Device and mechanism to manage consistent delay across multiple participants in a multimedia experience

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for:

• determining whether a presentation timing for presenting information to two or more presentation participants during a presentation session is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• if the presentation timing is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship,
• forming a delay modification corresponding to at least one of the participants that is calculated to cause a presentation timing to the participant to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• causing the presentation timing to the participant be modified by an amount corresponding to the delay modification.

A delay management apparatus, comprising:

• determining means for determining whether a presentation timing for presenting information to two or more presentation participants during a presentation session is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• if the presentation timing is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship,
• forming means for forming a delay modification corresponding to at least one of the participants that is calculated to cause a presentation timing to the participant to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• delay implementing means for causing the presentation timing to the participant be modified by an amount corresponding to the delay modification.

A delay management apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface that is coupled a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;
• a processor;
• and
• one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of:
• determining whether a presentation timing for presenting information to two or more presentation participants during a presentation session is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• if the presentation timing is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship:
• forming a delay modification corresponding to at least one of the participants that is calculated to cause a presentation timing to the participant to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• causing the presentation timing to the participant be modified by an amount corresponding to the delay modification.

A delay management method, comprising:

• receiving by one or more corresponding intra-network end devices a presentation report including presentation delay information indicating a presentation delay of two or more user devices of participants in a media presentation session;
• determining, by each end device for each corresponding user device, whether the presentation delay is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• if the presentation delay of a user device is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, then for each user device that is calculated to conflict:
• determining by the corresponding end device a delay modification that is calculated to cause a resulting presentation delay to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• causing, by the corresponding end device, the delay modification to be implemented such that presentation of information by the user device is delayed by an amount that corresponds to the predetermined presentation timing relationship.

A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for:

• receiving by one or more corresponding intra-network end devices a presentation report including presentation delay information indicating a presentation delay of two or more user devices of participants in a media presentation session;
• determining, by each end device for each corresponding user device, whether the presentation delay is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• if the presentation delay of a user device is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, then for each user device that is calculated to conflict:
• determining by the corresponding end device a delay modification that is calculated to cause a resulting presentation delay to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• causing, by the corresponding end device, the delay modification to be implemented such that presentation of information by the user device is delayed by an amount that corresponds to the predetermined presentation timing relationship.

A delay management apparatus, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving by one or more corresponding intra-network end devices a presentation report including presentation delay information indicating a presentation delay of two or more user devices of participants in a media presentation session;
• determining means for determining, by each end device for each corresponding user device, whether the presentation delay is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• implementation means for, if the presentation delay of a user device is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, then for each user device that is calculated to conflict:
• determining by the corresponding end device a delay modification that is calculated to cause a resulting presentation delay to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• causing, by the corresponding end device, the delay modification to be implemented such that presentation of information by the user device is delayed by an amount that corresponds to the predetermined presentation timing relationship.

An delay management apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface that is coupled a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;
• a processor;
• and
• one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of:
• receiving by one or more corresponding intra-network end devices a presentation report including presentation delay information indicating a presentation delay of two or more user devices of participants in a media presentation session;
• determining, by each end device for each corresponding user device, whether the presentation delay is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• if the presentation delay of a user device is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, then for each user device that is calculated to conflict:
• determining by the corresponding end device a delay modification that is calculated to cause a resulting presentation delay to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship;
• and
• causing, by the corresponding end device, the delay modification to be implemented such that presentation of information by the user device is delayed by an amount that corresponds to the predetermined presentation timing relationship.

A delay management method, comprising:

• receiving by a presentation system at least one of media and control information,
• receiving by the presentation system a presentation delay modification calculated to cause a presentation delay of the presentation system to correspond to presentation delays of one or more other presentation systems;
• and
• modifying by the presentation system, according to the delay modification, a presentation delay otherwise implemented by the presentation system.

A delay management system, comprising:

• a network system providing media,
• two or more presentation systems coupled to the network system for presenting the media;
• and
• a delay management engine coupled to the network system, the delay management system modifying a presentation delay of the presentation system by an amount calculated to conform to a predetermined delay relationship.