Methods, computer program products, and virtual servers for a virtual collaborative environment

A virtual server for providing a virtual service, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• receiving input from a first user of the virtual service, the input identifying a second user and a third user in which to operatively connect for the virtual service;
• operatively connecting a set top box of the first user to a set top box of the second user and a set top box of the third user;
• transmitting and receiving first multimedia video of the first user and the second user between the set top box of the first user and the set top box of the second user;
• transmitting and receiving second multimedia video of the first user and the third user between the set top box of the first user and the set top box of the third user, the first multimedia video and the second multimedia video transmitted and received while common broadcast content is displayed at the set top box of the first user, the set top box of the second user, and the set top box of the third user;
• causing a multiple viewport application executable on each of the set top box of the first user and the set top box of the second user to display the first multimedia video simultaneously with the common broadcast content on a first device communicatively coupled to the set top box of the first user and on a second device communicatively coupled to the set top box of the second user;
• and
• causing the multiple viewport application of the set top box of the first user and a multiple viewport application executable on the set top box of the third user to display the second video simultaneously with the common broadcast content on the first device and on a third device that is communicatively coupled to the set top box of the third user, the first multimedia video and the second multimedia video displayed such that the second user and the third user are unaware of the mutual connection to the set top box of the first user.

A computer program product, tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium, for providing a virtual service, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

• receiving input from a first user of the virtual service, the input identifying a second user and a third user in which to operatively connect for the virtual service;
• operatively connecting a set top box of the first user to a set top box of the second user and a set top box of the third user;
• transmitting and receiving first multimedia video of the first user and the second user between the set top box of the first user and the set top box of the second user;
• transmitting and receiving second multimedia video of the first user and the third user between the set top box of the first user and the set top box of the third user, the first multimedia video and the second multimedia video transmitted and received while common broadcast content is displayed at the set top box of the first user, the set top box of the second user, and the set top box of the third user;
• causing a multiple viewport application executable on each of the set top box of the first user and the set top box of the second user to display the first multimedia video simultaneously with the common broadcast content on a first device communicatively coupled to the set top box of the first user and on a second device communicatively coupled to the set top box of the second user;
• and
• causing the multiple viewport application of the set top box of the first user and a multiple viewport application executable on the set top box of the third user to display the second video simultaneously with the common broadcast content on the first device and on a third device that is communicatively coupled to the set top box of the third user, the first multimedia video and the second multimedia video displayed such that the second user and the third user are unaware of the mutual connection to the set top box of the first user.