Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Rpx Corporation

Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.

Kevin Anthony Smith

Michael K Poimboeuf

Parkson Wong

William R Lawson

Francis S Bernard

Todd S Stock

Multiple media devices are synchronized in a multi-media system having a computer system, a plurality of media devices, and a display system. Each media device to be synchronized receives a front-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a front-end counter. The front-end counter represents an unadjusted system time (UST). The media device obtains a frame of data to be displayed from a computer system. The media device also receives a back-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a back-end counter each time a frame of data is to he displayed. The back-end counter represents a media stream count (MSC). UST and MSC data are periodically transmitted to the computer system for analysis and use by a synchronization algorithm. Specifically, UST is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is obtained, and a UST/MSC pair is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is displayed. The computer system executes a synchronization algorithm that uses the transmitted UST and UST/MSC pair to maintain the media devices in a synchronized state.

System and method for synchronizing multiple media devices

Multiple media devices are synchronized in a multi-media system having a computer system, a plurality of media devices, and a display system. Each media device to be synchronized receives a front-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a front-end counter. The front-end counter represents an unadjusted system time (UST). The media device obtains a frame of data to be displayed from a computer system. The media device also receives a back-end synchronization signal that periodically increments a back-end counter each time a frame of data is to be displayed. The back-end counter represents a media stream count (MSC). UST and MSC data are periodically transmitted to the computer system for analysis and use by a synchronization algorithm. Specifically, UST is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is obtained, and a UST/MSC pair is transmitted to the computer system each time a frame of data is displayed. The computer system executes a synchronization algorithm that uses the transmitted UST and UST/MSC pair to maintain the media devices in a synchronized state.

A video playback system for assisting on-location film production. One embodiment of the invention includes a computer system capable of generating computer generated imagery (CGI) and receiving live video feed from a camera. The computer system is also coupled to a first display screen for displaying computer generated images and a second display screen for displaying the live video feed overlaid with computer generated images. In one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the first display screen containing computer generated images can be selected for overlaying on the live video feed. The video playback system of the present invention is also capable of storing the live video feed and the images resulted from overlaying the computer generated images and the live video feed. The present invention provides the advantages of allowing live/CGI composites to be played and viewed on the director's monitor for review while on-location.

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Torrance, CA, United States of America

Kevin Anthony Smith