# US 2014/0156800 A1 · Method and system for multi-streaming multimedia data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156800 A1 - Document ID: US20140156800A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,124 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: General Instrument Corporation - Applicants: General Instrument Corporation - Inventors: Barry P. Falvo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156800A1 ## CPC - H04L 65/65: Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP] - H04L 61/457: {containing identifiers of data entities on a computer, e.g. file names} - H04L 65/612: for unicast - H04L 65/613: for the control of the source by the destination (control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637) - H04L 65/70: Media network packetisation - H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)} - H04N 21/4751: {for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children} - H04N 21/8455: {involving pointers to the content, e.g. pointers to the I-frames of the video stream} - H04N 21/8456: {by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments} - H04L 67/02: based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP] - H04L 2012/6483: {Video, e.g. MPEG} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method for multi-streaming multimedia content data over a network to affiliated client devices is provided. A manifest including a list of Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) for different segments of multimedia content data for selected primary multimedia content and a list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for at least one alternate multimedia content related to and different from the selected primary multimedia content is built and made available for download over the network with a transfer protocol. Synchronization of display of the selected primary multimedia content on a primary display and display of the at least one alternate content on the at least one auxiliary client device is thereby enabled. A system for streaming multimedia data over a network to affiliated client devices is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of streaming multimedia content data over a network, comprising the steps of: building a manifest including a list of Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) for different segments of multimedia content data for selected primary multimedia content and a list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for at least one alternate multimedia content related to and different from the selected primary multimedia content; and making the manifest available for download by primary and alternate client devices over the network with a transfer protocol. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer protocol is Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)-based streaming. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer protocol is Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG DASH), wherein the manifest is a Media Presentation Description (MPD), and wherein the list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for the selected primary multimedia content and the list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for the at least one alternate content are provided in separate adaptation sets within the MPD. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the manifest to a subscriber site so that the at least one alternate content is available to an auxiliary client device affiliated with the primary client device in a manner synchronized with the selected primary multimedia content. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of marking the list of URIs for the different segments of multimedia content data for the at least one alternate content with a marker able to trigger an auxiliary client device affiliated with the primary client device to obtain and play the at least one alternate content. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of authenticating the auxiliary client device and transmitting information of the marker to the auxiliary client device after said authenticating step. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said building step includes modifying an initial manifest generated for the selected primary multimedia content by splicing the list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for the at least one alternate content into the initial manifest to produce a modified manifest for multi-streaming the selected primary multimedia content and the at least one alternate content in a synchronized manner. ### Claim 8 A method of streaming multimedia content data over a network to affiliated client devices, comprising the step of: downloading a manifest with a primary client device over the network with a transfer protocol, the manifest including a list of Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) for different segments of multimedia content data for a selected primary multimedia content and a list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for at least one alternate content related to and different from the selected primary multimedia content. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of: downloading the manifest with at least one auxiliary client device affiliated with the primary client device over the network with a transfer protocol to enable synchronization of display of the selected primary multimedia content on a primary display controlled by the primary client device and display of the at least one alternate content on the at least one auxiliary client device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein the transfer protocol is Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)-based streaming. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein the transfer protocol is Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG DASH), wherein the manifest is a Media Presentation Description (MPD), and wherein the list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for the selected primary multimedia content and the list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for the at least one alternate content are provided in separate adaptation sets within the MPD. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of obtaining a marker for the at least one auxiliary client device to trigger the at least one auxiliary client device to obtain the different segments of multimedia content data for at least one alternate content for display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein the type of device of the at least one auxiliary client device is selected from the group selected from a tablet, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, an e-book reader, and a portable electronic device having an associated display screen, and wherein a different marker is used for each different type of device. ### Claim 14 A system for streaming multimedia content data over a network to affiliated client devices, comprising: a multi-stream playlist rebuilder configured to receive a manifest including a list of Universal Resource Indicators (URIs) for different segments of multimedia content data for a selected primary multimedia presentation; and an alternate content coordination manager configured to provide said multi-stream playlist rebuilder with a list of URIs for different segments of multimedia content data for at least one alternate multimedia content that is related to and different from the selected primary multimedia presentation; said multi-stream playlist rebuilder being configured to generate a modified manifest including the list of URIs for the different segments of the multimedia content data for the selected primary multimedia presentation and a list of URIs for the different segments of the multimedia content data for the at least one alternate multimedia content. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, wherein the transfer protocol is Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG DASH), and wherein the manifest is a Media Presentation Description (MPD). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A system according to claim 15, wherein the list of URIs for the different segments of the multimedia content data for the selected primary multimedia presentation and the list of URIs for the different segments of the multimedia content data for the at least one alternate content are provided in separate adaptation sets within the MPD. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, further comprising a session manager that is configured to authenticate affiliated client devices registered to obtain the modified manifest and that is configured to transmit at least one marker to the affiliated client devices. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A system according to claim 17, wherein said at least one marker triggers the affiliated client devices to obtain and play a selected one of the at least one alternate multimedia content. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A system according to claim 18, wherein the affiliated client devices are selected from a group consisting of a set-top box, a tablet, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, an e-book reader, and a portable electronic device having an associated display screen, and wherein a different marker is used for each different type of device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, further comprising at least one server on which the modified manifest, the different segments of the multimedia content data for the selected primary multimedia presentation, and the different segments of the multimedia content data for the at least one alternate multimedia content is stored and made available to the affiliated client devices via a content distribution network.