Abstract: Introduced here are computer programs and associated computer-implemented techniques for broadcasting social media sessions via an entertainment platform, such as a broadcast television network. More specifically, the technologies described herein relate to broadcasting interaction sessions involving a host (also referred to as a “communicator”) and one or more participants. An entertainment platform may contact the host or another person associated with the host, such as an agent, manager, family member, or friend, to seek permission to broadcast the session to its audience. An example of an entertainment platform is a broadcast television network. The host then closes a deal with the entertainment platform, whereby the entertainment platform has the rights to simulcast the session to its television viewers in real time, replay the session to its television viewers at later times, or both.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and embodiments related to streaming live video. A celebrity plans to live stream an interaction with a fan to a large number of her fans. The celebrity uses a device to capture and stream live video to her fans. The celebrity selects a fan and begins to interact with the fan, who uses a device to live stream a question. To enable a more natural interaction, the celebrity utilizes a platform with reduced latency of communication. With other platforms, latencies of between 6 to 30 seconds may occur in interactions between the celebrity and the fan. The platform utilizes one or more techniques to achieve reduced latency, such as not performing error checks on the live streamed data, not reordering packets while they are being relayed between devices, etc. A TCP tunnel that utilizes raw sockets is used to enable customized techniques for reducing communication latency.

Abstract: Introduced here are computer programs and associated computer-implemented techniques for streaming pre-recorded social media sessions involving a host (also referred to as a “communicator”) and one or more participants. In some embodiments the pre-recorded social media sessions are based on recordings of live interactions between the host and the participant(s), while in other embodiments the pre-recorded social media sessions are based on separate recordings that are combined in such a way to mimic a live face-to-face interaction. Accordingly, these pre-recorded social media sessions may be presented in such a manner that they appear to be live broadcasts that are streamed in real time. Various embodiments also concern technologies that enable an interaction management platform to intelligently create social media sessions from pre-recorded media content generated by the host and/or the participant(s).

Abstract: Techniques are described for participant selection and abuse prevention in paced, synchronous interactive sessions that include, in some embodiments, live video communications. In an embodiment a process for participant selection to prevent abuse can include receiving a request to initiate an interactive session that includes a participant selection criterion. The request is received at a computer system operating as part of a platform for facilitating paced, synchronous interactive sessions and may be based on inputs received from a host user (e.g. a celebrity at a host user device. The receiving computer system can then apply the received participant selection criterion to select a participant from the multiple participants connected to the interactive session. This selected participant is then allowed to broadcast a media stream (e.g. including live or pre-recorded video) that is viewable by the host and the other participants.

Abstract: Various embodiments concern a platform for creating and managing paced, synchronous interactions between a celebrity and one or more audience members. More specifically, the platform generates interfaces that are accessible on user devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, personal computers) and that display media content. For example, live media content could be captured by the celebrity's user device and then broadcast to user device(s) associated with the audience member(s) in real time. In some embodiments, audience member(s) may also be able to capture and broadcast live media content. For example, an audience member may wish to record a question for the celebrity or answer a question posed by the celebrity.