Patent ID: 8055779

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of distributing data keyframes, the method comprising: storing, by a computer-system comprising a processor and one or more storage devices, a data keyframe transmitted as part of a live streaming broadcast comprising media content frames, the data key frames being distinct from the media content frames, wherein the data keyframe includes a predetermined identifier that distinguishes the data keyframe from a data message that is distributed as part of the live streaming broadcast but not stored for distribution to clients who join the live streaming broadcast after the data message has been distributed; receiving a request from a client to join the live streaming broadcast in-progress; determining that the stored data keyframe was transmitted before the request from the client was received; transmitting the stored data keyframe to the client, wherein the stored data keyframe comprises one or more functions to be performed at the client; and distributing streaming content, including at least a portion of the media content frames, associated with the live streaming broadcast to the client.