Synchronization aspects of interactive multimedia presentation management

A system for playing an interactive multimedia presentation, the interactive multimedia presentation having a play duration, a play speed, a video content component and an interactive content component, the system comprising:

• a computer-readable storage medium not comprising a propagated data signal;
• and
• a processor responsive to the computer-readable storage medium and to one or more computer programs stored in the computer-readable storage medium, the one or more computer programs comprising
• an interactive content manager configured to arrange the interactive content component for rendering at a rate based on a first timing signal,
• a first time reference calculator operable to measure a first elapsed play time of the interactive multimedia presentation based on the first timing signal and not based on the play speed,
• a video content manager configured to arrange the video content component for rendering, the video content component received from a video source at a rate based on a second timing signal,
• a second time reference calculator operable to measure a second elapsed play time of the interactive multimedia presentation based on the second timing signal and based on the play speed, and
• a presentation manager configured for communication with the interactive content manager and the video content manager and responsive to receive the first elapsed play time from the first time reference calculator and the second elapsed play time from the second time reference calculator,
• the one or more computer programs, when loaded into the processor, operable to
• identify a first time interval within the play duration, in which the video content component is not scheduled for presentation during the first time interval,
• identify a second time interval within the play duration, in which the video content component is scheduled for presentation during the second time interval,
• when play of the interactive multimedia presentation occurs within the first time interval, determine a total elapsed play time of the interactive multimedia presentation based on the first elapsed play time, and
• when play of the interactive multimedia presentation occurs within the second time interval, determine the total elapsed play time of the interactive multimedia presentation based on the second elapsed play time.