System And Method Synchronization Guides For Group Video Watching

Abstract

A method synchronizing digital radio content and media content for a client device is disclosed including receiving a digital radio broadcast comprising digital radio content over a terrestrial radio broadcast spectrum, wherein the digital radio broadcast includes an associated subcarrier data channel of the digital radio broadcast comprising geo-tagged Internet Protocol (IP) multicast addresses that identify streams of media content available separately over a multicast network; receiving at least one of the streams of media content over the multicast network that is selected based on a match of at least one of the geo-tagged IP multicast addresses to a current location of the client device; time synchronizing the media content to the digital radio broadcast; and presenting the time synchronized at least one of the streams of media content and the digital radio content for playback by the client device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of synchronizing digital radio content and media content for a client device comprising:
 receiving a digital radio broadcast comprising digital radio content over a terrestrial radio broadcast spectrum, wherein the digital radio broadcast includes an associated subcarrier data channel of the digital radio broadcast comprising geo-tagged Internet Protocol (IP) multicast addresses that identify streams of media content available separately over a multicast network;   receiving at least one of the streams of media content over the multicast network that is selected based on a match of at least one of the geo-tagged IP multicast addresses to a current location of the client device;   time synchronizing the at least one of the streams of media content to the digital radio broadcast; and   presenting the time synchronized at least one of the streams of media content and the digital radio content for playback by the client device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media content comprises one of a video multicast or an audio multicast. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital radio broadcast comprises an HD Radio broadcast. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multicast network comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the LTE network comprises an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) LTE network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multicast network comprises a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the WiMAX network comprises an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) WiMAX network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media content comprises a video advertisement matched to a particular digital radio broadcast. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the media content comprises a video advertisement with sound. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each geo-tagged IP multicast address comprises a point location matched to an IP multicast address. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the point location comprises a single location with a given radius. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each geo-tagged IP multicast address comprises a given area matched to an IP multicast address. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the given area comprises points of a polygon. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client device comprises one of a smart phone, a laptop computer, a personal computer (PC), or a digital audio player with Internet capability. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client device is configured to be integrated with an automobile entertainment system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subcarrier data channel is the Radio Data System (RDS). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current location of the client device is a global positioning system (GPS) location of the device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein digital radio content of the digital radio broadcast is encrypted, the method further comprising extracting an encryption key from the selected multicast to decrypt the digital radio content for playback together with the media content by the client device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising using a watermark to deliver the encryption key in the selected multicast. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein once decryption is enabled and the media content is displayed by the client device, the method further comprises returning an acknowledgement confirming that the selected multicast was joined. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising determining the current location of the client device and selecting an optimum multicast. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the streams of media content originate from an area within a terrestrial radio broadcast geographic area served by the digital radio broadcast.