METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING CONTENT PLAYBACK

• US 20120082424A1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hubner, Paul, Archer, Steven T., Clavenna, Robert A., Hubner, Erik A., Pate, Kristopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,131,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/219
• 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18

Abstract

An approach for facilitating the playback of content concurrently on multiple devices is described. A time reference associated with a first device is provided to a synchronization platform for corresponding to playback of content on the first device. The synchronization platform also receives a request from a second device to synchronize concurrent playback of a version of the content on the second device. Timing information is generated for transmission to the second device in response to the request for enabling the second device to playback its version of the content in synchronization with that of the first device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a time reference associated with a first device, wherein the time reference corresponds to playback of content on the first device;

receiving a request from a second device to synchronize concurrent playback of a version of the content on the second device with the playback on the first device; and

generating timing information using the determined time reference for transmission to the second device in response to the request.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second device is within a predetermined proximity to the first device, and the time reference is an absolute time reference and is generated by the first device.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the time reference from the first device;

determining a timing difference to synchronize the playbacks between the first device and the second device based on the time reference; and

transmitting the timing information specifying the timing difference to one or more devices including the second device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second device includes a buffer for presenting the version of the content, and is configured to utilize the timing information to adjust the buffer to synchronize the playback of the version of the content.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a user profile for a synchronization service, wherein the user profile specifies the first device and the second device as associated with a common user account.

6. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

determine a time reference associated with a first device,

receive a request from a second device to synchronize concurrent playback of a version of the content on the second device with the playback on the first device, wherein the second device is within a predetermined proximity to the first device, and

generate timing information using the determined time reference for transmission to the second device in response to the request.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the time reference is an absolute time reference and is generated by the first device.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive the time reference from the first device;

determine a timing difference to synchronize the playbacks between the first device and the second device based on the time reference; and

transmit the timing information specifying the timing difference to one or more devices including the second device.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second device includes a buffer for presenting the version of the content, and is configured to utilize the timing information to adjust the buffer to synchronize the playback of the version of the content.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

establish a user profile for a synchronization service, wherein the user profile specifies the first device and the second device as associated with a common user account.

11. A method comprising:

determining, at a primary device, a participant device within a predetermined proximity;

determining a time reference corresponding to playback of content on a primary device; and

establishing a communication session with the participant device to provide the time reference to the participant device for synchronizing playback of a version of the content on the participant device with the playback on the primary device.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the communication session is over a wireless link.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating a request to subscribe to a synchronization service for synchronizing concurrent playback of content among a plurality of devices.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein each of the devices is configured to execute a synchronization application to communicate with the synchronization service.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the devices include either a computing device, a mobile phone, or a set-top box.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, at a participant device, a signal from a primary device that is configured to playback content; and

in response to the received signal, adjusting concurrent playback, at the participant device, of a version of the content to synchronize with the playback of the content on the primary device.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the signal includes timing information to assist with the synchronization of the playbacks, the method further comprising:

adjusting depth of a buffer of the participant device based on the received signal, wherein the buffer is configured to store the version of the content for the playback on the participant device.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the signal represents the content, the method further comprising:

during the playback of the content on the primary device, sampling the signal; and

determining a time reference using the sampled signal, wherein the adjustment of the playback of the version of the content is in accordance with the determined time reference.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the signal includes an audio signal, the method further comprising:

receiving the audio signal via a microphone coupled to the participant device.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the devices include either a computing device, a mobile phone, or a set-top box.