# US 2021/0344979 A1 · Real-Time Incorporation of User-Generated Content into Third-Party Streams > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0344979 A1 - Document ID: US20210344979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/317,621 - Filed: 2021-05-11 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-17 - Assignees: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. - Applicants: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC - Inventors: Steven Trombetta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344979A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/23424: {involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for inserting or substituting an advertisement} - H04L 65/611: for multicast or broadcast (systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06) - H04L 65/765: {intermediate} - H04N 21/2187: Live feed - H04N 21/242: Synchronisation processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Programme Clock References] {(arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18)} - H04N 21/2665: Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite - H04N 21/2743: Video hosting of uploaded data from client - H04N 21/43072: {of multiple content streams on the same device} - H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)} - H04N 21/84: Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)} - H04N 21/85: Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications - H04N 21/8547: involving timestamps for synchronizing content - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Systems and methods for real-time incorporation of user-produced content into a broadcast media stream are provided. A media title may be streamed to a producer computing device over a communication network. The producer computing device is associated with a channel for distributing the user-produced content in conjunction with the media title. Produced content may be captured from the producer computing device as the streamed media title is played on the producer computing device. Such captured produced content may be designated for the channel. The media title and the produced content may then be broadcast in real-time over the communication network to one or more subscriber devices subscribed to the channel. The media title and the produced content may be synchronized within the broadcast to reflect when the produced content was captured in relation to the media title as the media title was played on the producer computing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for synchronizing content, the method comprising: receiving a request sent over a communication network from a user device, the request indicating a selection of a media title; identifying that the selected media title is associated with a channel of a producer device, wherein the producer device generates produced content in real-time during a play duration of the selected media title, the produced content associated with synchronization information; and distributing a stream of the selected media title and associated metadata over the communication network to the user device in real-time with the produced content, wherein the user device uses the synchronization information to synchronize play of the media title stream and the produced content, and wherein the user device uses the metadata to implement chat functionalities related to the stream of the selected media title. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising storing data regarding the synchronized media title stream and the produced content in memory, wherein the stored data is accessible at a subsequent time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein distributing the stream to the user device is further based on a subscription to the channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the media title is further associated with at least one other produced content from another channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein distributing the stream to the user device includes providing a set of advertisements that is different from a set of advertisements provided with the media title via the other channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization information includes one or more timestamps regarding the selected media title. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein each of the timestamps corresponds to a point within the produced content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the chat functionality allows the user device to interact with another device regarding the stream of the selected media title. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining one or more ratings of the produced content in memory, and providing the ratings of the produced content to the user device. ### Claim 10 A server system for synchronizing content, the system comprising: a network interface that receives a request sent over a communication network from a user device, the request indicating a selection of a media title; and a processor that executes instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor: identifies that the selected media title is associated with a channel of a producer device, wherein the producer device generates produced content in real-time during a play duration of the selected media title, the produced content associated with synchronization information; and distributes a stream of the selected media title and associated metadata via the network interface over the communication network to the user device in real-time with the produced content, wherein the user device uses the synchronization information to synchronize play of the media title stream and the produced content, and wherein the user device uses the metadata to implement chat functionalities related to the stream of the selected media title. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein memory further stores data regarding the synchronized media title stream and the produced content in memory, wherein the stored data is accessible at a subsequent time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the processor executes instructions to distribute the stream via the network interface to the user device further based on a subscription to the media title. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the media title is further associated with at least one other produced content from another channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the processor executes instructions to distribute the stream via the network interface to the user device by providing a set of advertisements that is different from a set of advertisements provided with the media title via the other channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the synchronization information includes one or more timestamps regarding the selected media title. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein each of the timestamps corresponds to a point within the produced content. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the chat functionality allows the user interact with another device regarding the stream of the selected media title. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the processor executes further instructions to maintain ratings of the produced content in memory and to provide the ratings of the produced content to the user device. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for synchronizing content, the method comprising: receiving a request sent over a communication network from a user device, the request indicating a selection of a media title; identifying that the selected media title is associated with a channel of a producer device, wherein the producer device generates produced content in real-time during a play duration of the selected media title, the produced content associated with synchronization information; and distributing a stream of the selected media title and associated metadata over the communication network to the user device in real-time with the produced content, wherein the user device uses the synchronization information to synchronize play of the media title stream and the produced content, and wherein the user device uses the metadata to implement chat functionalities related to the stream of the selected media title.