System and method for interactive synchronized video watching
The present invention provides techniques for digital video distribution that provides for joint video content watching amongst a group of watchers using multiple mini browsing windows (MBWs), such that the watchers can simultaneously interact with each other in a video conferencing-like setting (i.e., seeing selected watchers' videos in MBWs and hearing their voices) while they view together specific video content in a synchronized way. The MBWs can be displayed as overlays on the main video window being watched on full screen.
1. A method for receiving interactive synchronized video, comprising:
(a) receiving at least one video content coded in a scalable video coding format from at least a first Scalable Video Conferencing Switch (SVCS), wherein the scalable video coding format comprises at least a base layer and at least one enhancement layer;
(b) receiving at least one conferencing content coded in a scalable video coding format from a second SVCS, wherein the scalable video coding format comprises at least a base layer and at least one enhancement layer;
(c) synchronizing at the receiver the at least one video content and the at least one conferencing content; and
(d) displaying simultaneously, on a video display, the reconstructed video content and the reconstructed conferencing content in a plurality of windows comprising at least one main window and at least one mini browsing window (MBW); wherein the reconstructed content displayed in the main windows is reconstructed from the at least a base layer and the at least one enhancement layer, and the content displayed in the MBWs is reconstructed from the at least one base layer only;
wherein the synchronizing at the receiver between the at least one video content and the at least one conferencing content further comprises a determination of a need for delay equalization, and when the need for delay equalization is determined, further comprises delay equalization between at least a base layers of the conferencing content and a base layer and at least one enhancement layer of the video content.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first SVCS and the second SVCS are the same physical device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one video content comprises video content coded using low delay coding.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conferencing content comprises conferencing content coded using low delay coding.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving at least one video content comprises receiving video content distributed in a video distribution conference (VDC).
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving at least one at least one conferencing content comprises receiving conferencing content distributed in a co-view-conference (CVC).
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving a first conferencing content by a first participant distributed in a first CVC, and a second conferencing content by a second participant distributed in a second CVC.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising sending one or more communications using a non-standard signaling protocol between the first participant and the second participant.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conferencing content is specified by a globally unique identifier.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the globally unique identifier is conveyed in an SSRC field (located in a RTP header).
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the conferencing content is received from the first SVCS.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to a user's request, switching the content displayed in the main window with the content displayed in one of the MBWs, wherein the switching comprises transmitting the enhancement layer of the content being switched into the main window and ceasing transmission of the enhancement layer being switched into the MBW.