System and method for video and secondary audio source synchronization

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for video and secondary audio source synchronization. A system practicing the method establishes a communication with a device such as a telephone or digital device and receives an identification of an audio stream associated with a video presentation specified by a user. The user interacts with the system using the dial pad on a telephone or by manipulating controls within a dedicated application on a smartphone or tablet device. The system computes a likely delay affecting most devices receiving the audio stream and delays a transmission of the audio stream to the device by the delay amount. In one embodiment, the system receives a delay adjustment signal from the device and adjusts the delay amount according to the signal. Then the system transmits the audio stream to the device by the new delay amount.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving an identification of an audio stream;   computing a likely delay that will affect a plurality of devices receiving the audio stream to yield a delay amount;   preparing to transmit the audio stream to a device of a user according to the delay amount;   adjusting the delay amount according to a delay adjustment signal received from the device, wherein the user utilizes the device to perform one or more of inputting a new delay amount, increasing the new delay amount, and decreasing the new delay amount to yield a modified delay amount; and   delaying a transmission of the audio stream to the device by the modified delay amount.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the audio stream is associated with a video presentation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the likely delay is relative to the video presentation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a dial pad for receiving user input. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user inputs the new delay amount by manipulating controls within a dedicated application stored on the device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprises receiving, from the user, input based on the user performing one or more of entering text, clicking on a digital device screen, turning a virtual knob, entering a game clock time, and entering clues within the dedicated application. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the user performs one or more of photographing a quick response code, photographing a watermarked television image and recording watermarked audio. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a server stores and maintains a set of audio stream buffers wherein each audio stream buffer in the set of audio stream buffers has a predetermined delay amount. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a server stores and maintains one audio stream buffer having a set of pointers associated with the audio stream buffer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a digital device stores and maintains one audio stream buffer having a pointer associated with the audio stream buffer. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory computer-readable storage memory device storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an identification of an audio stream; 
 computing a likely delay that will affect a plurality of devices receiving the audio stream to yield a delay amount; 
 preparing to transmit the audio stream to a device of a user according to the delay amount; 
 adjusting the delay amount according to a delay adjustment signal received from the device, wherein the user utilizes the device to perform one or more of inputting a new delay amount, increasing the new delay amount, and decreasing the new delay amount to yield a modified delay amount; and
 delaying a transmission of the audio stream to the device by the modified delay amount. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the audio stream is associated with a video presentation. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the likely delay is relative to the video presentation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device comprises a dial pad for receiving user input. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user inputs the new delay amount by manipulating controls within a dedicated application stored on the device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage memory device stores additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:
 receiving, from the user, input based on the user performing one or more of entering text, clicking on a digital device screen, turning a virtual knob, entering a game clock time, and entering clues within the dedicated application.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the user performs one or more of photographing a quick response code, photographing a watermarked television image and recording watermarked audio. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a server stores and maintains a set of audio stream buffers wherein each audio stream buffer in the set of audio stream buffers has a predetermined delay amount. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a server stores and maintains one audio stream buffer having a set of pointers associated with the audio stream buffer. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage memory device storing instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an identification of an audio stream;   computing a likely delay that will affect a plurality of devices receiving the audio stream to yield a delay amount;   preparing to transmit the audio stream to a device of a user according to the delay amount;   adjusting the delay amount according to a delay adjustment signal received from the device, wherein the user utilizes the device to perform one or more of inputting a new delay amount, increasing the new delay amount, and decreasing the new delay amount to yield a modified delay amount; and   delaying a transmission of the audio stream to the device by the modified delay amount.