Shared multimedia experience

• US 8,990,317 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Buyukkoc, Cagatay, Streijl, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAO HONG
• Application Number:
  US12/953,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20120131110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• 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 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• 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 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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

Abstract

A method includes receiving a request to establish a group presence session between at least a first device associated with a first network and a second device associated with a second network. During the group presence session, multimedia content is provided to the first device and to the second device at substantially the same time, and first presence information from the first device is provided to the second device at substantially the same time as second presence information from the second device is provided to the first device. The method further includes synchronizing the multimedia content, the first presence information, and the second presence information based on a first device capability, a second device capability, information associated with the first network, and information associated with the second network. Synchronized content streams that include the multimedia content and presence information are transmitted to the devices via the respective networks.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a group presence server that includes a processor, permission to establish a group presence session between a first device associated with a first network and a second device associated with a second network, wherein the group presence session provides a media content item to the first device and to the second device, provides first presence information to the second device, and provides second presence information to the first device, wherein the first presence information includes first video from a first camera associated with the first device, and wherein the second presence information includes second video from a second camera associated with the second device;

determining, at the group presence server, a first device media rendering capability of the first device and a second device media rendering capability of the second device, wherein the first device media rendering capability indicates that the first device does not support picture-in-picture;

forming, at the group presence server based on the first device media rendering capability, the second device media rendering capability, information associated with the first network, and information associated with the second network, a first content stream and a second content stream, wherein the first content stream includes a modified version of the media content item with the second presence information merged with media content of the media content item to accommodate the first device not supporting picture-in-picture, wherein the second content stream is a composite stream of the media content item and the first presence information when the second device media rendering capability indicates the second device supports picture-in-picture, and wherein the first content stream and the second content stream are synchronized to provide a particular portion of the media content item to the first device and the second device at substantially the same time during the group presence session; and

transmitting, from the group presence server, the first content stream to the first device via the first network and the second content stream to the second device via the second network;

wherein the group presence server is configured to adjust the first content stream and the second content stream to maintain synchronization of the first content stream and the second content stream during the group presence session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the second device needs software to participate in the group presence session, and

sending the software to the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content item is content of a subscription channel, and wherein the second device is assessed a charge to access the media content item during the group presence session when the second device is not associated with a subscription to the subscription channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second content stream is a composite stream of the media content item and the first presence information when the second device media rendering capability indicates that the second device supports picture-in-picture.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second content stream includes a second modified version of the media content item with the first presence information merged in the media content of the media content item to accommodate the second device not supporting picture-in-picture when the second device media rendering capability indicates that the second device does not support picture-in-picture.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first presence information and the second presence information enables participants in the group presence session to speak to each other.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content item includes video on demand content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network includes an internet protocol television network of a first communications service provider.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second network includes a wireless network of the first communications service provider.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first device includes a set-top box device, and wherein the second device includes a wireless communication device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the second network is associated with a second communications service provider.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the group presence server is associated with a multimedia content service provider, and wherein the media content is provided by the multimedia content service provider.

13. A computer readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

receiving permission to establish a group presence session between a first device associated with a first network and a second device associated with a second network, wherein the group presence session provides a media content item to the first device and the second device, provides first presence information including first video from a first camera associated with the first device to the second device, and provides second presence information including second video from a second camera associated with the second device to the first device;

determining a first device media rendering capability of the first device and a second device media rendering capability of the second device, wherein the first device media rendering capability indicates that the first device does not support picture-in-picture;

forming, based on the first device media rendering capability, the second device media rendering capability, information associated with the first network, and information associated with the second network, a first content stream and a second content stream, wherein the first content stream includes a modified version of the media content item with the second presence information merged with media content of the media content item to accommodate the first device not supporting picture-in-picture, wherein the second content stream is a composite stream of the media content item and the first presence information when the second device media rendering capability indicates the second device supports picture-in-picture, and wherein the first content stream and the second content stream are synchronized to provide a particular portion of the media content item to the first device and the second device at substantially the same time during the group presence session;

transmitting the first content stream to the first device via the first network and the second content stream to the second device via the second network; and

maintaining synchronization of the first content stream and the second content stream during the group presence session.

14. The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the operations further include utilizing a retransmission buffer to inhibit disruption of the group presence session.

15. The computer readable storage device of claim 14, wherein the operations further include communicating a request user interface to the first device to enable a user of the first device to initiate the group presence session, and wherein the request user interface includes a plurality of selectable notification options.

16. The computer readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of selectable notification options includes an email notification option, an instant messaging message notification option, a text message notification option, a voice message notification option, and a social networking site message notification option.

17. A system comprising:

a processor;

a computer readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving permission to establish a group presence session between a media device associated with a first network that provides television services and a second device associated with a second network, wherein the group presence session provides a media content item to the media device and the second device, provides first presence information to the second device, and provides second presence information to the media device, wherein the first presence information includes first video from a first camera associated with the media device, and wherein the second presence information includes second video from a second camera associated with the second device;

determining a first media rendering capability of the media device and a second media rendering capability of the second device, wherein the second media rendering capability indicates that the second device does not support picture-in-picture;

forming, based on the first media rendering capability, the second media rendering capability, information associated with the first network, and information associated with the second network, a first content stream and a second content stream, wherein the first content stream is a composite stream of the media content item and the second presence information when the first media rendering capability indicates the media device supports picture-in-picture, wherein the second content stream includes a modified version of the media content item with the first presence information merged with media content of the media content item to accommodate the second device not supporting picture-in-picture, and wherein the first content stream and the second content stream are synchronized to provide a particular portion of the media content to the media device and the second device at substantially the same time during the group presence session;

transmitting the first content stream to the media device via the first network and the second content stream to the second device via the second network; and

maintaining synchronization of the first content stream and the second content stream during the group presence session.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second network includes a wireless network, and wherein the first network and the wireless network are associated with a common communications service provider.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first network and the second network are associated with different communications service providers.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first content stream includes a second modified version of the media content item with the second presence information merged with the media content of the media content item when the first media rendering capability indicates the media device does not support picture-in-picture.