System and Method for Media Synchronization and Collaboration

Abstract

An improved system and method for media synchronization and collaboration involves a data storage, a plurality of media recording devices used by a plurality of users to independently record an event from multiple locations thereby producing a plurality of recorded media data corresponding to a plurality of views of the event, and a media player comprising a processor and a graphical user interface. Each of the plurality of media recording devices convey to the data storage media data and metadata corresponding to their respective view of the event, where the metadata includes time samples in accordance with a common time reference. The media player uses the metadata to synchronize and play the plurality of views of the event. The graphical user interfaces can be used to select views of the plurality of views of the event to be playing during periods of time as part of an overall timeline of a composite video that consists of a sequence of selected views. The media player is configured to create a multiple view video data package comprising a plurality of media files and metadata files corresponding to multiple views of a recorded event. The multiple view video data package may include a composite video produced using the plurality of media files and metadata files. The media player can be configured to post the multiple view video data package to an internet media-sharing website thereby enabling users of the internet media-sharing website to at least one of comment on the composite video, rate the composite video, or download the plurality of media files and the plurality of metadata files.

1 . A system for media synchronization and collaboration, comprising:
 a data storage;   a plurality of media recording devices used by a plurality of users to independently and asynchronously record an event from multiple locations thereby producing a plurality of recorded media data corresponding to a plurality of views of said event, each of said plurality of media recording devices conveying to said data storage media data and metadata corresponding to their respective view of said event, said metadata including time samples in accordance with a common time reference; and   a media player comprising a processor and a graphical user interface, said media player using said metadata to synchronize and play said plurality of views of said event.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of media recording devices is a plurality of smart phones. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said graphical user interface comprises a plurality of viewing windows used to display the plurality of views of the event. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of viewing windows has a corresponding selection icon of a plurality of selection icons. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of selection icons are color-coded. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of selection icons can be used to select views of said plurality of views of said event to be playing during periods of time as part of an overall timeline of a composite video that consists of a sequence of selected views. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said graphical user interface plays said composite video. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said timeline is color-coded to identify the view of said plurality of views that is playing during a given period of time of said timeline. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , where said graphical user interface includes a multi-view combination control that causes a sequence of different views of the same time period or overlapping time periods to be played in said composite video. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said metadata includes location and view angle data and said graphical user interface provides the ability to display a location/view angle indicator window that indicates the location and view angle of each view of said plurality of views. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said location/view angle indicator window has a selection icon that can be selected to cause it to be displayed in said composite video during a given period of time of said timeline. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said metadata enables at least one of a still camera image, animation, digital score board, digital scorebook, or live video to be synchronized so that it can be displayed in said composite video during a given period of time of said timeline. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said media player is configured to create a multiple view video data package comprising a plurality of media files and metadata files corresponding to multiple views of a recorded event. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said multiple view video data package further comprises a composite video produced using said plurality of media files and metadata files. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said media player is configured to post said multiple view video data package to an internet media-sharing website thereby enabling users of said internet media-sharing website to at least one of comment on said composite video, rate said composite video, or download said plurality of media files and said plurality of metadata files. 
     
     
         16 . A method of media synchronization and collaboration, comprising:
 recording an event using a plurality of media recording devices that independently and asynchronously record said event to produce a plurality of recorded media clips corresponding to a plurality of views of said event;   storing media data and metadata corresponding to said plurality of views of said event to a data storage, said metadata including time samples in accordance with a common time reference; and   providing a media player comprising a processor and a graphical user interface that uses said metadata to synchronize and play said plurality of views of said event.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 producing a composite video by selecting using said graphical user interface a sequence of selected views of said plurality of views of said event that play during a periods of time as part of an overall timeline of said composite video.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 creating a multiple view video data package comprising a plurality of media files and a plurality of metadata files used to produce said composite video.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said multiple view video data package further comprises said composite video. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 posting said multiple view video data package to an internet media-sharing website thereby enabling users of said internet media-sharing website to at least one of comment on said composite video, rate said composite video, or download said plurality of media files and said plurality of metadata files.