Method, apparatus, and program products for socially synchronizing an experiential data stream

• US 7,882,530 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 6, LLC
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Nickell, Eric S., Thornton, James D., Bobrow, Daniel G., Ducheneaut, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLYNN, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US10/996,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,261 Days
• Field of Search: 725 32- 36, 725/89, 348/14.09, 348/386.1, 348/14.1, 348/15, 709/231, 386/46, 386/68, 386/80, 386/96
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and a computer-usable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to synchronize the presentation of an experiential data stream at a local device with the presentation of a similar experiential data stream using a playback position received over a control link.

Claims

1. A computer controlled method comprising:

monitoring a first playback position in a time dimension of an experiential data stream on a local device for at least one local audience member;

periodically receiving a second playback position related to said experiential data stream, wherein the second playback position corresponds to a remote audience member'"'"'s advancing playback position which is ahead of the first playback position;

advancing the first playback position, which involves presenting the experiential data stream using a fast playback vector that is faster than a nominal playback vector, until the first playback position is in proximity to an audio trigger position for a commentary audio clip;

decreasing the playback vector to the nominal playback vector when the first playback position is aligned with the audio trigger position of the commentary audio clip, to present the commentary audio clip and the experiential data stream using the nominal playback vector;

increasing the playback vector after presenting the commentary audio clip to advance the first playback position, using the fast playback vector, until the first playback position is aligned with the second playback position; and

presenting said experiential data stream using the nominal playback vector.

2. The computer controlled method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises synchronizing the first playback position with the second playback position, which involves a context-displayed synchronization, a jump synchronization, or a social-context synchronization.

3. The computer controlled method of claim 2, wherein synchronizing further comprises setting said first playback position to be that of said second playback position.

4. The computer controlled method of claim 2, wherein synchronizing further comprises:

determining a viewing distance;

determining a synchronization interval responsive to said viewing distance;

adjusting a playback vector such that said first playback position and said second playback position will be aligned at the end of the synchronization interval.

5. The computer controlled method of claim 4, wherein synchronizing further comprises:

detecting proximity between said first playback position and an audio trigger position of a commentary audio clip; and

presenting said commentary audio clip.

6. The computer controlled method of claim 5, wherein presenting the commentary audio clip further comprises pitch compensating the presentation of said commentary audio clip responsive to the adjustment in said playback vector.

7. The computer controlled method of claim 1, further comprising

detecting alignment between said first playback position and said second playback position;

and

setting said playback vector to a nominal value.

8. The computer controlled method of claim 2, further comprising signaling the local device to synchronize the first playback position with the second playback position responsive to detecting a synchronization command.

9. The computer controlled method of claim 1, further comprising tracking said second playback position whereby alignment between said first playback position and said second playback position is maintained.

10. The computer controlled method of claim 9, wherein tracking further comprises determining whether a viewing distance is within a threshold.

11. A non-transitory computer-usable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform a method comprising:

monitoring a first playback position in a time dimension of an experiential data stream on a local device for at least one local audience member;

periodically receiving a second playback position related to said experiential data stream, wherein the second playback position corresponds to a remote audience member'"'"'s advancing playback position which is ahead of the first playback position;

advancing the first playback position, which involves presenting the experiential data stream using a fast playback vector that is faster than a nominal playback vector, until the first playback position is in proximity to an audio trigger position for a commentary audio clip;

decreasing the playback vector to the nominal playback vector when the first playback position is aligned with the audio trigger position of the commentary audio clip, to present the commentary audio clip and the experiential data stream using the nominal playback vector;

increasing the playback vector after presenting the commentary audio clip to advance the first playback position, using the fast playback vector, until the first playback position is aligned with the second playback position; and

presenting said experiential data stream using the nominal playback vector.

12. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises synchronizing the first playback position with the second playback position, which involves a context-displayed synchronization, a jump synchronization, or a social-context synchronization.

13. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 12, wherein synchronizing further comprises setting said first playback position to be that of said second playback position.

14. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 12, wherein synchronizing further comprises:

determining a viewing distance;

determining a synchronization interval responsive to said viewing distance;

adjusting a playback vector such that said first playback position and said second playback position will be aligned at the end of the synchronization interval.

15. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 14, wherein synchronizing further comprises:

detecting proximity between said first playback position and an audio trigger position of a commentary audio clip; and

presenting said commentary audio clip.

16. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 15, wherein presenting the commentary audio clip further comprises pitch compensating the presentation of said commentary audio clip responsive to the adjustment in said playback vector.

17. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising

detecting alignment between said first playback position and said second playback position;

and

setting said playback vector to a nominal value.

18. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising signaling the local device to synchronize the first playback position with the second playback position responsive to detecting a synchronization command.

19. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising tracking said second playback position whereby alignment between said first playback position and said second playback position is maintained.

20. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 19, wherein tracking further comprises determining whether a viewing distance is within a threshold.

21. An apparatus for presenting an experiential data stream for at least one local audience member, the apparatus comprising:

a first position monitor configured to monitor a first playback position in a time dimension of said experiential data stream on a local device for at least one local audience member;

a control link configured to periodically receive a second playback position related to said experiential data stream, wherein the second playback position corresponds to a remote audience member'"'"'s advancing playback position which is ahead of the first playback position;

a synchronization logic, responsive to the control link, configured to;

advance the first playback position, which involves presenting the experiential data stream using a fast playback vector that is faster than a nominal playback vector, until the first playback position is in proximity to an audio trigger position for a commentary audio clip;

decrease the playback vector to the nominal playback vector when the first playback position is aligned with the audio trigger position of the commentary audio clip, to present the commentary audio clip and the experiential data stream using the nominal playback vector; and

increase the playback vector after presenting the commentary audio clip to advance the first playback position, using the fast playback vector, until the first playback position is aligned with the second playback position; and

presentation logic configured to present said experiential data stream using the nominal playback vector.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the synchronization logic is further configured to synchronize the first playback position with the second playback position using a context-displayed synchronization, a jump synchronization, or a social-context synchronization.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the synchronization logic further comprises an alignment logic configured to set said first playback position to be that of said second playback position.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the synchronization logic further comprises:

a first logic configured to determine a viewing distance;

a second logic configured to determine a synchronization interval responsive to said viewing distance;

an adjustment logic configured to adjust a playback vector such that said first playback position and said second playback position will be aligned at the end of the synchronization interval.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the synchronization logic further comprises:

a proximity detector configured to detect proximity between said first playback position and an audio trigger position of a commentary audio clip; and

a second presentation logic configured to present said commentary audio clip.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the second presentation logic further comprises a pitch compensation logic configured to adjust the pitch of said commentary audio clip responsive to the adjustment in said playback vector when said commentary audio clip is presented.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising

an alignment detection logic configured to detect alignment between said first playback position and said second playback position;

and

a third adjustment logic configured to adjust said playback vector to a nominal value setting responsive to the alignment detection logic.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an internal control handler logic configured to invoke the synchronization logic responsive to detection of a synchronization command.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a tracking logic configured maintain alignment between said first playback position and said second playback position.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the tracking logic further comprises a threshold logic configured to determine whether a viewing distance is within a threshold.