Patent ID: 8356251
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A machine-implemented method of controlling presentation of video content on a display device that loads any one of a plurality of different media player players, the method comprising: assigning, by a server system, a synchronization code to the display device; receiving, in the server system, a message from a personal computing device that is separate from the server system and separate from the display device, wherein the message includes the synchronization code; storing, by the server system, a record establishing an association between the personal computing device and the display device based on the synchronization code; receiving, in the server system, one or more signals from the personal computing device, the one or more signals specifying a video file to be acted upon and identifying a particular media player for playing the video content, the one or more signals further including a universal playback control command for controlling playing of the video content on the display device by the particular media player, converting, by the server system, the universal playback control command into corresponding programming code to control playing of the video content on the display device by the particular media player, wherein converting the universal playback control command includes selecting from among a plurality of specific commands, each of which represents a corresponding playback control command for a respective media player; and storing, in a database associated with the server system, information for transmission to or retrieval by the display device, wherein the information specifies the video file to be acted upon, identifies the particular media player for playing the video content, and includes the corresponding programming code to control playing of the video content on the display device by the particular media player in accordance with the universal playback control command.