Synchronization aspects of interactive multimedia presentation management

A method for playing an interactive multimedia presentation including audio/video content and interactive content, the method comprising:

• producing frames of audio/video content that are renderable as part of the interactive multimedia presentation, the audio/video content being renderable at a play speed that is selectable according to user input, the play speed being variable between intervals of normal playback of the audio/video content and trick play of the audio/video content;
• producing frames of interactive content that are renderable as part of the interactive multimedia presentation, the interactive content including media objects being generated by one or more applications;
• generating a play speed-based timing signal and a continuous timing signal, the play speed-based timing signal having a variable rate based on the play speed and being utilized for determining an audio/video frame rate at which the frames of audio/video content are produced and rendered, the continuous timing signal having a constant rate which is invariant with respect to the play speed, and being utilized for determining an interactive content frame rate at which the frames of interactive content are produced and rendered;
• and
• determining a presentation timeline identifying times for which clips of audio/video content are presentable to one or more users, the times being identified using a timeline that is based on the play speed-based timing signal, in which the presentation timeline includes one of a title timeline or a media timeline, each of the title and media timelines being paused or resumed as the video content is paused or resumed, and time T on each of the title and media timelines elapsing at N×T as the play speed of the video content changes by a factor of N, the title timeline providing a total elapsed play time for all clips of audio/video content and the media timeline providing a total elapsed play time for a given clip of audio/video content.

A memory storing computer-readable data including instructions which, when executed by one or more real processors, implement:

• an audio/video content manager configured for producing frames of audio/video content that are renderable as part of the interactive multimedia presentation, the audio/video content being renderable at a play speed that is selectable according to user input, the play speed being variable between intervals of normal playback of the audio/video content and trick play of the audio/video content,
• an interactive content manager configured for producing frames of interactive content that are renderable as part of the interactive multimedia presentation, the interactive content including media objects being generated by one or more applications,
• a timing signal management block configured for generating a play speed-based timing signal and a continuous timing signal,
• the play speed-based timing signal having a variable rate based on the play speed and being utilized for determining an audio/video frame rate at which the frames of audio/video content are produced and rendered,
• the continuous timing signal having a constant rate which is invariant with respect to the play speed, and being utilized for determining an interactive content frame rate at which the frames of interactive content are produced and rendered, and
• a presentation manager in communication with the audio/video content manager, interactive content manager, and timing signal management block, and being configured for determining a presentation timeline identifying times for which clips of audio/video content are presentable to one or more users, the times being identified using a timeline that is based on the play speed-based timing signal, in which the presentation timeline includes one of a title timeline or a media timeline, each of the title and media timelines being paused or resumed as the video content is paused or resumed, and time T on each of the title and media timelines elapsing at N×T as the play speed of the video content changes by a factor of N, the title timeline providing a total elapsed play time for all clips of audio/video content and the media timeline providing a total elapsed play time for a given clip of audio/video content.