Methods, systems, and media for providing dynamic media sessions with audio stream expansion features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12568283-B2
Application number	US-202217977256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2022
Priority date	Dec 11, 2019
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

Methods, systems, and media for providing dynamic media sessions with audio stream expansion features are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include: receiving an indication that audio content associated with a video content item is to be presented by a follower device synchronously with the audio content presented by the leader device; identifying candidate follower devices by determining whether devices connected to a local area network are capable of being designated as a follower device; causing a user interface to be presented that indicates each candidate follower device; receiving, via the user interface, a selection of one of the candidate follower devices; and transmitting, from the leader to the selected follower device, control instructions that cause the audio content associated with the video content item to be presented synchronously by the selected follower device with the video content item presented by the leader device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for media playback, the method comprising:
creating a group of devices that are explicitly grouped together by a user; causing media content to be presented by a leader device; receiving a voice command to alter presentation of the media content, wherein the voice command indicates the group of devices explicitly grouped together by the user; identifying a candidate follower device and a non-candidate follower device from the group of devices, wherein:
the candidate follower device and the non-candidate follower device each have a characteristic, and the characteristic of the candidate follower device is different than the characteristic of the non-candidate follower device; and
the characteristic is indicative of whether the corresponding device has a display screen; and
transmitting, to the candidate follower device, a control instruction that causes the media content to be presented synchronously by the candidate follower device with the media content presented by the leader device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the candidate follower device and the non-candidate follower device from the group of devices is based on a second characteristic selected from the group consisting of:
an indication that the user has purchased a subscription to a service; and an indication that the user has purchased a particular level of subscription to the service.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the service is associated with the media content.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a volume indicator is presented in association with the candidate follower device but not in association with the non-candidate follower device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the control instruction comprises transmitting an audio timestamp in association with audio content associated with the media content.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a separate volume indicator is presented in association with each candidate follower device of a group of candidate follower devices.

7 . A system for media playback, the system comprising:
a leader device; a plurality of candidate follower devices, wherein the system is configured to:
create a group of devices that are explicitly grouped together by a user;
cause media content comprising video content and audio content to be presented by the leader device;
receive a voice command to alter presentation of the media content, wherein the voice command indicates the group of devices explicitly grouped together by the user;
identify a plurality of devices connected to a local area network with which the leader device is connected from the group of devices;
identify the plurality of candidate follower devices and a non-candidate follower device from the plurality of devices connected with the local area network, wherein:
each of the plurality of candidate follower devices and the non-candidate follower device have a respective characteristic, and the characteristic of the plurality of candidate follower devices is different than the characteristic of the non-candidate follower device,

the characteristic is indicative of whether the corresponding device has a display screen; and
transmit, to the plurality of candidate follower devices, a control instruction that causes the audio content of the media content to be presented synchronously by the group of devices with the media content presented by the leader device.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein a second characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:
an indication that the user who has purchased a subscription to a service; and an indication that the user who has purchased a particular level of subscription to the service.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the service is associated with the media content.

10 . A system for media playback, the system comprising:
a leader device; a plurality of candidate follower devices, wherein the system is configured to:
create a group of devices that are explicitly grouped together by a user;
cause media content comprising video content and audio content to be presented by the leader device;
receive a voice command to alter presentation of the media content, wherein the voice command indicates the group of devices explicitly grouped together by the user;
identify a plurality of devices connected to a local area network with which the leader device is connected;
identify the plurality of candidate follower devices and a non-candidate follower device from the plurality of devices connected with the local area network, wherein:
each of the plurality of candidate follower devices and the non-candidate follower device have a characteristic, and the characteristic of the plurality of candidate devices is different than the characteristic of the non-candidate follower device, and

cause a user interface to be presented that presents the plurality of candidate follower devices;
cause a selection button to be presented in association with each of the plurality of candidate follower devices but not in association with the non-candidate follower device; and
transmit, to the plurality of candidate follower devices, a control instruction that causes the audio content of the media content to be presented synchronously by the group of devices with the media content presented by the leader device.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein a volume indicator is presented in association with each of the plurality of candidate follower devices but not in association with the non-candidate follower device.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Chan Christopher
• Mackay Kenneth J
• West James Carroll

Classifications

• H04N21/8106

  involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages · CPC title

• H04N21/8547

  involving timestamps for synchronizing content · CPC title

• H04N21/26225

  involving billing parameters, e.g. priority for subscribers of premium services · CPC title

• H04N21/47217

  for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks (specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312) · CPC title

• H04N21/43615

  Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805) · CPC title