Synchronous media playback and messaging system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a first media playback invite request initiated by a host wireless terminal, the first media playback invite request includinginformation sufficient to identify at least one guest wireless terminal,an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, anda playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file;
transmitting a second media playback invite request to the guest wireless terminal subsequent to receipt of the first media playback invite request, wherein the second media playback invite request includes the playback option;
relaying a media playback accept response from the guest wireless terminal to the host wireless terminal;
distributing a start playback request from the host wireless terminal to the guest wireless terminal, wherein the start playback request directs the guest wireless terminal to begin a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at the host wireless terminal;
receiving an action request from the guest wireless terminal requesting a playback action enabled by the playback option; and
sending the action request received from the guest wireless terminal to the host wireless terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides synchronous media playback and messaging between a host user and at least one guest user. The host user wishes to initiate a playback session in which the host user and guest users view a presentation that corresponds to a media file that is locally stored on each of the user'"'"'s terminals. In order to initiate the playback session, the host user invites the guest users. If a guest user wishes to participate in the playback session, the guest user accepts the invitation. When the host user determines that the session should begin, based upon the acceptances from the guest users, the host user initiates the playback of the media file that is locally stored at each terminal. The present invention also supports playback actions that may occur during the playback session. The host user can terminate the playback session, and any of the guest users can withdraw during the playback session.
81 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a first media playback invite request initiated by a host wireless terminal, the first media playback invite request including information sufficient to identify at least one guest wireless terminal, an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file; transmitting a second media playback invite request to the guest wireless terminal subsequent to receipt of the first media playback invite request, wherein the second media playback invite request includes the playback option; relaying a media playback accept response from the guest wireless terminal to the host wireless terminal; distributing a start playback request from the host wireless terminal to the guest wireless terminal, wherein the start playback request directs the guest wireless terminal to begin a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at the host wireless terminal; receiving an action request from the guest wireless terminal requesting a playback action enabled by the playback option; and sending the action request received from the guest wireless terminal to the host wireless terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to perform:
- receiving a first media playback invite request initiated by a host wireless terminal, the first media playback invite request including information sufficient to identify at least one guest wireless terminal, an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file;
transmitting a second media playback invite request to the guest wireless terminal subsequent to receipt of the first media playback invite request, wherein the second media playback invite request includes the playback option;
relaying a media playback accept response from the guest wireless terminal to the host wireless terminal;
distributing a start playback request from the host wireless terminal to the guest wireless terminal, wherein the start playback request directs the guest wireless terminal to begin a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at the host wireless terminal;
receiving an action request from the guest wireless terminal requesting a playback action enabled by the playback option; and
sending the playback option received from the guest wireless terminal to the host wireless terminal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
- receiving a first media playback invite request initiated by a host wireless terminal, the first media playback invite request including information sufficient to identify at least one guest wireless terminal, an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file;
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18. A method comprising:
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sending a media playback invite request to at least one guest wireless terminal from a host wireless terminal, wherein the media playback invite request includes information sufficient to identify the at least one guest wireless terminal, an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file; receiving a media playback accept response from the guest wireless terminal in response to sending the media playback invite request; in response to receiving the media playback accept response, sending a start playback request to the guest wireless terminal, wherein the start playback request begins a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at the host wireless terminal; receiving an action request from the guest wireless terminal requesting a playback action enabled by the playback option; and modifying the playback session of the identified media file in response to the action request. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a device to perform:
- sending a media playback invite request to at least one guest wireless terminal from a host wireless terminal, wherein the media playback invite request includes information sufficient to identify the at least one guest wireless terminal, an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file;
receiving a media playback accept response from the guest wireless terminal in response to sending the media playback invite request;
sending a start playback request to the guest wireless terminal in response to receiving the media playback accept response, wherein the start playback request begins a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at the host wireless terminal;
receiving an action request from the guest wireless terminal requesting a playback action enabled by the playback option; and
modifying the playback session of the identified media file in response to the action request. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
- sending a media playback invite request to at least one guest wireless terminal from a host wireless terminal, wherein the media playback invite request includes information sufficient to identify the at least one guest wireless terminal, an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file;
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29. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and memory storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to receive a media playback invitation at the apparatus from a server via a wireless channel, wherein the media playback invitation includes an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the apparatus to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file, responsive to receiving the media playback invitation, transmit a media playback accept response to the server, wherein if the apparatus does not have the identified media file, the apparatus downloads the identified media file before transmitting the media playback accept response, receive at the apparatus a start playback request, wherein the start playback request begins a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at a host wireless terminal, and subsequent to receiving the start playback request, transmit an action request to the server, wherein the action request requests a playback action enabled by the playback option. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to send a media playback invite request to at least one guest wireless terminal from the apparatus, wherein the media playback invite request includes information sufficient to identify the at least one guest wireless terminal, an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file, receive a media playback accept response from the guest wireless terminal in response to sending the media playback invite request, in response to receiving the media playback accept response, send a start playback request to the guest wireless terminal, wherein the start playback request begins a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at the apparatus, receive an action request from the guest wireless terminal requesting a playback action enabled by the playback option, and modify the playback session of the identified media file in response to the action request. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to receive a first media playback invite request initiated by a host wireless terminal, the first media playback invite request including information sufficient to identify at least one guest wireless terminal, an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file, transmit a second media playback invite request to the guest wireless terminal subsequent to receipt of the first media playback invite request, wherein the second media playback invite request includes the playback option, relay a media playback accept response from the guest wireless terminal to the host wireless terminal, distribute a start playback request from the host wireless terminal to the guest wireless terminal, wherein the start playback request directs the guest wireless terminal to begin a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at the host wireless terminal, receive an action request from the guest wireless terminal requesting a playback action enabled by the playback option, and send the action request received from the guest wireless terminal to the host wireless terminal.
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35. A method comprising:
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receiving a media playback invitation at a guest wireless terminal from a server via a wireless channel, wherein the media playback invitation includes an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file; responsive to receiving the media playback invitation, transmitting a media playback accept response to the server, wherein if the guest wireless terminal does not have the identified media file, the guest wireless terminal downloads the identified media file before transmitting the media playback accept response; receiving at the guest wireless terminal a start playback request, wherein the start playback request begins a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at a host wireless terminal; and subsequent to receiving the start playback request, transmitting an action request to the server, wherein the action request requests a playback action enabled by the playback option.
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36. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a device to perform:
- receiving a media playback invitation at a guest wireless terminal from a server via a wireless channel, wherein the media playback invitation includes an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file;
responsive to receiving the media playback invitation, transmitting a media playback accept response to the server, wherein if the guest wireless terminal does not have the identified media file, the guest wireless terminal downloads the identified media file before transmitting the media playback accept response;
receiving at the guest wireless terminal a start playback request, wherein the start playback request begins a playback session of the identified media file in synchronization with a beginning of the playback session at a host wireless terminal; and
subsequent to receiving the start playback request, transmitting an action request to the server, wherein the action request requests a playback action enabled by the playback option.
- receiving a media playback invitation at a guest wireless terminal from a server via a wireless channel, wherein the media playback invitation includes an identification of a pre-existing playable media file, and a playback option enabling the guest wireless terminal to request different types of playback actions in connection with playback of the identified media file;
Specification