Stateless queue system for synchronized client consumption of queued content

Abstract

A stateless queue system implements and supports a virtual room containing a content playback queue. The system allows multiple clients to listen to queued content in a synchronized manner and to modify the same queue without requiring a broadcasting client to send playback events. The system includes a multiplicity of computing clients that can add content items to the queue by interacting with an application service. The clients are enabled to add content to the queue in a number of ways, including by simple add-on to the bottom of the queue, by vote, or by direct modification of the queue structure. Upon client entrance into the playback session, data is provided to the client that represent the queue order at the time of request, the number of votes each items contains if structure is determined by vote, the start time for each queued item, and the current playing item.