SIMULTANEOUS EVENTS OVER A NETWORK

摘要

The present disclosure relates to a technique for causing the simultaneous initiation of events over multiple devices over a network such that the events begin at a predetermined instant in time, within a precisely defined time window relative to the plurality of devices. The present method and system provides that for a given predetermined instant in time, a witness able to observe all the devices concurrently would note that the plurality of devices would individually begin an activity within a specified time window. The instant in time, t0, is a predetermined moment in the future. The disclosed method and system provides a means to determine a level of confidence to verify that the defined window of simultaneity can be achieved among the plurality of devices prior to the activity taking place. The established level of confidence is based on the statistical nature of data packet transmission over latency limited networks.

主权项

1. A method for causing concurrent events to take place within a specified span of time across at least two devices comprising:
a task server computer connected to a network; the task server computer running a server application in communication with the network; the at least two devices comprising a client group; the client group running a client application in communication with the network; wherein the at least two devices comprising the client group are at least one of the following: cell phone, PDA, tablet, computer, smartphone, smartwatch, laptop, portable computing device with network capabilities; the at least two devices performing a time synchronization data exchange with the task server computer to determine network latency; the at least two devices determining the network latency variance based on data from the time synchronization data exchange; the task server computer determining the number of devices that can be efficiently processed; each device of the at least two devices independently determining a best window of simultaneity; wherein the event will occur across the at least two devices during a period of time indicated by an established window of simultaneity; the client application sending timing request to the task server to collect data for use in the statistical evaluation of the network latency variance to verify that the at least one device of the client group is expected to achieve the window of simultaneity; the task server computer establishing an event initiation time via the client application; the at least two devices of the client group periodically synchronizing the event initiation time relative to the time kept by the task server computer by performing an additional time synchronization data exchange with the task server; the at least two devices performing independent internal clock countdowns leading up to an event initiation time; the at least two devices independently initiating the event via the client application after the event initiation time is reached; and the at least two devices independently reporting the status of the event to the task server computer via communication between the client application and the server application upon event execution.