Patent ID: 8707382

Claim:
A synchronizing set-top box comprising: a demultiplexer for: receiving a multimedia stream including video stream packets and an audio stream packets for a multimedia program; buffering header fields of the audio stream packets to an audio buffer; buffering header fields of the video stream packets to a video buffer; and buffering load fields of the video stream packets to a load buffer, separate from the video buffer; an input for receiving a frame identification value from a remote set top box, wherein the synchronizing set top box and the remote set top box are associated with a common client of a multimedia content provider and are both playing the multimedia program and wherein the frame identification value is indicative of a remote play point frame of the multimedia program on the remote set top box; a controller for: selecting a local play point frame based on the frame identification value; and playing the multimedia program from the local play point frame substantially synchronized with the multimedia program playing on the remote set top box; and requesting a remote play point from a residential gateway, wherein the remote play point indicates a play point of the multimedia program playing on the remote set top box, wherein the remote set top box is communicatively coupled to the residential gateway; wherein the residential gateway and the remote set top box and the synchronizing set top box are all within a common residence; and wherein the frame identification value includes a hash of at least one individual video frame.