Synchronized service provision in a communications network

• US 20020067909A1
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Iivonen, Jukka-Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 7,246,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/88
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23106 involving caching operations prefetching while addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means within memory systems or architectures G06F12/0862; caching at an intermediate stage in a data network H04L67/568
• 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

The invention relates to the synchronized playback of video and/or audio recordings in terminals of a communications network. A server stores recordings including timing markers, each of which indicates an internal position within the recording. The system comprises groups of user terminals, at least one channel being assigned to each group. A recording is transmitted to the terminals belonging to the same group and stored there. In response to a start command, the playback of the recording is started at each terminal. Status information indicating at least the playback position of the recording is maintained, and the playback is controlled by transmitting new status information to the terminals of the group. The playback status is changed at each terminal according to said new status information.

Claims

1. A method for providing synchronized service in a communications network including user terminals and servers providing services to the user terminals through at least one channel,

characterized by the steps of

forming at least one group of user terminals and allocating at least one channel to an individual group,

transmitting a recording to the terminals of a group thus formed, each recording including timing markers, each of which indicates an internal position within the recording,

storing at least part of the recording prior to its playback at each terminal,

sending a start command to each terminal of the group,

in response to the start command, starting the playback of the recording at each terminal,

maintaining status information for the recording, the status information indicating at least the playback position of the recording,

transmitting a status message to the terminals, the message indicating new status information concerning the recording, and

changing the playback status at each terminal according to said new status information.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the further step of storing the recordings in a server.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of forming includes forming several user groups.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of storing includes the storing of the whole recording prior to its playback.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the status information further indicates at least the direction and the speed of the playback.

6. A method according to claim 2, characterized by initiating the start command at the server.

7. A method according to claim 2, characterized by initiating the start command at a user terminal.

8. A method according to claim 2, characterized by sending the status message from the server.

9. A method according to claim 8, characterized by sending the status message in response to a status command from a user terminal.

10. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the further steps of

assigning different priorities to the terminals of a group,

sending new status information from more than one terminal, and

generating the status message on the basis of the status information sent from the terminal with the highest priority of said more than one terminals.

11. A method according to claim 1, characterized by the further steps of

assigning each terminal predetermined control operations by means of which the terminal is entitled to control the playback,

sending new status information from a terminal,

checking the control operations assigned to said terminal, and

generating the status message in response to said checking.

13. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that the system further includes a centralized database for storing the recordings.

14. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that the status information further indicates the direction and the speed of the playback.

15. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that the first management means reside in the server.

16. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that the first control means reside in the server.

17. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that the second management means reside at least in the server.

18. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that user terminals are terminals of a mobile network.

12. A system for providing synchronized playback of recordings in a communications network with transmission channels, the system comprising

a server for managing recordings stored within the system,

user terminals for storing and playing the recordings, and

transmission means for transmitting the recordings to the terminals through at least one channel,

characterized in that each recording includes timing markers (TM), each of which indicates an internal position within the recording, and that the system further includes

first management means for maintaining information on user groups formed in the system, the information indicating the user terminal(s) belonging to each group, the channel(s) assigned to each group, and the recording(s) being used by the group,

second management means for maintaining status information for said recordings, the status information indicating at least the playback position of the recording,

first control means for sending status information to the user terminals of a group, and

second control means at each user terminal, responsive to the first control means, for controlling the playback in the terminal according to said status information.