Abstract:
Group management of video device playback provides a mechanism for shared playback of recorded video content. Digital video playback devices are linked to a central management system through network connections which manages the shared playback, or a peer-to-peer network connection is used without the central management system. One user may be responsible for all actions affecting content playback, or all users may be permitted to affect content playback, with certain actions of those users limited in type or quantity. Group membership and group member permissions can be accomplished using the digital playback device through interactive interfaces implemented by the digital video playback device, or can be accomplished using a personal computer coupled to the device or central management system. Users may comment on shared playback using interactive video-based commentary functionality that may provide a text channel or graphical images that may be selected from a set of pre-configured commentary items.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to consumer digital video playback devices, and more particularly to methods, systems and devices in which group viewing experiences are shared by providing group control and/or messaging capabilities. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Digital video playback devices, such as digital video recorder (DVRs), which may be in the form of a portable device such as a personal video recorder (PVR), a set-top box or a computer having a video interface and/or video capability provided from a digital or analog network source are in widespread use in households and other locations. 
         [0005]    DVR technology has changed the way the typical person views video programs. By allowing the recording of video content according to a schedule, a DVR makes it possible for a person to view particular content on their own schedule. DVR technology has recently been extended to provide a network interface that can communicate over public and private networks, such as the Internet. Input capabilities have been similarly extended in DVRs, giving users a greater range of interaction ability with the device. The networking and extended input capabilities have provided such features as program-guide based scheduling of DVR recording. 
         [0006]    Many video viewing experiences are enhanced when programs are viewed in a social setting. Sporting events and weekly serial programs, for example, lend themselves particularly to group viewing because the content of these programs usually sparks commentary by and/or competition/camaraderie between viewers. However, busy schedules and numerous commitments can make it difficult for groups to gather to view programs together. 
         [0007]    When viewing programs in a group setting, viewers frequently manipulate prerecorded content by “pausing” live TV, rewinding, and fast-forwarding. Recently, DVR technology has provided the ability to effectively control “live” content in much the same manner. Control of the playback enhances the viewing experience in a group setting because it provides the ability to review content that has already been viewed, or skip over undesirable content, and allows for greater opportunity for each viewer to discuss the program content. 
         [0008]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method and system that allow viewers of video to collectively watch content in multiple locations while sharing the types of interaction with each other and the video program normally provided in a social setting. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is embodied in a method, a digital video playback system, and a computer program product that carries out the method of the present invention. The computer program product may be a server application, an application executing within a playback device, or an application executed by a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer. The digital video playback system may include consumer devices such as digital video recorders (DVRs), personal video recorder (PVRs), set-top boxes, personal computers, or any other combination of devices that provide playback of video content and are connected via a network. 
         [0010]    The method and system manage groups of digital video playback devices, providing control and optionally providing commentary between users of the devices. Multiple digital video playback devices engage in shared playback of live or previously recorded digital video content via a network. A central management system (CMS) may be employed to maintain device group identification information, synchronize content playback amongst the multiple devices, and manage each device&#39;s permissions, prescribing which actions affecting a group playback session may be performed by the device. Alternatively, control and permissions can be distributed among one or more of the devices in a peer-to-peer type network. Playback may be initiated by a single leader device, which is responsible for managing the content displayed through the shared playback. Alternatively, a cooperative viewing experience may be provided, in which each participating device has the ability to manipulate the playback of video on the other group member devices. Permissions assigned to each device may prescribe which particular manipulations may be performed. Optionally, discussion between device users may be facilitated through a commentary channel, such as a text or audio channel, or using graphic-based popups that appear in conjunction with the video program. 
         [0011]    User selection of action choices is generally performed locally, utilizing an input device such as a DVR remote control or personal computer pointing device, and may be implemented through preset device menus and navigation aids. Activity controlling device group formation, device group synchronization, and device permissions management may be implemented at a CMS, or in a peer-to-peer embodiment, synchronization and permission management may be implemented at each individual device. 
         [0012]    The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0013]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals indicate like components, and: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a digital video playback device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a digital video playback device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a block diagram illustrating a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a block diagram illustrating a system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial diagram illustrating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present invention relates to digital video playback devices, such as DVRs, that are networked via public or private network connections. Multiple digital video playback devices engage in shared video content playback by forming a device group. Members of the device group simultaneously play video content and one or more users can control the playback, as well as provide commentary on the playback content. A central management system may be used to manage device group creation, route synchronization actions, and manage device permissions relating to the group playback experience. Alternatively, group management functions may be distributed among the devices in a peer-to-peer network implementation. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a digital video playback device  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, is shown. Digital video playback device  10  is connected to an external digital television (DTV) display  14 , but digital video playback device  10  may alternatively be a portable device having an integral display. A remote control  12  is used to control operation of digital video playback device  10 , in the exemplary embodiment according to methods of the present invention, in order to provide user input. However, it is understood that other user input methodologies can be employed, such as buttons and other controls integral to digital video playback device  10 . Digital video playback device  10  includes an infrared (IR) interface  13  for receiving commands from remote control  12 , a processor  16  for executing program instructions and also provides control and other functionality as generally associated with digital video playback device operations. A program and video memory  17  is coupled to processor  16  for storing data and program instructions, including program instructions in accordance with a computer program product embodiment of the present invention. A radio-frequency (RF)/video interface  18  receives video signals or RF signals from broadcast, closed-circuit or other video streaming sources and provides them for selection by processor  16  for ultimate display by DTV display  14 . A digital versatile disc (DVD) drive  15  and hard disk drive (HDD)  11  are also included in digital video playback device  10  both for recording video program and other information. A network interface  19  provides connection to public or private networks such as the Internet, for receiving content to be recorded and later played and for communicating with remote systems and/or other devices, to provide the control and messaging features of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a digital video player in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is illustrated, in the form of a personal computer system  20 . The digital video player is implemented by personal computer  20 , which includes a processor  26  coupled to a memory  27  for storing program instructions including program instructions for implementing a digital video player, for example by executing a third-party digital video player program. Memory  27  further includes program instructions for carrying out techniques in accordance with the present invention, which may be integrated in such digital video player program, or may be provided by a stand-alone application or plug-in that triggers video playback functions. In an alternative embodiment, a stand-alone digital video player  21 , may be interfaced to personal computer  20 , with an application or service within personal computer  20  providing network communication functionality and video content playback functionality by digital video player  21 . The application or service program may be loaded into memory  27  or HDD  23  from a DVD drive  24  from a media forming a computer program product in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, such as DVD disc DVD. In order to receive video information from closed-circuit or broadcast sources, personal computer  20  includes an RF/Video interface  28 . Network interface  29  also provides connection to public or private networks such as the Internet, for connecting to remote systems. Personal computer  20  also includes a human interface device (HID) interface  22  for connection of HIDs, such as keyboards and pointing devices. Personal computer  20  is also illustrated as connected to an external display  25 . However, if personal computer  20  is a laptop, tablet or other integrated device, display  25  will generally be internal to personal computer  20 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A , a networked system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. A central management system (CMS)  32  is interfaced with multiple digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D through an Internet connection or through another public or private network connection. Central management system  32  maintains a database  34  of group member identification and group member permissions, and also controls group creation and video playback event management. Using an input device, such as remote control  12  of  FIG. 1  or HID  23  of  FIG. 2 , input to digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D initiates a message transmission that communicates group management activities and information such as group initialization, setting group member permissible actions, group member dismissal, and video playback functions to central management system  32 . In response to user input designating actions to be taken controlling playback of the video content, messages are transmitted communicating the actions to central management system  32 , which transmits commands to each of the digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D in compliance with saved permissions information. Central management system  32  monitors the playback control communications received from digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D and may limit the types of actions and number of times particular actions can be taken by particular users, as will be described in further detail below. Periodically during video content playback, digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D may issue a synchronization signal to each of the other group digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D to ensure that playback maintains full synchronization. If during playback one of the group digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D cannot continue with playback due to data corruption or any other error fatal to playback, that particular digital video playback device  30 A- 30 D generally discontinues synchronized playback upon error, and generally does not participate in the remainder of the session unless the error can be overcome. If the error is overcome, the playback device may re-synchronize with the shared playback of the other devices. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 3B , a networked system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Each digital video playback device  36 A- 36 D is networked to the others through an Internet connection or through a private network connection  39 . Each digital video playback device  36 A- 36 D maintains its own group identification and permissions information in storage within processing units  38 A- 38 D. In response to a user input designating group creation actions and video content manipulation actions at one of the digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D, messages are transmitted communicating that action, and are received by each of the other digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D. Digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D may monitor allowable actions to be applied to playback that are initiated by each other user, and determine whether to apply the action locally. Periodically during video content playback, digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D may issue a synchronization signal to each of the other group digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D to ensure that playback maintains full synchronization. If during playback one of the group digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D cannot continue with playback due to data corruption or any other error fatal to playback, that particular digital video playback device  36 A- 36 D generally discontinues synchronized playback upon error, and generally does not participate in the remainder of the session unless the error can be overcome. If the error can be overcome, the playback device may re-synchronize with the shared playback of the other devices. 
         [0026]    Referring now to Table 1 below, a possible group configuration is illustrated. The information depicted in Table 1 may be maintained in storage within processing units  38 A- 38 D, or may be maintained at central management system  23  of  FIG. 3A . The information depicted in Table 1 identifies each group member device, provides a display name for use in conjunction with commentary capabilities and supplies a number of allowable actions that may be performed by each digital video playback device  30 A- 30 D of  FIG. 3A  or  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B . The number of allowable disruptive and non-disruptive actions may be preset or may be manually entered during group initialization. Disruptive actions include initiating playback, fast forwarding through content, and stopping content, since any of these actions may cause a viewer to miss particular video content. Pausing and rewinding content are classified as non-disruptive actions, because a viewer has an opportunity to view the entire video content. Group configuration information is accessed in order to determine permissions levels for each member device, as well as to provide identifying display names for use in conjunction with the commentary features. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Disruptive 
                 Non-Disruptive 
                 Display 
               
               
                 Device 
                 IP Address 
                 Actions 
                 Actions 
                 Name 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 A 
                 68.154.97.87 
                 10 
                 10 
                 Al 
               
               
                 B 
                 68.60.199.84 
                 0 
                 0 
                 Pat 
               
               
                 C 
                 78.137.163.91 
                 0 
                 0 
                 Chris 
               
               
                 D 
                 68.112.149.63 
                 0 
                 0 
                 Chad 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0027]    Referring now to Table 2 below, a possible configuration of permissions is illustrated. The information depicted in Table 2 may be maintained in storage within processing units  38 A- 38 D, or may be maintained at central management system  23  of  FIG. 3A . The information depicted in Table 2 supplies identification of each group member device, and additionally supplies a number of allowable actions that may be performed by each digital video playback device  30 A- 30 D of  FIG. 3A  or  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B . The settings shown in Table 2 indicate that the device group is in a leader-follower mode, wherein one device is the leader device. User input received at the leader device initiates transmission of a message relaying a particular action to either CMS  23  of  FIG. 3A , or to each digital video playback device  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B . Each digital video playback device  30 A- 30 D of  FIG. 3A  or  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B  will perform the actions relayed by the leader device regardless of the action&#39;s disruptive nature. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Disruptive 
                 Non-Disruptive 
               
               
                 Device 
                 IP Address 
                 Actions 
                 Actions 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 A 
                 68.154.97.87 
                 10 
                 10 
               
               
                 B 
                 68.60.199.84 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 C 
                 78.137.163.91 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 D 
                 68.112.149.63 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0028]    Referring now to Table 3 below, another possible permissions configuration is illustrated. Similar to the information depicted in Table 2, the information depicted in Table 3 may be maintained in storage within processing units  38 A- 38 D, or may be maintained at central management system  23  of  FIG. 3A . The settings shown in Table 3 indicate that the device group is in a cooperative mode, wherein each device may manipulate the video content. User input received at the leader device initiates transmission of a message indicating a particular action to either CMS  23  of  FIG. 3A , or to each digital video playback device  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B . Each digital video playback device  30 A- 30 D of  FIG. 3A  or  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B  performs the action indicated if the particular device&#39;s allowable actions are greater than or equal to one. For example, as the information is displayed in Table 3, the user of device D may only perform one more disruptive action. Any disruptive actions performed after a count of device D&#39;s allowable actions decreases to zero may be transmitted to the CMS  32  of  FIG. 3A , or to digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B , but will not be allowed to manipulate the video content of the device group. A disallowed group action may still be permitted manipulate the video content playback of the local device, and the local device may be re-synchronized to the shared playback upon device request, or subject to expiration of a predetermined time interval, during which the device was allowed to “leave” the group session. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Disruptive 
                 Non-Disruptive 
               
               
                 Device 
                 IP Address 
                 Actions 
                 Actions 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 A 
                 68.154.97.87 
                 5 
                 5 
               
               
                 B 
                 68.60.199.84 
                 2 
                 5 
               
               
                 C 
                 78.137.163.91 
                 3 
                 4 
               
               
                 D 
                 68.112.149.63 
                 1 
                 3 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0029]    The group initialization and permission-setting as described above may be performed using a personal computer, such as the personal computer described in  FIG. 2  connected to the Internet via a network connection. A web browser-based interface simplifies the initialization process by providing a broader range of input capability using HID  23  of  FIG. 2 , which may provide a more flexible means of performing input actions than that provided by remote control  12  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an example of a user display and interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, showing a screen that may be presented to a user of digital video playback device  10  of  FIG. 1 , personal computer  20  of  FIG. 2 , digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D of  FIG. 3A , or digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B . The user interface may be generated by program code executed by processing units contained within digital video playback devices  30 A- 30 D of  FIG. 3A , or digital video playback devices  36 A- 36 D of  FIG. 3B , using the configuration information described in Tables 1-3. User display  40  includes a video content display  41  and a commentary window  42 . A topical comment guide  43  corresponds to particular video content genres (e.g., sports, drama, comedy, reality TV) and graphical comment buttons  44  provide pre-selected commentary that, when selected with cursor  46 , display a comment graphic  45  appearing in conjunction with the video content display on all group member content playbacks. Pre-loaded graphical comment buttons  44  may provide genre-specific or generalized commentary. Comment graphic  45  additionally displays an identifying name for the user.  FIG. 4  represents a graphic-based commentary system, but a similar text-based commentary system may be implemented using a similar interface. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a method according to a mode of operation of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in a flowchart. The depicted method corresponds to program code which may be locally executed in each digital video playback device that reads user input and communicates either with CMS  32  of  FIG. 3A , or distributed along a peer-to-peer network, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 3B . A device group is defined (step  50 ) using the group creation and user permission setting techniques such as those described above. A device is designated the group leader and may control all playback functionality (step  51 ). Input to the leader device initiates video content playback (step  52 ) and the group member devices are started along with the leader&#39;s playback (step  53 ). The playback enters a cycle where input to the leader performs an action on the playback (pause, rewind, fast forward) (decision  54 ). In response to input specifying an action manipulating video content playback, a message is transmitted to each slave member device relaying the direction to perform that same action on the content playback at the local machine (step  57 ). After the action is completed, the group devices return to synchronized play (step  53 ). If the leader device does not receive any content manipulation input during the content playback prior to the end of the program (decision  55 ), then the synchronized playback continues (step  56 ). The cycle of steps  53 - 56  is repeated until the end of the content is reached. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a method according to another mode of operation of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in a flowchart The depicted method corresponds to program code which may be locally executed in each digital video playback device that reads user input and communicates either with CMS  32  of  FIG. 3A  or through the peer-to-peer network such as that illustrated in  FIG. 3B . A digital video playback device group is defined using the techniques described above (step  60 ). In response to an input provided to any of the group member devices, content playback is initiated at a first device (step  61 ) and the group playback is synchronized and playback begins (step  62 ). Input provided to a group member device invokes an action (decision  63 ), and if that action does not end playback of the recorded content (decision  64 ), two different types of action processing may be performed. The action may be a disruptive action or a non-disruptive action (decision  65 ). Disruptive actions will cause a user to “miss” content, and include stopping and fast-forwarding video content. A user&#39;s ability to perform disruptive actions may be set in the user&#39;s permissions, or may be voted on by the group. Non-disruptive actions alter the playback of content, but will not result in a user missing content. Non-disruptive actions include rewinding and pausing video content. Each user has a predetermined number of allowed non-disruptive actions they are allowed to perform, as described above. If an input specifies an action that exceeds the number of allowable non-disruptive actions for that particular device (decision  66 ), the action request is denied and video content playback is unaffected. If input specifies an action within the allowable number of non-disruptive actions, then the action is synchronized to all the group member playback devices (step  68 ). If input specifies a disruptive action (decision  65 ), then the particular device&#39;s permissions are checked, or the group may be asked to vote to allow the particular action (decision  67 ). If the group allows the disruptive action, then the action is performed by all of the group member playback devices (step  68 ). After synchronization, or in the event that an action is not allowed, content playback continues until an action is invoked at any of the playback devices. 
         [0033]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form, and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.