Synchronized rendering

Abstract

Current techniques for rendering content using data on multiple devices are generally ineffective and/or inefficient. This disclosure provides more effective and/or efficient techniques for rendering such content. The techniques optionally complement or replace other methods for rendering content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, from a device, a rendered frame;   at a first time, receiving, from the device, a message including a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time;   rendering a user interface element;   before the second time, generating a combined frame by combining the user interface element with the rendered frame; and   outputting the combined frame for display at the second time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rendered frame is rendered by the second device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rendered frame is received after the message is received. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving rendered content corresponding to the user interface element, wherein the rendered content is received before the message is received.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a script for rendering the user interface element, wherein the script is received before the message is received.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein combining the user interface element with the rendered frame includes placing the user interface element on the rendered frame. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rendered frame received from the second device includes a placeholder portion, and wherein the combined frame includes the user interface element at a location corresponding to the placeholder portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying, at the second time, the combined frame.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting, via a sensor, first data, wherein rendering the user interface element is based on the first data.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface element is rendered in response to detecting the first data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes an identification of a version of the user interface element. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes a modification, other than to a location within the rendered frame, to the user interface element. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes a location of the user interface element within the rendered frame. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 after receiving the rendered frame, receiving, from the device, a second rendered frame;   at a third time, receiving, from the device, a second message including a fourth time, wherein the fourth time is after the third time; and   outputting a frame corresponding to the second rendered frame for display at the fourth time.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a first device, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 receiving, from a second device different from the first device, a rendered frame;   at a first time, receiving, from the second device, a message including a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time;   rendering a user interface element;   before the second time, generating a combined frame by combining the user interface element with the rendered frame; and   outputting the combined frame for display at the second time.   
     
     
         16 . A first device, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 receiving, from a second device different from the first device, a rendered frame; 
 at a first time, receiving, from the second device, a message including a second time, wherein the second time is after the first time; 
 rendering a user interface element; 
 before the second time, generating a combined frame by combining the user interface element with the rendered frame; and 
 outputting the combined frame for display at the second time.