Playing multimedia content on multiple devices

• US 10,349,107 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lanier, Brian, Barton, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weng, Pei Yong
• Application Number:
  US15/181,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20160286274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• 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 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4302 Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• 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 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A method for displaying multimedia content is described. The method includes causing playing of multimedia content on a first device; responsive to a first user input, on a second device, comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing the playing of the multimedia content: causing an action comprising one of: playing, fast forwarding, rewinding, or pausing of the multimedia content on the second device at a start position that is based on the user input and a current position of the playing of the multimedia content on the first device.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media, storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by control circuitry, cause the control circuitry to:

cause, by a content management device, synchronous playing of a media content item at a first device and a second device;

receive, at the content management device, a first input requesting to fast-forward the playing of the media content item at the second device ahead of a currently playing position of the media content item at the first device;

responsive to the first input, cause, by the content management device, forwarding of the playing of the media content item at the second device while the first device continues the playing of the media content item at the first device at a standard playback speed;

subsequent to the first input, while the playing of the media content item at the second device is no longer synchronized with the playing of the media content item at the first device at least partially on account of the forwarding, receive, at the content management device, a second input requesting to synchronize the playing of the media content item at the second device with the playing of the media content item at the first device; and

responsive to the second input, rewind playback of the media content at the second device to a frame of the media content being displayed at the first device to again cause synchronous playing of the media content item at the first device and the second device.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause performance of:

receive, at the second device, from the first device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein execution of the instruction causing synchronous playing of the media content item at the first device and the second device further causes the control circuitry to resume the playing of the media content at the second device at a frame within the media content item that is currently being played at the first device.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein execution of the instruction to cause forwarding of the playing of the media content item further causes the control circuitry to play the media content at a faster speed than the standard playback speed or skipping a portion of the media content item.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to, responsive to the second device sending an instruction for the first device to fast forward or skip through a portion of the media content item, cause the first device to fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to, responsive to third input received at the second device, send, from the second device, an instruction to the first device to fast forward or skip through a portion of the media content item, the first device configured, in response to the instruction, to fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item, the second device configured to, in response to the third input, also fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the control circuitry, further cause the control circuitry to send, from the content management device, a multimedia stream comprising the multimedia content to both the first device and the second device.

8. A method comprising:

causing, by a content management device, synchronous playing of a media content item at a first device and a second device;

receiving, at the content management device, a first input requesting to fast-forward the playing of the media content item at the second device ahead of a currently playing position of the media content item at the first device;

responsive to the first input, causing, by the content management system, forwarding of the playing of the media content item at the second device while the first device continues the playing of the media content item at the first device at a standard playback speed;

subsequent to the first input, while the playing of the media content item at the second device is no longer synchronized with the playing of the media content item at the first device at least partially on account of the forwarding, receiving, at the content management system, a second input requesting to synchronize the playing of the media content item at the first device with the playing of the media content item at the second device; and

responsive to the second input, rewinding playback of the media content at the second device to a frame of the media content being displayed at the first device to again cause synchronous playing of the media content item at the first device and the second device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving, at the second device, from the first device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein causing synchronous playing of the media content item at the first device and the second device comprises causing resuming of the playing of the media content at the second device at a frame within the media content item that is currently being played at the first device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein forwarding the playing of the media content item comprises playing the media content at a faster speed than the standard playback speed or skipping a portion of the media content item.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising, responsive to the second device sending an instruction for the first device to fast forward or skip through a portion of the media content item, causing the first device to fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising, responsive to third input received at the second device, sending, from the second device, an instruction to the first device to fast forward or skip through a portion of the media content item, the first device configured, in response to the instruction, to fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item, the second device configured to, in response to the third input, also fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the content management device sending a multimedia stream comprising the multimedia content to both the first device and the second device.

15. A content management system comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to cause, by a content management device, synchronous playing of a media content item at a first device and a second device;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to receive a first input requesting to fast-forward the playing of the media content item at the second device ahead of a currently playing position of the media content item at the first device;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to, responsive to the first input, cause forwarding of the playing of the media content item at the second device while the first device continues the playing of the media content item at the first device at a standard playback speed;

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to, subsequent to the first input, while the playing of the media content item at the second device is no longer synchronized with the playing of the media content item at the first device at least partially on account of the forwarding, receive a second input requesting to synchronize the playing of the media content item at the first device with the playing of the media content item at the second device; and

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to, responsive to the second input, rewind playback of the media content at the second device to a frame of the media content being displayed at the first device to again cause synchronous playing of the media content item at the first device and the second device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to receive, at the second device, from the first device, a media stream comprising the media content item, the second device playing the media content item from the media stream.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein causing synchronous playing of the media content item at the first device and the second device comprises causing resuming of the playing of the media content at the second device at a frame within the media content item that is currently being played at the first device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein forwarding the playing of the media content item comprises playing the media content at a faster speed than the standard playback speed or skipping a portion of the media content item.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to, responsive to the second device sending an instruction for the first device to fast forward or skip through a portion of the media content item, cause the first device to fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to, responsive to third input received at the second device, send, from the second device, an instruction to the first device to fast forward or skip through a portion of the media content item, the first device configured, in response to the instruction, to fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item, the second device configured to, in response to the third input, also fast forward or skip through the portion of the media content item while playing the media content item.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising a subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware at one or more computing devices, configured to send a multimedia stream comprising the multimedia content to both the first device and the second device.