Multi-user media delivery system for synchronizing content on multiple media players

• US 10,484,729 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Randy A
• Application Number:
  US15/587,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20170244993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 709203, 709204, 709205, 709231, 709248
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• 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 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

An interactive, multi-user media delivery system having a number of media storage mediums, each of containing a particular media selection, and a number of media players structured to selectively deliver the media selection to users. Each of the media players includes a control assembly structured to selectively control and regulate delivery of the media selection to the user, and at least one of the media players is selectively designatable as a slave unit. A master control assembly is further provided and is operatively associated with the media players, a connectivity assembly being included to establish a communicative link at least between the slave unit(s) and the master control assembly. The master control assembly is further structured to receive synchronization data from each of the media players, and to simultaneously and uniformly control the delivery of the media selection by the media players.

Claims

1. A controller device comprising:

a messaging interface that establishes a communicative link at least between two media players structured to selectively deliver a media selection to one or more users from one of at least two portable media storage devices, wherein each of the portable media storage devices includes an identical version of the media selection in the portable media storage devices; and

a controller that receives synchronization data of the media selection from each of the media players, wherein the controller uniformly synchronizes delivery of the media selection by controlling each of the media players based on polled and received synchronization data to cause each of the media players to simultaneously deliver specific points of the media selection, and wherein the controller communicates, to a central authority, an identifier of the media selection to verify that the media players are using an authorized copy of the media selection and enables media players that are using an authorized copy of the media selection to participate in a system, and wherein the controller facilitates communication to and between the media players while the media selection is being delivered.

2. The controller device of claim 1, wherein each of the media players include a control assembly structured to selectively control and regulate delivery of the media selection to the user.

3. The controller device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization data includes a location designator associated the media selection.

4. The controller device of claim 1, wherein the controller is disposed in a server that is remotely located from the plurality of media players.

5. The controller device of claim 1, wherein the controller facilitates message communication to and between the plurality of media players.

6. A method comprising:

establishing a communicative link at least between at least two media players having an identical version of a media selection, wherein the communicative link is structured to selectively deliver the media selection via one of the at least two media players;

receiving synchronization data of the media selection from each of the media players at commencement of communication of the media selection;

communicating, to a central authority, an identifier of the media selection to verify that the media players are using an authorized copy of the media selection;

enabling media players that are using an authorized copy of the media selection to participate in a system;

controlling each of the media players based on polled and received synchronization data to cause each of the media players to simultaneously deliver specific points of the media selection; and

facilitating communication to and between the media players while the media selection is being delivered.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the media players include a control assembly structured to selectively control and regulate delivery of the media selection to a user.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the synchronization data includes a location designator associated the media selection.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising periodically polling each of the plurality of media players during communication of the media selection to receive further synchronization data from each of the plurality of media players.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computer-based system, cause the computer-based system to perform operations comprising:

establishing a communicative link between two of the at least two media players having an identical version of a media selection, wherein the communicative link is structured to selectively deliver the media selection via one of the at least two media players;

receiving synchronization data of the media selection from each of the media players at commencement of communication of the media selection;

communicating, to a central authority, an identifier of the media selection to verify that the media players are using an authorized copy of the media selection;

enabling media players that are using an authorized copy of the media selection to participate in the system;

controlling each of the media players based on polled and received synchronization data to cause each of the media players to simultaneously deliver specific points of the media selection; and

facilitating communication to and between the media players while the media selection is being delivered.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein each of the media players include a control assembly structured to selectively control and regulate delivery of the media selection to a user.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the synchronization data includes a location designator associated the media selection.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise periodically polling each of the plurality of media players during communication of the media selection to receive further synchronization data from each of the plurality of media players.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the media selection includes an audio message.