IP Library Granted Patent US 11,570,503
Granted Patent B2
US 11,570,503 · App. 17/106,462 · Granted Jan 31, 2023

Methods and systems for content control

Inventor: Ross Gilson (Philadelphia, PA)
Assignee: TIVO CORPORATION
H04N21/4122H04N21/23406H04N21/23611H04N21/234345H04N21/234381H04N21/2401H04N21/242H04N21/4302H04N21/47202H04N21/8456H04N21/85406
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,570,503
App. No.
17/106,462
Granted
Jan 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and system for providing content are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving a request for data at a first time, wherein the data comprises a first time duration, determining a buffer size based upon the first time duration, and determining a playback window based upon the determined buffer size and the first time. The method can also comprise synchronizing presentation of content on a plurality of devices.

Claims (36)

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to synchronize a first transmission of a content to a first device with a second transmission of the same content to a second device;

receiving a first play position of the content on the first device;

receiving a second play position of the content on the second device;

receiving a request from the first device for a particular block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at a first speed; and

in response to (a) the receiving the request from the first device for the particular block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at the first speed, and (b) determining that the first play position of the content on the first device lags behind the second play position of the content on the second device:

transmitting to the first device a different block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at a second speed that is faster than the first speed and transmitting to the second device a different block at a real-time speed to allow a play of the first device to slow down thereby resulting in allowing the second device to overcome the lag behind and catch-up to the first device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the second play position of the content on the second device lags behind the first play position of the content on the first device, transmitting to the first device a different block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in response to determining that the first play position of the content on the first device does not lag behind the second play position of the content on the second device, transmitting to the first device and the second device, a different block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at a real-time speed.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

continuously monitoring the first play position of the content in the first device and the second play position of the content in the second device; and

dynamically determining which different block to transmit to the first device and the second based on their relative play positions.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the requested particular block to the first device when there is no lag between the first play position of the content on the first device and the second play position of the content on the second device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular block is encoded to be rendered at real-time speed.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the different block is encoded to be rendered faster than real-time speed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the different block is encoded to be rendered at a speed that is multiplier of real-time speed.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the play of the first device becomes synchronized with the play of the second device after the different block is rendered.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particular block is pre-encoded to render at either real-time speed, accelerated speed, or decelerated speed.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein, the pre-encoding is based on network conditions.

12. A system comprising:

a memory to play position of a content on a first device and play position of the content on a second device; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, to perform steps comprising:

receiving a request to synchronize a first transmission of a content to the first device with a second transmission of the same content to a second device;

receiving a first play position of the content on the first device;

receiving a second play position of the content on the second device;

receiving a request from the first device for a particular block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at a first speed; and

in response to (a) the receiving the request from the first device for the particular block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at the first speed, and (b) determining that the first play position of the content on the first device lags behind the second play position of the content on the second device:

transmitting to the first device a different block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at a second speed that is faster than the first speed and transmitting to the second device a different block at a real-time speed to allow a play of the first device to slow down thereby resulting in allowing the second device to overcome the lag behind and catch-up to the first device.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein, in response to determining that the second play position of the content on the second device lags behind the first play position of the content on the first device, transmitting to the first device a different block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein, in response to determining that the first play position of the content on the first device does not lag behind the second play position of the content on the second device, transmitting to the first device and the second device, a different block of the content that is encoded to be rendered at a real-time speed.

15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

continuously monitoring the first play position of the content in the first device and the second play position of the content in the second device; and

dynamically determining which different block to transmit to the first device and the second based on their relative play positions.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the particular block is encoded to be rendered at real-time speed.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the different block is encoded to be rendered faster than real-time speed.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the different block is encoded to be rendered at a speed that is multiplier of real-time speed.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 31, 2026
From: ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC
To: ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 075303/0980 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: TIVO CORPORATION
To: TIVO LLC
Reel/Frame 069083/0240 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 1, 2024
From: TIVO LLC
To: ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 069083/0318 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2023
From: ADEIA GUIDES INC.; ADEIA IMAGING LLC; ADEIA MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC; ADEIA MEDIA SOLUTIONS INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR BONDING TECHNOLOGIES INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR INC.; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS LLC; ADEIA SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES LLC; ADEIA SOLUTIONS LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063529/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2020
From: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
To: TIVO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054588/0731 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2020
From: GILSON, ROSS
To: COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 054489/0934 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15611468 · Jun 1, 2017
Continuation 14594526 · Jan 12, 2015
Continuation 13669045 · Nov 5, 2012
Related Publication 20210105521A1 · Apr 8, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,707,108