Content synchronization system, content-synchronization control device, and content playback device

A content-synchronization control device comprises:

• a request information reception means unit configured to receive, from each content playback device, request information for requesting each content playback device to execute a playback control command which is a command concerning playback control of the content in a synchronized manner;
• an inquiry reception means unit configured to receive an inquiry for determining presence/absence of playback control command transmitted to the content playback device from each content playback device;
• a waiting time determination means unit configured to determine a waiting time from when the content playback device of the source of transmission of inquiry receives an inquiry response which is a response from the content-synchronization control device in reply to the inquiry to when it transmits a subsequent inquiry so that the reception time of the inquiry transmitted from each content playback device is at the same time, on the basis of a cycle reference value determined as a reference of a reception cycle of the inquiry;
• a start time determination means unit, wherein in a case where when the inquiry reception means unit receives the inquiry, the request information reception means unit already received the request information and the start time of the content control with each content playback device according to the playback control command indicated by the request information is not yet determined, the start time determination means unit determines the start time;
• and
• an inquiry response transmission means unit configured to transmit, to the content playback device, an inquiry response including the waiting time determined with regard to the content playback device of the source of transmission of inquiry,
• wherein in a case where when the inquiry reception means unit receives the inquiry, the request information reception means unit already received the request information and the start time is determined, the inquiry response transmission means unit transmits the inquiry response including the playback control information including the information about the start time and the playback control command indicated by the request information.

A content playback device for playing a content, comprising:

• a request information transmission means unit configured to transmit request information for requesting each content playback device to execute a playback control command which is a command concerning playback control of the content in a synchronized manner, to the content-synchronization control device for synchronizing content control in a plurality of content playback devices;
• an inquiry transmission means unit configured to transmit, to the content-synchronization control device, an inquiry for determining presence/absence of playback control command transmitted to the content playback device;
• an inquiry response reception means unit configured to receive an inquiry response which is transmitted by the content-synchronization control device in response to the inquiry and which includes information about a waiting time after the inquiry response is received;
• an inquiry transmission control means unit configured to cause the inquiry transmission means unit to transmit a subsequent inquiry with timing according to the waiting time;
• and
• a playback control means unit, wherein when the inquiry response includes the playback control command and the information about the start time of the content control according to the playback control command, the playback control means unit starts the content control based on the playback control command at the start time.

A content synchronization method in which:

• when any one of a plurality of content playback devices for playing a content transmits request information for requesting each content playback device to execute a playback control command which is a command concerning playback control of the content in a synchronized manner, a content-synchronization control device for synchronizing content control with the plurality of content playback devices receives the request information from each content playback device;
• each content playback device transmits, to the content-synchronization control device, an inquiry for determining presence/absence of playback control command transmitted to the content playback device;
• when the content-synchronization control device receives an inquiry, the content-synchronization control device determines a waiting time from when the content playback device of the source of transmission of inquiry receives an inquiry response which is a response from the content-synchronization control device in reply to the inquiry to when it transmits a subsequent inquiry so that the reception time of the inquiry transmitted from each content playback device is at the same time, on the basis of a cycle reference value determined as a reference of a reception cycle of the inquiry;
• in a case where when the content-synchronization control device receives the inquiry, the content-synchronization control device already received the request information and the start time of the content control with each content playback device according to the playback control command indicated by the request information is not yet determined, the content-synchronization control device determines the start time;
• the content-synchronization control device transmits, to the content playback device of the source of transmission of inquiry, an inquiry response including the waiting time;
• in a case where when the content-synchronization control device receives the inquiry, the content-synchronization control device already received the request information and the start time is determined, the content-synchronization control device transmits the inquiry response including the playback control information including the information about the start time and the playback control command indicated by the request information, when the inquiry response is transmitted;
• when each content playback device transmits the inquiry and thereafter receives the inquiry response corresponding to the inquiry from the content-synchronization control device, the content playback device transmits a subsequent inquiry with timing according to the waiting time indicated by the inquiry response;
• and
• when the inquiry response includes the playback control information, each content playback device starts the content control based on the playback control command indicated by the playback control information at the start time indicated by the playback control information.

A content-synchronization control method in which:

• when any one of a plurality of content playback devices for playing a content transmits request information for requesting each content playback device to execute a playback control command which is a command concerning playback control of the content in a synchronized manner, a content-synchronization control device for synchronizing content control with the plurality of content playback devices receives the request information;
• wherein the content-synchronization control device:
• receives an inquiry for determining presence/absence of playback control command transmitted to the content playback device from each content playback device;
• determines a waiting time from when the content playback device of the source of transmission of inquiry receives an inquiry response which is a response from the content-synchronization control device in reply to the inquiry to when it transmits a subsequent inquiry so that the reception time of the inquiry transmitted from each content playback device is at the same time, on the basis of a cycle reference value determined as a reference of a reception cycle of the inquiry;
• determines the start time in a case where when the inquiry is received, the request information is already received and the start time of the content control with each content playback device according to the playback control command indicated by the request information is not yet determined;
• and
• transmits an inquiry response including the waiting time to the content playback device of the source of transmission of inquiry,
• wherein in a case where when the content-synchronization control device receives the inquiry, the content-synchronization control device already received the request information and the start time is determined, the content-synchronization control device transmits the inquiry response including the playback control information including the information about the start time and the playback control command indicated by the request information, when the inquiry response is transmitted.

A content playback method,

• wherein a content playback device for playing a content:
• transmits request information for requesting each content playback device to execute a playback control command which is a command concerning playback control of the content in a synchronized manner, to the content-synchronization control device for synchronizing content control in a plurality of content playback devices;
• transmits, to the content-synchronization control device, an inquiry for determining presence/absence of playback control command transmitted to the content playback device;
• receives an inquiry response which is transmitted by the content-synchronization control device in response to the inquiry and which includes information about a waiting time after the inquiry response is received;
• transmitting a subsequent inquiry with timing according to the waiting time;
• and
• when the inquiry response includes the playback control command and the information about the start time of the content control according to the playback control command, the content playback device starts the content control based on the playback control command at the start time.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium in which a content-synchronization control program is recorded, the content-synchronization control program for causing a computer to perform:

• request information reception processing for receiving, from each content playback device, request information for requesting each content playback device to execute a playback control command which is a command concerning playback control of the content in a synchronized manner;
• inquiry reception processing for receiving an inquiry for determining presence/absence of playback control command transmitted to the content playback device from each content playback device;
• waiting time determination processing for determining a waiting time from when the content playback device of the source of transmission of inquiry receives an inquiry response which is a response from the computer in reply to the inquiry to when it transmits a subsequent inquiry so that the reception time of the inquiry transmitted from each content playback device is at the same time, on the basis of a cycle reference value determined as a reference of a reception cycle of the inquiry;
• start time determination processing, wherein in a case where when the inquiry is received, the request information is already received and the start time of the content control with each content playback device according to the playback control command indicated by the request information is not yet determined, determining the start time;
• and
• inquiry response transmission processing for transmitting, to the content playback device, an inquiry response including the waiting time determined with regard to the content playback device of the source of transmission of inquiry,
• wherein, inquiry response transmission processing, in a case where when the inquiry is received, the request information is already received and the start time is determined, the inquiry response including the playback control information including the information about the start time and the playback control command indicated by the request information is transmitted.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium in which a content playback program is recorded, the content playback program for causing a computer to execute:

• request information transmission processing for transmitting, to the content synchronization control device for synchronizing content control in a plurality of computers, request information for requesting each content playback device to execute a playback control command which is a command concerning playback control of the content in a synchronized manner in the plurality of computers;
• inquiry transmission processing for transmitting an inquiry for determining presence/absence of playback control command transmitted to the computer;
• inquiry response reception processing for receiving an inquiry response which is transmitted by the content-synchronization control device in response to the inquiry and which includes information about the waiting time after the inquiry response reception;
• processing for transmitting the inquiry again to the content-synchronization control device with timing according to the waiting time;
• and
• playback control processing, wherein when the inquiry response includes the playback control command and the information about the start time of the content control according to the playback control command, the content control based on the playback control command is started at the start time.