Method and system for rendering digital content across multiple client devices

• US 10,091,266 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audio Pod IP, LLC (Audio Pod Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Audio Pod Inc.
• Inventors: McCue, John, McCue, Robert, Shostakovsky, Gregory, McCue, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Baturay, Alicia
• Application Number:
  US15/358,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20170078357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 709219
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/78 Detection of presence or absence of voice signals switching of direction of transmission by voice frequency in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

A method and a system for rendering digital content across multiple client devices are provided. At least a portion of first digital content is rendered on a first client device. An identifier corresponding to the first digital content, which identifies a descriptor of the first digital content, and a first position in the first digital content are determined on the first client device. The identifier and the first position are transferred from the first client device to a second client device via a network accessible library. The descriptor is downloaded from the network accessible library to the second client device by using the identifier. At least a portion of ancillary digital content associated with the first digital content is rendered on the second client device by using the descriptor and the first position. Thus, rendering of the first content and the ancillary digital content may be synchronized across multiple devices.

Claims

1. A method of rendering digital content across multiple client devices comprising:

rendering on a first client device at least a portion of primary digital content;

determining on the first client device an identifier corresponding to the primary digital content, wherein the identifier identifies a descriptor of the primary content;

determining on the first client device a first position in the primary digital content;

transferring the identifier and the first position from the first client device to a second client device via a network accessible library;

downloading the descriptor from the network accessible library to the second client device by using the identifier;

rendering on the second client device at least a portion of secondary other digital content associated with the primary digital content by using the descriptor and the first position, wherein the secondary digital content is ancillary to the primary digital content, and wherein the secondary digital content is rendered on the second client device simultaneously and in synchronization with the rendering of the primary digital content on the first client device;

identifying a range of content surrounding the first position in the primary digital content as content to be retained;

releasing storage resources allocated to all content of the primary digital content that is not identified as content to be retained on the first client device;

identifying content in the secondary digital content that is related to the range of content surrounding the first position in the primary digital content as content to be retained; and

releasing storage resources allocated to all content of the secondary digital content that is not identified as content to be retained on the second client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary digital content comprises a series of items, the method further comprising:

determining on the second client device an item in the series of items that is associated with the first position in the primary digital content by using the descriptor, wherein the item associated with the first position is rendered on the second client device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first position is determined by tracking a current position in the primary digital content as the primary digital content is rendered on the first client device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the descriptor contains the secondary digital content, location information for accessing the secondary digital content, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the descriptor contains location information for accessing the secondary digital content, further comprising:

accessing the secondary digital content for rendering on the second client device by using the location information in the descriptor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary digital content is a different type of digital content than the primary digital content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary digital content includes audio content, audio/video content, video content, text content, static image content, moving image content, user-entered content, advertising content, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary digital content includes a plurality of different types of digital content.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting one or more of the different types of digital content for rendering on the second client device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more of the different types of digital content are selected in dependence on rendering capabilities of the second client device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondary digital content includes at least two different types of digital content selected from among audio content, audio/video content, video content, text content, static image content, moving image content, user-entered content, and advertising content, further comprising:

selecting one or more of the different types of digital content for rendering on the second client device in dependence on rendering capabilities of the second client device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client device and the second client device have different rendering capabilities.

13. A system for rendering digital content across multiple client devices comprising:

a first client device;

a second client device; and

a network accessible library accessible by the first and second client devices via a network;

wherein the first client device is configured to;

render at least a portion of primary digital content;

determine an identifier corresponding to the primary digital content, wherein the identifier identifies a descriptor of the primary digital content;

determine a first position in the primary digital content;

transfer the identifier and the first position to the second client device via the network accessible library;

identify a range of content surrounding the first position in the primary digital content as content to be retained; and

release storage resources allocated to all content of the primary digital content that is not identified as content to be retained on the first client device; and

wherein the second client device is configured to;

download the descriptor from the network accessible library by using the identifier;

render at least a portion of secondary digital content associated with the primary digital content by using the descriptor and the first position, wherein the secondary digital content is ancillary to the primary digital content, and wherein the secondary digital content is rendered on the second client device simultaneously and in synchronization with the rendering of the primary digital content on the first client device;

identify content in the secondary digital content that is related to the range of content surrounding the first position in the primary digital content as content to be retained; and

release storage resources allocated to all content of the secondary digital content that is not identified as content to be retained on the second client device.