US 12,348,823 B2
Computing network for synchronized streaming of audiovisual content
Eugene M. Lee, Northridge, CA (US); Stephanie Anne Simard, Los Angeles, CA (US); Abraham Chee Shun Wong, Manhattan Beach, CA (US); and Alyson Elise Grove, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to Paramount Pictures Corporation, Hollywood, CA (US)
Filed by PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION, Hollywood, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 23, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/813,913.
Application 18/813,913 is a continuation of application No. 18/508,152, filed on Nov. 13, 2023, granted, now 12,075,130, issued on Aug. 27, 2024.
Application 18/508,152 is a continuation of application No. 17/888,425, filed on Aug. 15, 2022, granted, now 11,818,417, issued on Nov. 14, 2023.
Application 17/888,425 is a continuation of application No. 15/290,218, filed on Oct. 11, 2016, granted, now 11,418,845, issued on Aug. 16, 2022.
Application 15/290,218 is a continuation of application No. 14/665,693, filed on Mar. 23, 2015, granted, now 9,674,239, issued on Jun. 6, 2017.
Application 14/665,693 is a continuation of application No. 13/756,444, filed on Jan. 31, 2013, granted, now 8,990,303, issued on Mar. 24, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0422398 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 21/4788 (2011.01); A63F 13/352 (2014.01); G06F 16/182 (2019.01); G06F 16/60 (2019.01); G06F 16/70 (2019.01); G06F 21/10 (2013.01); H04L 9/40 (2022.01); H04L 51/04 (2022.01); H04L 51/52 (2022.01); H04L 65/403 (2022.01); H04L 65/60 (2022.01); H04L 67/02 (2022.01); H04L 67/131 (2022.01); H04L 67/306 (2022.01); H04L 67/60 (2022.01); H04N 21/00 (2011.01); H04N 21/222 (2011.01); H04N 21/262 (2011.01); H04N 21/414 (2011.01); H04N 21/43 (2011.01); H04N 21/472 (2011.01); H04N 21/478 (2011.01); H04N 21/81 (2011.01); G06Q 50/00 (2012.01); H04L 65/611 (2022.01)
CPC H04N 21/4788 (2013.01) [A63F 13/352 (2014.09); G06F 16/182 (2019.01); G06F 16/60 (2019.01); G06F 16/70 (2019.01); G06F 21/10 (2013.01); H04L 51/04 (2013.01); H04L 51/52 (2022.05); H04L 63/10 (2013.01); H04L 65/403 (2013.01); H04L 65/60 (2013.01); H04L 67/02 (2013.01); H04L 67/131 (2022.05); H04L 67/306 (2013.01); H04L 67/60 (2022.05); H04N 21/00 (2013.01); H04N 21/222 (2013.01); H04N 21/262 (2013.01); H04N 21/26225 (2013.01); H04N 21/26241 (2013.01); H04N 21/41407 (2013.01); H04N 21/43076 (2020.08); H04N 21/47202 (2013.01); H04N 21/47217 (2013.01); H04N 21/4781 (2013.01); H04N 21/8126 (2013.01); G06Q 50/01 (2013.01); H04L 65/611 (2022.05)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for providing substantially synchronized streaming and enabling modifying the substantially synchronized streaming, the system comprising:
at least one server, in communication with a user profile database, and operable to:
communicate, over a network, with one or more client devices connected to Internet;
enable a first user to share a link associated with substantially synchronized streaming of a media stream, wherein the sharing of the link enables one or more users associated with the one or more client devices to join the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream, wherein the sharing of the link occurs during when a second user is receiving the media stream;
provide or transmit the media stream to the one or more client devices such that the media stream is displayed, in a substantially synchronized manner, on one or more display screens of the one or more client devices;
enable the one or more users associated with the one or more client devices to interact using the one or more client devices such that user interactions are exchanged using the one or more client devices substantially simultaneously with display of the media stream on the one or more display screens of the one or more client devices, and such that the user interactions are displayed substantially simultaneously with the media stream on the one or more display screens of the one or more client devices;
enable the second user to add a visual indicator on or to the media stream or in the user interactions such that the visual indicator added on or to the media stream or added in the user interactions is viewable by the one or more users associated with the one or more client devices;
receive a first instruction from the first user to assign to or share with the second user, a first control: of the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream, or of the user interactions displayed substantially simultaneously with the media stream;
in response to receiving the first instruction from the first user to assign to or share with the second user, the first control: of the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream, or of the user interactions displayed substantially simultaneously with the media stream, enable the second user to control: the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream for a third user receiving the media stream, or the user interactions displayed substantially simultaneously with the media stream to the third user receiving the media stream; and
receive a second instruction from the second user to modify the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream or the user interactions displayed substantially simultaneously with the media stream, thereby causing the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream, or the user interactions displayed substantially simultaneously with the media stream, to be modified for the third user,
wherein an ancillary content server or the at least one server provides ancillary content to a first client device, and
wherein the ancillary content is presented on the first client device.