Time synchronizing of distinct video and data feeds that are delivered in a single mobile IP data network compatible stream
View Patent ↗Multiple video and/or content feeds are combined and synchronized in real-time into a single mobile IP data network compatible stream for presenting as a coherent display on a mobile device.
1. A method comprising:
accessing with a server a plurality of distinct video feeds;
accessing time stamp information for at least a portion of the plurality of distinct video feeds;
determining by comparing each time stamp information to a reference clock a relative order of, and a relative time difference among, the portion of the plurality of distinct video feeds;
determining a synchronizing point in each of the plurality of distinct video feeds at which each is synchronized relative to the reference clock; and
combining the plurality of distinct video feeds to form a single stream comprising a plurality of synchronized distinct feeds based on the determined synchronizing point, the single stream including a plurality of video feeds and a single audio feed associated with one of the plurality of video feeds, and wherein each of the plurality of distinct video feeds are separately managed such that only users with specific rights may view a rights-protected feed.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising encoding the single video stream to form a composite mobile device compatible stream, wherein combining the plurality of distinct video feeds includes sub-sampling each of the distinct video feeds so that the composite mobile device compatible stream takes no more bandwidth than one of the distinct video feeds.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the single video stream comprising a plurality of synchronized distinct video feeds comprises a mosaic of the plurality of the distinct video feeds.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising replacing the rights-protected feed for an unauthorized user in the single stream with other content.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising replacing the rights-protected feed for an unauthorized user in the single stream with an advertisement.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of distinct video feeds provides content associated with another one of the one of the plurality of distinct video feeds, the at least one of the plurality of distinct video feeds is not synchronized to ensure fine grain coherency.
7. A method comprising:
accessing with a server a plurality of distinct feeds;
accessing a feed clock associated with a source of at least one of the plurality of distinct feeds;
accessing a reference clock;
determining by comparing the feed clock to the reference clock latency between the at least one of the portion of the plurality of distinct feeds and the reference clock;
determining a synchronizing point in each of the plurality of distinct feeds based on the determined latency at which each is synchronized relative to the reference clock;
aligning the synchronizing point in each of the plurality of distinct feeds to facilitate delivery of synchronized feeds; and
combining the plurality of distinct feeds to form a single stream comprising a plurality of synchronized distinct feeds, based on the determined synchronizing point, the single stream including a plurality of video feeds and a single audio feed associated with one of the plurality of video feeds, and wherein each of the plurality of distinct video feeds are separately managed such that only users with specific rights may view a rights-protected feed.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a synchronization point is a video frame.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising encoding the single video stream to form a composite mobile device compatible stream, wherein combining the plurality of distinct feeds includes sub-sampling each of the distinct feeds so that the composite mobile device compatible stream takes no more bandwidth than one of the distinct feeds.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the single stream comprising a plurality of synchronized distinct feeds comprises a mosaic of the plurality of the distinct video feeds.
11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising replacing the rights-protected feed for an unauthorized user in the single stream with other content.
12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising replacing the rights-protected feed for an unauthorized user in the single stream with an advertisement.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of distinct feeds provides content associated with another one of the one of the plurality of distinct feeds, the at least one of the plurality of distinct feeds is not synchronized to ensure fine grain coherency.
14. A method comprising:
receiving a single stream comprising a plurality of distinct feeds, the single stream including a plurality of video feeds and a single audio feed associated with one of the plurality of video feeds, wherein at least one of the plurality of distinct video feeds are separately managed for digital rights, and wherein each of the plurality of distinct video feeds are separately managed such that only users with specific rights may view a rights-protected feed;
receiving distinct feed data time information in a side channel associated with the stream;
determining by comparing the time information for each of the distinct feeds a relative order of, and a relative time difference among, the plurality of distinct feeds;
determining a synchronizing point in each of the plurality of distinct feeds at which each is synchronized; and
presenting the plurality of distinct feeds synchronized in time based on the synchronizing point.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the synchronizing point in each of the plurality of distinct feeds is associated with a single time value.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the single stream is presented as a mosaic of the plurality of the distinct video feeds.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising presenting other content for the rights-protected feed for an unauthorized user in the single video stream.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising presenting an advertisement for the rights-protected feed for an unauthorized user in the single video stream.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of distinct feeds provides content associated with another one of the one of the plurality of distinct feeds, the at least one of the plurality of distinct feeds is not synchronized to ensure fine grain coherency.