Methods and systems are presented for transferring an interactive feature from a first device to a second device. Two users may be consuming a media asset. Upon receipt of a command to active an interactive feature, a determination is made whether a user who did not activate the interactive feature is interested in the media asset. Upon that determination, a timer is activated that tracks an amount of time for which the interactive feature is active and a determination is made whether a threshold time period has been met. Once the threshold time period is met, a device associated with the user that activated the interactive feature is identified and the users are prompted to transfer the interactive feature to the device.

Example techniques relate to cloud queue synchronization. An example implementation may involve a playback device receiving, from a cloud computing system, data representing a play message comprising: (i) a play pointer representing a particular media item; (ii) an indication of one or more media items, the one or more media items including the particular media item; and (iii) a universal resource identifier (URI) representing a location of the particular media item at one or more servers of a streaming audio service. The playback device queues the one or more media items in a local queue stored in data storage of the playback device, streams the particular media item, and plays back the particular media item. After beginning playback of the particular media item, the playback device sends a playback started message comprising the play pointer, the play pointer representing the particular media item as the currently playing media item.

Example techniques relate to cloud queue synchronization. An example implementation may involve a playback device receiving, from a cloud computing system, data representing a play message comprising: (i) a play pointer representing a particular media item; (ii) an indication of one or more media items, the one or more media items including the particular media item; and (iii) a universal resource identifier (URI) representing a location of the particular media item at one or more servers of a streaming audio service. The playback device queues the one or more media items in a local queue stored in data storage of the playback device, streams the particular media item, and plays back the particular media item. After beginning playback of the particular media item, the playback device sends a playback started message comprising the play pointer, the play pointer representing the particular media item as the currently playing media item.

In a method for identifying a user in a network of broadcast communication receivers, a physical characteristic of a user is analyzed in association with the user accessing a first of the receivers. First biometric information based on the characteristic as analyzed in association with the user accessing the first receiver is generated. Data associated with use of the first receiver by the user is also generated and associated with the first biometric information. The physical characteristic of the user is then analyzed in association with the user accessing a second receiver. Second biometric information based on the physical characteristic as analyzed in association with the user accessing the second receiver is generated. The first and second biometric information are then compared. If the first and second biometric information indicate the physical characteristic of the same user, the data is employed in conjunction with the user accessing the second receiver.

In a method for identifying a user in a network of broadcast communication receivers, a physical characteristic of a user is analyzed in association with the user accessing a first of the receivers. First biometric information based on the characteristic as analyzed in association with the user accessing the first receiver is generated. Data associated with use of the first receiver by the user is also generated and associated with the first biometric information. The physical characteristic of the user is then analyzed in association with the user accessing a second receiver. Second biometric information based on the physical characteristic as analyzed in association with the user accessing the second receiver is generated. The first and second biometric information are then compared. If the first and second biometric information indicate the physical characteristic of the same user, the data is employed in conjunction with the user accessing the second receiver.

Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.

Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.

The Automated Content Upload System networks a plurality of aircraft together when they are parked at the gates of an airport. Communications among the aircraft are guided by a Content Manager, resident at or near the airport, which maintains data representative of InFlight Entertainment Content presently stored on each aircraft and the list of scheduled InFlight Entertainment Content available on each aircraft. The Content Manager guides the exchange of InFlight Entertainment Content among the aircraft, as well as from the Content Manager to the aircraft, to automatically distribute InFlight Entertainment Content to the aircraft efficiently and timely. This process includes the ability to multicast data from the Content Manager to multiple aircraft in a single transmission, obtaining content delivery efficiency, populating multiple aircraft via a single transmission from the Content Manager. Furthermore, the Content Manager can supplement this process via transmissions to the aircraft in flight over the Air-To-Ground link.

The Automated Content Upload System networks a plurality of aircraft together when they are parked at the gates of an airport. Communications among the aircraft are guided by a Content Manager, resident at or near the airport, which maintains data representative of InFlight Entertainment Content presently stored on each aircraft and the list of scheduled InFlight Entertainment Content available on each aircraft. The Content Manager guides the exchange of InFlight Entertainment Content among the aircraft, as well as from the Content Manager to the aircraft, to automatically distribute InFlight Entertainment Content to the aircraft efficiently and timely. This process includes the ability to multicast data from the Content Manager to multiple aircraft in a single transmission, obtaining content delivery efficiency, populating multiple aircraft via a single transmission from the Content Manager. Furthermore, the Content Manager can supplement this process via transmissions to the aircraft in flight over the Air-To-Ground link.

A method of video content synchronisation includes the steps of displaying a video content item on a first display, generating a virtual environment separate from the video content item for display, detecting a predetermined cue associated with a predetermined time in the playback of the video content item, and displaying at least part of the virtual environment, but not on the first display, where the displayed state of the at least part of the virtual environment changes in response to the detected predetermined cue.