Apple invention would offer simultaneous playback for folks with different visual, audio needs — Apple World Today

In the patent filing, Apple notes that many households include several devices that are capable of streaming different types of audio-visual content for playback. These devices may include Macs, iPads, iPhones, and the Apple TV set-top box, and a ROKU device. With the proliferation of the Internet and video streaming applications, these devices give their users the capability of watching an almost endless selection of audio-visual content, including television shows, feature films, and video clips, which are stored at a separate remote server. 

However, Apple releases that different folks have different audio and visual needs. The techniques in the patent are intended to address this.

Here’s the summary of the invention: “The method receives a request to play a movie asset and synchronizes clocks between a first device and a second device, which is a portable device. The method signals a start of the playback of the asset through the first and second playback devices, where playback on the second device is synchronized with playback on the first device. 

“The method wirelessly transmits an alert message that identifies the asset through the first and second devices and includes a description of an upcoming or future segment of the asset, where a first version of the segment is played back through the first device. In response to receiving the alert message, the second device becomes configured to select a second version of the segment in accordance with i) user settings of the portable device and ii) the description of the segment.”