System, method and article of manufacture for late synchronization during the execution of a multimedia event on a plurality of client computers

• US 6,769,130 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterActual Technologies Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Getsin, Evgeniy M., Lewis, Michael J., Collart, Todd R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ma, Johnny
• Application Number:
  US09/488,613
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 725/89, 725/93, 725/100, 725/85, 725/86, 725/87, 725/104, 725/134, 725/32, 725/35
• US Class Current: 725/89
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for delayed synchronization of an event on a plurality of client apparatuses. First, a plurality of client apparatuses are connected via a network and an event is stored in memory on the client apparatuses. The event is then simultaneously played back on the client apparatuses utilizing the network. During the simultaneous playback, a request may be received from one of the client apparatuses for that particular client to be included in the synchronized event. In response to the request, information is transmitted to the requesting client apparatus utilizing the network. This information is adapted for identifying a location in the memory where the event is currently being played back on the remaining client apparatuses. This allows the simultaneous playback of the event on the requesting client apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for delayed synchronization of an event on a plurality of client apparatuses, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, wherein an event is stored in memory on the client apparatuses;

(b) transmitting a command from a host to simultaneously play back the event on the plurality of client apparatuses utilizing the network;

(c) receiving a request from one of the client apparatuses during the simultaneous playback to be included in the synchronized event; and

(d) transmitting information from the host to the requesting client apparatus utilizing the network for identifying a location in the memory where the event is currently being played back so as to allow the simultaneous playback of the event on the requesting client apparatus;

wherein only the host can transmit the command to the plurality of client apparatuses.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the request is received utilizing the network.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the event includes at least one of a movie, a concert, and a theatrical event.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory includes a digital video disc (DVD).

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the information includes chapter information associated with the DVD.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network is a wide area network.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information also includes a history of the simultaneous playback.

8. A method for delayed synchronization of an event on a plurality of client apparatuses, comprising the steps of

(a) connecting a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, wherein an event is stored in memory on the client apparatuses;

(b) transmitting a command from a host to simultaneously play back the event on the plurality of client apparatuses utilizing the network;

(c) receiving a request from one of the client apparatuses during the simultaneous playback to be included in the synchronized event; and

(d) transmitting information from the host to the requesting client apparatus utilizing the network for identifying a location in the memory where the event is currently being played back so as to allow the simultaneous playback of the event on the requesting client apparatus;

wherein only the host can transmit the command to the plurality of client apparatuses;

wherein the information also includes a history of the simultaneous playback.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the request is received utilizing the network.

10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the event includes at least one of a movie, a concert, and a theatrical event.

11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the memory includes a digital video disc (DVD).

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the information includes chapter information associated with the DVD.

13. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the network is a wide area network.