Methods and systems for synchronizing playback of media content items

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for synchronizing playback of media content items. A first media content item is displayed at first user equipment and second user equipment. At least one playback parameter relating to the operation of the first user equipment and/or the second user equipment is determined. A determination is made as to whether the at least one playback parameter is less than a first playback parameter threshold. In response to determining that the at least one playback parameter is less than the first playback parameter threshold, at least one playback characteristic of the first media content item at the first user equipment and/or the second user equipment is adjusted to cause the display of the first media content item at first user equipment and second user equipment to be synchronized.

1 . A method for synchronizing playback of media content items comprising:
 displaying a first media content item at first user equipment and second user equipment;   determining, using control circuitry, at least one playback parameter relating to the operation of the first user equipment and/or the second user equipment;   determining, using control circuitry, whether the at least one playback parameter is less than a first playback parameter threshold;   adjusting, in response to determining that the at least one playback parameter is less than the first playback parameter threshold, at least one playback characteristic of the first media content item at the first user equipment and/or the second user equipment to cause the display of the first media content item at first user equipment and second user equipment to be synchronized.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 monitoring, for a predetermined period, the at least one playback parameter relating to the operation of the first user equipment and/or the second user equipment; and   predicting whether the at least one playback parameter will be less than the first playback parameter threshold based on monitoring the at least one playback parameter over the predetermined period.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one playback parameter comprises:
 a bandwidth available to the first user equipment;   a bandwidth available to the second user equipment;   an amount of data buffered on the first user equipment; and/or   an amount of data buffered on the second user equipment.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one playback characteristic comprises:
 a playback speed of the first media content item at the first user equipment;   a playback speed of the first media content item at the second user equipment;   a playback quality of the first media content item at the first user equipment; and/or   a playback quality of the first media content item at the second user equipment.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the method further comprising:
 determining a period for which the at least one playback parameter is less than the first playback parameter threshold; and   selectively adjusting the playback speed or the playback quality based on the period for which the at least one playback parameter is less than the first playback parameter threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , the method further comprising:
 determining one or more user preferences of a user of the first user equipment and/or a user of the second user equipment; and   selectively adjusting the playback speed or the playback quality based on the one or more user preferences.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , the method further comprising:
 determining the type of the first media content item; and   selectively adjusting the playback speed or the playback quality based on the type of the first media content item.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 determining a period for which at least one playback parameter of the first user equipment is less than the first playback parameter threshold;   determining whether the period is greater than a threshold period; and   selecting, in response to determining that the period is greater than the threshold period, a second media content item for display.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 displaying the second media content item on the second user equipment during the period for which the at least one playback parameter of the first user equipment is less than the first playback parameter threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 determining the at least one playback parameter prior to displaying the first media content item; and   selecting a first version of the first media content item for display at first user equipment and a second version of the first media content item for display at second user equipment based on the at least one playback parameter.   
     
     
         11 . A system for synchronizing playback of media content items, the system comprising:
 control circuitry configured to:   display a first media content item at first user equipment and second user equipment;   determine at least one playback parameter relating to the operation of the first user equipment and/or the second user equipment;   determine whether the at least one playback parameter is less than a first playback parameter threshold;   adjust, in response to determining that the at least one playback parameter is less than the first playback parameter threshold, at least one playback characteristic of the first media content item at the first user equipment and/or the second user equipment to cause the display of the first media content item at first user equipment and second user equipment to be synchronized.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 monitor, for a predetermined period, the at least one playback parameter relating to the operation of the first user equipment and/or the second user equipment; and   predict whether the at least one playback parameter will be less than the first playback parameter threshold based on monitoring the at least one playback parameter over the predetermined period.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one playback parameter comprises:
 a bandwidth available to the first user equipment;   a bandwidth available to the second user equipment;   an amount of data buffered on the first user equipment; and/or   an amount of data buffered on the second user equipment.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one playback characteristic comprises:
 a playback speed of the first media content item at the first user equipment;   a playback speed of the first media content item at the second user equipment;   a playback quality of the first media content item at the first user equipment; and/or   a playback quality of the first media content item at the second user equipment.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 determine a period for which the at least one playback parameter is less than the first playback parameter threshold; and   selectively adjust the playback speed or the playback quality based on the period for which the at least one playback parameter is less than the first playback parameter threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 determine one or more user preferences of a user of the first user equipment and/or a user of the second user equipment; and   selectively adjust the playback speed or the playback quality based on the one or more user preferences.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 determine the type of the first media content item; and   selectively adjust the playback speed or the playback quality based on the type of the first media content item.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 determine a period for which at least one playback parameter of the first user equipment is less than the first playback parameter threshold;   determine whether the period is greater than a threshold period; and   select, in response to determining that the period is greater than the threshold period, a second media content item for display.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 display the second media content item on the second user equipment during the period for which the at least one playback parameter of the first user equipment is less than the first playback parameter threshold.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
 determine the at least one playback parameter prior to displaying the first media content item; and   select a first version of the first media content item for display at first user equipment and a second version of the first media content item for display at second user equipment based on the at least one playback parameter.   
     
     
         21 - 40 . (canceled)