Device Synchronization
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of triggering an instance of companion software to perform an expected action related to a piece of media content during a delivery of that media content by a media device to a content consuming user, the method comprising:
- the instance of the companion software receiving a synchronization signal transmitted when, in delivering the media content, the media device reaches a reference point in the media content, wherein the synchronisation signal conveys a time instant of that reference point;
measuring a current elapsed time from the time instant of the reference point;
determining a local confidence value based on the current elapsed time and/or based on a determined reliability of a carrier signal used to convey the received synchronization signal, the local confidence value indicative of the likelihood of the expected action being triggered at a correct time, the correct time being when the media device, in delivering the media content, reaches the trigger point;
accessing computer storage holding an association of the expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content; and
triggering the expected action when the current elapsed time substantially matches the time instant of the trigger point conditional on the local confidence value being within a first confidence value limit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of triggering an instance of companion software to perform an expected action related to a piece of media content during a delivery of that media content by a media device to a content consuming user, the method comprising: the instance of the companion software receiving a synchronization signal transmitted when, in delivering the media content, the media device reaches a reference point in the media content, wherein the synchronisation signal conveys a time instant of that reference point; measuring a current elapsed time from the time instant of the reference point; accessing computer storage holding an association of the expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content; and triggering the expected action when the current elapsed time substantially matches the time instant of the trigger point.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method of triggering an instance of companion software to perform an expected action related to a piece of media content during a delivery of that media content by a media device to a content consuming user, the method comprising:
-
the instance of the companion software receiving a synchronization signal transmitted when, in delivering the media content, the media device reaches a reference point in the media content, wherein the synchronisation signal conveys a time instant of that reference point; measuring a current elapsed time from the time instant of the reference point; determining a local confidence value based on the current elapsed time and/or based on a determined reliability of a carrier signal used to convey the received synchronization signal, the local confidence value indicative of the likelihood of the expected action being triggered at a correct time, the correct time being when the media device, in delivering the media content, reaches the trigger point; accessing computer storage holding an association of the expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content; and triggering the expected action when the current elapsed time substantially matches the time instant of the trigger point conditional on the local confidence value being within a first confidence value limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
7. (canceled)
-
19. (canceled)
-
20. A computer system for performing an expected action related to a piece of media content during a delivery of that media content by a media device to a content consuming user, the computer system comprising:
-
an input configured to receive a synchronization signal transmitted when, in delivering the media content, the media device reaches a reference point in the media content, wherein the synchronisation signal conveys a time instant of that reference point; and a processor configured; to measure a current elapsed time from the time instant of the reference point; to determine a local confidence value based on the current elapsed time and/or based on a determined reliability of a carrier signal used to convey the received synchronisation signal, the local confidence value indicative of the likelihood of expected action being triggered at a correct time, the correct time being when the media device, in delivering the media content, reaches the trigger point;
to access computer storage holding an association of the expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content, and to trigger the expected action when the current elapsed time substantially matches the time instant of the trigger point conditional on the local confidence value being within a first confidence value limit. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
-
22-37. -37. (canceled)
-
38. A non-transitory computer program product comprising executable code stored on a computer readable storage medium, the code configured when executed to perform an expected action related to a piece of media content during a delivery of that media content by a media device to a content consuming user, the computer system comprising:
-
an input configured to receive a synchronization signal transmitted when, in delivering the media content, the media device reaches a reference point in the media content, wherein the synchronisation signal conveys a time instant of that reference point; and a processor configured; to measure a current elapsed time from the time instant of the reference point; to determine a local confidence value based on the current elapsed time and/or based on a determined reliability of a carrier signal used to convey the received synchronisation signal, the local confidence value indicative of the likelihood of expected action being triggered at a correct time, the correct time being when the media device, in delivering the media content, reaches the trigger point;
to access computer storage holding an association of the expected action with a time instant of a trigger point in the media content, and to trigger the expected action when the current elapsed time substantially matches the time instant of the trigger point conditional on the local confidence value being within a first confidence value limit.
-
Specification