Patent ID: 8245262
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of synchronizing broadcast video signals, the method comprising: receiving a frame of a broadcast video signal from a first TV station at a first video device; receiving the frame from a second TV station at a second video device; generating a signature of the received frame; communicating the signature of the received frame to a server, wherein the server receives the signature of received frames from the first device and from the second device; maintaining a first list of frame signatures for the first video device and a second list of frame signatures for the second video device; selecting an oldest signature from the first list and the second list; comparing the oldest signature with other signatures in the first list and the second list; identifying a matching signature that matches the oldest signature; upon identifying the matching signature, determining a single time to display the frame on the first video device and on the second video device, said frame corresponding to the oldest signature; creating a request at the server to be transmitted to the first device and to the second device, said request including the time when the first device and the second device should display the frame and the frame signature; receiving, at the first video device and at the second video device, the time to display the received frames from the server; and outputting the received frame to a first display of the first device and to a second display of the second device.