Media synchronization within home network using set-top box as gateway

1. A computer-implemented method for media synchronization, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a set-top box from an electronic device, a request to receive at least one data message corresponding to a specific television channel to which the set-top box is tuned;

receiving television signals at the set-top box from an external source, the television signals corresponding to television channel programming, the television signals including the data message embedded in the television signals, the data message including synchronization data;

extracting the data message including the synchronization data from the received television signals; and

transmitting audio and video of the specific television channel and the data message including the synchronization data from the set-top box to the electronic device for display,

wherein transmitting the synchronization data to the electronic device includes transmitting resource identifiers that identify content retrievable via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection, the resource identifiers including at least:

a first uniform resource locator (URL) string for a location of an application, the application being operative to manage and present, within the application, at least content from the data message corresponding to the synchronization data; and

a second URL string for displayable content, the second URL string corresponding to a source of the content from the data message corresponding to the synchronization data.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to receiving input that causes the set-top box to tune to a second channel, transmitting second synchronization data corresponding to the second channel.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the synchronization data includes transmitting supplemental content displayable on the electronic device such that the supplemental content is displayed on the electronic device at a time that is synchronized with television programming content displayed on a television.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization data is embedded such that the set-top box does not process synchronization data as content displayable on a television.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request includes receiving the request via a delivery protocol selected from the group consisting of multicast, broadcast, and unicast.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization data is embedded within an electronic program guide (EPG) of the television signals.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization data is embedded within packet identifiers of a stream of Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) packets.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein both the set-top box and the electronic device are devices connected to a local area network.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the local area network is a home network using a wireless access point, and wherein the electronic device is a tablet computer.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

recording audio and video of television programming from the specific television channel via a digital video recorder, the digital video recorder also recording the synchronization data such that the synchronization data is accessible to the electronic device during playback of recorded television content.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the set-top box connects to a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) broadband network.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the set-top box connects to a fiber-to-the-premises fiber optic network.

13. A computer system for media synchronization, the computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the operations of:

receiving, at a set-top box from an electronic device, a request to receive at least one data message corresponding to a specific television channel to which the set-top box is tuned;

receiving television signals at the set-top box from an external source, the television signals corresponding to television channel programming, the television signals including the data message embedded in the television signals, the data message including synchronization data;

extracting the data message including the synchronization data from the received television signals; and

transmitting audio and video of the specific television channel and the data message including the synchronization data from the set-top box to the electronic device for display,

wherein transmitting the synchronization data to the electronic device includes transmitting resource identifiers that identify content retrievable via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection, the resource identifiers including at least:

a first uniform resource locator (URL) string for a location of an application, the application being operative to manage and present, within the application, at least content from the data message corresponding to the synchronization data; and

a second URL string for displayable content, the second URL string corresponding to a source of the content from the data message corresponding to the synchronization data.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the operation of:

in response to receiving input that causes the set-top box to tune to a second channel, transmitting second synchronization data corresponding to the second channel.

15. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein transmitting the synchronization data includes transmitting supplemental content displayable on the electronic device such that the supplemental content is displayed on the electronic device at a time that is synchronized with television programming content displayed on a television.

16. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the synchronization data is embedded such that the set-top box does not process synchronization data as content displayable on a television.

17. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the data message includes a first field containing the synchronization data, the synchronization data including a pattern for finding a beginning of the data message.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the data message further includes two or more of:

a second field for specifying a version of a protocol used to transmit the data message;

a third field for indicating a number of bytes included in the data message;

a fourth field for specifying an application identifier of a source of the data message;

a fifth field for specifying an instance identifier of the application;

a sixth field for specifying a targeting profile for the data message;

a seventh field for specifying a message identifier of the data message;

an eighth field for specifying an instance of a particular message identifier;

a ninth field for identifying a service context for the data message;

a tenth field for indicating a current time location in the displayable content;

an eleventh field for specifying at least one action to be taken when receiving the data message; and

a twelfth field for specifying a parameter string associated with the at least one action.

19. A computer-implemented method for media synchronization, the computer-implemented method comprising:

transmitting, from an electronic device towards a set-top box, a request to receive at least one data message corresponding to a specific television channel to which the set-top box is tuned;

receiving, at the electronic device from the set-top box, audio and video of the specific television channel and the data message including synchronization data, the synchronization data having been embedded in and extracted from a television signal received at the set-top box, the television signal corresponding to the specific television channel to which the set-top box is tuned; and

displaying, on the electronic device, the audio and video of the specific television channel and content from the data message, such that the displayed content appears synchronized with the audio and video content of the specific television channel,

wherein receiving, at the electronic device, the synchronization data includes transmitting resource identifiers that identify content retrievable via an Internet Protocol (IP) connection, the resource identifiers including at least:

a first uniform resource locator (URL) string for a location of an application, the application being operative to manage and present, within the application, at least content from the data message corresponding to the synchronization data; and

a second URL string for displayable content, the second URL string corresponding to a source of the content from the data message corresponding to the synchronization data.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , further comprising:

in response to receiving the set-top box tuning to a second channel, receiving second synchronization data corresponding to the second channel and displaying content from the second synchronization data on the electronic device.