Methods, systems, and media for resuming playback of media content across multiple devices

• US 9,467,359 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Januszewski, Michal
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET D
• Application Number:
  US13/912,517
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/146 Markers for unambiguous identification of a particular session, e.g. session cookie or URL-encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating cross device resumable media content consumption. In an aspect, a system includes an update component that receives a media statistics update where the media statistics update includes information identifying an account, media content identification information, and a first playback time position associated with media content. A monitoring component is also included that identifies when the account accesses the media content associated with the media content identification information. A resume component is also included that plays back the media content at the first playback time position in response to identifying an access of the media content associated with the account.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a memory;

a processor that, when executing computer executable instructions stored in the memory, is configured to;

receive, from a first client device, a first request to playback a media content item;

cause the media content item to be played back on the first client device;

transmit a plurality of media statistics update requests to the first client device during the playback of the media content item on the first client device, wherein each media statistics update request queries the first client device for a response that includes a client device identifier that identifies the first client device, a media content identifier that identifies the media content item being played back, a user account identifier that identifies a user account associated with the first client device, and a first playback time position corresponding to position information of the media content item being played back along with statistics relating to the playback of the media content item on the first client device;

in response to the plurality of media statistics update requests, receive at least one response from the first client device that includes the client device identifier, the media content identifier, the user account identifier, and the first playback time position along with statistics relating to the playback of the media content item on the first client device;

replace a previous playback time position that is associated with the user account identifier with the first playback time position extracted from the at least one response from the first client device;

receive, from a second client device associated with the user account identifier, a second request to playback the media content item;

retrieve the first playback time position that is associated with the user account identifier, and

cause the media content item to be played back on the second client device at the first playback time position in response to receiving the second request from the second client device associated with the user account identifier and retrieving the first playback time position associated with the user account identifier.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the plurality of media statistics update requests and receive responses at regular intervals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the playback time position identifies the time elapsed in the media content item at the time the at least one response to a media statistic update request is generated.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive information from a device associated with the user account identifier in response to a browser closing operation on the device, wherein the information includes the media content identifier and a second playback time position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to deliver the media content item at the first playback position if the first playback position is later than the second playback position and deliver the media content item at the second playback time position if the second playback time position is later than the first playback time position.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a first client device, a first request to playback a media content item;

causing, by a system comprising a processor, the media content item to be played back on the first client device;

transmitting, by the system, a plurality of media statistics update requests to the first client device during the playback of the media content item on the first client device, wherein each media statistics update request queries the first client device for a response that includes a client device identifier that identifies the first client device, a media content identifier that identifies the media content item being played back, a user account identifier that identifies a user account associated with the first client device, and a first playback time position corresponding to position information of the media content item being played back along with statistics relating to the playback of the media content item on the first client device;

in response to the plurality of media statistics update requests, receiving, by the system, at least one response from the first client device that includes the client device identifier, the media content identifier, the user account identifier, and the first playback time position along with statistics relating to the playback of the media content item on the first client device;

replacing, by the system, a previous playback time position that is associated with the user account identifier with the first playback time position extracted from the at least one response from the first client device;

receiving, by the system, a second request from a second client device associated with the user account identifier to play back the media content item;

retrieving, by the system, the first playback time position that is associated with the user account identifier; and

causing, by the system, the media content item to be played back on the second client device at the first playback time position in response to receiving the second request from the second client device associated with the user account identifier and retrieving the first playback time position associated with the user account identifier.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, by the system, information indicating a second playback time position for the media content item and wherein the information is received from a device associated with the user account identifier and in response to a browser closing on the device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising

determining, by the system, whether the first playback position or the second playback position is later;

and

delivering, by the system, the media content from the later playback position.

9. A client device comprising:

a memory;

a processor that, when executing computer executable instructions stored in the memory, is configured to;

generate an access request to a media content item on a server, wherein the access request is associated with a user account and comprises a media content identifier that identifies the media content item;

in response to transmitting the access request to the server for the media content item, receive playback time position information for the media content, wherein the playback time position information includes information identifying a first playback time position in the media content for the user account;

transmit a request to the server to resume the media content item on a first device at the first playback time position;

receive, from the server, a media statistics update request during the playback of the media content item, wherein the media statistics update request queries for a response that includes a client device identifier that identifies the first device, the media content identifier, a user account identifier that identifies the user account, and a current playback time position along with statistics relating to the playback of the media content item; and

in response to the media statistics update request, transmit the response that includes the client device identifier, the media content identifier, the user account identifier, and the current playback time position along with statistics relating to the playback of the media content item.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a packet of information associated with the user account, wherein the packet of information includes the media content identifier and the current playback time position associated with the user account.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to send a request to the server to resume the media content item at the current playback time in response to the current playback time position being later than the first playback time position.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the packet of information is stored on the first device associated with the user account.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the packet of information is received from a second device associated with the user account.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the playback time position information is determined from one or more responses to the media statistics update request received from the second device that associated with the media content item.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the packet of information is generated in response to an application shutdown procedure.