Synchronizing media presentation at multiple devices

• US 10,362,550 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crowe, Keith, Agostino, Dan, Duran, Filinto
• Primary Examiner(s): Nano, Sargon N
• Application Number:
  US15/947,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20180234936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• 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 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• 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 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0025 synchronizing potentially movable access points

Abstract

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device to perform operations including determining a target playback latency not less than a greater of a first playback latency of a streaming media signal at a first media processor and a second playback latency of the first media signal at a second media processor. The streaming media signal includes a first in-content reference. A coordinated playback time is determined according to the target playback latency. A buffer, when adjusted by a buffer value, causes the first in-content reference to be encountered at a coordinated time during playback by the first media processor, which results in a synchronized playback of the streaming media between the first and second media processors. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a processing system including a processor, a greater of a first playback latency of a streaming media signal comprising media content at a first media device and a second playback latency of the streaming media signal at a second media device; and

determining, by the processing system, according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, a coordinated playback time at which a first in-content reference is to be encountered during playback; and

adjusting, by the processing system, a first buffer and a second buffer to cause the first in-content reference to be encountered at the coordinated playback time by the first media device and the second media device respectively, thereby providing a synchronized playback of the first in-content reference at the first media device and the second media device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating, by the processing system, a transfer of the coordinated playback time to the first media device and the second media device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first buffer is included in the first media device and is adjusted based on a first difference between the first playback latency and the coordinated playback time, and wherein the second buffer is included in the second media device and is adjusted based on a second difference between the second playback latency and the coordinated playback time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the processing system, a second in-content reference within the streaming media signal;

determining, by the processing system, a reference time at which the second in-content reference is available for network transport to each of the first media device and the second media device;

determining, by the processing system, a first playback time at which the second in-content reference is encountered during playback at the first media device; and

determining, by the processing system, a second playback time at which the second in-content reference is encountered during playback at the second media device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first playback latency is determined as a first difference between the first playback time and the reference time, and wherein the second playback latency is determined as a second difference between the second playback time and the reference time.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the processing system is coupled to a network element to receive the streaming media signal, and wherein the reference time is provided by the network element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is responsive to a synchronization request generated by one of the first media device and the second media device in response to an event associated with the one of the first media device and the second media device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding, by the processing system, a delay offset to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency adjusted by the delay offset.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting is performed periodically according to a schedule.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronized playback is provided according to a predetermined accuracy.

11. A device comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitates performance of operations comprising;

determining a greater of a first playback latency of a streaming media signal comprising media content at a first media device and a second playback latency of the streaming media signal at a second media device;

determining, according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, a coordinated playback time at which a first in-content reference is to be encountered during playback;

facilitating a transfer of the coordinated playback time to the first media device and the second media device; and

adjusting a first buffer of the first media device and a second buffer of the second media device to cause the first in-content reference to be encountered at the coordinated playback time by the first media device and the second media device respectively, thereby providing a synchronized playback of the first in-content reference at the first media device and the second media device,

wherein the first buffer is adjusted based on a first difference between the first playback latency and the coordinated playback time, and wherein the second buffer is adjusted based on a second difference between the second playback latency and the coordinated playback time.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a second in-content reference within the streaming media signal; and

determining a reference time at which the second in-content reference is available for network transport to each of the first media device and the second media device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the processing system is coupled to a network element to receive the streaming media signal, and wherein the reference time is provided by the network element.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is responsive to a synchronization request generated by one of the first media device and the second media device in response to an event associated with the one of the first media device and the second media device.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise adding a delay offset to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, and wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency adjusted by the delay offset.

16. A machine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:

determining a greater of a first playback latency of a media signal at a first media device and a second playback latency of the media signal at a second media device;

determining, according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, a coordinated playback time at which a first reference is to be encountered during playback; and

adjusting a first buffer of the first media device and a second buffer of the second media device to cause the first reference to be encountered at the coordinated playback time by the first media device and the second media device respectively, thereby providing a synchronized playback of the first reference at the first media device and the second media device.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations comprise facilitating a transfer of the coordinated playback time to the first media device and the second media device.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first buffer is adjusted based on a first difference between the first playback latency and the coordinated playback time, and wherein the second buffer is adjusted based on a second difference between the second playback latency and the coordinated playback time.

19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a second reference within the media signal; and

determining a reference time at which the second reference is available for network transport to each of the first media device and the second media device,

wherein the processing system is coupled to a network element to receive the media signal, and wherein the reference time is provided by the network element.

20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise adding a delay offset to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, and wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency adjusted by the delay offset.