Google Inc.

Alin Sinpalean

Oliver Heckmann

Ramona Bobohalma

Daniel Danciu

Jasmine Kent

Yaniv Bernstein

Jasmine Langridge

The subject matter of the present disclosure can be implemented by, among other things, a remote control device configured to receive an identifier, present a plurality of controllable devices for selection on a display of the remote control device, and receive a selection of two or more controllable devices via the user interface. Using the identifier, a session with the two or more controllable devices is generated and performances of a same task by the two or more controllable devices are controlled by the remote control device by transmitting a message containing control information and the identifier to a network service.

Network-based remote control

The subject matter of the present disclosure can be implemented by, among other things, a remote control application executed by a mobile device to identify media player devices connected to a network, present the media player devices for selection in a user interface (UI), receive a selection of multiple media player devices via the UI, and receive a unique group identifier associated with the multiple media player devices from a network service. By transmitting a message containing the unique group identifier and control information to the network service, a media playback by the multiple media player devices is controlled by the remote control application.

Network-based synchronous media control on multiple playback devices

The subject matter of the present disclosure can be implemented by, among other things, a network service server system configured to receive a request from a remote control application to authorize the application to be associated with a user account, determine that the user account includes permissions for media player devices, and transmit a unique group identifier associated with multiple of the media player devices to the application. The network service server system is further configured to receive a media playback command from the application that includes the unique group identifier and control information useable by a media player device to control media playback. In response, the network service server system controls a concurrent media playback on the multiple media player devices by transmitting the control information to the multiple media player devices.

Remote control of concurrent media playback on multiple devices via centralized network services

The subject matter of the present disclosure can be implemented by, among other things, a network service server system configured to receive authorizations from a remote control application to associate media player devices that are connected to different local area networks with a user account, receive a request from the application to group multiple of the media player devices, and transmit a unique group identifier associated with the multiple media player devices to the application in response. In response to receiving a media playback command that includes the unique group identifier and control information usable by a media player device to control media playback, the network services transmits the control information to the multiple media player devices to control a media playback by the multiple media player devices.

Remote control of media playback on devices distributed across disparate networks

The subject matter of the present disclosure can be implemented in, among other things a computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing a programmable processor to receive, by a server, a first message from a remote control that is distinct from and external to the server, wherein the first message includes a remote control identifier and control information for controlling one or more functions of at least one device other than the remote control. The instructions also cause the programmable processor to retrieve, by the server, a controlled device identifier that uniquely identifies a controlled device that is distinct from and external to the server. The instructions also cause the programmable processor to send a second message from the server to the controlled device identified by the controlled device identifier to control an operation of the controlled device.

Growing community of inventors

Zurich, Switzerland

Alin Sinpalean