Synchronized media playback using autonomous clients over standard Internet protocols

• US 8,595,342 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Reazer Investments LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Igelman, Marvin, Zivkovic, Aleksandar
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US12/253,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20090106357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/223, 709/231, 370/465, 715/201, 375/E7.01
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols

Abstract

A method of achieving synchronous playback of media content over the internet, such as digital video and audio, when the media content is stored on a host that does not have synchronous broadcasting software installed. Users select media sources that are accessible from one or more content servers and create a broadcast playlist. A database maintains a virtual-time record of the broadcast. A server receives a client request for the broadcast, retrieves the virtual-time record from the database, and delivers it to the client. The client then accesses the remotely-stored media source and plays it in a media player, synchronously with all other clients receiving the broadcast.

Claims

1. A method of arranging synchronous display of a media broadcast, the media broadcast comprising a sequence of a plurality of media files, the method comprising:

publishing, by a synchronization server, a listing of a plurality of available media broadcasts, wherein the plurality of available media broadcasts can be selected for play at one or more client devices;

maintaining, only for each of the plurality of available media broadcasts currently being played at at least one client device, a virtual playhead comprising an indication of a media file currently being played in the media broadcast and an indication of a point at which the media file is being played;

receiving, at the synchronization server, a request from a first client device to play a particular media broadcast;

determining, in response to receiving the request from the first client device, that at least a second client device is playing the particular media broadcast by determining that a virtual playhead for the particular media broadcast is being maintained; and

sending, from the synchronization server to the first client device, synchronization information comprising a location on one or more content servers of the media file indicated by the virtual playhead for the particular media broadcast and a point indicated by the virtual playhead for the particular media broadcast at which the media file is being played.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more content servers are remote from the synchronization server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client device comprises a media player which is configured to access the media file on the one or more content servers and to play the media file starting at a point within the media file based on the synchronization information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization information further comprises a location on the one or more content servers of a next media file to be played.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first client device is configured to buffer the next media file while the media file is being played at the first client device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the media file is an internet location where the media file can be accessed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the second client device has stopped playing the media broadcast and that the first client device is displaying the media broadcast;

continuing maintaining the virtual playhead while the media broadcast is being played by at least the first client device;

receiving, at the synchronization server, a request from a third client device to play the media broadcast;

determining, in response to receiving the request from the third client device, that the virtual playhead is being maintained; and

sending the synchronization information from the synchronization server to the third client device,

wherein the third client device comprises a media player which is configured to access the media file on the one or more content servers and to play the media file starting at a point within the media file based on the synchronization information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises accessing a database which comprises the virtual playhead.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the media broadcast is not being played by any client device; and

stopping maintenance of the virtual playhead in response to determining that the media broadcast is not being played by any client devices device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accepting, by the synchronization server, control commands from only one of the first and second client devices, the control commands relating to control of the playing of the media broadcast at each of the the first and second client devices.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the synchronization server, votes from one or more client devices; and

controlling the playing of the media broadcast at each of the first and second client devices based on the received votes.

12. A synchronization system for arranging synchronous display of a media broadcast, the media broadcast comprising a sequence of a plurality of media files, the synchronization system comprising:

a communication mechanism configured to communicate with a plurality of client devices; and

a computer readable medium comprising instructions executable by the synchronization system, the instructions comprising;

instructions to publish a listing of a plurality of available media broadcasts, wherein the plurality of available media broadcasts can be selected for play at one or more of the plurality of client devices;

instructions to maintain, only for each of the plurality of available media broadcasts currently being played at at least one of the plurality of client devices, a virtual playhead comprising an indication of a media file currently being played in the media broadcast and an indication of a point at which the one of the plurality of media files is being played;

instructions to receive, via the communication mechanism, a request from the a first client device to play the media broadcast;

instructions to determine that at least one of the plurality of client devices is playing the media broadcast by determining that the virtual playhead is being maintained; and

instructions to send, to the first client device via the communication mechanism, synchronization information comprising a location on one or more content servers of the media file indicated by the virtual playhead for the particular media broadcast and a point indicated by the virtual playhead for the particular media broadcast at which the media file is being played.

13. The synchronization system of claim 12, wherein the one or more content servers are remote from the synchronization server.

14. The synchronization system of claim 12, wherein the first client device comprises a media player which is configured to access the media file on the one or more content servers and to play the media file starting at a point within the media file based on the synchronization information.

15. The synchronization system of claim 12, wherein the synchronization information further comprises a location on the one or more content servers of a next media file to be played.

16. The synchronization system of claim 12, further comprising:

a database comprising the virtual playhead.

17. The synchronization system of claim 12, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to stop maintenance of the virtual playhead in response to a determination that the media broadcast is not being played by any of the plurality of client devices.

18. A computer readable medium comprising instructions to arrange synchronous display of a media broadcast, the media broadcast comprising a sequence of a plurality of media files, the instructions comprising:

instructions to publish a listing of a plurality of available media broadcasts, wherein the plurality of available media broadcasts can be selected for play at one or more client devices;

instructions to maintain, only for each of the plurality of available media broadcasts currently being played at at least one client device, a virtual playhead comprising an indication of a media file currently being played in the media broadcast and an indication of a point at which the media file is being played;

instructions to receive a request from a first client device to play a particular media broadcast;

instructions to determine, in response to receiving the request from the first client device, that at least a second client device is playing the particular media broadcast by determining that a virtual playhead for the particular media broadcast is being maintained; and

instructions to send, to the first client device, synchronization information comprising a location on one or more content servers of the media file indicated by the virtual playhead for the particular media broadcast and a point indicated by the virtual playhead for the particular media broadcast at which the media file is being played.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions to receive the request from the first client device comprise instructions for a synchronization server to receive the request from the first client device, and wherein the one or more content servers are remote from the synchronization server.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first client device comprises a media player which is configured to access the media file on the one or more content servers and to play the media file starting at a point within the media file based on the synchronization information.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the synchronization information further comprises a location on the one or more content servers of a next media file to be played.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the location of the first media file is an internet location where the media file can be accessed.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to determine that the second client device has stopped playing the media broadcast and that the first client device is displaying the media broadcast;

instructions to continue maintaining the virtual playhead while the media broadcast is being played by at least the first client device;

instructions to receive, at a synchronization server, a request from a third client device to play the media broadcast;

instructions to determine, in response to receiving the request from the third client device, that the virtual playhead is being maintained; and

instructions to send, to the third client device, the synchronization information,

wherein the third client device comprises a media player which is configured to access the media file on the one or more content servers and to play the media file starting at a point within the media file based on the synchronization information.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions to determine comprise:

instructions to access a database which comprises the virtual playhead.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to determine that the media broadcast is not being played by any client device; and

instructions to stop maintenance of the virtual playhead in response to determining that the media broadcast is not being played by any client device.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to accept control commands from only one of the first and second client devices, the control commands relating to control of the playing of the media broadcast at each of the the first and second client devices.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to receive votes from one or more client devices; and

instructions to control the playing of the media broadcast at each of the first and second client devices based on the received votes.