System for real-time synchronization

A method for real-time playback synchronization of multi-media content, the method comprising the steps of:

• at a host device (H):
• generating an invitation (I), the invitation comprising information identifying the multi-media content for playback and a play time stamp (PT) in accordance with the playback of the multi-media content by the host device (H),
• the play time stamp (PT) defining a position of the multi-media content with respect to a reference time, the reference time being a system time (ST) serving as a reference for playback in the system,
• the play time stamp (PT) specifying a data package of the multi-media content, and
• the information identifying the multi-media content specifying a content specific pattern of sizes of data packages in predefined successive time intervals of a file of the content, and a first data package defining a starting point of the multi-media content;
• and
• transmitting the invitation (I) and the play time stamp (PT) to at least one client device (C1, C2);
• at a server device (S):
• generating the system time (ST);
• and
• distributing the system time (ST) to the at least one client device (C1, C2) and/or the host device (H);
• at the at least one client device (C1, C2):
• receiving the invitation (I) and the play time stamp (PT) from the host device (H);
• receiving the system time (ST) from the server device (S);
• matching the content specific pattern specified in the information identifying the multi-media content, which is included in the invitation (I), with patterns of multi-media content stored in a database to identify the multi-media content to be played back;
• and
• playing the identified multi-media content synchronously with the host device (H) from the position defined by the play time stamp when the play time stamp (PT) matches the system time (ST).

A computer program for real time synchronization of multi-media content, when executed on a host device (H), at least one client device (C1, C2), and a server device (S), performing the steps of:

• at the host device (H):
• generating an invitation (I), the invitation comprising information identifying the multi-media content for playback and a play time stamp (PT) in accordance with the playback of the multi-media content by the host device (H),
• the play time stamp (PT) defining a position of the multi-media content with respect to a reference time, the reference time being a system time (ST) serving as a reference for playback in the system,
• the play time stamp (PT) specifying a data package of the multi-media content, and
• the information identifying the multi-media content specifying a content specific pattern of sizes of data packages in predefined successive time intervals of a file of the content, and a first data package defining a starting point of the multi-media content;
• and
• transmitting the invitation (I) and the play time stamp (PT) to the at least one client device (C1, C2);
• at the server device (S):
• generating the system time (ST);
• and
• distributing the system time (ST) to the at least one client device (C1, C2) and/or the host device (H);
• and
• at the at least one client device (C1, C2):
• receiving the invitation (I) and the play time stamp (PT) from the host device (H);
• receiving the system time (ST) from the server device (S);
• matching the content specific pattern specified in the information identifying the multi-media content, which is included in the invitation (I), with patterns of multi-media content stored in a database to identify the multi-media content to be played back;
• and
• playing the identified multi-media content synchronously with the host device (H) from the position defined by the play time stamp when the play time stamp (PT) matches the system time (ST).