Abstract: A system for operating multiple audio input devices for synchronized and position-based audio comprising a media computing device comprising a processor, a memory, wireless network interfaces, a data store, a virtual screen driver, audio input devices connected to the media computing device, each comprising at least a microphone, and audio output devices connected to the media computing device, comprising at least a speaker, and an audio controller further comprising an operating system, an interaction manager and a synchronization manager configured to synchronize a series of audio stream inputs into a singular audio output.

Abstract: A system for multiuser interaction with a media computing device with multiple virtual screens, comprising: a media computing device; and a plurality of mobile devices. The media computing device sends screen graphics via a virtual screen driver to the mobile devices using a wireless network. Each mobile device displays a virtual screen using screen graphics sent by the media computing device. Touchscreen user interaction events are transmitted from the mobile devices to the media computing device and processed by the operating system thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for media rebroadcasting for synchronized rendering across multiple devices, comprising a first media rendering device configured to receive media content from a media source and rebroadcast at least a portion of the media content to each of a plurality of second media rendering devices using the network interface, wherein each of the second media rendering devices renders its received media content synchronously with the rendering of the first media rendering device.

Abstract: A media computing device with multiple virtual screens and personal area network capability, comprising a processor, a memory, an HDMI controller operating an HDMI interface, a wireless network interface configured to communicate via a local area network and configured to communicate via a personal area network, a media management subsystem, a virtual screen driver; and an operating system comprising programming instructions stored in the memory of and operating on the processor and configured to operate multiple virtual screens for user interaction via devices communicating via a network.

Abstract: A system and method for semi-automated configuration of a low-latency multimedia playback system, wherein a media computing device is configured to present a plurality of configuration prompts for user interaction via a wireless network, direct the configuration of the media computing device based on received user interaction via the prompts, and direct the operation of a plurality of network-connected media rendering devices.

Abstract: A system for synchronous media rendering over wireless networks with wireless performance monitoring, comprising a media source device and a plurality of destination devices, a quality analysis module operating on at least one of the devices to monitor the media being streamed and direct the operation of a synchronization module, and a synchronization module operating on at least one of the devices to direct the rendering of media data based on received event data and to transmit event data to at least a portion of the destination devices, and a method for common event-based multidevice media synchronization and quality analysis.

Abstract: A method for indirectly measuring the clock rate of a media rendering subsystem, in a media rendering device that has a separate hardware clock for rendering the media, by using the rate at which data requests are made of the CPU in the media rendering device and using the CPU clock to provide additional accuracy in measuring the clock rate.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronous playback of media using a hybrid BLUETOOTH™ and Wi-Fi network, comprising a plurality of wireless media receivers configured to receive media content at a first media receiver via BLUETOOTH™, the first media receiver configured to transmit at least a portion of the received media content to a plurality of second media receivers via a Wi-Fi network, render at least some of the media content, and manage synchronization using a media synchronization component; with each second media receiver configured to render media content it receives synchronously with the first media receiver using respective media synchronization components.

Abstract: In many low latency media applications it is important to transmit media data packets from a media source to one or more media destinations as promptly as possible, while also ensuring that all media data packets that may be lost due to transmission errors are retransmitted and received correctly at the media destination. This invention described a system to do this with a system and methods for anticipating media data packet loss and making preemptive media data packet retransmission requests by dynamically computing a metric and decision logic for retransmission request that includes a need based factor from the media consuming application.

Abstract: A computing device for low-latency multimedia using dual wireless adapters, comprising a first wireless adapter connected to a Wi-Fi access point; a second wireless adapter connected directly to a plurality of wireless devices; and an operating system comprising programming instructions stored in the memory and operating on the processor and configured to: receive streaming multimedia via a wireless network from a media source, using the first wireless network adapter; and send at least a subset of the streaming multimedia at least one of the plurality of wireless devices using the second wireless network adapter.

Abstract: A system for media distribution and rendering over a spatially extended wireless network, comprising a plurality of media rendering devices configured as nodes in a spatially extended wireless network. The media rendering devices dynamically establish a hierarchical arrangement wherein a first media rendering device acts as a root node of the hierarchical arrangement. The first media rendering device receives media content over a network and distributes the media content to the remaining media rendering devices using the hierarchical arrangement. The media content is rendered synchronously by each of the plurality of media rendering devices.

Abstract: Some media applications use media containers, media files or media streams that contain multiple media components in it and require that each component of media be sent to different destinations tailored for rendering a particular type of media component. Furthermore there may be multiple destinations for a particular media component type. For example an application might use a media file with one video and one stereo audio stream and want to send this to two video rendering devices and four stereo audio devices. This invention describes a system for rendering these media components synchronously on multiple devices by demultiplexing the media into media sub components at one destination, sending the components to all destinations and synchronizing the rendering at each device.

Abstract: A system for synchronized media playback to multiple mobile receiver devices, comprising a network-connected media source device that prepares media content for viewing by separating it into a plurality of media streams, a plurality of network-connected media receiver devices that each receive a plurality of media streams and synchronize their playback relative to one another, and a method for providing synchronized media playback to multiple receiver devices.

Abstract: A system for transmission and rendering of media data over an Internet Protocol network from portable data storage source devices to spatially-separated destination devices located at lifestyle-determined locations. Destination devices are brought online by a discovery process as they come in the vicinity of a source device. In the interest of speed, discovery messages utilize low-overhead, asynchronous messaging. The discovery process begins with multicasting from a source device to local destination devices of discovery messages which include a unique session key and zone, priority and ID specifications, followed by unicasting of a discovery acknowledgement message from destination devices to the source device, and unicasting of a configuration message from the source device to destination devices. In one preferred embodiment, the latest source device to come into the vicinity of a destination device becomes the source of the media rendered by the destination device.

Abstract: A system for synchronized broadcast of media content across large networks, comprising a media source stored and operating on a network-connected electronic device that broadcast media content, a first media receiver stored and operating on a network-connected electronic device that receives the media content and re-broadcasts it, and a plurality of further media receivers stored and operating on network-connected electronic devices that receive the media content from the first media receiver, and a method for synchronized broadcast of media content across large networks.

Abstract: A system for event-based synchronized multimedia playback, comprising a media source device and a plurality of destination devices, each destination device comprising a local clock, and a synchronization module on one of the devices. The synchronization module transmits common events, En, each with a unique event number, to each of the plurality of destination devices. Each destination device records time Dxn when event En is received and transmits an acknowledgement message back to the synchronization module comprising time Dxn and event number n. The synchronization module determines phase and frequency differences between clocks of respective destination devices; computes a frequency adjustment to compensate for phase and rate differences; and directs each respective destination device to adjust its clock phase and frequency accordingly. Each destination device adjusts its local clock as directed or may perform a sample rate conversion on sample data in order to enable synchronized media playback.

Abstract: Some media applications use media that contains multiple types of media components in it and media sources with access to this media must send each type of media component to one or more media rendering destination devices. Furthermore there may be multiple destinations that can receive a particular type of media component and the media must be received at each destination without losses. This invention describes a two tier packet buffer structure at the media source with primary and virtual packet buffers that ensures minimal memory use at the media source and minimal network use. Furthermore the use of a sliding window with each virtual packet buffer associated with each destination, independently keeps control and track of destination state, ensuring the correct receipt of media data at each destination.

Abstract: A method for indirectly measuring the clock rate of a media rendering subsystem, in a media rendering device that has a separate hardware clock for rendering the media, by using the rate at which data requests are made of the CPU in the media rendering device and using the CPU clock to provide additional accuracy in measuring the clock rate.

Abstract: Some media applications use media containers, media files or media streams that contain multiple media components in it and require that each component of media be sent to different destinations tailored for rendering a particular type of media component. Furthermore there may be multiple destinations for a particular media component type. For example an application might use a media file with one video and one stereo audio stream and want to send this to two video rendering devices and four stereo audio devices. This invention describes a system for rendering these media components synchronously on multiple devices by demultiplexing the media into media sub components at one destination, sending the components to all destinations and synchronizing the rendering at each device.

Abstract: A method for indirectly measuring the clock rate of a media rendering subsystem, in a media rendering device that has a separate hardware clock for rendering the media, by using the rate at which data requests are made of the CPU in the media rendering device and using the CPU clock to provide additional accuracy in measuring the clock rate.