# US 10,313,731 B1 · Roaming video session with radio frequency remote control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,731 B1 - Document ID: US10313731B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/581,854 - Filed: 2017-04-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-28 - Assignees: Cox Communications, Inc. - Applicants: Cox Communications, Inc. - Inventors: Ramkumar Krishnan; Muhammad Raza; Matt Munchinski; Albert Higashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313731B1 ## CPC - H04N 21/42221: {Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]} - H04N 21/41265: {having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device (unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204)} - H04N 21/43078: {for seamlessly watching content streams when changing device, e.g. when watching the same programme sequentially on a TV and then on a tablet} - H04N 21/436: Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB {or one or more peripheral devices} inside the home - H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)} - H04N 21/442: Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk {(arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00)} - H04N 21/44218: {Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV programme (methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45)} - H04N 21/4532: {involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A roaming video experience, in which users continue watching a content item when moving from viewing device to viewing device is enabled herein via Radio Frequency (RF) enabled remote controls and set top boxes. A device identifier from a first RF-enabled set top box is communicated to an active RF-enabled remote control. When a user signals a second RF-enabled set top box, the viewing session parameter set associated with the active RF-enabled remote control is passed to the second RF-enabled set top box. Using the parameter set, the second set top box is enabled to learn the system settings, user preferences, and content item that were used on the first set top box, and provide a continued viewing experience—the roaming video experience—for the user on an associated viewing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for providing a roaming viewing experience in conjunction with radio frequency (RF) enabled remote controls and set top boxes (STB), comprising: storing a device identifier in a memory storage device of a RF-enabled remote control; while a content item provided by a first RF-enabled STB is being viewed on a first viewing device, transmitting the device identifier and a request from the RF-enabled remote control to the first RF-enabled STB to map a parameter set to the device identifier, the parameter set used by the first RF-enabled STB for providing the content item on the first viewing device; receiving, from the first RF-enabled STB, the parameter set mapped to the device identifier for storage in the memory storage device; and transmitting the device identifier, the parameter set mapped to the device identifier, and an initiation command from the RF-enabled remote control to a second RF-enabled STB associated with a second viewing device, the initiation command instructing the second RF-enabled STB to provide the content item on the second viewing device according to the parameter set mapped to the device identifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second viewing device is inactive prior to the RF-enabled remote control transmitting the device identifier to the second RF-enabled STB, and wherein the initiation command includes a power on command that includes the device identifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second RF-enabled STB is providing a second content item on the second viewing device prior to the initiation command being transmitted from the RF-enabled remote control to the second RF-enabled STB, and wherein the initiation command includes a take control command. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second RF-enabled STB is providing a second content item on the second viewing device prior to the initiation command being transmitted from the RF-enabled remote control to the second RF-enabled STB, wherein the second RF-enabled STB displays a confirmation pop-up on the second viewing device in response to the RF-enabled remote control transmitting the device identifier to the second RF-enabled STB, and wherein the initiation command includes a confirmation command. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter set indicates a content item identifier, a time position in the content item corresponding to a portion of the content item displayed on the first viewing device, and system settings for use by an RF-enabled STB. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the parameter set includes an offset to the time position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the request to map the parameter set to the device identifier is received at the first RF-enabled STB in response to a power off command transmitted from the RF-enabled remote control to the first RF-enabled STB. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the request to map the parameter set to the device identifier is received in response to a time period cycling. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the RF-enabled remote control is a smart phone configured to communicate with the first RF-enabled STB and the second RF-enabled STB via an application. ### Claim 10 A radio frequency (RF) enabled remote control configured for providing a roaming viewing experience, comprising: input controls; an RF transceiver; a processor; a memory storage device, including instructions that when executed by the processor enable the RF-enabled remote control to: store a device identifier for the RF-enabled remote control in the memory storage device; while a content item provided by a first RF-enabled set top box (STB) is being viewed on a first viewing device, transmit the device identifier and a request to the first RF-enabled STB to map a parameter set by which the first RF-enabled STB provides the content item to the device identifier; receive, from the first RF-enabled STB, the parameter set mapped to the device identifier for storage in the memory storage device; and transmit, via the RF transceiver, the device identifier, the parameter set mapped to the device identifier, and an initiation command to a second RF-enabled STB associated with a second viewing device to instruct the second RF-enabled STB to provide the content item on the second viewing device according to the parameter set mapped to the device identifier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The RF-enabled remote control of claim 10, wherein the RF-enabled remote control is a smart phone configured by application instructions stored in the memory storage device to communicate with STBs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The RF-enabled remote control of claim 10, wherein the request is further configured to delete a mapping between the device identifier and the parameter set a user-configurable number of minutes after the request is received from the RF-enabled remote control. ### Claim 13 A computer readable storage device including executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, provides a roaming viewing experience in conjunction with radio frequency (RF) enabled remote controls and set top boxes (STB), by: storing a device identifier in a memory storage device of an RF-enabled remote control; while a content item provided by a first RF-enabled STB is being viewed on a first viewing device, transmitting the device identifier and a request from the RF-enabled remote control to the first RF-enabled STB to map a parameter set to the device identifier, the parameter set used by the first RF-enabled STB for providing the content item on the first viewing device; receiving, from the first RF-enabled STB, the parameter set mapped to the device identifier for storage in the memory storage device; and transmitting the device identifier, the parameter set mapped to the device identifier, and an initiation command from the RF-enabled remote control to a second RF-enabled STB associated with a second viewing device, the initiation command instructing the second RF-enabled STB to provide the content item on the second viewing device according to the parameter set mapped to the device identifier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the second viewing device is inactive prior to the RF-enabled remote control transmitting the device identifier to the second RF-enabled STB, and wherein the initiation command includes a power on command that includes the device identifier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the second RF-enabled STB is providing a second content item on the second viewing device prior to the initiation command being transmitted from the RF-enabled remote control to the second RF-enabled STB, and wherein the initiation command includes a take control command. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the second RF-enabled STB is providing a second content item on the second viewing device prior to the initiation command being transmitted from the RF-enabled remote control to the second RF-enabled STB, wherein the second RF-enabled STB displays a confirmation pop-up on the second viewing device in response to the RF-enabled remote control transmitting the device identifier to the second RF-enabled STB, and wherein the initiation command includes a confirmation command. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the parameter set indicates a content item identifier, a time position in the content item corresponding to a portion of the content item displayed on the first viewing device, and system settings for use by an RF-enabled STB. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the parameter set includes an offset to the time position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the request to map the parameter set to the device identifier is received in response to a power off command transmitted from the RF-enabled remote control to the first RF-enabled STB. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the request to map the parameter set to the device identifier is received in response to a time period cycling.