Abstract: A first communication device communicatively coupled with a second communication device by way of a first network interface and by way of a second network interface parallel to the first network interface prepares object data in accordance with a data partitioning protocol for transmission to the second communication device. The first communication device transmits the prepared object data to the second communication device at an overall data transfer rate that is at least as great as a sum of first and second data transfer rates associated, respectively, with the first and second network interfaces by concurrently transmitting first and second portions of the prepared object data by way of the first and second network interfaces and at the first and second data transfer rates, respectively. Corresponding methods and devices for receiving concurrently transmitted object data by way of parallel network interfaces are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary virtual reality media system provides, for display on a display screen of a media player device associated with a user, a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world generated from and including camera-captured real-world scenery. The field of view includes content of the immersive virtual reality world and dynamically changes in response to user input provided by the user as the user experiences the immersive virtual reality world. The virtual reality media system integrates into the immersive virtual reality world a three-dimensional (“3D”) virtual object having an outer surface designated as a promotional content platform. The virtual reality media system also accesses data representative of a two-dimensional (“2D”) promotional image and maps the 2D promotional image onto the promotional content platform on the outer surface of the 3D virtual object such that the 2D promotional image is viewable as a skin of the 3D virtual object.

Abstract: An exemplary interactive media content provider system generates overall data representative of interactive media content. The exemplary interactive media content provider system concurrently provides the overall data to both a first media player device associated with a first user and a second media player device associated with a second user by way of a point-to-multipoint media delivery protocol. The first media player device and the second media player device may each be configured to render different portions of the overall data to respective display screens of the media player devices at a particular point in time based on different user input from the first user and the second user, respectively, as the first user and the second user independently interact with the interactive media content. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary device renders, within a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world (“world”) presented on a display screen, content of the world based on a stream of a first content file comprising a first content sector of the world. The device predicts that a user will provide user input representative of a request to shift additional content included in a second content sector of the world but not the first content sector into the field of view. Based on the prediction, the device requests and begins receiving a stream of a second content file comprising the second content sector. The device then detects the predicted user input from the user and, in response, switches from rendering the content included in the first content sector based on the first content file to rendering the additional content included in the second content sector based on the second content file.

Abstract: An exemplary device renders, within a field of view of an immersive virtual reality world (“world”) presented on a display screen, content of the world based on a stream of a first content file comprising a first content sector of the world encoded in a high resolution and a second content sector encoded in a low resolution. The device detects user input to shift additional content included in the second content sector but not the first content sector into the field of view. In response, the device switches from receiving a stream of the first content file to receiving a stream of a second content file comprising the first content sector encoded in the low resolution and the second content sector encoded in the high resolution. The device then renders the additional content from the second content sector in the high resolution based on the second content file.

Abstract: A mobile device pass through for signaling messages procedure allows smart devices to participate in and control multimedia communications by providing the ability to control multimedia communications to the smart device by the mobile device. A mobile device and a smart device establish a channel of communications between the mobile device and a web browser executing on the smart device, e.g. when both are connected to the same Wi-Fi access point. When the web browser accesses a web application that utilizes signaling messages to control multimedia content, the web browser will send signaling message requests to the mobile device. The mobile device, in turn, generates and forwards the signaling message. Media content is delivered directly to the smart device without passing through the mobile device or the established channel of communications.

Abstract: A mobile device pass through for signaling messages procedure allows smart devices to participate in and control multimedia communications by providing the ability to control multimedia communications to the smart device by the mobile device. A mobile device and a smart device establish a channel of communications between the mobile device and a web browser executing on the smart device, e.g. when both are connected to the same Wi-Fi access point. When the web browser accesses a web application that utilizes signaling messages to control multimedia content, the web browser will send signaling message requests to the mobile device. The mobile device, in turn, generates and forwards the signaling message. Media content is delivered directly to the smart device without passing through the mobile device or the established channel of communications.