Systems and Methods of Out of Band Application Synchronization Across Devices

摘要

The systems and methods of out of band application synchronization across devices disclosed herein include a companion application running on a secondary device, such as a mobile device. An out-of-band file containing program event markers is transmitted to a set top box. These program event markers may be used to link the program watched on the STB or the mobile device. Upon reaching the position indicated by the out-of-band file, the payload may be sent out by the STB to an application on a secondary device. The secondary device running the companion application receives the payload and triggers an action to fetch the associated metadata from the server. The companion application may include related content or advertisements, and communicate with a social network or the user's network to communicate at the same time with other customers watching the same program.

主权项

1. A method of synchronizing secondary content on a secondary device with primary content from a data stream received in a first frequency on a primary device, the method comprising:
receiving a marker file on the secondary device that was transmitted out of band from the first frequency band; synchronizing the marker file with the content viewed on the primary device; executing an application on the secondary device, the application configured to access secondary content when a marker from the marker file indicates that secondary content is applicable to the primary content viewed on the primary device; and displaying the applicable secondary content on the secondary device.