station and that a translation is performed using, for example, the title of the content  7  and a program guide. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a plan view of a typical television  5 A showing the second content  7 A still being viewed by the receiving user will be described. In this, the receiving user has either ignored the message from the originating user and the message was erased after a period of time of the receiving user pressed a different key or function (e.g. “Exit”) to signal the television  5 A that they do not want to change programs and the content  7 A already being watched continues. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a first flow chart operating on a processor within the typical television  5  will be described. Many different program flows are anticipated, this being one example. Action begins when, for example, the originating user is accessing content  7  (e.g. a television program, web content, downloaded video, etc). If that content is, say, interesting and the user wants to share it with a friend, networking group, or list of friends, the originating user signals their device  200  to present a menu  50 . For example, the user presses a key on a remote control  6  and a menu  50  is presented on a television  5 . In this example, a processing element  100  (see  FIG. 14 ) of the television  5  accesses  202  a list of friends and/or groups and displays  204  the list as, for example, the menu  50 . The user then selects  206  one or more entries from the list by, for example, navigating to that list using the remote control  6  and pressing a select key on the remote control  6 . Responsive to the selection, the processing element  100  transmits  208  an information packet to the server  32  of, for example, the social network  30 . Note that it is anticipated that in some situations the list of friends and/or groups exceeds the display space capabilities of the device/television  5  (e.g. an originating user has 100 buddies) and well known scrolling capabilities are provided to select  206  to one or more entries from the list. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a second flow chart operating on the processor within the typical television  5  will be described. This exemplary process is run to provide access to the television  5  by the server  32  (e.g. social network  30 ). The first step of this exemplary process is to identify  220  the system to be accessed (e.g. Plaxo, Facebook, Linkedln, etc). For example, a list of possible cooperating systems is presented and the user selects one on the list, or a keyboard is presented and the user enters a web address for the network of choice. Next, the user enters an account name or user name  222  and a password  224  or other account access credentials, for example on a keyboard of a remote or a displayed keyboard on the television  5 . The password and account information are used to test access  226 . If access is not allowed, the above steps are repeated until the proper user identity and access information are provided and access is allowed at which time the credentials are stored  230  local to the processor  100  (e.g. in local storage  103  as in  FIG. 14 ) and an address of the device/television  5  (e.g. URL) is conveyed to the server  32 . At this point, the television  5  is now known to the system (e.g. social network  30 ) and social networking features described are accessible. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , a first flow chart operating on, for example, a server  32  of a social network  30  will be described. The server  32  receives  240  the packet of information from the television  5  and expands  242  any groups into a list of users then accesses a first receiving user  244 . If the receiving user has enabled this activity  246  (e.g. has an address or URL of a device associated with their account as in  FIG. 10 ), the server  32  sends a request packet  248  to that device/television. The request packet contains, for example, an identification of the originating user and an identification of the action (e.g. watch FOX for the race). In some embodiments, the request packet contains a channel, address, URL, or other identifying information to direct the receiving user to the content. In some embodiments, the request packet contains a title or description of the program and the receiving user or receiving device determines the proper channel, URL, station, etc, from the content. 
         [0039]    A next receiving user on the list is accessed  250  and if more receiving users are on the list  252 , the prior three steps  246 / 248 / 250  are repeated. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a third flow chart operating on the processor  100  within the typical television  5  will be described. In this, the device/television  5  of the receiving user receives  260  the request packet from the server  32 . The processor  100  displays  262  a message  60  including some or all of the information from the request packet  60  (see  FIG. 6 ) and waits for a response from the receiving user. If the response is to go to that content  264 , the processor  100  accesses the content  272 . Once a response is made (e.g. to go to the content or ignore the message) or a time period elapses, the message  60  is cleared  274 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , a fourth flow chart operating on the processor  100  within the typical television  5  will be described. In this, the device/television  5  of the receiving user receives  280  the request packet from the server  32 . The processor  100  displays  282  a message  60  including the information from the request packet (see  FIG. 6 ) and waits for a response from the receiving user. If the response is to go to that content  284 , the processor  100  translates  286  some of the information in the request packet into a local station or address. For example, the translation  286  is a search of a local electronic program guide  101  (see  FIG. 14 ) for a name of a content or program contained in the request packet. If the translation is successful  288  (e.g. the program is available from the receiving user&#39;s service provider) accesses the content  292  is made. If translation is not successful  288 , an error message is displayed  290  (e.g. “This program is not available from DISH network”). Once a response is made (e.g. to go to the content or ignore the message) or a time period elapses, the message  60  is cleared  294 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , a schematic view of an exemplary television will be described. This figure is intended as a representative schematic of a typical monitor/television  5  and in practice, some elements are not present in some monitors/televisions  5  and/or additional elements are present in some monitors/televisions  5  as known in the industry. In this example, a display panel  7  for content is connected to a processing element  100 . The display panel  7  is representative of any known display panel including, but not limited to, LCD display panels, Plasma display panels, OLED display panels, LED display panels and cathode ray tubes (CRTs). 
         [0043]    The processing element  100  accepts video inputs and audio inputs selectively from a variety of sources including an internal television broadcast receiver  102 , High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), USB ports and an analog-to-digital converter  104 . The analog-to-digital converter  104  accepts analog inputs from legacy video sources such as S-Video and Composite video and converts the analog video signal into a digital video signal before passing it to the processing element. The processing element controls the display of the video on the display panel  7 . 
         [0044]    Audio emanates from either the broadcast receiver  102 , the legacy source (e.g., S-Video) or a discrete analog audio input (Audio-IN). If the audio source is digital, the processing element  100  routes the audio to a digital-to-analog converter  106  and then to an input of a multiplexer  108 . The multiplexer  108 , under control of the processing element  100 , selects one of the audio sources and routes the selected audio to the audio output and an internal audio amplifier  110 . The internal audio amplifier  110  amplifies the audio and delivers it to internal speakers  134 / 136 . 
         [0045]    The processing element  100  accepts commands from a remote control  6 / 6 A/ 6 B/ 111  through remote receiver  113 . Although IR is often used to communicate commands from the remote control  111  to the remote receiver  113 , any known wireless technology is anticipated for connecting the remote control  111  to the processing element  100  including, but not limited to, radio frequencies (e.g., Bluetooth), sound (e.g., ultrasonic) and other spectrums of light. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the wireless technology be either one way from the remote  111  to the receiver  113  or two way. 
         [0046]    In this exemplary television, the processing element  100  has local, persistent storage (e.g. flash memory, hard disk, etc) for storing and accessing, for example, an electronic program guide  101  and user information  103  such as social networking identification and access credentials. 
         [0047]    In some embodiments, the television  5  connects to networks such as the Internet  4  through a wireless network interface  120  having an antenna  20 . In some embodiments, the television connects to the Internet  4  through a local area network using a local area network adapter  124  for connecting to, for example, an Ethernet local area network or a power line local area network, as known in the industry. 
         [0048]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0049]    It is believed that the system and method and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.