Network-based collaborative control of distributed multimedia content

摘要

An architecture and system allows for collaborative control and viewing of like multimedia content that is loaded in a number of distributed network-based appliances. A collaboration server in the data network is used to store and retrieve information regarding each collaboration session and serves as a clearing house to forward control commands (“play”, “pause”, etc.) from one participant to the other participants during a session. The arrangement is particularly well-suited to a distance learning environment, where an instructor may be given “override” commands to control the various events in the collaboration session.