System and method for allowing users to engage in a "movie theater" viewing experience in a distributed environment

Abstract

A method comprises retrieving a profile of a given user, the given user having a given-user device; identifying a buddy of the given user, the buddy having a buddy device; delivering a synchronization request to the buddy device; enabling the buddy to accept or reject the synchronization request; and delivering the content item substantially simultaneously to the given-user and the buddy device if the buddy accepted the synchronization request.

1 . A method comprising: 
 retrieving a profile of a given user, the given user having a given-user device;    identifying a buddy of the given user, the buddy having a buddy device;    delivering a synchronization request to the buddy device;    enabling the buddy to accept or reject the synchronization request; and    delivering the content item substantially simultaneously to the given-user and the buddy device if the buddy accepted the synchronization request.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying the buddy comprises: 
 identifying one or more instant messaging applications to which the given user subscribes as indicated in the profile;    identifying other users from the one or more instant messaging applications; and    enabling the given user to select one of the other users as the buddy.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying the buddy comprises: 
 retrieving one or more characteristics of the given user as indicated in the profile;    examining one or more other-user profiles to identify one or more other users with similar characteristics; and    designating another user with similar characteristics as the buddy.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling the given user and the buddy to select a given content item.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the selecting includes voting.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the selecting includes giving one of the given user and the buddy control'of content item selection.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a communication channel between the given user and the buddy during at least a portion of the delivery.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the communication channel comprises an instant messaging session.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting a start time for initiating the delivering of the content item.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selecting includes selecting a clock time.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selecting includes enabling one of the given user and the buddy to initiate the delivering of the content item.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selecting includes selecting a count-down time.  
   
   
       13 . A system comprising: 
 a content store for storing content items;    a given-user device of a given user;    an other-user device of another user; and    a content distribution server coupled to the given-user device, to the other-user device and to the content store, and operative to retrieve a profile of a given user, identify the other user as a buddy of the given user, deliver a synchronization request to the other-user device, enable the other user to accept or reject the synchronization request, retrieve a given content item from the content store, and deliver the given content item substantially simultaneously to the given-user and the other-user device if the other user accepted the synchronization request.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to identify one or more instant messaging applications to which the given user. subscribes as indicated in the profile, and to identify one of the other users in the one or more instant messaging applications as the buddy.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to retrieve one or more characteristics of the given user as indicated in the profile, to examine one or more other-user profiles to identify one of the other users with similar characteristics, and to designate the one other user with the similar characteristics as the buddy.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to enable the given user and the buddy to select the given content item from the content items stored in the content store.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to enable voting of the given user and the other user to select the given content item.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to give one of the given user and the buddy control of content item selection.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to provide a communication channel between the given user and the buddy during at least a portion of the delivery.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the communication channel comprises an instant messaging session.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to enable selection of a start time for initiating the delivering of the content item.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to enable selection of a clock time.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to enable one of the given user and the buddy to initiate the delivering of the content item.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the content distribution server is operative to enable selection of a count-down time.  
   
   
       25 . A content delivery system comprising: 
 retrieving means for retrieving a profile of a given user, the given user having a given-user device;    identifying means for identifying a buddy of the given user, the buddy having a buddy device;    first delivering means for delivering a synchronization request to the buddy device;    enabling means for enabling the buddy to accept or reject the synchronization request; and    second delivering means for delivering the content item substantially simultaneously to the given-user and the buddy device if the buddy accepted the synchronization request.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the retrieving means includes a profile component.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the identifying means includes a messaging component.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first delivering means, the enabling means and the second delivering means each include a portion of a TV application component.