Patent ID: 9131256
Filing Date: 2015-09-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: determining by a server a time reference associated with a first device, wherein the time reference corresponds to playback of a first unicast feed of content from a content provider on the first device; receiving a request at the server from a second device to synchronize playback of a second unicast feed of the content from the content provider on the second device with the playback on the first device; generating by the server timing information using the time reference for transmitting the content to the second device in response to the request; determining by the server a timing difference to synchronize the playbacks between the first device and the second device based on the time reference, wherein the timing difference is caused, at least in part, by a buffer size difference between the first device and the second device; causing, at least in part by the server, a size adjusting of a buffer of the second device based on the buffer size difference and overall resource and device memory capacity of the second device, wherein the buffer is configured to store the content for the playback on the second device; and causing, at least in part, sampling, by the second device, playback of the content on the first device, wherein the time reference is further modified based on the sampled playback, and the size of the buffer is further adjusted based on the modified time reference, and wherein the second device is within a predetermined proximity to the first device that is subject to signal interference, and the time reference is an absolute time reference.