Live Broadcast on an Online Social Network

• US 20180191792A1
• Filed: 12/30/2016
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Granted Patent: US 10,701,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/752 adapting media to network capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes sending, to a social-networking system, information to initiate a live-broadcast session for distribution of a media stream using the social-networking system. The method also includes capturing an incoming media stream in association with the live-broadcast session, generating an outgoing media stream based on the incoming media stream, and sending the outgoing media stream to the social-networking system. The method also includes providing information to display a user interface associated with the live-broadcast session, where the user interface includes a visual representation associated with the outgoing media stream.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a first client system associated with a first user of a social-networking system, sending, to the social-networking system, information to initiate a live-broadcast session for distribution of a media stream using the social-networking system;

by the first client system, capturing an incoming media stream in association with the live-broadcast session;

by the first client system, generating an outgoing media stream based on the incoming media stream;

by the first client system, sending the outgoing media stream to the social-networking system; and

by the first client system, providing information to display a user interface associated with the live-broadcast session, wherein the user interface comprises a visual representation associated with the outgoing media stream.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a format in which to generate the outgoing media stream based at least in part on:

a network connectivity status associated with the first client system;

or

an input signal to the first client system indicating selection of a particular format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming media stream comprises audio data and video data, and wherein the generating the outgoing media stream comprises removing the video data from the incoming media stream and retaining the audio data of the incoming media stream.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

recording the audio data and the video data of the incoming media stream;

storing the recorded data in one or more data stores associated with the first client system; and

sending, to the social-networking system for display in a web interface associated with the first user, a media object comprising the stored data associated with the incoming media stream.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, by the first client system:

receiving, from the social-networking system, instructions to distribute the outgoing media stream to one or more second client systems; and

sending the outgoing media stream to the one or more second client systems based on the received instructions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises reaction information associated with one or more second users of the social-networking system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reaction information comprises:

one or more graphic emoticons inputted to one or more of the second client systems;

one or more comments inputted to one or more of the second client systems;

or

one or more indications of likes by the second users.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring one or more bandwidth values associated with a network connection of the first client system, each bandwidth value being associated with a time of its measurement;

determining that each of one or more of the bandwidth values within a period of time of a specified length are greater than a threshold bandwidth value; and

switching from generating the outgoing media stream in a format not comprising video data to generating the outgoing media stream in a format comprising video data based at least in part on the determination.

9. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:

send, from a first client system associated with a first user of a social-networking system to the social-networking system, information to initiate a live-broadcast session for distribution of a media stream using the social-networking system;

capture an incoming media stream in association with the live-broadcast session;

generate an outgoing media stream based on the incoming media stream;

send the outgoing media stream to the social-networking system; and

provide information to display a user interface associated with the live-broadcast session, wherein the user interface comprises a visual representation associated with the outgoing media stream.

10. The media of claim 9, wherein the software is further operable when executed to determine a format in which to generate the outgoing media stream based at least in part on:

a network connectivity status associated with the first client system;

or

an input signal to the first client system indicating selection of a particular format.

11. The media of claim 9, wherein the incoming media stream comprises audio data and video data, and wherein the generating the outgoing media stream comprises removing the video data from the incoming media stream and retaining the audio data of the incoming media stream.

12. The media of claim 9, wherein the software is further operable when executed to:

receive, from the social-networking system, instructions to distribute the outgoing media stream to one or more second client systems; and

send the outgoing media stream to the one or more second client systems based on the received instructions.

13. The media of claim 9, wherein the user interface further comprises reaction information associated with one or more second users of the social-networking system.

14. The media of claim 9, wherein the software is further operable when executed to:

measure one or more bandwidth values associated with a network connection of the first client system, each bandwidth value being associated with a time of its measurement;

determine that each of one or more of the bandwidth values within a period of time of a specified length are greater than a threshold bandwidth value; and

switch from generating the outgoing media stream in a format not comprising video data to generating the outgoing media stream in a format comprising video data based at least in part on the determination.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to;

send, from a first client system associated with a first user of a social-networking system to the social-networking system, information to initiate a live-broadcast session for distribution of a media stream using the social-networking system;

capture an incoming media stream in association with the live-broadcast session;

generate an outgoing media stream based on the incoming media stream;

send the outgoing media stream to the social-networking system; and

provide information to display a user interface associated with the live-broadcast session, wherein the user interface comprises a visual representation associated with the outgoing media stream.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to determine a format in which to generate the outgoing media stream based at least in part on:

a network connectivity status associated with the first client system;

or

an input signal to the first client system indicating selection of a particular format.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the incoming media stream comprises audio data and video data, and wherein the generating the outgoing media stream comprises removing the video data from the incoming media stream and retaining the audio data of the incoming media stream.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

receive, from the social-networking system, instructions to distribute the outgoing media stream to one or more second client systems; and

send the outgoing media stream to the one or more second client systems based on the received instructions.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the user interface further comprises reaction information associated with one or more second users of the social-networking system.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the processors are further operable when executing the instructions to:

measure one or more bandwidth values associated with a network connection of the first client system, each bandwidth value being associated with a time of its measurement;

determine that each of one or more of the bandwidth values within a period of time of a specified length are greater than a threshold bandwidth value; and

switch from generating the outgoing media stream in a format not comprising video data to generating the outgoing media stream in a format comprising video data based at least in part on the determination.