Synchronized delivery of interactive content

• US 8,489,774 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spot411 Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Spot411 Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Shah, Ajay
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US12/837,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• 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 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• 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 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications

Abstract

Where multiple client devices are synchronized to multiple, asynchronous instances of a time-based media presentation such as live and time-shifted views of a television broadcast, interactive content can be delivered to each one of the various devices at a particular time (or “time offset”) within the presentation independent of when each instance of the time-based media presentation is viewed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

synchronizing a client device to a presentation of time-based media based upon an audio component of the presentation, thereby obtaining a time offset within the presentation;

receiving at the client device interactive content synchronized to the presentation based upon the time offset, wherein the interactive content includes a display of a plurality of search queries from one or more other client devices that have been synchronized to the presentation, each one of the plurality of search queries synchronized to the presentation according to an independently determined time offset for each respective one of the one or more other client device, wherein the interactive content further includes a quiz related to the presentation; and

displaying a score for the quiz on the client device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive content includes a poll temporally related to the presentation.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying a result for the poll on the client device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of search queries are ranked according to popularity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of search queries are filtered according to popularity.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the interactive content as the time offset changes over an interval of the presentation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation includes a live television broadcast.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation includes a time-shifted television broadcast.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation includes a display from a pre-recorded media including at least one of a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, and an HD DVD.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the presentation from at least one of a satellite transmission, a cable network, and a data network.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein synchronizing the client device includes:

sampling and processing the audio component at the client device to provide representative data;

transmitting the representative data to a remote server; and

receiving the time offset from the remote server.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the client device includes a microphone and data network interface.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the client device includes a cellular phone.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the client device includes a mobile device.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the client device includes at least one of a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a netbook, and a palmtop computer.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive content includes an instant messaging interface that couples one or more other client devices to the client device in a communicating relationship.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising synchronizing a second presentation of the time-based media at a second client device in a different location from the client device to the presentation of the time-based media based upon the time offset.