Patent ID: 7457320

Claim:
A method for synchronizing information transmitted from an information provider to a plurality of elements in a TCP/IP network, comprising: transmitting once during a session at least a first control signal from the information provider to the plurality of elements using multicasting, the first control signal including at least one of a time of origin and a relative start time; receiving a respective second signal from each of the plurality of elements responsive the first control signal from the information provider; transmitting content from the information provider to the plurality of elements responsive to the second signals; transmitting a third control signal from the information provider to the plurality of elements using multicasting; receiving a respective state signal from the plurality of elements responsive to the third control signal by the information provider; comparing the respective state signals with one another to determine a time drift between the plurality of elements; generating a respective time drift correction command signal for at least one of the elements based on the comparison; and transmitting the time drift correction command signal from the information provider to at least one of the plurality of elements; wherein the time of origin is configured to indicate a time base common to the plurality of elements; and wherein the relative start time is configured to indicate a start time for transmitting information from the information provider to the plurality of elements.