Avatar integrated shared media experience

• US 9,423,945 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Mattingly, Andrew Lawrence, Kramp, Brian Charles, Soemo, Thomas M., Mays, Eddie
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGGETT, ANDREA C.
• Application Number:
  US14/833,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20150363099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 715/720
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2387 Stream processing in response to a playback request from an end-user, e.g. for trick-play
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4788 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 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed in which a group of people are able to replicate the physical world experience of going with a group of friends to pick a movie, watch the movie together, and provide commentary on the movie itself in the virtual world on a virtual couch while each user is sitting in different physical locations. Additionally, the virtual representation of the destination that the group of people are watching the movie together in can be themed to allow users to watch movies in different locations pivoting on special events or by the users choice.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating shared media consumption among two or more users associated with respective computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, the method comprising:

receiving data indicative of two or more users associated with respective computing devices;

receiving a selection of a media content item to be concurrently rendered on the respective computing devices;

sending, to the respective computing devices of the two or more users, data of the selected media content item;

allowing an identified remote holder of the two or more users to send information pertaining to content playback of the selected media content item;

based on the information, allowing control of content playback on the respective computing devices of others of the two or more users;

allowing the identified remote holder to send updated information pertaining to content playback of the selected media content item, wherein in response to the updated information, content playback on the respective computing devices of others of the two or more users is controlled in according with the updated information; and

allowing one of the other users to make a request for remote holder status.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control of content playback comprises one or more of pause, play, rewind, and fast forward.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to content playback is maintained as a playback state that is synchronized among the respective computing devices of the two or more users.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the other users are allowed to play, pause, and request remote holder status by sending their respective states to the remote holder.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the playback state is saved in a data structure that contains information on playback status, an identifier associated with the media content item being rendered, and a current time code associated with the media content item.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein when the playback state of the remote holder is different from that of one of the other users, the playback state of the one other user is updated in accordance with the playback state of the remote holder.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein when the current time code associated with the media content item is different from the remote holder'"'"'s time code, a seek operation is performed to the remote holder'"'"'s time code.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one other user predicts, based on pre-buffering times, how long it will take the seek operation to complete, and compensate by adjusting the sought time code.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising allowing one of the other users to make requests of the remote holder by sending the remote holder and the other users a playback state that differs from the remote holder'"'"'s playback state.

10. A first computing device configured to share digital content with other computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, the first computing device comprising at least one processor, a user interface device, and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the first computing device to:

receive, via the user interface device, a selection of at least one user associated with a second computing device;

send, to the second computing device, data indicative of a media content item to be concurrently rendered on the first and second computing devices;

send, to the second computing device, information pertaining to content playback of the media content item, the information usable to allow control of content playback on the first and second computing devices;

send updated information pertaining to content playback of the media content item to the second computing device, wherein in response to the updated information, content playback on the second computing device is controllable in according with the updated information; and

receive, from the second computing device, a request for remote holder status.

11. The first computing device of claim 10, wherein the control of content playback comprises one or more of pause, play, rewind, and fast forward.

12. The first computing device of claim 10, wherein the information pertaining to content playback is maintained as a playback state that is synchronized between the first and second computing devices.

13. The first computing device of claim 12, wherein the playback state is saved in a data structure that contains information on playback status, an identifier associated with the media content item being rendered, and a current time code associated with the media content item.

14. The first computing device of claim 13, wherein when the playback state of the second computing device is different from that of one of the first computing device, the playback state of the second computing device is updated in accordance with the playback state of the first computing device.

15. The first computing device of claim 14, wherein when the current time code associated with the media content item is different from a time code of the first computing device, a seek operation is performed to the first computing device'"'"'s time code.

16. The first computing device of claim 13, further comprising allowing the second computing device to make requests of the first computing device by sending the first computing device a playback state that differs from a playback state of the first computing device.

17. The first computing device of claim 10, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the first computing device to receive state information from the second computing device, wherein the second computing device is allowed to play, pause, and request remote holder status by sending the state information.

18. A system configured to allow sharing of digital content among computing devices communicatively coupled via a network, the system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory communicatively coupled to said at least one processor, the at least one memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive data indicative of two or more users associated with respective computing devices;

receive a selection of a media content item to be concurrently rendered on the respective computing devices;

send, to the two or more users, data indicative of the selected media content item;

allow an identified remote holder of the two or more users to send information pertaining to content playback of the selected media content item;

based on the information, allow control of content playback on the respective computing devices of others of the two or more users;

allow the identified remote holder to send updated information pertaining to content playback of the selected media content item, wherein in response to the updated information, content playback on the respective computing devices of others of the two or more users is controlled in according with the updated information; and

allow the others to make a request for remote holder status.