Client controllable server-side playlists

• US 7,617,278 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Edelman, Bradley, Lozben, Slavik, Shetty, Pritham, Gay, Jonathan, Cheng, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/353,811
• Time in Patent Office: 2,477 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/208, 709/223, 709/231, 709/219, 709/229, 709/201, 709/203, 707/102, 370/352, 348/474
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for establishing an interactive multimedia application environment in which server-side streaming media may be controlled by a client using a programming model provided at both a communication server and an interactive multimedia runtime on the client. The application program interface (API) preferably provides methods for the client user to establish a stream of data from the client to the communication server in addition to allowing a stream from the communication server to the client. The API also preferably allows the user at a client to exert control over the broadcasting of the media streams. Streams may be built, edited, paused, stopped, augmented, and the like by the client user. Each function that the client user may operate on the broadcast media stream is preferably viewable by all of the other subscribing clients.

Claims

1. An interactive multimedia application environment (iMAE) comprising:

an interactive multimedia communication server (iMCS);

at least one client in communication with said iMCS, said client having an interactive multimedia runtime (iMR) stored thereon;

a programming application programming interface (API) executable by said iMCS and said iMR, wherein said programming API controls functionality on said iMCS and said iMR; and

at least one media stream broadcast from said iMCS, wherein said at least one client selectively subscribes to said at least one media stream broadcast for operation on said iMR, and wherein media content of said at least one media stream is editable by said at least one client during broadcast to a plurality of clients by said iMCS using a programming API command issued via said iMR to selectively combine a live media segment with a recorded media segment to form said at least one media stream.

2. The iMAE of claim 1 wherein said programming API includes:

a publishing method for publishing media streams to said iMCS for broadcasting.

3. The iMAE of claim 2 wherein said published media streams originate from one or more of:

said iMCS;

said at least one client; and

an external resource.

4. The iMAE of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory disposed on said iMCS for recording said at least one media streams broadcast from said iMCS.

16. The iMAE of claim 1, wherein results of editing interaction with respect to said at least one media stream by said at least one client is experienced by said plurality of clients while said at least one client edits said media stream during said broadcast.

17. The iMAE of claim 1, wherein editing interaction with respect to said at least one media stream results in presenting media content pre-saved at each of said plurality of clients to a corresponding client of said plurality of clients as a part of said at least one media stream.

18. The iMAE of claim 1, wherein said at least one media stream is editable by each client of said plurality of clients during broadcast to said plurality of clients.

19. The iMAE of claim 18, further comprising:

access parameters to grant rights for editing broadcast media streams including said at least one media stream.

20. The iMAE of claim 1, further comprising:

a publishing method for publishing media streams to said iMCS for broadcasting, said media streams including said at least one media stream, wherein said at least one media stream was published by a client other than said at least one client editing said at least one media stream.

21. The iMAE of claim 1, wherein said at least one media stream as edited by said at least one client comprises media content provided during broadcast by said iMCS and media content provided during broadcast by one or more clients of said plurality of clients.

5. A computer readable medium with computer program logic recorded thereon, said computer program logic comprising:

code executable by an accessing client for establishing a communication connection from said accessing client to a communication server broadcasting a media stream over an information network;

code, transmitted from said accessing client, for execution at said communication server for manipulating a progress of said media stream; and

code available at said accessing client and executable at said communication server for editing media content of said media stream, by said accessing client, during broadcast to a plurality of clients by said communication server;

wherein said code for editing media content of said media stream includes code for selectively splicing, by said accessing client, a live media segment with a recorded media segment.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5 further comprising:

code commonly executable by said communication server and said accessing client for publishing a media stream to said communication server.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 5 further comprising:

code for selectively recording said media stream.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 further comprising:

code executable by said accessing client for subscribing to said recorded media stream.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 5 further comprising:

code executable by said accessing client for subscribing to said media stream.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein results of editing media content of said media stream is experienced by said plurality of clients while said accessing client edits said media stream during said broadcast.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein editing media contents of said media stream results in presenting media content pre-saved at each of said plurality of clients to a corresponding client of said plurality of clients as a part of said media stream.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein said media stream is editable by each client of said plurality of clients during broadcast to said plurality of clients.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, further comprising:

code executable at said communication server for granting rights for editing broadcast media streams including said media stream.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 5, further comprising:

code for publishing media streams to said communication server for broadcasting, said published media streams including said media stream, wherein said media stream was published by a client other than said accessing client editing said media stream.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein said media stream as edited by said accessing client comprises media content provided during broadcast by said communication server and media content provided during broadcast by one or more clients of said plurality of clients.

10. A computer implemented method comprising:

subscribing to a multimedia stream at a first client device, when said multimedia stream is broadcast to a plurality of client devices from an interactive multimedia communication server (iMCS);

transmitting one or more edit instructions from an interactive runtime (iMR) running on said first client device to said iMCS during said broadcasting wherein said one or more edit instructions edit media content making up said multimedia stream at each of said first client device and said plurality of client devices by selectively combining a live media segment with a recorded media segment.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said broadcasting is initiated by one of:

said iMCS; and

said iMR.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

controlling a status of said broadcast multimedia stream, wherein said status comprises at least one of;

a time-progress of said multimedia stream; and

said media content of said multimedia stream.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

subscribing to said multimedia stream from said iMR.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

recording said broadcast multimedia stream by said iMCS.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

subscribing to said recorded multimedia stream by said iMR.

28. The method of claim 10, wherein results of editing media content of said multimedia stream by said iMR is experienced by said plurality of clients while said iMR edits said multimedia stream during said broadcast.

29. The method of claim 10, wherein editing media content of said multimedia stream results in presenting media content pre-saved at each of said plurality of clients to a corresponding client of said plurality of clients as a part of said multimedia stream.

30. The method of claim 10, wherein said multimedia stream is editable by each client of said plurality of clients during broadcast to said plurality of clients.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

granting rights for editing broadcast media streams including said multimedia stream.

32. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

publishing media streams to said iMCS for broadcasting said media streams including said multimedia stream, wherein said multimedia stream was published by a client other than said iMR editing said multimedia stream.

33. The method of claim 10, wherein said multimedia stream as edited by said iMR comprises media content provided during broadcast by said iMCS and media content provided during broadcast by one or more clients of said plurality of clients.