US 11,722,747 B2
Method and apparatus for modifying output characteristics of proximate devices
Durga Prasad Pulicharla, Andhra Pradesh (IN); and Madhusudhan Srinivasan, Bangalore (IN)
Assigned to ROVI GUIDES, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Rovi Guides, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/519,832.
Application 17/519,832 is a continuation of application No. 16/393,355, filed on Apr. 24, 2019, granted, now 11,202,128.
Prior Publication US 2022/0060797 A1, Feb. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 21/485 (2011.01); H04N 21/472 (2011.01); G06F 3/14 (2006.01); H04N 21/4722 (2011.01); H04N 21/84 (2011.01)
CPC H04N 21/4854 (2013.01) [G06F 3/1423 (2013.01); H04N 21/4722 (2013.01); H04N 21/47205 (2013.01); H04N 21/84 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
by using a memory and a control circuitry:
detecting a first content stream consumed on a first device and a second content stream consumed on a second device;
determining that the first content stream consumed on the first device is interrupting the second content stream consumed on the second device;
in response to determining that the first content stream consumed on the first device is interrupting the second content stream consumed on the second device:
accessing a first user identifier of a user of the first device;
accessing a second user identifier of a user of the second device;
determining whether the first user identifier is different from the second user identifier;
performing a selected action based on whether the first user identifier is different than the second user identifier, wherein:
when the first user identifier is different than the second user identifier, the selected action comprises modifying output characteristics of the first device where the first content stream is being consumed to reduce the interruption of the first content stream to the second content stream consumed on the second device, and
when the first user identifier is the same as the second user identifier, the selected action comprises determining a priority device between the first device and the second device, and modifying the output characteristics of the non-priority device between the first device and the second device.