HK1202995B - System and method for synchronized interactive layers for media broadcast - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for broadcasting to a plurality of client side devices over a network, such as the Internet, using visual layers for assembly in a media broadcast. In response to receiving input for simulating the media broadcast defined by content objects and arrangement of each layer in the simulation, transmitting the content objects for each of a plurality of the layers in a different live stream to each of the client side devices and transmitting design parameters defining the arrangement of the layers in the simulation to each of the client side devices. Each of the client side devices may be adapted to assemble the layers of a media broadcast according to the content objects and design parameters of the transmissions so that the content objects and design of the media broadcast assembled at each of the client side devices substantially matches that of the simulated media broadcast.

Description

System and method for media broadcast synchronized interactive layer

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing and operating a visual layer for assembly in a media broadcast, such as an internet broadcast.

Background

By using separate media layers, a broadcast for news or media programs or personal use may stream multiple video, audio, image, and/or text objects simultaneously. Such broadcasting may occur via standard broadcast forms, such as on a monitor display, or via the internet, such as in a web page. Each media layer may be a static object (e.g., a logo or title of a broadcast) or may be dynamic (e.g., a scrolling news or video player).

Different media layers may have different media sources. For example, layer 1 (the primary layer) may be a media program (e.g., recorded by one or more cameras), layer 2 may be a logo for a network (e.g., uploaded from a computer), and layer 3 may be scrolling news (e.g., streamed from a news server). However, regardless of the variety of data sources, all media layers may be assembled at the central server and merged into a single media stream that is transmitted to all viewer devices for display. Thus, the broadcast is identical for each viewer. Furthermore, since the media layers are merged prior to transmission, the broadcast for each viewer is fixed and can only be viewed passively, not actively manipulated. Such systems may interfere with an interactive or collaborative broadcast environment.

Disclosure of Invention

According to some embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for broadcasting to a plurality of client devices. An input may be received to simulate a media broadcast including a plurality of media layers. Each layer may be defined by content objects and arrangements in the simulation. Receiving the input may trigger transmission of a content object for each of a plurality of the layers in different live streams to each of the client devices. Receiving an input may trigger transmission of design parameters defining the arrangement of the layers in a simulation to each of the client devices. Each client device is adapted to assemble a media broadcast layer based on the transmitted content objects and design parameters such that the content objects and designs of the media broadcast assembled at each of the client devices substantially match the content objects and designs of the simulated media broadcast.

Drawings

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings. Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for assembling media broadcast layers at a client device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of media layers for being assembled into a media broadcast at a client device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for client broadcast in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a user interface for simulating a media broadcast in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a user interface for playing a media broadcast according to an embodiment of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Detailed Description

In the following description, various aspects of the present invention are described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details presented herein. In addition, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention.

Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices.

"broadcast" may mean any display, streaming, playback, or presentation of content in any media, such as images, video, multimedia, audio, text, graphics, and the like. The broadcast may be provided via any public or private media channel, e.g., a wired or wireless channel, or a network, such as the internet, television, closed circuit television, radio, on the user's computer, etc. The broadcast may be displayed on any output device, such as a television screen, personal computer display, wireless device display, mobile phone display, tablet computer display, radio player, and the like. The broadcast may use any personal or collaborative viewing platform, including a web workshop (online workshop), a synchronized media display for a collection of viewers, and so forth. Here, in some embodiments, internet broadcasts are described as examples and may refer to any other type of broadcast of a streaming display.

The broadcast may include multiple media layers. For example, each media layer may include content or media objects, such as images, videos, audio tracks, text streams, social media or chat streams, web pages, applications, advertisements, and the like. The multimedia layers may be assembled to create a broadcast with a complex combination of media objects. The broadcast may also include a number of design parameters that define how the basic components, i.e., layers, of the broadcast are assembled. The design parameters may include, for example, the layers to be broadcast, the layer order (e.g., front to back), the spatial arrangement of the layers or objects therein, the opacity or transparency of the layers, the background design, and so forth.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, by manipulating and controlling an interactive design interface, a broadcast creator or host (modifier) may design a broadcast to create a simulation of the broadcast on the host screen. The design interface may function as a staging area or "green room" that may mimic a broadcast screen, e.g., ready to broadcast "off-air" but broadcast once the "play" signal is sent.

To generate the broadcasted content, the design interface may connect to a database of real or simulated media objects from which layer content is selected, edited, and/or created. The simulated media objects may be fully instantiated copies of real objects, or may be simplified mock objects mimicking the functionality of real objects, but only providing links or references to real objects at their data sources for actual broadcast.

To design a broadcast, a moderator may interact in a simulated environment to create a broadcast design. The simulated design may be automatically transcribed to generate design parameter values. For example, if the moderator drags a layer to a primary (front) position in the broadcast simulation, a set of design parameter values corresponding to the change may be created, e.g., with a layer order of 1. Design parameters associated with each layer may include, for example, layer Identification (ID), layer order, reference coordinates of objects on the screen (top left pixel), object size or size (pixel by pixel), layer transparency, run time, and the like.

Once the content and design of the broadcast is simulated in the moderator device, embodiments of the invention may separately transmit the broadcast components, e.g., as multiple separate layers and design parameters, rather than the moderator transmitting the complete broadcast itself as is conventionally done. The moderator device may transmit the content and design parameters of the layer to each of a plurality of viewers or clients.

The broadcast layers may be assembled and synchronized to create a broadcast at the client. In contrast to conventional broadcasts where layers are merged at the host side and a single broadcast stream is sent to the viewer, embodiments of the invention may transmit data for each layer separately, e.g., each layer in a different live stream to the viewer or client device where the layers may be assembled and synchronized at the client device itself. To enable such client broadcasts to be performed, each client device may have logic that inputs a number of separate layers and design parameters (defined by the host simulation) and assembles the layers into the broadcast according to the design parameters. The logic and data may be installed in the client device as an application, plug-in, software, or code, or may be streamed with the layers and/or design parameters. The layer content may be transmitted directly from a different source server (e.g., news server, web server, etc.), moderator device, and/or central server to the client device, while the design parameters may be transmitted from the moderator device and/or central server to the client device.

Once assembled, the client broadcast may have exactly the same content objects and design as in the moderator broadcast simulation. However, assembling the broadcast at the client device rather than simply sending the pre-assembled analog broadcast from the host to the client device may have several advantages. For example, although the client broadcast has the same content objects as the host broadcast analog, these media objects may be instantiated differently at different client devices, thereby providing an interactive and/or personalized broadcast.

The broadcast assembled at the client device may be interactive. Each layer is operable independently of the live interactive object, as each layer is sent to the client as an independent entity, e.g. in the form of a separate media stream. Each layer of content may provide interactive functionality for the client device from the origin server (e.g., either directly or via an intermediary device). In one example, the viewer may interact with one or more interactive features of a web page layer that presents data from a web site server, e.g., by clicking on a tab to get a more detailed view of the data, entering the data, retrieving the data, requesting an update, etc. The broadcast layer may allow viewers to extend data fields, open windows, rearrange objects, etc. to interact with objects in the layer environment that have the same functionality as provided when interacting directly with those objects in the origin server environment.

In an example broadcast, an interactive shopping cart layer may be overlaid on a video layer of a shopping program, where the shopping cart layer may allow a viewer to purchase products that appear in the shopping program. The tier content may be linked such that when a product in the program tier changes, the purchase information in the shopping cart tier changes accordingly. The interactive capabilities may be loaded to the client (in a layer) or may be streamed to the client from the origin server in a live link. It may be noted that only some media objects are interactive, such as applications, web pages, shopping carts, however others are not, e.g., scrolling news, clocks, media programs, etc.

The broadcast may be personalized to the viewer at each client device. Although the broadcast may be synchronized so that all viewers experience the same media object composition and layer design at the same time, the instantiated content of each media object may be dynamic and personalized for each individual viewer or customer account. For example, content may be targeted to viewers based on personal information such as language, age, region or zip code, website history, etc. For example, a sports layer may highlight local teams by the zip code of the viewer, a shopping layer may sell the goods recently viewed by the viewer, advertisements may be targeted to the viewer's demographics, and all layers may be provided in the language selected by the user. Such personal information may be stored at the client device (e.g., as operating system settings or website source data or information program records), at a central server (e.g., entered by the viewer when he creates an account), or at a media object source (e.g., each tier may record its own viewer history). In one embodiment, storing personal information and/or encrypting or otherwise protecting data at a client device may improve the security of such personal information.

The broadcast may be designed in real time. For example, when adding layers into a design simulation and/or selecting a "play" feature, these layers and their corresponding design parameters may be automatically or immediately transmitted to the customer, where they may be automatically assembled and broadcast in a synchronized manner.

Although some embodiments of the invention describe broadcast media in the internet, television, radio or other broadcast displays, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention may be similarly used with any other type of display, including, for example, newspaper or magazine presentations, text or multimedia presentations, combinations of different layers of audio tracks as an autoscreen, or any other system and method for designing and displaying layered media objects.

Referring to fig. 1, a system 100 for assembling media broadcast layers at a client device 140 is schematically illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The system 100 may include a host device 150 for designing broadcasts, an origin server 110 for providing broadcast data, a plurality of user devices 140 for viewing and/or listening ("displaying") broadcasts, and a broadcast server 130 for inter-relating their functions, all of which communicate via a network 120, such as a television network, a radio network, or the internet. Client devices 140 may subscribe to the broadcast, access the broadcast via a website or television, log into a collaboration session, or may be targeted without initiating the broadcast.

One or more host devices 150 may be operated by a host or broadcaster to design a media broadcast. The moderator device 150 can include logic provided remotely by the broadcast server 130 or provided locally by an application, plug-in, software, or code installed in the moderator device 150 that, when executed by the processor 136 or 156, can create a design interface (e.g., the interface 400 of fig. 4) that is displayed on the output device 154. The moderator, via input device 152, can interact with the design interface to create a broadcast simulation. The broadcast simulation may include layers (pages of media objects to be broadcast) and design parameters (layer layout defined in the broadcast simulation). The moderator device 150 can connect to the origin server 110 with a database 115 of media objects 117. The media objects used in the design simulation may be real copies of media object 117 or simulations of those objects (e.g., placeholder objects with simpler manipulation functionality in the design interface). In general, each origin server 110 provides media objects for only one tier (e.g., as shown in the example of FIG. 2), although any combination of one or more servers 110 may provide media objects for any combination of one or more tiers.

The moderator device 150 can transmit the layers and design parameters defined in the broadcast simulation to one or more client devices 140, e.g., each client device viewed by a user via the network 120 over any media channel, e.g., the internet, television, radio, podcast, etc. These layers may include a real copy of the media object and/or an address or pointer to the original media object 117, which may be transmitted separately from the origin server 110.

Client device 140 may include logic provided remotely by broadcast server 130 or provided locally by an application, plug-in, software, code, which when executed by processor 136 or 146 may input broadcast layers, design parameters, and if transmitted separately from these layers, may input media content objects and may output a compiled broadcast. The broadcast playback may be synchronized at all client devices 140 (e.g., by a clock stored at the broadcast server 130 or locally at each client device 140). The broadcast at each client device 140 may be designed according to the simulation at the moderator device 150. The broadcast may be personalized for each user, account, or login at the client device 140 based on their personal information, for example, stored in the client device 140, the moderator device 150, the server 110, and/or a centralized client information repository in the broadcast server 130. The user operating client device 140 may interact with the layers and media objects via interactive functionality provided in the layers or media objects or streamed in real-time from server 110.

The broadcast server 130 may provide centralized functionality for the client device 140 and the moderator device 150 to provide a design interface (e.g., the interface 400 of fig. 4). For example, the broadcast server 130 may include logic that receives content objects and design inputs from the moderator device 150 to simulate the broadcast layer, and triggers transmission to the client device 140 based on the simulated inputs for the content objects (e.g., transmitted from the source server to instantiate the objects), and based on the simulated inputs for the design parameters to trigger transmission (e.g., transmitted from the broadcast server 130 itself). Alternatively or additionally, the client device 140 and the moderator device 150 can include logic that provides their own functionality, e.g., installed as an application, plug-in, software, code, etc.

The client device 140 and the moderator device 150 can be personal computers, desktop computers, mobile computers, laptop and notebook computers, or any other suitable device, such as a mobile phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), electronic game console, television, or the like. The client device 140 and the moderator device 150 can include one or more input devices 142 and 152, respectively, for receiving input from a user. The client devices 140 may include one or more output devices 144 (e.g., monitors or screens) that display the broadcast to the viewer. The moderator device 150 can include one or more output devices 154 for displaying a design interface with input fields and with upload capabilities for designing, selecting, and creating broadcasts.

The network 120 connecting the source server 110, the broadcast server 130, the client device 140, and the moderator device 150 may be a public or private accessible network, such as the internet, television, etc. Network 120 may be accessed through wireline, terrestrial wireless, satellite, or other systems.

The server 110, broadcast server 130, client device 140, and moderator device 150 may each include one or more processors 116, 136, 146, and 156, respectively, for performing operations, and one or more memory units 118, 138, 148, and 158, respectively, for storing data and/or instructions (e.g., software) executable by the processors. Processors 116, 136, 146, and/or 156 may comprise, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a controller, a chip, a microchip, an integrated circuit, or any other suitable multi-purpose or special-purpose processor or controller. Memory units 118, 138, 148, and/or 158 may include, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (dram), flash memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, buffers, or other suitable memory units or storage units.

Referring to fig. 2, media layers 160, 162, 164 assembled into a broadcast at a client device 140 are schematically illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Such as a moderator or user operating the moderator device 150, the broadcast may be designed in the design simulation 152 by simulating the broadcast layers 166, 168, 170. Design simulation 152 may be a preparation environment provided via a user interface. Design simulation 152 may provide links to media content objects 117 from multiple servers 110 and/or databases 115. Through interaction with the user interface, for example, by selecting, dragging, and/or highlighting content, layers, and options, the moderator can select the content and arrange and design the layout of the layers 166, 168, 170. Each broadcast layer 166, 168, 170 may include or cooperate with one or more media objects 117 providing layer content and one or more design parameters providing layer design or arrangement, depending on the design being emulated. At the same time, the content and design may completely define each layer to form the media broadcast.

However, the broadcast data for the layers 166, 168, 170 may not be transmitted together as a single entity, but instead may be transmitted separately as multiple portions, each in the form of separate transport streams 172, 174, 176. For example, the content of the layers 166, 168, 170 may originate from multiple different source servers 110, and each different source server 110 may separately transmit its content to each client device 140 using a different live transport stream. In addition, design parameters defining the layer arrangement in design simulation 152 may also be transmitted to each client device 140. The client device 140 may combine the content data (e.g., the media object 117) and the design data (e.g., the design parameters) to assemble the layers 166, 168, 170 to reconstruct the media broadcast 142 at the client device 140.

The design and/or content of the client media broadcast 142 may substantially match the design and/or content of the simulated media broadcast 152. However, in some cases, the media object content may be instantiated differently in the simulated broadcast and/or at each client broadcast 142. For example, some layers may have personalized and/or interactive content, in which case the same media object may have different presentations based on the interactive and/or personalized user information associated with each different client device 140. In any event, all of the client devices 140 may reconstruct or assemble the media broadcast for playback substantially simultaneously for synchronized viewing.

Reference is made to fig. 3, which is a flow chart 300 of a method for client broadcast in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart 300 may be performed using the device components of fig. 1, such as the broadcast server 130 and its processor 136.

In operation 310, a processor (e.g., the broadcast server processor 136) may receive certain inputs from a user (e.g., a host) for simulating a media broadcast (e.g., from the design simulation 152). The media broadcast simulation may include multiple media layers (e.g., simulated layers 166, 168, 170), where each layer may be defined by its content objects and its arrangement or design in the simulation.

In operation 320, receipt of the broadcast analog input may trigger the device to separately transmit the content object of each of the plurality of layers (e.g., the simulated layers 166, 168, 170) in different live streams (e.g., the respective transport streams 172, 174, 176) to each of the plurality of client devices (e.g., the client device 140). The transmission device may be an analog device (e.g., monitor device 150), a central server or service provider (e.g., broadcast server 130), or each of a plurality of servers that originally provided the content object (e.g., origin server 110).

Receiving the broadcast simulation input may also trigger the device to transmit design parameters for the layer arrangement defined in the simulation to each client device in operation 330. The design parameters may be transmitted separately from the content object or, alternatively, may be transmitted with the content object (e.g., where operations 320 and 330 may be combined into a single operation). In one example, each layer may be transmitted as a data packet containing its content objects and design parameter data. The transmission device may be an analog device or a central server.

In operation 340, each client device may assemble a layer (e.g., layer 160 and 164) of the media broadcast (e.g., media broadcast 142) based on the transmitted content objects and design parameters such that the content objects and design of the media broadcast assembled at the client device substantially match the simulated media broadcast (e.g., media broadcast 152). The content objects may match the same or different content at each client device and, in some cases, may be instantiated along with the same or different content at each client device.

In operation 350, each client device may simultaneously display a media broadcast, e.g., a synchronized broadcast. In some embodiments, as the media broadcast is simulated, the media broadcast may be displayed in real-time at each client device (e.g., where the playback operation 350 immediately follows the simulation operation 310). In other embodiments, later time playback may be set.

Other operations or sequences of operations may be used.

Referring to fig. 4 and 5, fig. 4 schematically illustrates a user interface 400 for simulating a media broadcast, and fig. 5 schematically illustrates a user interface 500 for displaying a media broadcast, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The user interface 400 may be displayed at a moderator device (e.g., the moderator device 150 of fig. 1) and the user interface 500 may be displayed at an audience device (e.g., the client device 140 of fig. 1).

The user interface 400 may provide an interactive environment, labeled "control room" in fig. 4, in which a moderator may design a media broadcast. User interface 400 may allow a moderator to configure and design a contribution 410, a theme 420, and a layer 430. The contribution 410 interface page may allow a user to control which data sources are used as broadcast inputs. The theme 420 interface page may allow a user to select one (e.g., a predefined combination of background, color, icon, border, layout, etc.) from a plurality of design templates or themes for a broadcast. The layer 430 interface page may allow the moderator to control the content objects and design of the broadcast layers (e.g., layers 166, 168, 170 of fig. 2). For example, the moderator can manipulate the layers 430 page to select which layers to broadcast (using the "play" or "stop" buttons 412), design or edit their appearance (using the edit tab 414), create new layers (using the add new layer tab 416, which enables the drop field 408 to provide a list of predefined layers selected therefrom), determine their spatial location (by dragging content objects in the decomposed "true simulation" view), manage their play time, change their order (using the layout order field 418), and so forth. In the example of fig. 4, a broadcast having three layers 402, 404, 406 is simulated, including a "quick survey" layer 402, a "flag" layer 404, and a "clock" layer 406.

The user interface 500 of fig. 5 shows a broadcast assembled at a browser or client device according to the content objects and designs simulated at a moderator device using the interface 400 of fig. 4. In the example of fig. 5, the broadcast is assembled with three layers 502, 504, 506, including a fast survey layer 502, a flag layer 504, and a clock layer 506, e.g., corresponding to the three simulated layers 402, 404, 406 of fig. 4, respectively.

It may be appreciated that while the content objects and/or designs at the layers in the simulated view (e.g., interface 400) and in the broadcast view (e.g., interface 500) may match or be the same (e.g., have the same information), their visual presentations may appear different. For example, the broadcast view of FIG. 5 shows layers stacked from front to back, whereas the view simulated in FIG. 4 records the same order using order field 418, but shows the corresponding layers in a different side-by-side arrangement.

Other user interfaces or simulations may be used. For example, in one embodiment, the moderator may operate the simulation to occur exactly as the customer broadcasts, e.g., using an additional edge tab to provide options.

It may be clear that "real-time" may refer to immediately or more often to a slight time delay, for example between 0.01 and 10 seconds, at some point during a period of time, simultaneously or substantially simultaneously.

It will be clear that while certain devices and functions are assigned to "moderator", "spectator" and "client", these are merely example scenarios and such functions may be performed by any user.

Various embodiments are disclosed herein. Features of some embodiments may be combined with features of other embodiments; thus, certain embodiments may be a combination of features of multiple embodiments.

Embodiments of the invention may include an article, such as a computer or processor readable non-transitory storage medium, such as memory, a hard drive, or a USB flash memory, encoding, including or storing instructions, e.g., computer executable instructions, that when executed by a processor or controller, cause the processor or controller to perform the methods disclosed herein.

The foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, variations, substitutions, changes, and equivalents are possible in light of the above teaching. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A method for broadcasting to a plurality of client devices, the method comprising:

receiving an input for simulating a media broadcast in a staging area emulating a broadcast screen in preparation for broadcast off-air, the media broadcast comprising a plurality of media layers, wherein each layer is defined by a content object and an arrangement in the simulated media broadcast;

triggering transmission of the content object for each of a plurality of the layers in different live streams to each of the client devices; and

triggering transmission of design parameters defining an arrangement of the layers in the simulated media broadcast to each of the client devices, wherein each of the client devices is adapted to assemble layers of a media broadcast in accordance with the transmitted content objects and the design parameters such that the media is broadcast played at each of the client devices having content objects and designed content objects and designs that substantially match the simulated media broadcast.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying the media broadcast at all of the client devices simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying the media broadcast in real-time at each of the client devices as the media broadcast is simulated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the layers is personalized for each client device according to personal information associated with the client device user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the layers interactively updates content specifically presented in at least one of the content objects in response to receiving input at the client device from a user interacting with the layer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the updating of the interactive content is updated remotely from the origin server.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the content for interactive updating is transmitted with the layer content object and stored in the client device to locally update the interaction layer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the media broadcast assembled at each of the client devices includes the same content objects as the simulated media broadcast, but which are specifically rendered differently in each of a plurality of the client devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the media broadcast is simulated on a staging environment interface that provides links to media content from a plurality of different servers.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the media broadcast is simulated at a central server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the media broadcast is simulated at a client.

12. A system for broadcasting to a plurality of client devices, the system comprising:

a server receiving input from a host device for simulating a media broadcast in a staging area emulating a broadcast screen in preparation for the media broadcast being stopped, the broadcast comprising a plurality of media layers, wherein each layer is defined by content objects and arrangements in the simulated media broadcast,

wherein receiving an input triggers the server to transmit to each of the clients a content object for each of a plurality of layers in different live streams and design parameters defining the arrangement of the layers in the simulated media broadcast,

wherein each of said client devices is adapted to assemble layers of a media broadcast in accordance with said content objects and design parameters of said transmission such that said media is broadcast played at each of said client devices having content objects and designed content objects and designs that substantially match said simulated media broadcast.