Multi-user media delivery system for synchronizing content on multiple media players

• US 8,838,693 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Portulim Foundation LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, RANDY A
• Application Number:
  US12/780,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20100223337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 706/205, 709/208, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/205
• 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 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8453 by locking or enabling a set of features, e.g. optional functionalities in an executable program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

An interactive, multi-user media delivery system having a number of media storage mediums, each of containing a particular media selection, and a number of media players structured to selectively deliver the media selection to users. Each of the media players includes a control assembly structured to selectively control and regulate delivery of the media selection to the user, and at least one of the media players is selectively designatable as a slave unit. A master control assembly is further provided and is operatively associated with the media players, a connectivity assembly being included to establish a communicative link at least between the slave unit(s) and the master control assembly. The master control assembly is further structured to receive synchronization data from each of the media players, and to simultaneously and uniformly control the delivery of the media selection by the media players.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first media player and a second media player, wherein the first and second media players are configured to receive a media selection and deliver the media selection from a corresponding storage medium, wherein each of the first and second media players includes a connectivity assembly configured to establish a communicative link between the first and second media players,

wherein the first media player is designatable as a master unit and the second media player is designatable as a slave unit; and

a remote computer that is separate from the first and second media players, wherein the remote computer includes a master control assembly, wherein the master control assembly is configured to receive synchronization data of the media selection from each of the first and second media players, wherein the synchronization data includes an identifier of the media selection and a location designator indicative of a portion of the media selection that is being delivered at a point in time, wherein the master control assembly is configured to cause the first and second media players to deliver specific points of the media selection simultaneously based at least in part on the synchronization data, and wherein the first media player comprises a first messaging assembly and the second media player comprises a second messaging assembly, and wherein the first and second messaging assemblies permit messaging between at least the first and second media players while the media selection is being delivered by the first and second media players.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first media player comprises a digital music playback system.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first media player comprises a MP3 player.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first media player comprises a personal video recorder.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second media players are web enabled media players.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first messaging assembly comprises a text messaging assembly configured to display a text message on a monitor associated with the delivery of the media selection.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first messaging assembly comprises an audio messaging assembly configured to communicate a message audibly utilizing an audio system associated with the delivery of the media selection.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first messaging assembly comprises a video messaging assembly configured to communicate a message visibly utilizing a monitor associated with the delivery of the media selection.

9. A system comprising:

a receiver configured to receive synchronization data of a media selection from each of a plurality of media players at commencement of delivery of the media selection by the plurality of media players, wherein the synchronization data includes an identifier of the media selection and a location designator indicative of a portion of the media selection that is being delivered at a point in time when the synchronization data is collected; and

a processor in communication with the receiver and configured to;

periodically poll each of the plurality of media players during delivery of the media selection to receive further synchronization data from each of the plurality of media players; and

synchronize the delivery of the media selection by controlling a control assembly of each of the plurality of media players based on the polled and received synchronization data to cause each of the plurality of media players to simultaneously deliver specific points of the media selection; and

a messaging assembly operatively associated with each of the plurality of media players, wherein the messaging assembly is configured to permit messaging communication between the plurality of media players while the media selection is being delivered.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the processor is disposed in a server that is remotely located from the plurality of media players.

11. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

verify that each media selection is an authorized copy based on the received identifiers; and

enable media players having an authorized media selection to participate in the system.

12. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the messaging assembly comprises a text messaging assembly configured to communicate a text message.

13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the messaging assembly comprises an audio messaging assembly configured to communicate an audible message.

14. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the messaging assembly comprises a video messaging assembly configured to communicate a video message.

15. The media delivery system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of media players comprise digital music playback systems.

16. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of media players comprise MP3 players.

17. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of media players comprise personal video recorders.

18. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of media players comprise web enabled media players.

19. A method comprising:

delivering, by a first media player and a second media player, a media selection from a corresponding storage medium;

establishing a communicative link between the first and second media players;

designating the first media player as a master unit and the second media player as a slave unit;

receiving, at a master control assembly of a remote computer that is separate from the first and second media players, synchronization data of the media selection from each of the first and second media players, wherein the synchronization data includes an identifier of the media selection and a location designator indicative of a portion of the media selection that is being delivered at a point in time;

causing the first and second media players to deliver specific points of the media selection simultaneously based at least in part on the synchronization data; and

wherein the first media player comprises a first messaging assembly and the second media player comprises a second messaging assembly, and further comprising transmitting a message from the first media player to the second media player while the media selection is being delivered by the first and second media players.

20. The method of claim 19, where the message comprises at least one of a text message, an audio message, or a video message.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying the message on a monitor associated with delivery of the media selection.

22. A method comprising:

receiving, at a receiver of a master control assembly, synchronization data of a media selection from each of a plurality of media players at commencement of delivery of the media selection by the plurality of media players, wherein the synchronization data includes an identifier of the media selection and a location designator indicative of a portion of the media selection that is being delivered at a point in time when the synchronization data is collected;

periodically polling, with a processor of the master control assembly, each of the plurality of media players during delivery of the media selection to receive further synchronization data from each of the plurality of media players;

synchronizing the delivery of the media selection by controlling a control assembly of each of the plurality of media players based on the polled and received synchronization data to cause each of the plurality of media players to simultaneously deliver specific points of the media selection; and

wherein a messaging assembly is operatively associated with each of the plurality of media players, and further comprising transmitting a message from a first media player in the plurality of media players to a second media player in the plurality of media players while the media selection is being delivered by the first and second media players.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the processor of the master control assembly is disposed in a server that is remotely located from the plurality of media players.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising verifying that each media selection is an authorized copy based on the received identifiers.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising enabling media players having an authorized media selection to participate in a media selection synchronization system.