Patent ID: 6239793
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: H04H,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
A method of synchronizing broadcast program content and corresponding program commands of an Internet-Based broadcast, the method comprising the steps of:generating a plurality of time-indicative index values during broadcast of an Internet-based program,associating each of the plurality of index values with respective commands in a command stream launched during broadcast of the program,transmitting the command stream and associated index values to one or more clients,associating each of the plurality of index values to respective video frames in a video stream of the program to indicate the relative time within the program at which the video frame occurs, wherein the index values are tagged to the video frames as script commands to be executed at the client,receiving the transmitted command stream and associated index values,storing a series of time-stamped commands, andusing the index values in the video stream to determine the timing and sequence of execution of commands in the command stream at the one or more clients, by:executing the script commands tagged to the video frames to obtain the index values;retrieving the stored time-stamped commands associated with the retrieved index values;retrieving any unexecuted time-stamped commands having a time-stamp earlier in time than the time-stamped commands associated with the retrieved index values; andexecuting the commands so that the unexecuted commands with time-stamps earlier in time are executed before the commands associated with the retrieved index values.