Abstract: A trust network is formed in a communal media system connected to a streaming application and executed within the streaming application. Source location is received for multimedia content selected in the streaming application and transmitted to user devices participating in a communal session. During the communal session, offerings are presented to the user devices in the communal session and user data associated with user interactions with the offerings are obtained and analyzed. Information presented to the user devices in the communal session is optimized based on the user data. Delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on the user devices is synchronized. The multimedia content and the social media content are delivered to the user devices at the same time, without any noticeable lag time during receipt of the multimedia content and the social media content by the user devices.

Abstract: A method for delivering multimedia content during a communal session at a media system commutatively coupled with a streaming application. The method includes receiving a request to initiate the communal session; retrieving contact information for user devices selected to participate in the communal session; retrieving an address for each of the user devices; receiving a source location for multimedia content selected in the streaming application; and sharing the source location with a player that is configured to transmit the multimedia content to each of the user devices. The method also includes, at an appointed time, initiating video playback for each of the user devices, synchronizing delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on each of the user devices, and exchanging playback control messages with the streaming application to direct the synchronized transmissions of the multimedia content and social media content to each of the user devices.

Abstract: A trust network is formed in a communal media system connected to a streaming application and executed within the streaming application. Source location is received for multimedia content selected in the streaming application and transmitted to user devices participating in a communal session. During the communal session, offerings are presented to the user devices in the communal session and user data associated with user interactions with the offerings are obtained and analyzed. Information presented to the user devices in the communal session is optimized based on the user data. Delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on the user devices is synchronized. The multimedia content and the social media content are delivered to the user devices at the same time, without any noticeable lag time during receipt of the multimedia content and the social media content by the user devices.

Abstract: A method for delivering multimedia content during a communal session at a media system commutatively coupled with a streaming application. The method includes receiving a request to initiate the communal session; retrieving contact information for user devices selected to participate in the communal session; retrieving an address for each of the user devices; receiving a source location for multimedia content selected in the streaming application; and sharing the source location with a player that is configured to transmit the multimedia content to each of the user devices. The method also includes, at an appointed time, initiating video playback for each of the user devices, synchronizing delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on each of the user devices, and exchanging playback control messages with the streaming application to direct the synchronized transmissions of the multimedia content and social media content to each of the user devices.

Abstract: A communal media system includes a content management system for storing multimedia content and a synchronization system configured to: retrieve the multimedia content for delivery to a plurality of user devices and receive social media content generated by the user devices; separate the multimedia content and the social media content into a set of prioritized layers; determine a timestamp offset for each of the user devices; and adjust simultaneous deliveries of the multimedia content and the social media content to the user devices, based on a priority associated each layer and the timestamp offset associated with each user device, The multimedia content is delivered to each user devices at the same time and the social media content is delivered to the user devices at the same time while the multimedia content is being viewed on the user devices.

Abstract: A method for delivering multimedia content during a communal session at a media system commutatively coupled with a streaming application. The method includes receiving a request to initiate the communal session; retrieving contact information for user devices selected to participate in the communal session; retrieving an address for each of the user devices; receiving a source location for multimedia content selected in the streaming application; and sharing the source location with a player that is configured to transmit the multimedia content to each of the user devices. The method also includes, at an appointed time, initiating video playback for each of the user devices, synchronizing delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on each of the user devices, and exchanging playback control messages with the streaming application to direct the synchronized transmissions of the multimedia content and social media content to each of the user devices.

Abstract: A method for delivering multimedia content during a communal session at a media system commutatively coupled with a streaming application. The method includes receiving a request to initiate the communal session; retrieving contact information for user devices selected to participate in the communal session; retrieving an address for each of the user devices; receiving a source location for multimedia content selected in the streaming application; and sharing the source location with a player that is configured to transmit the multimedia content to each of the user devices. The method also includes, at an appointed time, initiating video playback for each of the user devices, synchronizing delivery of the multimedia content and social media content generated on each of the user devices, and exchanging playback control messages with the streaming application to direct the synchronized transmissions of the multimedia content and social media content to each of the user devices.

Abstract: A communal media system includes a content management system for storing multimedia content and a synchronization system configured to: retrieve the multimedia content for delivery to a plurality of user devices and receive social media content generated by the user devices; separate the multimedia content and the social media content into a set of prioritized layers; determine a timestamp offset for each of the user devices; and adjust simultaneous deliveries of the multimedia content and the social media content to the user devices, based on a priority associated each layer and the timestamp offset associated with each user device, The multimedia content is delivered to each user devices at the same time and the social media content is delivered to the user devices at the same time while the multimedia content is being viewed on the user devices.