System, method and article of manufacture for a business layer component in a multimedia synchronization framework

• US 7,458,091 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sonic Solutions (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Getsin, Evgeniy M, Lewis, Michael J, Collart, Todd R
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newlin, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US09/489,601
• Time in Patent Office: 3,232 Days
• Field of Search: 725/131, 725/132, 725/133, 725/32, 725/33, 725/34, 725/35, 725/36, 725/89, 725/109, 725/100, 725/25, 725/29, 725/31, 725/134, 709/217, 709/218, 386/45, 386/125, 386/126
• US Class Current: 725/97
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4437 Implementing a Virtual Machine [VM] virtual machines in general G06F9/45533
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for identifying a plurality of events which are played back simultaneously on a plurality of networked client apparatuses. First, a plurality of events are stored in memory on a plurality of client apparatuses. The events each have a unique identifier associated therewith and which are stored in the memory. In operation, the client apparatuses are adapted to be coupled to a host computer via a network. The identifier of the event which is stored in the memory of the client apparatuses is then retrieved utilizing the network. Such identifier is subsequently compared with an identifier of a scheduled event. If the comparison renders a match, the playback of the event is begun on each of the client apparatuses.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a plurality of events which are played back simultaneously on a plurality of networked client apparatuses, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of events stored in memory on a plurality of client apparatuses, the events each having a unique identifier identifying the event stored in memory associated therewith and stored in the memory, wherein the client apparatuses are adapted to be coupled to a host computer via a network;

(b) ascertaining whether the client apparatuses have the event stored in memory comprising ascertaining the identifier of the event stored in the memory of the client apparatuses utilizing the network;

(c) comparing the identifier of the event stored in the memory with an identifier of a scheduled event;

(d) identifying a type of device on each of the client apparatuses; and

(e) beginning the playback of the event simultaneously on each of the client apparatuses comprising generating communications for each of the client apparatuses comprising an address to each of the client apparatuses and an object specific for each of the client apparatuses based on the type of device identified and forwarding the communications with the objects specific for each of the client apparatuses upon ascertaining that the client apparatus has the predefined content stored and that the comparison renders a match.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the event includes a video and audio presentation.

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 network is a wide area network.

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

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

adding additional content with the event content;

recording historic data associated with the simultaneous playback and additional content; and

allowing later playback by supplying just the historic data and overlay content to be cooperated with locally stored event content for later playback of the simultaneous event.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request during playback of the event by a late arrival client apparatus to participate in the simultaneous playback; and

synchronizing the late arrival client apparatus to the simultaneous playback of the event.

13. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein only the host computer can forward communications to begin the simultaneous playback.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, further comprising generating commands specific for each of the client apparatuses based on the type of device identified and forwarding the commands specific for each of the client apparatuses to the client apparatuses during the simultaneous playback of the event.

6. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for identifying a plurality of events which are played back simultaneously on a plurality of networked client apparatuses, comprising:

(a) a code segment for providing a plurality of events stored in memory on a plurality of client apparatuses where content of the events are playable independent from a synchronized simultaneous playback, the events each having a unique identifier identifying the event stored in memory associated therewith and stored in the memory, wherein the client apparatuses are adapted to be coupled to a host computer via a network;

(b) a code segment for ascertaining whether the client apparatuses have the event stored in memory comprising ascertaining the identifier of the event stored in the memory of the client apparatuses utilizing the network;

(c) a code segment for comparing the identifier of the event stored in the memory with an identifier of a scheduled event;

(d) a code segment for identifying a type of device on each of the client apparatuses; and

(e) a code segment for beginning the playback of the event simultaneously on each of the client apparatuses comprising generating one or more communications for each of the client apparatuses comprising an address to each of the client apparatuses and an object specific for each of the client apparatuses based on the type of device identified and forwarding the communications with the objects specific for each of the client apparatuses upon ascertaining that the client apparatus has the predefined content stored and that the comparison renders a match.

7. A computer program as recited in claim 6, wherein the event includes a video and audio presentation.

8. A computer program as recited in claim 6, wherein the event includes at least one of a movie, a concert, and a theatrical event.

9. A computer program as recited in claim 6, wherein the network is a wide area network.

10. A computer program as recited in claim 6, wherein the memory includes a digital video disc (DVD).