Method and system for synchronizing media streams
阅读说明:本技术 用于同步媒体流的方法和系统 (Method and system for synchronizing media streams ) 是由 丹尼斯·埃里克·布温柯耐特 汉克·邓波克 于 2013-12-11 设计创作,主要内容包括:同步由不同源生成的两个或更多媒体流的方法和系统。标识符生成器生成具有与由第二媒体服务器生成的第二媒体流相关的唯一序列号和唯一媒体标识符的标识符。向编码器和标识符存储器提供生成的标识符。在标识符存储器中,广播公司存储具有与特定标识符相关联的URL(第一媒体流服务器地址&内容)。编码器将标识符和第二媒体流编码到被记录或广播的载体中。通过将编码后的载体馈送给解码器来实现记录或广播的播出,解码器对标识符和第二媒体流进行解码。第一设备接收解码后的标识符,第一设备获取特定标识符的存储的关联URL,接下来向第一媒体流服务器请求由关联URL指示的第一媒体流。向第一设备提供第一媒体流,还向第一设备提供解码后的第二媒体流。(A method and system for synchronizing two or more media streams generated by different sources. The identifier generator generates an identifier having a unique serial number and a unique media identifier associated with a second media stream generated by a second media server. The generated identifier is provided to an encoder and an identifier storage. In the identifier memory, the broadcaster stores a URL (first media stream server address & content) with an associated specific identifier. The encoder encodes the identifier and the second media stream into a carrier that is recorded or broadcast. The play-out of the recording or broadcast is achieved by feeding the encoded bearer to a decoder, which decodes the identifier and the second media stream. The first device receives the decoded identifier, retrieves the stored associated URL for the particular identifier, and then requests the first media stream indicated by the associated URL from the first media stream server. The first media stream is provided to the first device and the decoded second media stream is also provided to the first device.)
1. A method of synchronizing two different media streams, the method comprising:
decoding a main media stream to obtain a main media stream identifier identifying the main media stream from the main media stream;
decoding the main media stream to obtain a plurality of sequence numbers indicating positions in the main media stream from the main media stream, wherein the sequence numbers at least comprise a first sequence number and a second sequence number different from the first sequence number;
determining, based on the primary media stream identifier, a first action type and a first action indicator that are each associated with the first sequence number, wherein the first action type is a command to perform any action indicator associated with the first action type; and determining a second action type and a second action indicator both associated with the second sequence number, wherein the second action type is a different command than the first action type for executing any action indicators associated with the second action type; and
synchronizing a secondary media stream identified by at least one of the first action indicator and the second action indicator with the primary media stream by: the secondary media stream is acquired in accordance with performing the first action type and the second action type, and the acquired secondary media stream is synchronized with the primary media stream.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sequence numbers are encoded at equidistant points in the main media stream, and some of the plurality of sequence numbers are associated with a zero action indicator.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action type is a caching action for retrieving and storing media content of the auxiliary media stream and associating the stored media content with the second sequence number.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action type is a caching action for delaying retrieval and storage of media content of the secondary media stream.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action type is further associated with a third action indicator.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first action indicator is a third sequence number of the plurality of sequence numbers, wherein the third action type is a location for retrieving or storing media content of the secondary media stream; wherein obtaining the auxiliary media stream comprises: setting up a device to detect the third sequence number to play the media content of the secondary media stream on the device in a synchronized manner with the primary media stream.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the location is a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
8. The method of claim 5, wherein performing the first action type or the second action type comprises: based on a predetermined characteristic of a user of the device, media content associated only with the first action indicator, but not with the third action indicator, is retrieved.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined characteristic is an age of a user of a device that synchronizes the acquired secondary media stream with the primary media stream.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined characteristic is a gender of a user of a device that synchronizes the acquired secondary media stream with the primary media stream.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined characteristic is a language of a user of the device that synchronizes the acquired secondary media stream with the primary media stream.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action type or the second action type is a setting to be downloaded and executed in a device that synchronizes the primary media stream with the secondary media stream, wherein the setting relates to synchronizing the primary media stream with the secondary media stream.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action type or the second action type is a control action of a decoder for controlling a device that synchronizes the primary media stream with the secondary media stream.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective positions in the main media stream indicate points in time in the play of the main media stream, wherein the first sequence number and the second sequence number are generated to indicate points in time in the main media stream that are 0.5-1 seconds apart, and synchronizing the acquired secondary media stream with the main media stream comprises playing the secondary media stream at points in time that are within 0.5-1 seconds of an intended point in time in the main media stream.
15. A device to which at least two different media streams are provided synchronously, the device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory containing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the device is configured to:
decoding a main media stream to obtain a main media stream identifier identifying the main media stream from the main media stream;
decoding the main media stream to obtain a plurality of sequence numbers indicating positions in the main media stream from the main media stream, wherein the sequence numbers at least comprise a first sequence number and a second sequence number different from the first sequence number;
determining, based on the primary media stream identifier, a first action type and a first action indicator that are each associated with the first sequence number, wherein the first action type is a command to perform any action indicator associated with the first action type; and determining a second action type and a second action indicator both associated with the second sequence number, wherein the second action type is a different command than the first action type for executing any action indicators associated with the second action type; and
synchronizing a secondary media stream identified by at least one of the first action indicator and the second action indicator with the primary media stream by: the secondary media stream is acquired in accordance with performing the first action type and the second action type, and the acquired secondary media stream is synchronized with the primary media stream.
16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
decoding a main media stream to obtain a main media stream identifier identifying the main media stream from the main media stream;
decoding the main media stream to obtain a plurality of sequence numbers indicating positions in the main media stream from the main media stream, wherein the sequence numbers at least comprise a first sequence number and a second sequence number different from the first sequence number;
determining, based on the media stream identifier, a first action type and a first action indicator that are each associated with the first sequence number, wherein the first action type is a command to perform any action indicator associated with the first action type; and determining a second action type and a second action indicator both associated with the second sequence number, wherein the second action type is a different command than the first action type for executing any action indicators associated with the second action type; and
synchronizing a secondary media stream identified by at least one of the first action indicator and the second action indicator with the primary media stream by: the secondary media stream is acquired in accordance with performing the first action type and the second action type, and the acquired secondary media stream is synchronized with the primary media stream.
Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a method and system for implementing synchronous processing of different media streams.
Background
Viewing broadcasted documentaries, news programs, movies, etc. on a device such as a television may be a desirable experience, especially when additional or supplemental information is displayed on the same or another device.
In e.g. a broadcast cooking program, food is prepared as shown on a wall mounted television and at the same time a recipe with ingredients is displayed on another handheld device (e.g. showing a tablet or a smart phone) to allow the viewer e.g. to store the recipe for later use, to get a reduced price in place of a coupon or token, to receive information on the use of the device, etc. Additionally, an application on the tablet or mobile phone may apply a stored recipe for ordering ingredients at a nearby store.
In the above example, close synchronization between the broadcasted cooking program and the presented recipes is desired, but this is not a strict requirement.
However, in other examples, close synchronization between the broadcast media and the supporting media is required. For example, when a hearing impaired person reads text presented on a tablet or smart phone using a support media while watching a recorded presentation of a broadcast or air, or when a list of ingredients is being used by a chef to follow a display on a separate screen.
Strict synchronization is more desirable when the broadcasted or played-out recorded media stream and the supporting media stream are presented on the same device. Scheduling a locally generated advertising clip media stream to accommodate a time gap or interruption in the presentation of the broadcast media stream, for example, requires precise corresponding start and end of the two streams.
Strict synchronization is also required in the following cases: corresponding to a broadcast media stream, a specific device in the home environment has to be controlled, e.g. switched to a specific mode; or certain settings have to be changed with respect to the broadcast media stream and the supplemental media stream.
Strict synchronization is more required in case of providing an interactive broadcast comprising at least two media streams to an end user. The ability to synchronize media streams is crucial to providing a seamless interactive experience.
Disclosure of Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, system and apparatus capable of supplying a precisely synchronized media stream to a user.
In an aspect of the invention, a method for providing at least two different media streams to a first device synchronously is presented, wherein the method is performed by a plurality of steps described below.
The first generation step generates the identifier, then stores the identifier with the corresponding action indicator, and additionally encodes the carrier with the identifier and the second media stream.
In a next step, the received bearer is decoded into the identifier and the second media, and the decoded identifier is submitted to the first device, and the decoded second media stream is provided to the first device.
In an additional step, the first device retrieves a stored action indicator corresponding to the decoded identifier, and the first device requests the first media stream represented by the retrieved stored action indicator. Subsequently, the requested first media stream is provided to the first device. In this way, the provision of the first media stream and the second media stream to the first device are synchronized with each other.
In another aspect of the invention, the decoded second media stream is additionally or alternatively provided to a second device.
In another aspect of the invention, the encoded carrier is transmitted to or received from any of a media distribution system or a media store.
In another aspect of the invention, a carrier coding method for providing at least two different media streams to a first device synchronously is proposed, wherein the method is performed by a plurality of steps described below.
As a first step, an identifier is generated, wherein the identifier comprises a sequence number and a media indicator indicating a second media stream.
In a next step, an identifier is stored with a corresponding or associated action indicator indicating the first media stream. The identifier is stored in an identifier memory.
In an additional step, the carrier is encoded with the identifier and the second media stream.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of vector encoding provides: the step of storing the identifiers of the respective action indicators is performed in a database having records, and wherein each record has a sequence number associated with zero or more respective action indicators.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of vector encoding provides: the encoding step comprises encoding the carrier with the additional identifier at points in time that are equidistant from each other.
In another aspect of the invention, a method in an identifier generator proposes: the action indicator indicating the first media stream is a uniform resource locator, URL.
In another aspect of the invention, a method in an identifier generator proposes: the identifier memory includes a stored record for the identifier, and the stored record includes a type field to be executed by the first device, the type field being a field of any one of an address or a command type.
In another aspect of the invention a method in a first device for simultaneous reception of at least two different media streams is proposed, wherein said first device receives a decoded second media stream, a stream of the second media stream being decoded from a carrier. Wherein the method comprises a plurality of steps described below.
In a first step, a decoded identifier decoded from a carrier is received.
In a next step, a stored action indicator is retrieved, wherein the action indicator corresponds to the decoded identifier.
In an additional step, a first media stream is requested, said media stream being represented by the retrieved stored action indicator. In response, a requested first media stream is received. In this way, the reception of the first media stream and the second media stream by the first device is synchronized with each other.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method in a first device proposes: the step of obtaining the stored action indicator further comprises obtaining the stored type of the action. The type of action corresponds to a stored action indicator. Any subsequent execution of the action indicator depends on the interpretation of the retrieved action type by the first device.
In another aspect of the invention, the method in the first device further proposes that the type of action is to perform any one of:
-a change of an address of an identifier memory, said identifier memory having an address different from an address used by the first device;
-settings to be downloaded to and executed in the first device, said settings being used to set a specific mode of the first device;
-a caching action for obtaining a download of the first media stream to the local storage;
-a rendering action for rendering the cached first media stream on a screen of the first device; and
-a control action to be performed by the first device for controlling any of the decoder, the second device or the further device.
In another aspect of the invention, the method in the first device proposes: the decoder is instructed to additionally or alternatively provide the decoded second media stream to the second device.
In another aspect of the invention a system for providing at least two different media streams to a first device synchronously is presented, wherein the system comprises the entities listed below.
The system comprises a first entity being an identifier generator arranged to generate an identifier; and the other entity is a memory arranged to store the generated identifier, and the corresponding or associated action indicator.
Another entity comprised by the system is a first media server arranged to provide a first media stream.
Another entity comprised by the system is a second media server arranged to provide a second media stream.
A further entity comprised by the system is an encoder arranged to encode the carrier with the generated identifier and the second media stream.
Another entity comprised by the system is a decoder arranged to decode the bearer into the identifier and the second media stream. The decoder is further arranged to submit the decoded identifier and to provide a decoded second media stream.
Another entity comprised by the system is a first device arranged to receive the decoded identifier and further arranged to retrieve the stored action indicator. The stored action indicator corresponds to the decoded identifier. The first device is further arranged to request the first media stream represented by the retrieved action indicator. The first device is further arranged to receive the requested first media stream.
In another aspect of the invention, the system for synchronously providing at least two different media streams further comprises a second device. The second device is arranged to receive the decoded second media stream. The decoder is arranged to additionally or alternatively provide the second media stream to the second device.
In another aspect of the invention an identifier generator for providing at least two different media streams synchronously to a first device is proposed, wherein the identifier generator comprises a plurality of entities as described below.
The identifier generator comprises a processor arranged to process the program instructions.
The identifier generator further comprises a memory or storage unit arranged to store program instructions.
The identifier generator further comprises an interface arranged to be in communicative connection with other entities.
The identifier generator further comprises a second media identification memory arranged to store an indicator (601) indicative of the second media stream.
The identifier generator further comprises a sequence number generator arranged to generate a sequence number.
The processor is further configured to: the media identification memory, the sequence number generator and the interface are controlled under program instructions, wherein the stored second media indicator and the generated sequence number are compiled into an identifier, which is sent via the interface.
In another aspect of the present invention, the identifier generator further includes: a timer configured to time generation of the sequence number at equidistant time points.
In another aspect of the present invention, a media device for providing at least two different media streams to a first device synchronously is presented, wherein the media device comprises a plurality of entities as described below.
The media device includes a processor configured to process program instructions.
The media device also includes a memory configured to store program instructions.
The media device also includes an interface configured to interface with other entities.
The media device further comprises a decoder arranged to decode the identifier and the second media stream from the received bearer.
The processor is further arranged to control the decoder and the interface under program instructions, wherein the identifier and the second media stream are transmitted via the interface, and to receive and transmit the first media stream via the interface.
In another aspect of the invention, the media device further comprises a first media stream memory arranged to buffer the first media stream under control of the processor.
In another aspect of the invention, the media device further comprises a control unit for controlling the second device, allowing the processor to provide commands through the proxy requested by the first device.
In another aspect of the present invention, a first device for providing at least two different media streams to the first device synchronously is presented, wherein the first device comprises a plurality of entities as described below.
The media device includes a processor configured to process program instructions.
The media device also includes a memory configured to store program instructions.
The media device also includes an interface configured to interface with other entities.
The media device further comprises an identifier handling unit arranged to receive the identifier and arranged to apply the identifier to retrieve the corresponding action indicator.
The media device further comprises an indicator interpreter arranged to interpret the retrieved action indicator.
The processor is further configured to: the identifier processing unit, the action indicator obtainer and the interface are controlled under program instructions, wherein the action indicator is received in response to transmission of the identifier via the interface.
In another aspect of the invention of the first device, the action indicator interpreter is further configured to interpret the request to obtain the first media stream and to initialize the request for the first media stream in response to the interpretation.
In another aspect of the invention of the first device, the action indicator interpreter is further configured to interpret a command to present the cached first media stream on a screen of the first media device.
In a further aspect of the invention a computer program for a first device is presented, wherein the computer program, when being executed by a processor in the first device, is adapted to perform or control a method of synchronously receiving at least two different media streams by the first device, wherein the computer program comprises a plurality of steps as described below.
The computer program enables the first device to receive the decoded second media stream.
The computer program also enables the first device to receive a decoded identifier decoded from the carrier.
The computer program also enables the first device to retrieve a stored action indicator corresponding to the decoded identifier.
The computer program also enables the first device to request the first media stream represented by the retrieved stored action indicator.
The computer program also enables the first device to receive the requested first media stream.
In another aspect of the invention, an apparatus for providing at least two different media streams to a first device synchronously is presented, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of modules as described below.
The apparatus comprises a receiver module adapted to receive a decoded identifier decoded from a carrier.
The apparatus further comprises an acquirer module adapted to acquire a stored action indicator corresponding to the received decoded identifier.
The apparatus further comprises a requester module adapted to request the first media stream represented by the retrieved stored action indicator.
The apparatus further comprises a receiver module adapted to receive a first media stream requested by the apparatus.
These and other embodiments according to the present invention are now shown in more detail with reference to the disclosed drawings.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art solution;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system;
FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an identifier;
FIG. 4B is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of media streaming;
figure 5 is a signaling diagram illustrating an embodiment of method steps;
FIG. 6A is a diagram of a table illustrating an embodiment of method steps;
FIG. 6B is a diagram of a table illustrating an embodiment of method steps;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a node;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a node; and
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an apparatus.
Detailed Description
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system. The
The term "broadcast" means the transmission of media from one location to multiple locations without requiring direct interaction with one of the receivers.
The
The
The identifier generated by the
Both the
The encoder receives the second media stream generated by the
The
The
In addition to or as an alternative to live or semi-live broadcast, the encoded carrier from
Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system.
For a recorded and broadcast scenario,
For non-recorded scenarios, the
As an alternative to broadcasting, the user may have accessed recorded media (available on e.g. optical discs, memory sticks, clouds) with a recorded carrier, as explained with fig. 2, a
As explained with fig. 2, the
The
Alternatively or additionally, the decoder provides the decoded second media stream to the
The
The
The
FIG. 4A is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an identifier. The
As explained using fig. 8, the
The
The
Considering that a movie may last up to 4 hours (3600 x 4 14400 seconds) and that a sequence number should be generated every 0.5 seconds, a total of approximately 30k unique sequence numbers should be generated. Thus, 16 bits (64 kb) will be sufficient for the sequence number M in this example.
The suggested numbers N and M in this example are 32 and 16 bits applied every 0.5 seconds, resulting in 96 bits/second and are considered low for a typical audio/video stream of typically 1-8 Mb/s.
Fig. 4B is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of media streaming. Fig. 4B shows the encoded
Fig. 5 is a signaling diagram illustrating an embodiment of method steps. The steps represented in fig. 5 will be explained from left to right and from top to bottom. Typically, the steps are dependent on each other, although some steps do not have a defined temporal relationship to each other.
Fig. 5 will be explained in the example of a movie in which ad clips that should depend on the location at which the movie is viewed must be filled in. For example, a james bangde movie has been recorded and captioned in language X, and when a user is watching the movie, broadcaster Y needs to fill in an advertisement clip in language X during the movie presentation, with characters X and Y being examples of language indications and broadcasters. A particular movie with an advertisement clip in language X would be recorded in
The
The
When only isochronous identifiers are required, the
In case a particular advertisement-cutting moment of the movie must have a corresponding identifier, the additional identifier should be initialized by the
The
After encoding the entire movie, the
When a particular advertisement clip (e.g., advertisement clip XYZ by way of example) should be aired, the broadcaster should provide a server accessible by the
In this case, the process of attaching 512 the web-address to the
It is assumed that the movie is recorded and acquired by a user playing out the recorded movie (e.g. from an optical disc in a home environment).
The
The decoder sends 551 the decoded identifier to the
The
In case the broadcaster has attached a web server address to a specific identifier in the
The
FIG. 6A is a diagram of a table illustrating an embodiment of method steps. Fig. 6A presents a
The caching of the particular
FIG. 6B is a diagram of a table illustrating an embodiment of method steps. Fig. 6B presents a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the URL representing the first stream, the command is associated with a sequence number for performing a specific action when a specific identifier appears in the second media stream.
Fig. 6B presents a portion of the
The
-address: an address of the
-setting: the URL to be acquired, downloaded and executed in the
-caching: comparable to the URL retrieval in fig. 6A, but limited to downloading to local memory and waiting for a command to render the cached
-presenting: at the time that
-controlling: a command that causes the
Proposed additional control commands:
cacheDLY, like "cache" but with a random delay, to prevent overflow of simultaneous requests to the first
cacheFUT, caching the
Upon matching, the buffered
-presFUT, presenting the buffered first media stream in the future. As an alternative to the command cacheFUT. The
Upon matching, the buffered
EXEC, loading and executing a program on the
-cacheMULT, multi-cache command: more than one URL listed in the action indicator for the same serial number, each URL having one or more predetermined characteristics, such as age level, gender, language, country, etc., to enable, for example, customized advertising to be aired;
-presenting the cached data on the
entering a mode, e.g. a picture in picture mode, on the
signaling the second
-request any specific matter from the server, such as date, time of day;
-requesting the location of the user from the server;
-requesting the account/identity of the user from the server;
-requesting the server to provide the decoded identifier to the social media account of the user;
request the identity of the
The address of the web-address of the
Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system. Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an entity of a playout environment of a system that synchronizes the reception of at least two media streams.
The so-called set-top box (STB)300S includes a
The
The
The
In applying the preferred embodiment of fig. 6B, the identifier memory, through the environment of fig. 7, includes an
The
For the broadcast of a particular recorded transmission, the
The exact moment at which the buffered first media stream is to be rendered is defined by the "render" command. The broadcaster needs to note that the command "cache" or "cacheDLY" has a
For procedures known in advance, buffering of the
The cache of the
The short range wireless connections via
The proposed system allows a plurality of
As explained with reference to the example of fig. 5, the proposed method and system has the ability to play out a specific broadcaster's allocated ad clip in preference to an ad in the second media stream. So-called "add locally" insertion.
By applying the native application on the
When a
As a result, a family including teenagers and adults viewing the exemplary james bande movie of fig. 5 at the same time may have different advertising clips, such as an automobile advertising clip on an adult screen versus a toy advertising clip on a teenagers screen.
In case the broadcaster opens the possibility to interact with the broadcast transmission. As explained above, one of the
Fig. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a node. As explained below in connection with fig. 4A, the
The
the
A second
a
a
The
The
If the broadcaster needs equidistant timing of the
If the broadcaster needs a certain timing of the identifier, the processor waits to detect a command via the
The command to compile the identifier at a particular timing may be initiated manually, e.g. via the
Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a node. As explained with fig. 5, the set-
The set-
Optionally, the
the set-
A
a first
a
Examples of control commands are e.g. freezing the current screen or turning the second device off or on.
An
The
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an apparatus. As explained in fig. 5, 6A, 6B and 7, the
An
As explained in the description of fig. 6B, the
Upon matching, the buffered
An
When applying the features described for the embodiment of fig. 6B, referring to the action type, the
Referring to the description of FIG. 6B,
and the ^ address command: the
the ^ setting command comprises: the
the instruction of ^ cache: the
the ^ presence command: the
the ^ control command comprises: when indicated thereto, the
the ca chefut and presFUT commands instruct the
the
An
The
The above described method and system are suitable for synchronizing two or more media streams or commands to one or
The accessibility of the
The provided method and system are advantageously adapted to apply subtitles to the second media stream 620, wherein the subtitles are stored in the first media stream server and provided to the
The identifiers generated at equidistant time points advantageously enable later editing and allow skipping of material while maintaining synchronization.
The provided method does not degrade the original and rendered media, since no watermarking or similar techniques are applied in the proposed method.
The method provided does not require an excessive number of mathematical computing devices in the user equipment for synchronizing the second and first media streams, such as fingerprint correlation devices.
The method also advantageously allows media to be (semi-) live broadcast and recorded, in both cases the memory maintains synchronization between the broadcast content as long as the identifier of the particular second media is supported.
The method advantageously allows the insertion of local advertisement clips and personalized advertisement clips in both (semi-) live broadcast and even recorded sessions, since the carrier maintains identifier data enabling the provider to indicate the playout of these local/personalized advertisement clips via the identifier memory while maintaining a synchronized playout.
The method advantageously allows the provider to control the home environment to provide optimal video and sound settings for the particular media played out through the setting commands in the identifier store.
The method advantageously provides a simple method for non-intrusive anonymous statistics capture.