Media file synchronization

• US 9,838,456 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Fein, Gene, Merritt, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BORROMEO, JUANITO C
• Application Number:
  US14/563,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20150113161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4025 where none of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. downloading a file in a parallel FTP session, initiating an email or combinational services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

The description generally relates to a system designed to synchronize the rendering of a media file between a master device and a sister device. The system is designed so that a media file is simultaneously rendered on a master device and a sister device beginning from identical temporal starting points.

Claims

1. A method for media synchronization between two or more media devices, the method comprising:

streaming a media file, by a source device, to a first media device, wherein the media file is resident on the source device;

determining an amount of time that has elapsed from a first temporal point in the media file to a second temporal point in the media file;

converting the amount of time to a time code that identifies a starting point in the media file;

receiving, from a second media device, a request to stream the media file resident on the source device to the second media device, wherein the request is received in response to a determination, by the second media device, that the media file is corrupted; and

in response to the request;

configuring the media file to be streamed to the second media device; and

streaming the media file from the source device to the first media device and simultaneously streaming the media file from the source device to the second media device, wherein the streaming of the media file to the first media device and the second media device begins at the starting point in the media file as identified by the time code and the media file remains resident on the source device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the starting point is a first starting point, the method further comprising:

receiving an input from the second media device, wherein the input includes an override of the time code and a second starting point, wherein the second starting point is different from the first starting point,

wherein streaming the media file to the second media device begins at the second starting point instead of the first starting point based on the override of the time code.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the starting point based on an elapsed time of transmission of the media file to the second media device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the media file is selected from the group consisting of a text file, a data file, an audio file, a video file, and an audiovisual file.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second media device is selected from the group consisting of a home media server, a digital video server, a video receiver, a computer, a cellular telephone, a smart telephone, a personal digital assistant, a digital music player, a digital video player, a portable video player, a wireless handheld device, a mobile communication device, a vehicle navigation system, a vehicle media system, a laptop personal computer, a notebook, and a mobile computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the media file includes converting the media file to a format, file size, or encryption capable of being rendered by the second media device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to configuring the media file to be streamed to the second media device, determining whether the media file includes a permission that allows the media file to be rendered on the second media device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the permission is associated with a user of the second media device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, if the media file fails to include the permission, the method further comprises arranging payment for the media file in order for the media file to be rendered on the second media device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the media file from the first media device prior to streaming the media file to the second media device.

11. A computing device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, wherein a media file is resident in the memory;

a transmitter effective to be in communication with the processor; and

a receiver effective to be in communication with the processor;

the transmitter effective to stream the media file to a first media device;

the processor effective to;

determine an amount of time that has elapsed from a first temporal point in the media file to a second temporal point in the media file; and

convert the amount of time to a time code that identifies a starting point in the media file;

the receiver effective to receive, from a second media device, a request to stream the media file to the second media device, wherein the request is received in response to a determination, by the second media device, that the media file is corrupted;

in response to the request, the processor is further effective to;

configure the media file to be streamed to the second media device;

the transmitter further effective to;

stream the media file to the first media device and simultaneously stream the media file to the second media device, wherein the stream of the media file begins at the starting point in the media file as identified by the time code and the media file remains resident in the memory.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the starting point is a first starting point, and the receiver is further effective to:

receive an input from the second media device, wherein the input includes an override of the time code and a second starting point, and wherein the second starting point is different from the first starting point,

wherein the stream of the media file to the second media device begins at the second starting point instead of the first starting point based on the override of the time code.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further effective to modify the starting point based on an elapsed time of transmission of the media file from the transmitter to the second media device.

14. The computing device of claim 11, wherein configuration of the media file includes conversion of the media file to a format, file size, or encryption capable of being rendered by the second media device.

15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the media file is a first media file, and wherein the processor is further effective to:

in response to the determination that the first media file is corrupted, the processor is further effective to;

search for a second media file; and

configure the second media file to be streamed to the second media device;

the transmitter effective to;

stream the second media file to the second media device, wherein the stream of the second media file begins at the starting point in the second media file as identified by the time code.

16. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further effective to retrieve the media file from the first media device prior to the stream of the media file to the second media device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions to synchronize media, the instructions effective to:

stream a media file from a source device to a first media device, wherein the media file is resident on the source device;

determine an amount of time that has elapsed from a first temporal point in the media file to a second temporal point in the media file;

convert the amount of time to a time code that identifies a starting point in the media file;

receive, from a second media device, a request to stream the media file resident on the source device to the second media device, wherein the request is received in response to a determination, by the second media device, that the media file is corrupted; and

in response to the request;

configure the media file to be streamed to the second media device; and

stream the media file from the source device to the first media device and simultaneously stream the media file from the source device to the second media device, wherein the stream of the media file begins at the starting point in the media file as identified by the time code and the media file remains resident on the source device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further including instructions to modify the starting point based on an elapsed time of transmission of the media file to the second media device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the configuration of the media file includes conversion of the media file to a format, file size, or encryption capable of being rendered by the second media device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further including instructions to, prior to configuration of the media file to be streamed to the second media device, determine whether the media file includes a permission that allows the media file to be rendered on the second media device.