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System and method for organizing group content presentations and group communications during the same

  • US 10,116,995 B2
  • Filed: 09/08/2014
  • Issued: 10/30/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A viewing event site server-based method of conducting a viewing event of a content item for a group of participants and for providing communications therebetween, comprising:

  • a. receiving at a server corresponding to a viewing event site identification data about at least two viewing systems corresponding to potential participants of a group for a viewing event, wherein the identification data includes at least data about an account with a service associated with each viewing system, wherein the viewing event corresponds to a content item accessible to each viewing system through their respective service accounts on the viewing event site;

    b. transmitting from the viewing event site an invitation to the viewing systems corresponding to potential participants of the group and polling potential participants of the group about a commencement time of the viewing event;

    c. receiving a response to the invitation from one or more viewing systems corresponding to potential participants of the group, wherein if the response is to join the group, then creating the group of participants based on such responses and transmitting a code from the viewing event site to each participant of the group, the code allowing each participant of the group to access the content item through their service account on the viewing event site at or before a commencement time of the viewing event determined by the polling;

    d. determining whether to encrypt and pre-load a portion of the content item on a participant'"'"'s system prior to commencement of the viewing event to compensate for bandwidth limitations that might exist on the participant'"'"'s network connection, the encryption serving to disallow playback of the content item prior to commencement of the viewing event;

    e. at the commencement time of the viewing event, sending a signal to each viewing system of the group of participants, the signal acting to begin playback of the content item on each viewing system through their respective service account on the viewing event site, whereby the viewing event is begun;

    f. operating a chat channel for the group of participants before, during, or after the viewing event; and

    g. allowing trick playback of a content item by at least one authorized participant, and following trick playback of the content item by the authorized participant, resynchronizing all viewing systems of the group to a common location in the playback of the content item.

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