Methods and apparatus for creating, combining, distributing and reproducing program content for groups of participating users

• US 9,426,530 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Logan, James D., Palmer, Mark, Call, Charles G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAZARO, DAVID R
• Application Number:
  US13/283,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20130110921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• 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 21/6405 Multicasting data broadcast and multicast in packet switching networks H04L12/18

Abstract

A communications system for simulcasting audio or audiovisual program content to a plurality of participating system users via a communication network. Each user operates an access device that reproduces the received program content for the user and also accepts spoken comments from the user concurrently with or immediately following the reproduction of the program content. The spoken comments are transmitted to at least selected ones of the other users so that the selected users can engage in a conversation about the program content as it is simulcast.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a transmission station configured to;

deliver a first music stream to a plurality of participating users over one or more program transmission pathways substantially simultaneously, wherein the first music stream is delivered as an ordered sequence of music segments specified by a playlist defined by a first person having a role of selecting music for the first music stream;

concurrently enable spoken conversation between ones of the plurality of participating users over one or more bidirectional communications pathways communicatively coupling the plurality of participating users to the transmission station during or after delivery of the first music stream;

receive a request from the first person to assign the role of selecting music for the first music stream to a second person; and

in response to the request, allow the second person to select music segments specified by the playlist.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second person is one of the plurality of participating users.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission station is configured to:

modify the playlist defined by the first person in response to requests received from one or more of the plurality of participating users, wherein the requests include votes for an upcoming music segment to be delivered.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission station is configured to:

receive a request from one of the plurality of participating users to purchase a music segment associated with the first music stream.

5. A system, comprising:

one or more computers configured to implement a controller operable to;

deliver media content substantially simultaneously to a plurality of receiving devices associated with a plurality of users, wherein the media content includes a plurality of media streams including a first media stream, wherein the controller is configured to deliver media segments for the first media stream in accordance with a playlist defined by a first of the plurality of users;

receive audio communications from one or more of the plurality of receiving devices;

convey the audio communications to one or more others of the plurality of receiving devices as part of delivery of the media content;

receive a request from the first user to assign a role of selecting media segments for the first media stream to a second of the plurality of users; and

in response to the request, permit the second user to define the playlist.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is operable to:

receive a request to modify the playlist from one of the plurality of users; and

modify the playlist in accordance with the request.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of media streams includes a second media stream having a playlist that is created by a user other than one of the plurality of users.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is operable to:

collect votes from the plurality of users about music segments of the first media stream; and

modify the playlist based on the collected votes.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is operable to deliver ones of the plurality of media streams to the plurality of receiving devices in parallel via a plurality of channels.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the media content includes video content, and wherein the audio communications include spoken content captured by microphones at the one or more receiving devices.

11. A method, comprising:

a subscriber device receiving media content broadcasted from a controller system, wherein the controller system substantially simultaneously broadcasts the media content to a plurality of other subscriber devices, wherein the media content is broadcasted in accordance with a playlist defined by a first user of one of the plurality of other subscriber devices;

during receiving the media content, the subscriber device recording audio content of a second user of the subscriber device;

the subscriber device conveying the recorded audio content to the controller system, wherein the controller system is configured to convey the recorded audio content to one or more of the plurality of other subscriber devices in conjunction with broadcasting the media content; and

the subscriber device presenting an interface that allows the second user to define the playlist in response to the first user assigning a role of selecting media content to the second user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the subscriber device sending, to the controller system, a request to add a segment of media content to the playlist.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the subscriber device sending, to the controller system, a request to purchase a segment of the media content.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the subscriber device creating another playlist defined by the second user of the subscriber device, wherein the other playlist defines an ordering to deliver content to the plurality of other subscriber devices; and

the subscriber device sending the other playlist to the controller system to cause the controller system to deliver content in the ordering.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

the subscriber device receiving, from the second user, a request to contact users at the one or more other subscriber devices, wherein the recording and the conveying are performed responsive to the request.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the request is for a private conversation with the users, and wherein the controller system is configured to convey the audio content to only the one or more other subscriber devices.