Live video streaming services using one or more external devices

Abstract

In some implementations, a system may include a video broadcasting service, implemented on a server, configured to enable a mobile computing device to broadcast a live feed media stream of an event, over a network, to a plurality of viewing devices. The video broadcasting service is configured to receive the live feed media stream, over the network, from the mobile computing device, where the live feed media stream originates from an external device having a camera configured as a video source for the live feed media stream. The external device may be communicatively coupled to the mobile computing device. The video broadcasting service is configured to provide the live feed media stream, over the network, to the plurality of viewing devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for live video streaming using an external device, the method comprising:
 connecting an external camera device to a mobile computing device, the mobile computing device executing a client application, the client application configured to render and display a social timeline of content exchanged on a social media platform;   broadcasting, over a network, a live video stream captured by the external camera to a plurality of viewing devices via the social media platform;   receiving, by the client application, engagements from the plurality of viewing devices during a course of the live video stream, the engagements including signals of appreciation from viewers of the live video stream, the signals of appreciation being associated with timestamps in the live video stream; and   rendering user interface (UI) icons on a display screen of the mobile computing device based on the timestamps associated with the signals of appreciation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing, by the client application, a UI icon from the display screen after expiration of a period of time.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a UI icon is displayed on the display screen for a predetermined period of time, the method comprising:
 moving the UI icon from a first location to a second location during the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the live video stream on the display screen of the mobile computing device, wherein the UI icons are overlaid on the displayed live video stream.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the engagements include comments and viewer join notifications, wherein the comments and the viewer join notifications are overlaid on the displayed live video stream. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a signal of appreciation is a type of user-provided engagement in which a viewer expresses approval at a particular time in the live video stream, wherein a timestamp associated with the signal of appreciation corresponds to the particular time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UI icons include a first icon and a second icon, the first icon representing a first signal of appreciation provided by a first viewing device, the second icon representing a second signal of appreciation provided by a second viewing device, the first signal of appreciation being associated with a first timestamp in the live video stream such that the rendering of the first icon is triggered at a time indicated by the first timestamp, the second signal of appreciation being associated with a second timestamp in the live video stream such that the rendering of the second icon is triggered at a time indicated by the second timestamp. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first icon is removed from the display screen when a predetermined interval elapses after the time indicated by the first timestamp, and the second icon is removed from the display when a predetermined interval elapses after the time indicated by the second timestamp. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first icon moves from a first location on the display screen to a second location on the display screen during the display of the first icon, wherein the second icon moves from a third location on the display screen to a fourth location on the display screen during the display of the second icon. 
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
 connect an external camera device to a mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device executes a client application, the client application configured to render and display a social timeline of content exchanged on a social media platform;   broadcast, over a network, a live video stream captured by the external camera to a plurality of viewing devices via the social media platform;   receive, by the client application, engagements from the plurality of viewing devices during a course of the live video stream, the engagements including signals of appreciation from viewers of the live video stream, the signals of appreciation being associated with timestamps in the live video stream; and   render user interface (UI) icons on a display screen of the mobile computing device based on the timestamps associated with the signals of appreciation.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the external camera device is connected with the mobile computing device using a Wi-Fi connection. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the executable instructions include instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
 switch a video source of the live video stream to a camera on the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the executable instructions include instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
 remove a UI icon from the display screen after expiration of a period of time.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein a UI icon is displayed on the display screen for a predetermined period of time, wherein the executable instructions include instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
 move the UI icon from a first location to a second location during the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the executable instructions include instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
 display the live video stream on the display screen of the mobile computing device, wherein the UI icons are overlaid on the displayed live video stream.   
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a non-transitory computer-readable medium having executable instructions that when executed by the at least one processor are configured to cause the at least one processor to:   connect an external camera device to a mobile computing device, wherein the mobile computing device executes a client application, the client application configured to render and display a social timeline of content exchanged on a social media platform;   broadcast, over a network, a live video stream captured by the external camera to a plurality of viewing devices via the social media platform;   receive, by the client application, engagements from the plurality of viewing devices during a course of the live video stream, the engagements including signals of appreciation from viewers of the live video stream, the signals of appreciation being associated with timestamps in the live video stream; and   render user interface (UI) icons on a display screen of the mobile computing device based on the timestamps associated with the signals of appreciation.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the UI icons include a first icon and a second icon, the first icon representing a first signal of appreciation provided by a first viewing device, the second icon representing a second signal of appreciation provided by a second viewing device, the first signal of appreciation being associated with a first timestamp in the live video stream such that the rendering of the first icon is triggered at a time indicated by the first timestamp, the second signal of appreciation being associated with a second timestamp in the live video stream such that the rendering of the second icon is triggered at a time indicated by the second timestamp. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first icon is removed from the display screen when a predetermined interval elapses after the time indicated by the first timestamp, and the second icon is removed from the display when a predetermined interval elapses after the time indicated by the second timestamp. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first icon moves from a first location on the display screen to a second location on the display screen during the display of the first icon, wherein the second icon moves from a third location on the display screen to a fourth location on the display screen during the display of the second icon. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the external camera device is connected with the mobile computing device using a Wi-Fi connection.