BIDIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION ON LIVE MULTIMEDIA BROADCASTS

摘要

A bidirectional connection between a multimedia stream distribution system and a user is used to communicate operational data to and from the user. The bidirectional connection is separate from a multimedia connection that transfers a multimedia stream from the multimedia stream distribution system to the user. Providing a bidirectional connection separate from the multimedia connection is advantageous, among other reasons, because the operational data can be collected effectively at the multimedia stream distribution system independent of any limitations in the multimedia connection. To organize users and reduce processing load, the multimedia stream distribution system assigns users to user groups based on shared characteristics. Groups may be used to propagate information to the users as well as analyze information collected from the users in an efficient manner.

主权项

1. A method for remotely exchanging data over a network comprising:
establishing a bi-directional connection between a user and a computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to transmit multimedia items to a plurality of users, the bi-directional connection configured to bidirectionally transmit operational data representing data associated with at least one of content, quality, and process of reproducing a multimedia item at the user; establishing a one-way connection with the user, the second connection configured to transmit the multimedia item from the computing device to the user; and at the computing device, sending a multimedia item to the user through the one-way connection between the computing device and the user.