Avatar integrated shared media experience

• US 10,368,120 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Mattingly, Andrew Lawrence, Kramp, Brian Charles, Soemo, Thomas M., Mays, Eddie
• Primary Examiner(s): Leggett, Andrea C
• Application Number:
  US15/234,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 715720
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed in which a group of people are able to replicate the physical world experience of going with a group of friends to pick a movie, watch the movie together, and provide commentary on the movie itself in the virtual world on a virtual couch while each user is sitting in different physical locations. Additionally, the virtual representation of the destination that the group of people are watching the movie together in can be themed to allow users to watch movies in different locations pivoting on special events or by the users choice.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating shared media consumption among two or more users associated with respective computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, the method comprising:

receiving data indicative of two or more users associated with respective computing devices;

receiving a selection of a media content item to be concurrently rendered on the respective computing devices;

sending, to the respective computing devices of the two or more users, data of the media content item selected;

allowing an identified remote holder of the two or more users to send information pertaining to content playback of the media content item selected, the information comprising playback status, identification of the media content item, and a current time code associated with the media content item;

based on the information, allowing control of content playback on the respective computing devices of other users of the two or more users based at least in part on differences in the information pertaining to the content playback between the respective computing devices;

receiving a request from another user other than the identified remote holder requesting for remote holder status;

in response to receiving the request, allowing the identified remote holder to select to retain the remote holder status or transfer the remote holder status to the other user; and

when the identified remote holder selects to transfer the remote holder status, then facilitating the transfer of the remote holder status to the other user to allow the other user to obtain the control of the content playback.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the identified remote holder to send updated information pertaining to content playback of the media content item, wherein in response to the updated information, content playback on the respective computing devices of the other users is controlled in accordance with the updated information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control of the content playback comprises one or more of pause, play, rewind, and fast forward.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the other users are allowed to request to play, pause, and obtain remote holder status by sending their respective states to the identified remote holder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to the content playback is maintained as a playback state that is synchronized among the respective computing devices of the two or more users.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the playback state is saved in a data structure that contains information on the playback status, an identifier associated with the media content item being rendered, and the current time code associated with the media content item.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein when a playback state of the identified remote holder is different from a playback state of one other user, the playback state of the one other user is updated in accordance with the playback state of the identified remote holder.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein when the current time code associated with the media content item is different from a time code of the identified remote holder, a seek operation is performed to the time code of the identified remote holder.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one other user predicts, based on pre-buffering times, how long it will take the seek operation to complete, and compensates by adjusting a sought time code.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing one of the other users to make requests of the identified remote holder by sending the identified remote holder and the other users a playback state that differs from a playback state of the identified remote holder, and after receiving the request from the one of the other users other than the identified remote holder requesting for the remote holder status, sending a request to the identified remote holder requesting transfer of the remote holder status to the one of the other users.

11. A first computing device configured to share digital content with other computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, the first computing device comprising at least one processor, a user interface device, and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the first computing device to:

receive, via the user interface device, a selection of at least one user associated with a second computing device;

send, to the second computing device, data indicative of a media content item to be concurrently rendered on the first computing device and the second computing device;

send, to the second computing device, information pertaining to content playback of the media content item, the information usable to allow control of content playback on the first computing device and the second computing device, the information comprising playback status, identification of the media content item, and a current time code associated with the media content item;

based on the information, allow control of content playback on the second computing device in accordance with the information based at least in part on differences in the information pertaining to the content playback between the first computing device and the second computing device;

receive, from the second computing device, a request for remote holder status; and

in response to receiving the request, allow a selection of whether to retain the remote holder status to retain the control of the content playback or transfer the remote holder status to the second computing device to allow the second computing device to obtain the control of content playback.

12. The first computing device of claim 11, wherein the control of the content playback comprises one or more of pause, play, rewind, and fast forward.

13. The first computing device of claim 11, wherein the information pertaining to content playback is maintained as a playback state that is synchronized between the first computing device and the second computing device.

14. The first computing device of claim 13, wherein the playback state is saved in a data structure that contains information on the playback status, an identifier associated with the media content item being rendered, and the current time code associated with the media content item.

15. The first computing device of claim 14, wherein when a playback state of the second computing device is different from a playback state of the first computing device, the playback state of the second computing device is updated in accordance with the playback state of the first computing device.

16. The first computing device of claim 15, wherein when the current time code associated with the media content item is different from a time code of the first computing device, a seek operation is performed to the time code of the first computing device.

17. The first computing device of claim 14, further comprising allowing the second computing device to make requests of the first computing device by sending the first computing device a playback state that differs from the playback state of the first computing device.

18. The first computing device of claim 11, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the first computing device to receive playback state information from the second computing device, wherein the second computing device is allowed to request to play, pause, and obtain remote holder status by sending the playback state information.

19. A system configured to allow sharing of digital content among computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, the system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive data indicative of two or more users associated with respective computing devices;

receive a selection of a media content item to be concurrently rendered on the respective computing devices;

send, to the two or more users, data indicative of the media content item selected;

allow an identified remote holder of the two or more users to send information pertaining to content playback of the media content item selected, the information comprising playback status, identification of the media content item, and a current time code associated with the media content item;

based on the information, allow control of content playback on the respective computing devices of other users of the two or more users based at least in part on differences in the information pertaining to the content playback between the respective computing devices;

receive a request from another user other than the identified remote holder requesting for remote holder status;

in response to receiving the request, allow the identified remote holder to select to retain the remote holder status or transfer the remote holder status to the other user; and

when the identified remote holder selects to transfer the remote holder status, then facilitate transfer of the remote holder status to the other user to allow the other user to obtain the control of the content playback.