Video information reproduction method and system, and video information content

A video information reproduction system for synchronizing the decoding and reproduction of content formed by a sequence including at least intra-frame encoded image information and inter-frame forward prediction encoded image information, and including time stamp information, received via a network or read from storage media by a plurality of video information reproducing devices, the video information reproduction system comprising:

• a content server connected to the plurality of video information reproducing devices via the network, the content server comprising a processor programmed to select a video information reproducing device from among the plurality of video information reproducing devices as a reproduction time reference and detect a reproduction time difference between each of the video information reproducing devices and the reference video information reproducing device;
• and
• a processor for at least one of the video information reproducing devices programmed to, upon receiving notification from the content server of the detected reproduction time difference of the corresponding video information reproducing device adjust a number of frames to be reproduced by the corresponding video information reproducing device such that:
• when the notified reproduction time difference indicates that the reproduction of content by the corresponding video information reproducing device is lagging the reference video information reproducing device, decrease a number of frames of encoded content to be reproduced relative to a number of frames to be reproduced by the reference video information reproducing device according to the lag time, and
• when the notified reproduction time difference indicates that the reproduction of content by the corresponding video information reproducing device is leading the reference video information reproducing device, increase a number of frames of encoded content to be reproduced relative to the number of frames to be reproduced by the reference video information reproducing device according to the lead time,
• wherein a prescribed number of frames of duplicative or dummy image information are inserted in a predetermined location of the sequence to be distributed or read from the storage media,
• wherein the reference video information reproducing device is configured to reproduce a certain number of the frames of duplicative or dummy image information from reproduction, the certain number being less than the prescribed number, and
• wherein the processor for the at least one video information reproducing device increases or decreases the number of frames of encoded content to be reproduced relative to the number of frames to be reproduced by the reference video information reproducing device by causing the at least one video information reproducing device to reproduce a larger number or a smaller number of the frames of duplicative or dummy image information than the certain number.