Synchronizing multiple over the top streaming clients
First Claim
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1. A method for playback of encoded media performed by a playback device comprising:
- transmitting a request for time information from a playback device in a local network to a network time provider for the local network;
receiving the time information from the network time provider in the playback device wherein the time information from the network time provider is provided to the playback device and other playback devices in the local network;
setting a playback clock in the playback device using the received time information such that a time delay between the playback clock in the playback device and the playback clock of the other playback devices in the network is less than tens of milliseconds so that delay between the playback of the same media content on the playback device and other playback devices in the network is not noticeable by a human;
receiving stream initiation information for a stream of encoded media from a stream media provider in the playback device wherein the stream initiation information includes a stream start time;
receiving the stream of encoded media in the playback device wherein the stream includes a plurality of frames of the encoded content;
adjusting the presentation time information of each of the plurality of frames of the stream in the playback device based upon the stream initiation information and time information from the playback clock; and
presenting each of the plurality of frames using the playback device based upon the adjusted presentation time information such that there is no noticeable delay of the presentation of each of the plurality of frames by the playback device and the presentation of each of the plurality of frames by the other playback devices in the local network.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for synchronizing the playback of OTT or other time sensitive content on multiple playback devices is disclosed. The systems and methods include receiving time information based on a network time source in the playback devices. The playback clock in each playback device is set based upon the time information. Stream initiation information derived using the time information from the network time source is received by each of the playback device from the media provider. The playback devices use the stream initiation information to adjust the presentation time stamps of the frames of the media content in the stream.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for playback of encoded media performed by a playback device comprising:
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transmitting a request for time information from a playback device in a local network to a network time provider for the local network; receiving the time information from the network time provider in the playback device wherein the time information from the network time provider is provided to the playback device and other playback devices in the local network; setting a playback clock in the playback device using the received time information such that a time delay between the playback clock in the playback device and the playback clock of the other playback devices in the network is less than tens of milliseconds so that delay between the playback of the same media content on the playback device and other playback devices in the network is not noticeable by a human; receiving stream initiation information for a stream of encoded media from a stream media provider in the playback device wherein the stream initiation information includes a stream start time; receiving the stream of encoded media in the playback device wherein the stream includes a plurality of frames of the encoded content; adjusting the presentation time information of each of the plurality of frames of the stream in the playback device based upon the stream initiation information and time information from the playback clock; and presenting each of the plurality of frames using the playback device based upon the adjusted presentation time information such that there is no noticeable delay of the presentation of each of the plurality of frames by the playback device and the presentation of each of the plurality of frames by the other playback devices in the local network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A playback device in a local network for providing playback of encoded media based on a provided start time comprising:
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memory; and a processor configured via a client application stored in the memory to; transmit a request for time information to a network time provider for the local network, receive the time information from the network time provider wherein the time information from the network time provider is provided to the playback device and other playback devices in the local network, set a playback clock in the playback device using the received time information such that a time delay between the playback clock in the playback device and the playback clock of the other playback devices in the network is less than tens of milliseconds so that delay between the playback of the same media content on the playback device and other playback devices in the network is not noticeable by a human, receive stream initiation information for a stream of encoded media from a stream media provider wherein the stream initiation information includes a stream start time, receive the stream of encoded media wherein the stream includes a plurality of frames of the encoded content, adjust presentation time information of each of the plurality of frames of the stream in the playback device based upon the stream initiation information and time information from the playback clock; and presenting each of the plurality of frames using the adjusted presentation time information such that there is no noticeable delay of the presentation of each of the plurality of frames by the playback device and the presentation of each of the plurality of frames by the other playback devices in the local network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory machine readable medium containing processor instructions, where execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to perform a process for providing playback of encoded media based on a provided start time, the process comprising:
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transmitting a request for time information to a network time provider for the local network; receiving the time information from the network time provider wherein the time information from the network time provider is provided to the playback device and other playback devices in the local network; setting a playback clock in the playback device using the received time information such that a time delay between the playback clock in the playback device and the playback clock of the other playback devices in the network is less than tens of milliseconds so that delay between the playback of the same media content on the playback device and other playback devices in the network is not noticeable by a human; receiving stream initiation information for a stream of encoded media from a stream media provider wherein the stream initiation information includes a stream start time; receiving the stream of encoded media wherein the stream includes a plurality of frames of the encoded content; adjusting presentation time information of each of the plurality of frames of the stream in the playback device based upon the stream initiation information and time information from the playback clock; and presenting each of the plurality of frames using the adjusted presentation time information such that there is no noticeable delay of the presentation of each of the plurality of frames by the playback device and the presentation of each of the plurality of frames by the other playback devices in the local network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification