Methods and Apparatus for Interactive Multimedia Communication

• US 20130031192A1
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ram Caspi
• Original Assignee: Ram Caspi
• Inventors: CASPI, Ram
• Granted Patent: US 10,419,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/04 Network management architectures or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• 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: 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 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for establishing a synchronized interactive multimedia communication among a plurality of users. The method includes generating, at a first device, first information associated with a multimedia content selected by a first user. The first information is generated based on parameters. The method includes transmitting the first information to a second user. The first and second user is associated with a social computer network. Further, the method includes, at second devices, receiving the first information from the social network. The method includes processing the first information to establish a synchronized multimedia interactive communication between the second and the first user. The presentation of the multimedia content in the synchronized interactive multimedia communication is synchronized among the first device and the second device(s). The synchronized interactive multimedia communication is performed along with the presentation of the multimedia content.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a synchronized interactive multimedia communication among a plurality of users, comprising:

at a first device connected to a computer network;

generating first information associated with a multimedia content selected by a first user, wherein the first information is generated based on one or more parameters; and

transmitting the first information to at least one second user, wherein each of the at least one second user and the first user are associated with a social computer network; and

at one or more second devices connected to the computer network;

receiving the first information from the social computer network; and

processing the first information to establish a synchronized multimedia interactive communication between at least one of the at least one second user and the first user, wherein presentation of the multimedia content in the synchronized interactive multimedia communication is synchronized among the first device and the one or more second devices, further wherein the synchronized interactive multimedia communication is performed along with the presentation of the multimedia content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprises at least one of:

an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the first device, wherein the first device comprises a multimedia communication manager;

details associated with the multimedia communication manager;

time schedule associated with the multimedia content;

a first uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the multimedia content; and

service information wherein the service information comprises a second URL associated with a third device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying, at the one or more second devices, a message corresponding to the first information, wherein the message is a semi-transparent pop up message.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising replying to the message at the one or more second devices associated with the at least one second user based on a presence of the at least one second user;

and availability of the multimedia communication manager at the one or more second device.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising replying to the message based on a selection, by the at least one second user, of the service information for upgrading to the multimedia communication manager when the one or more second device does not comprise the multimedia communication manager.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding the multimedia content to:

a first synchronized multimedia list at the first device; and

a second synchronized multimedia list at the one or more second devices.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting, by a second user at the one or more second devices, one or more first users from which the first information is received for synchronizing the multimedia session;

and adding the one or more first users associated with the one or more first devices from which the first information is received to a second viewers list.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising transmitting, by the one or more second devices, second information to the one or more first users, wherein the second information comprises at least one of:

reply information associated with the multimedia content; and

information associated with a second multimedia content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the multimedia content is at least one of a real-time content and a content to be presented at a later time.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, to the one or more first users, a new time schedule associated with at least one of the multimedia content and a second multimedia content by the at least one second device, in order to reschedule the synchronized watching event.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and at least one second device are synchronized with each other such that commands for playing, stopping, fast forward, rewind, and few seconds instant rewind and other such control commands are executable in a synchronized manner on the first and the one or more second device, wherein each of the first device and the one or more second devices comprises a social computer networking client.

9. The method of claim 9 further comprising at the one or more first devices:

receiving the second information from the one or more second devices; and

adding the one or more second users associated with the one or more second devices to a first viewers list.

13. An apparatus for establishing a synchronized interactive multimedia communication among a plurality of users, comprising:

a first device connected to a computer network comprising;

a first generator configured to generate first information associated with a multimedia content selected by a first user, wherein the first information is generated based on one or more parameters; and

a first transceiver configured to transmit the first information to at least one second user, wherein each of the at least one second user and the first user are associated with a social computer network; and

one or more second devices connected to the computer network comprising;

a second transceiver configured to receive the first information from the social computer network; and

a second analyzer configured to process the first information to establish a synchronized interactive multimedia communication between at least one of the at least one second user and the first user, wherein presentation of the multimedia content in the synchronized interactive multimedia communication is synchronized among the first device and the one or more second devices, further wherein the synchronized interactive multimedia communication is performed along with the presentation of the multimedia content.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more parameters comprises at least one of:

an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the first device, wherein the first device comprises a multimedia communication manager;

details associated with the multimedia communication manager;

time schedule associated with the multimedia content;

a first uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the multimedia content; and

service information wherein the service information comprises a second URL associated with a third device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more second devices further comprises a display unit configured to display a message corresponding to the first information, wherein the message is a semi-transparent pop up message.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second transceiver is further configured to reply to the message based on a selection, by the at least one second user, of the service information when the one or more second device does not comprise the multimedia communication manager, wherein the service information comprises information for upgrading to the multimedia communication manager by the one or more second devices.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second transceiver is further configured to:

receive, from a second user, a selection of one or more first users from which the first information is received for synchronizing the interactive multimedia communication;

transmit second information to the one or more first users, wherein the second information comprises at least one of;

reply information associated with the multimedia content; and

information associated with a second multimedia content; and

transmit, to the one or more first users, a new time schedule associated with at least one of the multimedia content and the second multimedia content by the at least one second device, in order to reschedule the synchronized watching event.

18. A method for establishing a synchronised multimedia session among a plurality of users, comprising:

at a first device connected to a computer network;

generating first information associated with a multimedia content selected by a first user, wherein the first information is generated based on one or more parameters; and

transmitting the first information to at least one second user, wherein each of the at least one second user and the first user are associated with a social computer network; and

at one or more second devices connected to the computer network;

receiving the first information from the social computer network; and

processing the first information to establish a synchronized multimedia interactive communication between at least one of the at least one second user and the first user, wherein the synchronized multimedia session is performed along with presentation of the multimedia content.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising displaying, at the one or more second devices, a message corresponding to the first information, wherein the message is a semi-transparent pop up message, wherein the one or more second devices include a social networking client.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising transmitting, by the one or more second devices, second information to the one or more first users, wherein the second information comprises at least one of:

reply information associated with the multimedia content, wherein the multimedia content is at least one of a real time content and the to be presented at a later time; and

information associated with a second multimedia content.