Apparatus and method for synchronizing presentation from bit streams based on their content

A method for synchronizing presentation of renderable content of at least two digital bit streams that reside in respective storage media comprising the steps of:

• deriving information characteristic of content of one of said streams;
• comparing said information to information characteristic of content of the other stream;
• progressing forward in said one stream to play back content of said one stream;
• and
• synchronizing said presentation by modifying said progress based on said comparison by said comparing means.

A method for synchronizing presentation of renderable content of two or more digital bit streams that reside in respective storage media, said content being played back by progressing forward in said two or more streams, comprising the steps of:

• receiving one of said digital bit streams;
• deriving information characteristic of content of said received stream;
• outputting a signal carrying the derived information;
• receiving said signal;
• comparing characteristic information in said received signal to respective information characteristic of content of one or more of said digital bit streams other than said received stream;
• and
• synchronizing said presentation by modifying said progress of said respective playbacks based on said one or more comparisons.

A computer program for synchronizing presentation of renderable content of at least two digital bit streams that reside in respective storage media, said program comprising:

• instruction means deriving information characteristic of content of one of said streams;
• instruction means for comparing said information to information characteristic of content of the other stream;
• instruction means for progressing forward in said one stream to play back content of said one stream;
• and
• instruction means for synchronizing said presentation by modifying said progress based on said comparison by said instruction means for comparing.

An apparatus for synchronizing presentation of renderable content of at least two digital bit streams that reside in respective storage media, said apparatus comprising:

• a stream characteristic unit for deriving information characteristic of content of one of said streams;
• means for receiving a signal that carries information characteristic of content of the other stream;
• means for comparing said information of said one stream to said information of the other stream;
• means for progressing forward in said one stream to play back content of said one stream;
• and
• means for synchronizing said presentation by modifying said progress based on said comparison by said comparing means.