	US 11,838,450 B2
	Devices, systems and processes for facilitating watch parties
Neil Marten, Lakewood, CO (US)
Assigned to DISH Network L.L.C., Englewood, CO (US)
Filed by DISH NETWORK L.L.C., Englewood, CO (US)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/801,277.
Prior Publication US 2021/0266621 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. H04N 21/2662 (2011.01); H04N 21/43 (2011.01); H04N 21/262 (2011.01)

CPC H04N 21/2662 (2013.01) [H04N 21/2625 (2013.01); H04N 21/4307 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A system facilitating watch parties comprising:

a sync server;

a first user device, for use by a first user, communicatively coupled to the sync server;

wherein the first user device transmits, in a first reply to the sync server:

a first user device current frame identifier,

a first network time, and

a first device time;

a second user device, for use by a second user, communicatively coupled to the sync server;

wherein the second user device transmits a second user device current frame identifier to the sync server, and

a content source providing a content;

wherein the sync server is configured to:

transmit the content as each of a first content to the first user device and as a second content to the second user device;

compare the first user device current frame identifier to the second user device current frame identifier;

adjust a first bit rate utilized for transmission of the first content from the sync server to the first user device based on:

a result of the comparison;

a first latency, and

a first user device delay;

determine the first latency based upon the first network time and at multiple first bit rates;

wherein the first network time indicates when a first ping sent by the sync server was received by the first user device;

determine the first user device delay based upon the first device time and at the multiple first bit rates;

wherein the first device time indicates when the first user device completed decoding of a first data packet provided with the first ping;

receive a second reply, from the second user device, that includes:

a second network time and a second device time;

wherein the second network time indicates when a second ping sent by the sync server was received by the second user device; and

wherein the second device time indicates when the second user device completed decoding of a second data packet provided with the second ping;

determine a second user device delay based upon the second device time and at multiple second bit rates;

wherein the second user device delay occurs while the second user device processes the second content for presentation to the second user;

determine a second latency based upon the second network time and at multiple second bit rates;

wherein the second latency arises over the second content link between the sync server and the second user device;

adjust a second bit rate for the second content based upon the second latency and the second user device delay;

determine a first minimum quality level for presentation of the first content, at each of the multiple first bit rates, based upon the first latency and the first device delay; and

determine a second minimum quality level for presentation of the second content, at each of the multiple second bit rates, based upon the second latency and the second device delay; and

wherein upon adjusting the first bit rate, the first content and second content are respectively provided to each of the first user device and the second user device such that the first user device and the second user device can substantially simultaneously and separately present the first content to the first user and the second content to the second user.