Synchronized Streaming Network for Shared Playback and Commentary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to replicate the personal experience of watching a movie together with friends and loved ones in real-time, lacking synchronized streaming and social interaction capabilities across the internet.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a server communicable with client devices for synchronized streaming of media content, enabling users to share links, interact, and control playback, with ancillary content provided simultaneously, and incorporating digital rights management for group viewing and social engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple users stream media content independently, then each user can access media content on their own device, but users cannot experience synchronized playback or real-time social interaction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronized streaming capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A server acts as an intermediary between multiple client devices, coordinating playback timing and synchronizing media content delivery. The server receives media content, manages playback state, and distributes synchronized streams to multiple users, enabling coordinated viewing without requiring complex peer-to-peer synchronization between devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The server performs multiple functions including media content distribution, playback synchronization, user interaction management, and commentary coordination. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single system rather than requiring each client device to independently handle all synchronization tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If users interact in real-time during media playback, then social engagement is enhanced, but synchronization of user interactions with media context becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time interaction capabilityVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where client devices report playback state and user interactions back to the server in real-time. The server uses this feedback to maintain synchronization by adjusting playback timing and correlating user interactions with specific media content timestamps, ensuring interactions remain synchronized with media context

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The server pre-establishes synchronization protocols and timestamp references before playback begins. User interactions are pre-coordinated with media content timing, allowing the system to maintain precise synchronization by referencing predetermined timing information throughout the playback session

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If one user controls playback, then playback control is centralized and simple to manage, but other users cannot participate in control or share the experience equally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol management simplicityVSAvoidshared control capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts playback control based on user actions. A designated user can control playback, but the system allows control to be transferred or shared among participants during the session. This dynamic control mechanism maintains simplicity by having one active controller at a time while enabling versatile participation when control is shared

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If ancillary content is provided to enhance the viewing experience, then user engagement increases, but bandwidth requirements and system resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery capabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides ancillary content selectively rather than continuously. Ancillary content such as commentary or additional media is delivered only when relevant to the current playback context or when specifically requested by users, reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption while maintaining enhanced user engagement when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12556772B2Computing network for synchronized streaming of audiovisual content

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a system provides substantially synchronized streaming. The system comprises at least one server operable to communicate, over a network, with client devices connected to the Internet; and provide a media stream to the client devices such that the media stream is displayed, in a substantially synchronized manner, on display screens of the client devices.