Method and system for synchronizing play position between main player and companion devices and providing value added services

A method of operating a companion device for use with a server device, a media device and a display device, the server device having stored therein a metadata manifest including metadata and time data associated with content and being configured to transmit the metadata manifest, the media device being configured to provide the content to the display device and to provide content timing information associated with the content, the display device being configured to display displayed media based on the content, the content timing information being additionally associated with the time data, said method comprising:

• receiving, via a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the content timing information from the media device;
• transmitting, via the processor, a manifest request to the server device based on the content timing information;
• receiving, via the processor, the content timing information from the media device;
• transmitting, via the processor, a manifest request to the server device based on the content timing information;
• and
• receiving, via the processor, the metadata manifest from the server device.

A non-transitory, computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions being capable of being read by a companion device for use with a server device, a media device and a display device, the server device having stored therein a metadata manifest including metadata and time data associated with content and being configured to transmit the metadata manifest, the media device being configured to provide the content to the display device and to provide content timing information associated with the content, the display device being configured to display displayed media based on the content, the content timing information being additionally associated with the time data, wherein the computer-readable instructions are capable of instructing the companion device to perform the method comprising:

• receiving, via a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the content timing information from the media device;
• transmitting, via the processor, a manifest request to the server device based on the content timing information;
• receiving, via the processor, the content timing information from the media device;
• transmitting, via the processor, a manifest request to the server device based on the content timing information;
• and
• receiving, via the processor, the metadata manifest from the server device.

A server device for use with a metadata manifest provider and a companion device, the metadata manifest provider being configured to provide a metadata manifest, the companion device being configured to provide a manifest request, the metadata manifest including metadata and time data associated with content, the manifest request including content timing information, the content timing information being associated with the time data, said server device comprising:

• a memory having instructions stored therein;
• and
• a processor configured to execute the instructions stored in said memory to cause said server device to:
• receive the metadata manifest;
• receive the manifest request;
• and
• transmit a portion of the metadata, based on the content timing information, to the companion device.

A method of operating a server device with a metadata manifest provider and a companion device, the metadata manifest provider being configured to provide a metadata manifest, the companion device being configured to provide a manifest request, the metadata manifest including metadata and time data associated with content, the manifest request including content timing information, the content timing information being associated with the time data, said method comprising:

• receiving, via a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the content timing information from the media device;
• receiving, via a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the metadata manifest;
• receiving, via the processor, the manifest request;
• and
• transmitting, via the processor, a portion of the metadata, based on the content timing information, to the companion device.

A non-transitory, computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions being capable of being read by server device for use with a metadata manifest provider and a companion device, the metadata manifest provider being configured to provide a metadata manifest, the companion device being configured to provide a manifest request, the metadata manifest including metadata and time data associated with content, the manifest request including content timing information, the content timing information being associated with the time data, wherein the computer-readable instructions are capable of instructing the server device to perform the method comprising:

• receiving, via a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the content timing information from the media device;
• receiving, via a processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory, the metadata manifest;
• receiving, via the processor, the manifest request;
• and
• transmitting, via the processor, a portion of the metadata, based on the content timing information, to the companion device.