The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 19, 2017
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2015
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Sony Network Entertainment International Llc, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Charles McCoy, Coronado, CA (US);
True Xiong, San Diego, CA (US);
Ling Jun Wong, Champaign, IL (US);
SONY CORPORATION, Tokyo, JP;
SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods for synchronizing the playback of network media across multiple content playback devices, termed herein as 'playback devices', 'clients', or “client devices”. In one implementation, client devices are controlled to parse and buffer media content separately. Once all clients are ready, a controller may cause the client devices to start in a synchronized fashion based on signals sent by the controller. The controller adjusts the timing of the signal so that the outputs are displayed in synchronization on each client device. In other implementations, device lag times may be measured. In still other implementations, a master device may synchronize playback of media content on slave devices. In yet other implementations, devices may buffer and join playback of media content occurring on other devices. In further implementations, the systems and methods may be expanded to include steps of processing authentication for service providers prior to arranging synchronized playback.