US 12,075,130 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 Nov. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/508,152.
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 2024/0089549 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
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)] 20 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 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 users associated with the client devices to join the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream, wherein the sharing of the link occurs during when the first user is receiving the media stream;
provide the media stream to the client devices such that the media stream is displayed, in a substantially synchronized manner, on display screens of the client devices;
enable the users associated with the client devices to interact via the client devices such that user interactions are exchanged using the client devices simultaneously with display of the media stream on the display screens of the client devices, and such that the user interactions are displayed simultaneously with the media stream on the display screens of the client devices;
enable a 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 one or more of the users associated with the client devices;
receive a first instruction from the first user to assign or share, to or with the second user, a first control of the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream;
in response to receiving the first instruction from the first user to assign or share, to or with the second user, the first control of the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream, enable the second user to control the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream for a third user receiving the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream; and
receive a second instruction from the second user to modify the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream, thereby causing the substantially synchronized streaming of the media stream to be modified for at least 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.