Content playback system, playback device, playback control method and program

• US 20080177822A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoneda, Michiaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,316,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1093 by adding participants; by removing participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

A first playback device, upon receiving a synchronized playback command while content playback is in progress, transmits, to a second playback device, information that pertains to the playback content and a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content. The second playback device starts receiving content data that begins from the synchronized playback start time from a server. After the data that is memorized in a memory reaches a specified volume, the second playback device transmits a playback preparation completion notification to the first playback device. Once the elapsed playback time for the content reaches the synchronized playback start time, the first playback device transmits a playback start command to the second playback device. Upon receiving this command, the second playback device starts playing back content data that begins from the synchronized playback start time.

Claims

1. A content playback system in which first and second playback devices that are capable of receiving and playing back content data from a server device are connected by one of a wired connection and a wireless connection, wherein

the first playback device comprises:

a first communication portion that communicates data with the server device or the second playback device;

a first memory that memorizes content data received from the server device through the first communication portion;

a first playback portion that plays back the content data that is memorized in the first memory;

a first synchronized playback control portion that, upon receiving a synchronized playback command to play back the content data in synchronization by the first playback device and the second playback device while the content data is being played back by the first playback portion, transmits, to the second playback device through the first communication portion, information that pertains to the content data and information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content data;

wherein, after a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data is received from the second playback device through the first communication portion and when the elapsed playback time for the content data reaches the synchronized playback start time, the first synchronized playback control portion transmits a playback start command for the content data to the second playback device through the first communication portion, and

the second playback device comprises;

a second communication portion that communicates data with the server device or the first playback device;

a second memory that memorizes content data received from the server device through the second communication portion;

a second playback portion that plays back the content data that is memorized in the second memory;

a second synchronized playback control portion that receives, from the first playback device through the second communication portion, information that pertains to the content data that is being played back on the first playback device and information that indicates the synchronized playback start time;

starts receiving data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data from the server device based on the information that pertains to the content data and memorizes the content data in the second memory;

transmits the playback preparation completion notification to the first playback device through the second communication portion after the data of the content data memorized in the second memory reaches or exceeds a specified volume; and

, after transmission of the playback preparation completion notification and when the playback start command is received from the first playback device through the second communication portion, starts playing back using the second playback portion the data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data that is memorized in the second memory.

2. A playback device comprising:

a communication portion that communicates data with a server device or an other playback device;

a memory that memorizes content data received from the server device through the communication portion;

a playback portion that plays back the content data that is memorized in the memory; and

a synchronized playback control portion that, upon receiving a synchronized playback start command to play back the content data in synchronization by the playback device and an other playback device while the content data is being played back by the playback portion, transmits, to the other playback device through the communication portion, information that pertains to the content data and information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content data;

wherein, after a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data is received from the other playback device through the communication portion, and when the elapsed playback time for the content data reaches the synchronized playback start time, the synchronized playback control portion transmits a playback start command for the content data to the other playback device through the communication portion.

3. The playback device according to claim 2, wherein

the synchronized playback control portion

transmits through the communication portion to at least one other playback device that is connected to the playback device, in response to the receiving of the synchronized playback command, search information to search for a playback device that is going to join synchronized playback;

and

when a joining response that indicates that the at least one other playback device is going to join in the synchronized playback is received from the other playback device through the communication portion, the synchronized playback control portion transmits through the communication portion to the other playback device that transmitted the joining response, information that pertains to the content data that is being played back on the playback device and information that indicates the synchronized playback start time.

4. The playback device according to claim 2, wherein

the synchronized playback control portion

transmits, upon receiving a joining request that requests joining in synchronized playback from the other second playback device through the communication portion while the playback device and the other first playback device are playing back content data that is the same in synchronization, information that pertains to the content data that is being played back in synchronization and information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content data to the other second playback device through the communication portion;

receives a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data from the other second playback device through the communication portion; and

transmits, after receiving the playback preparation completion notification and when the elapsed playback time for the content data reaches the synchronized playback start time, a playback start command for the content data to the other second playback device through the communication portion.

5. The playback device according to claim 2, wherein

the synchronized playback control portion

transmits to the other playback device through the communication portion, while the playback device and the other playback device are playing back content data that is the same in synchronization and when playback of the content data by the playback portion is completed, information that pertains to next content data that follows the current content data;

starts receiving the next content data through the communication portion from the server device and memorizes the next content data in the memory; and

transmits, after receiving a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the next content data from the other playback device through the communication portion, a playback start command for the next content data to the other playback device through the communication portion, and starts playing back the next content data that is memorized in the memory by the playback portion.

6. The playback device according to claim 2, wherein

the synchronized playback control portion

requests, when the playback device and the other playback device are playing back content data that is the same in synchronization, an elapsed playback time for the content data to the other playback device, and in response to the request, receives information that indicates the elapsed playback time of the other playback device from the other playback device through the communication portion;

compares the elapsed playback time of the other playback device and the elapsed playback time of the playback device;

transmits a playback stop command for the content data to the other playback device using the communication portion when the elapsed playback time of the other playback device differs from the elapsed playback time of the playback device by a predetermined time or more;

newly obtains the elapsed playback time for the content data of the playback device after transmission of the playback stop command, and transmits information that indicates a synchronized playback start time that is obtained by adding the predetermined additional time to the elapsed playback time, to the other playback device through the communication portion; and

transmits the playback start command for the content data to the other playback device through the communication portion, after a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data is received from the other playback device through the communication portion, and when the elapsed playback time for the content data in the playback device reaches the synchronized playback start time.

7. The playback device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a mode setting portion that sets, in response to the receiving of the synchronized playback command, a playback control mode of the playback device to a master mode in which content data playback is controlled by the other playback device.

8. A playback device comprising:

a communication portion that communicates data with a server device or an other playback device;

a memory that memorizes content data received from the server device through the communication portion;

a playback portion that plays back the content data that is memorized in the memory; and

a synchronized playback control portion that receives, from the other playback device through the communication portion, information that pertains to content data that is being played back on the other playback device and information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content data;

starts receiving data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data from the server device based on the information that pertains to the content data and memorizes the content data in the memory;

transmits, after the data of the content data that is memorized in the memory reaches or exceeds a specified volume, a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data to the other playback device through the communication portion; and

upon receiving a playback start command for the content data from the other playback device after transmission of the playback preparation completion notification, starts playing back the data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data that is memorized in the memory.

9. The playback device according to claim 8, wherein

the synchronized playback control portion

receives search information for searching for other playback devices that are going to join synchronized playback from the other playback device through the communication portion;

determines whether or not to allow synchronized playback with the other playback device based on setting information that is set in advance; and

transmits, if the synchronized playback is allowed, a joining response that indicates that the playback device is going to join in the synchronized playback with the other playback device to the other playback device through the communication portion.

10. The playback device according to claim 8, wherein

when two or more other playback devices are playing back content data that is the same in synchronization and playback by the playback device is stopped, and when the synchronized playback control portion receives a synchronized playback command for synchronized playback of the content data between the playback device and the other playback devices, the synchronized playback control portion transmits a joining request to request that the playback device join in synchronized playback to the other playback devices through the communication portion.

11. The playback device according to claim 8, wherein

the synchronized playback control portion

receives from the other playback device through the communication portion, while content data that is the same is being played back in synchronization by the playback device and the other playback device and when playback of the content data is completed, information that pertains to next content data that follows the current content data;

starts receiving the next content data from the server device through the communication portion to memorize the data in the memory, and transmits a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the next content data to the other playback device through the communication portion after the data of the next content data that is memorized in the memory reaches or exceeds a specified volume; and

starts playing back the next content data that is memorized in the memory by the playback portion upon receiving a playback start command from the other playback device after transmission of the playback preparation completion notification.

12. The playback device according to claim 8, wherein

the synchronized playback control portion

transmits, while content data that is the same is being played back in synchronization by the playback device and the other playback device, in response to a request from the other playback device, information that indicates a synchronized elapsed time for the content data of the playback device to the other playback device through the communication portion;

receives a playback stop command for the content data from the other playback device through the communication portion when an elapsed playback time of the other playback device differs from the elapsed playback time of the playback device by a predetermined time or more;

stops playback of the content data upon receiving the playback stop command;

receives from the other playback device through the communication portion, information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding the predetermined additional time to the elapsed playback time for the content data that is being played back on the other playback device;

starts receiving data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data from the server device through the communication portion and memorizes the data in the memory;

transmits to the other playback device through the communication portion, a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data after the data of the content data that is memorized in the memory reaches or exceeds a specified volume; and

starts playing back, using the playback portion, the data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data that is memorized in the memory, upon receiving a playback start command from the other playback device through the communication portion after transmission of the playback preparation completion notification.

13. The playback device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a mode setting portion that sets, when the synchronized playback is allowed, a playback control mode of the playback device to a slave mode in which content data playback is controlled by the other playback device.

14. A playback control method for a playback device that plays back content data received from a server device in synchronization with at least one playback devices, comprising the steps of:

playing back, while receiving, content data from the server device;

transmitting to the other playback device, information that pertains to the content data and information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content data, upon receiving a synchronized playback command to play back the content data in synchronization by the playback device and the other playback device while the content data playback is in progress;

receiving, from the other playback device, a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data; and

transmitting a playback start command for the content data to the other playback device when the elapsed playback time for the content data reaches the synchronized playback start time after receiving the playback preparation completion notification.

15. The playback control method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting, in response to the receiving of the synchronized playback command, search information for searching for a playback device that is going to join in synchronized playback, to at least one other playback device that is connected to the playback device; and

receiving a joining response that indicates that the at least one other playback device is going to join in synchronized playback as a response from the other playback device to the search information;

wherein

at the first synchronized playback start time transmission step, the information that pertains to the content data and the information that indicates the synchronized playback start time are transmitted to the other playback device that transmitted the joining response.

16. The playback control method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a joining request that requests joining in synchronized playback from the other second playback device, when content data that is the same is played back in synchronization by the playback device and the other first playback device;

transmitting, to the other second playback device in response to the receiving of the joining request, information that pertains to the content data that is being played back in synchronization and information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content data;

receiving a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data from the other second playback device; and

transmitting a playback start command for the content data to the other second playback device when the elapsed playback time for the content data reaches the synchronized playback start time after receiving the playback preparation completion notification.

17. The playback control method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting, when content data that is the same is played back in synchronization by the playback device and the other playback device and the content data playback is completed, information that pertains to next content data that follows the current content data;

starting receiving of the next content data from the other playback device and memorizing the content data in the memory;

receiving, from the other playback device, a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the next content data; and

transmitting the playback start command for the next content data to the other playback device after receiving the playback preparation completion notification, and starting playback of the next content data that is memorized in the memory.

18. The playback control method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

requesting, when same content data is played back in synchronization by the playback device and the other playback device, an elapsed playback time for the content data to the other playback device;

receiving, in response to the request, information that indicates an elapsed playback time of the other playback device from the other playback device;

comparing the elapsed playback time of the other playback device and the elapsed playback time of the playback device;

transmitting a playback stop command for the content data to the other playback device when the elapsed playback time of the other playback device differs from the elapsed playback time of the playback device by a predetermined time or more;

newly obtaining the elapsed playback time for the content data in the playback device after transmission of the playback stop command, and transmitting to the other playback device information that indicates the synchronized playback start time obtained by adding the predetermined additional time to the elapsed playback time;

receiving, from the other playback device, a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data; and

transmitting a playback start command for the content data to the other playback device when the elapsed playback time for the content data in the playback device reaches the synchronized playback start time after receiving the playback preparation completion notification.

19. The playback control method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

setting, in response to the receiving of the synchronized playback start command, the playback control mode of the playback device to a master mode in which content data playback is controlled by the other playback device.

20. A playback control method for a playback device that plays back content data received from a server device in synchronization with at least one other playback devices, comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the other playback device, information that pertains to content data that is being played back on the other playback device and information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content data;

based on the information that pertains to the content data, starting receiving of data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data from the server device and memorizing the data in a memory;

transmitting to the other playback device a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data after the data of the content data that is memorized in the memory reaches or exceeds a specified volume; and

starting playback of the data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data that is memorized in the memory, upon receiving a playback start command for the content data from the other playback device after transmission of the playback preparation completion notification.

21. The playback control method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the other playback device, search information to search for a playback device that is going to join in synchronized playback;

determining whether or not to allow synchronized playback with the other playback device based on setting information that is set in advance; and

when the synchronized playback is allowed, transmitting to the other playback device a joining response that indicates that the playback device is going to join in the synchronized playback with the other playback device.

22. The playback control method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

when two or more other playback devices are playing back content data that is the same in synchronization and playback by the playback device is stopped, and upon receiving a synchronized playback command to play back the content data in synchronization by the playback device and the other playback devices, transmitting to the other playback devices a joining request that requests joining in the synchronized playback.

23. The playback control method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

when content data that is the same is played back in synchronization by the playback device and the other playback device and upon completion of playback of the content data, receiving, from the other playback device, information that pertains to next content data that follows the current content data;

starting receiving of the next content data from the server device and memorizing the next content data in the memory;

transmitting to the other playback device a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the next content data, after data of the next content data that is memorized in the memory reaches or exceeds a specified volume; and

starting playback of the next content data that is memorized in the memory, upon receiving a playback start command from the other playback device after transmission of the playback preparation completion notification.

24. The playback control method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

when content data that is the same is played back in synchronization by the playback device and the other playback device, transmitting information that indicates the elapsed playback time for the content data of the playback device to the other playback device in response to a request from the other playback device;

receiving a playback stop command for the content data from the other playback device when the elapsed playback time of the other playback device differs from the elapsed playback time of the playback device by a predetermined time or more;

stopping playback of the content data in response to the receiving of the playback stop command;

receiving, from the other playback device, information that indicates a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding the predetermined additional time to the elapsed playback time for the content data that is being played back on the other playback device;

starting receiving of data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data from the server device and memorizing the data in the memory;

transmitting, to the other playback device, a playback preparation completion notification that indicates completion of playback preparation of the content data after the data of the content data that is memorized in the memory reaches or exceeds the specified volume; and

starting playback of the data that begins from the synchronized playback start time for the content data that is memorized in the memory, upon receiving a playback start command from the other playback device after transmission of the playback preparation completion notification.

25. The playback control method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

setting, when synchronized playback is allowed at the synchronized playback permitting step, a playback control mode of the playback device to a slave mode in which content data playback is controlled by the other playback device.