HK1179021A - Distributed semi-synchronized event driven playback of multimedia - Google Patents

Description

Distributed semi-synchronous event-driven multimedia playback

Technical Field

The invention relates to distributed semi-synchronous event-driven multimedia playback.

Background

Sharing multimedia content during online conferences or broadcasts is a common occurrence in collaborative environments. In general, a presenter may initiate an online meeting with one or more other users, and the presenter may provide multimedia content that the presenter desires to share with one or more attendees of the online meeting. An online meeting may include any of the following environments: in this environment, multiple users may collaborate and have view access to shared documents or files, such as whiteboard sharing, desktop sharing, and application sharing environments.

In a typical collaboration environment for sharing multimedia content, a presenter may share multimedia content on the presenter's device and may present and discuss the multimedia content to attendees of an online meeting. Multimedia content may include audiovisual files, slide presentations, and other similar content. In general, attendees of an online meeting may be able to view shared multimedia content provided by a presenter, and the attendees may follow the presenter's playback of the multimedia content. However, the attendees cannot interact with the multimedia content while the presenter is presenting the multimedia content, and the attendees cannot exercise control over the content to manage and drive the attendees' individual playback experience of the multimedia content. Also, the presenter may not be able to drive the attendee's playback experience.

Disclosure of Invention

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to specifically identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Embodiments are directed to a system for enabling attendees of an online broadcast within a collaborative environment to interact with multimedia content during the online broadcast. By presenting the content itself, rather than an image derived from the content that cannot be interacted with, attendees can either drive their own multimedia experience, including play, seek, pause/stop, or follow the presenter and consume multimedia based on the presenter's actions (play, pause, stop, seek, scan, etc.). The multimedia content may be presented on each attendee's separate client device through a local cache, which contributes to the quality of the playback, enabling each separate attendee to interact with the multimedia content and control its playback experience independently.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory and are not restrictive of aspects as claimed.

Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for enabling interaction with multimedia content in a collaborative environment, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary system for enabling attendees in a collaborative environment to independently control multimedia content;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scenario for enabling attendees in a collaborative environment to independently control multimedia content;

FIG. 4 is a networked environment, where a system according to embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example computing operating environment, where embodiments may be implemented; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a logic flow diagram for process 600 for enabling independent playback control of multimedia content in a collaborative environment according to embodiments.

Detailed Description

As briefly described above, a method is provided for enabling an attendee of an online broadcast within a collaboration environment to interact with multimedia content and independently drive the playback experience of the multimedia content on the attendee's own client device. The system may additionally enable the presenter to drive a multimedia content playback experience so that attendees may view the multimedia content while the presenter controls the playback action. The system can present the multimedia content on a separate client device for each attendee, such that each separate attendee is able to interact with the multimedia content and control its playback experience on that attendee's own client device. The attendees may play, pause, seek, scan, stop, and other similar playback actions on the multimedia content to view the content as the attendees own desires and at their own locations. Additional actions by the attendees may include, but are not limited to, taking notes (or painting) on top of the multimedia, or saving the multimedia for later viewing. When each individual attendee interacts with and exercises control over the playback of multimedia content presented on his own client device, the playback of the presenter and the playback of the attendees may be unsynchronized such that the presenter's playback of the multimedia content cannot be broadcast to the attendee's client devices and the attendees may not be able to view the presenter's playback of the multimedia content. In another exemplary embodiment, features such as picture-in-picture may be provided so that attendees can see the presenter view as well as independent navigation. The presenter's client device may continuously provide playback status information for the multimedia content to a server system that may enable the attendees to re-synchronize with the presenter's multimedia content playback when desired by the attendees.

In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustrations specific embodiments or examples. These aspects may be combined, other aspects may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. While the embodiments will be described in the general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with an application program that runs on an operating system on a computing device, those skilled in the art will recognize that aspects may also be implemented in combination with other program modules.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Embodiments may be implemented as a computer-implemented process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for causing the computer or computing system to perform an example process. For example, the computer-readable storage medium may be implemented via one or more of a volatile computer memory, a non-volatile memory, a hard drive, a flash drive, a floppy or compact disk, and similar media.

Throughout this specification, the term "platform" may be a combination of software and hardware components for enabling interaction with multimedia content shared through a collaborative environment. Examples of platforms include, but are not limited to, hosted services executing on multiple servers, applications executing on a single computing device, and similar systems. The term "server" generally refers to a computing device executing one or more software programs, typically in a networked environment. However, a server may also be implemented as a virtual server (software program) executing on one or more computing devices viewed as a server on a network. More details regarding these techniques and example operations are provided below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for enabling interaction with multimedia content in a collaborative environment, according to an embodiment. As shown in diagram 100, in a collaborative environment, such as a networked environment 110, a presenter 102 and one or more attendees 120, 130 may interact and share content with each other through a server 112. According to some embodiments, more than one presenter may share content. According to other embodiments, the communication may also include a communication from the attendees to the presenter. For example, a presenter may need to know how many attendees have not synchronized with their presentation. In an exemplary scenario, the presenter 102 may generate or select from existing multimedia content 104 for sharing and presentation to one or more attendees 120, 130 during an online meeting hosted (host) within the networked environment 110 by the server 112. In the networked environment 110, multimedia content may be shared and exchanged using a variety of sharing methods, such as, for example, email messaging, text messaging, conferencing, whiteboard sharing, desktop sharing, and application sharing. The multimedia content 104 may be any content that may be shared through a networked environment, such as audio files, video files, image files, word processing files, spreadsheet files, presentation files, and other similar files that may contain multimedia content, as well as streaming video/audio that may support some basic playback such as play/pause (or even seek).

The presenter 102 may upload the multimedia content 104 to the server 112, and the server 112 may share or broadcast the multimedia content 104 such that the one or more attendees 120, 130 are able to view the multimedia content 104 on each attendee's own client device. In a conventional collaborative environment for sharing multimedia content 104, attendees of an online meeting are able to view the shared multimedia content 104 provided by the presenter 102 and follow the presenter's playback of the multimedia content 104, but the attendees 120, 130 are unable to interact with or exercise control over the content to control the attendee's playback experience of the multimedia content 104.

In a system according to embodiments, the multimedia content 104 may be provided to the attendees 120, 130 through the networked system 110, and the multimedia content 104 may be presented on separate client devices for each attendee, such that each separate attendee 120, 130 is able to interact with the multimedia content 104 and control the playback experience of the multimedia content 104 on the attendee's 120 own client device. The system may enable attendees 120 to control his own multimedia content experience, rather than simply following the presenter's control of multimedia content 104. For example, the attendees 120 can control the timing of playback of the multimedia content 104. The attendees 120 can play, pause, seek, scan, stop, and other similar playback actions on the multimedia content 104 to view the content as desired by and at their own location.

When each individual attendee 120 interacts with multimedia content 104 presented on his own client device and exercises playback control over the multimedia content 104, the playback of attendees 120 may become out of sync with the playback of presenter 102 such that the presenter's playback of multimedia content 104 cannot be broadcast to the attendee's client device and the attendees may not be able to view the presenter's playback of the multimedia content. Additionally, the system may enable the attendees 120, 130 to view the multimedia content 104 in synchronization with the presenter 102 as the presenter 102 plays and discusses the multimedia content 104 during an online broadcast through the networked environment 110. The presenter 102 may drive the multimedia content 104 playback experience such that the attendees may view the multimedia content while the presenter 102 controls the playback action. The system may enable attendees 120 to select whether and when to synchronize with the presenter's playback of multimedia content 104 based on the attendee's tendencies.

In a system according to embodiments, the server 112 may be configured to track the state of the presenter's playback of multimedia content for providing synchronized and unsynchronized capabilities when the presenter's playback may be out of synchronization with the attendees ' playback. By tracking the state of the presenter's playback of multimedia content 104, the system may enable attendees 120 to re-synchronize with the presenter's multimedia content playback when desired by the attendees. According to an exemplary embodiment, when the presenter 102 initially begins playback of the multimedia content 104, the presenter's client device may continuously provide the playback state information 106 of the multimedia content 104 to the server 112.

The state information 106 may include the current playback position of the multimedia content 104 on the presenter's client device, as well as other playback data, such as when the presenter plays, seeks, rewinds, fast forwards, pauses, forwards, slow down, and stops the multimedia content, as well as other play information, such as whether playback is full screen, whether sound is muted, and so forth. The "when" of the presenter performs the playback action may be the actual time the presenter performs the playback action or the location in the multimedia at the time the presenter performs the action. A system according to embodiments may track both. When the attendee's playback is synchronized with the presenter's playback, the current state information 106 data may be sent from the server 112 to the attendee's device so that the attendee's multimedia content playback may correspond to the presenter's playback of the multimedia content 104. The status information 106 may include a time code for indicating the location of the multimedia content 104 during playback of the multimedia content 104 so that the attendees can resynchronize with the presenter's playback of the multimedia content 104 at any time. When the attendee chooses to synchronize with the presenter's playback, the server 112 may find the appropriate location indicated by the time code included in the status information 106 data.

In an exemplary scenario, after initially receiving and viewing the multimedia content 104, the attendees 120 may choose to pan and preview the multimedia content 104, resulting in the attendee's playback being out of sync with the presenter's playback. After independently previewing the multimedia content 104, the attendees 120 may desire to resume viewing synchronized with the presenter's playback. The attendees 120 may choose to re-synchronize the playback of the multimedia content 104 with the presenter, and based on the status information 106 provided to the server 112 from the presenter's client device, the server 112 may re-synchronize the playback of the attendees 120 with the playback of the presenter 102 at the location indicated by the status information.

According to another exemplary scenario, one or more attendees may join the broadcast session later than other attendees. Whenever attendees join the broadcast session, they may initially start in synchronization with the presenter's view based on the status information received at each client. Subsequently, the subsequently joined attendees are also played back independently of the presenter and/or re-synchronized with the presenter.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary system for enabling attendees in a collaborative environment to independently control multimedia content. As illustrated in diagram 200, a system according to embodiments may enable an attendee of an online broadcast to interact with multimedia content and independently drive the playback experience of the multimedia content on the attendee's own client device. The system may additionally enable the presenter to drive a multimedia content playback experience so that attendees may view the multimedia content while the presenter controls the playback action.

In an exemplary embodiment, the attendees 120, 130 may be enabled to view multimedia content automatically in synchronization 220 with the presenter 202 as the presenter 202 plays and discusses the multimedia content during an online broadcast or other multimedia sharing mode. In an exemplary scenario, the presenter 202 may generate or select from existing multimedia content 204 on the presenter's client device for sharing with one or more attendees of an online broadcast in a collaborative environment. The presenter 202 may upload 206 the multimedia content to a server, and the server may share 208 an online broadcast of the multimedia content with one or more attendees, for example, within a cloud-based environment. The attendees may receive the shared broadcast and may view 222 an online broadcast that includes multimedia content provided by the presenter 202.

Initially, the attendee's playback of the multimedia content may be automatically synchronized 220 with the presenter's playback of the multimedia content during the online broadcast. While the attendees 'playback is synchronized 220 with the presenter's playback, the attendees may simultaneously view the presentation 224 of the multimedia content by the presenter 202 while the multimedia content 210 is presented by the presenter. If the presenter does not take an action that may unsynchronize playback, such as interacting with multimedia content to control playback, the attendees may continuously follow and view the presenter's playback action 226 on the multimedia content as the presenter 202 performs additional playback actions 212 on the multimedia content. For example, if presenter 202 shares a slide presentation containing an embedded multimedia file through a server, the multimedia file may be played on the synchronized attendees' client devices at the same time as the presenter plays the multimedia file. After the file has finished playing, the presenter may proceed to the new slide on the presenter's client device and may proceed to the new slide on the synchronized attendees' client devices. Similarly, the timing, start, and tempo of the animation of the presentation may also be controlled by each attendee.

In an exemplary embodiment, the presenter's playback and the attendees' playback may be automatically synchronized 220 by the server after the attendees receive and view the multimedia content. The system may enable the attendees to synchronize 230 the multimedia content playback by initiating playback control actions on the multimedia content at any time. For example, in the slide presentation scenario described above, when an attendee receives an online broadcast for viewing slides, multimedia content may be presented on the attendee's client device. The presenter can independently view the multimedia content 234 and can jump to a different slide within the presentation or, as another example, if the shared multimedia content is a video file, the attendees can play the video, pan forward, and pause the video. Once the attendee performs the playback action 236 on the multimedia content on the attendee's client device, the presenter playback and the attendee's playback may automatically become out of sync 230, and the attendee may have full control over the playback of the multimedia content on the attendee's client device independent of the presenter's playback of the multimedia content.

The attendee playback of the multimedia content may remain unsynchronized 238 unless the attendee may choose to resynchronize 228 with the presenter playback. As described above, the attendees may choose to re-synchronize 228 with the presenter's playback at any time, and based on the state information data provided by the presenter, the server may synchronize the attendee playback with the presenter playback at the appropriate location.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary scenario for enabling attendees in a collaborative environment to independently control multimedia content according to various embodiments. As illustrated in diagram 300, a presenter in a collaboration environment may initiate playback of multimedia content 302 through a collaboration server during an online broadcast. The multimedia content may be provided to the server 304 by the presenter's device and the server may broadcast the multimedia content such that the one or more attendees 312, 314, 316 are able to view the multimedia content on each attendee's own client device. Additionally, the server may continuously monitor the state of the presenter's playback of the multimedia content based on state information 306 of the presenter's location of playback, which is provided 310 by the presenter's client device to the server for providing synchronization and non-synchronization capabilities.

In an exemplary embodiment, each attendee 312, 314, 316 may receive an independent broadcast stream of multimedia content from the server, such that each attendee 312, 314, 316 may have independent playback control of the received media content. Although each attendee 312, 314, 316 views an independent broadcast stream of multimedia content, the attendees may remain synchronized with the presenter playback so that the attendees 312 may view the presenter's playback of the multimedia content. Additionally, the attendees may initiate playback control actions on the multimedia content, such as play, pause, scan, and stop actions, which may result in the attendees 'playback of the multimedia content being out of sync with the presenter's playback of the multimedia content.

In further embodiments, the system may enable the attendees to re-synchronize 320 with the presenter's multimedia content playback when the attendees so desire. When the attendee 312 chooses to re-synchronize 320 with the presenter's playback, the current state information 306 data may be sent from the server to the attendee's client device so that the attendee's multimedia content playback may correspond to the presenter's playback of the multimedia content.

The example systems in fig. 1 through 3 have been described in particular configurations, applications, and interactions. Embodiments are not limited to systems according to these examples. A system for enabling independent playback control of multimedia content in a collaborative environment may be implemented in configurations employing fewer or additional components and performing other tasks. Further, particular protocols and/or interfaces may be implemented in a similar manner using the principles described herein.

FIG. 4 is an example networked environment, where embodiments may be implemented. A system for enabling independent playback control of multimedia content in a collaborative environment may be implemented by software (such as a hosted service) executing on top of one or more servers 414. The platform may communicate with client applications on individual computing devices, such as a smartphone 412, laptop 411, or desktop computer 410 ('client devices') over a network 413.

Client applications executing on either client device 411-413 may facilitate communication through applications executed by each server 414 or executed on individual server 416. An application executing on one of the servers may facilitate independent playback control of multimedia content in a collaborative environment. The application may retrieve relevant data from data store 419 directly or through database server 418 and provide the requested service (e.g., document editing) to the user through client device 411-413.

Network 410 may include any topology of servers, clients, internet service providers, and communication media. Systems according to embodiments may have a static or dynamic topology. Network 410 may include a secure network, such as an enterprise network, an unsecure network, such as a wireless open network, or the internet. The network 410 may also coordinate communications through other networks, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a cellular network. Further, the network 410 may include a short-range wireless network such as a bluetooth or similar network. Network 410 provides communication between the nodes described herein. By way of example, and not limitation, network 410 may include wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

Many other configurations of computing devices, applications, data sources, and data distribution systems may be employed to implement a system for enabling independent playback control of multimedia content in a collaborative environment. Moreover, the networked environments discussed in FIG. 4 are for illustration purposes only. Embodiments are not limited to the example applications, modules, or processes.

FIG. 5 and phaseThe associated discussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which embodiments may be implemented. Referring to FIG. 5, a block diagram of an example computing operating environment for an application (such as computing device 500) is shown, in accordance with embodiments. In a basic configuration, computing device 500 may be any computing device executing a system for enabling independent playback control of multimedia content in a collaborative environment according to embodiments and include at least one processing unit 502 and a system memory 504. Computing device 500 may also include multiple processing units that cooperate in executing programs. Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing device, system memory 504 may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or some combination of the two. System memory 504 typically includes an operating system 505 suitable for controlling platform operations, such as from Microsoft corporation of Redmond, WashingtonAnd (4) operating the system. The system memory 504 may also include one or more software applications, such as a multimedia synchronization application 522 and a playback control module 524.

Playback control module 524 may enable computing device 500 to continuously detect shared and presented multimedia content broadcast over online in a collaborative environment. Through the playback control module 524, the multimedia synchronization application 522 may enable attendees of an online broadcast to receive multimedia content and independently view, interact with, and perform playback control actions on the multimedia content. The multimedia synchronization application 522 may enable the attendees 'playback of the multimedia content to become out of synchronization with the presenter's playback when the attendees exercise playback control over the multimedia content. Additionally, the multimedia synchronization application 522 may enable the attendee's playback of the multimedia content to become re-synchronized with the presenter's playback of the multimedia content, depending on the attendee's selection. The multimedia synchronization application 522 and the playback control module 524 may be separate applications or integrated modules hosting services. This basic configuration is illustrated in fig. 5 by those components within dashed line 508.

Computing device 500 may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device 500 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in FIG. 5 by removable storage 509 and non-removable storage 510. Computer-readable storage media may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. System memory 504, removable storage 509, and non-removable storage 510 are all examples of computer readable storage media. Computer-readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by computing device 500. Any such computer-readable storage media may be part of computing device 500. Computing device 500 may also have input device(s) 512 such as keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, and the like. Output device(s) 514 such as a display, speakers, printer, and other types of output devices may also be included. These devices are well known in the art and need not be discussed at length here.

Computing device 500 may also contain communication connections 516 that allow the device to communicate with other devices 518, such as over a wired or wireless network in a distributed computing environment, a satellite link, a cellular link, a short-range network, and similar mechanisms. Other devices 518 may include computer devices executing communication applications, web servers, and similar devices. One or more communication connections 516 are one example of communication media. Communication media may include computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data therein. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

Example embodiments also include various methods. These methods may be implemented in any number of ways, including the structures described herein. One such way is by machine operation of an apparatus of the type described herein.

Another optional way is to perform one or more operations of the method in conjunction with one or more human operators performing some of the individual operations of the method. These human operators need not be co-located with each other, but rather each may be co-located with only a machine that executes a portion of the program.

FIG. 6 illustrates a logic flow diagram for process 600 for enabling independent playback control of multimedia content in a collaborative environment according to embodiments. Process 600 may be implemented on a computing device or similar electronic device capable of executing instructions by a processor.

Process 600 begins at operation 610, where at operation 610, a server may detect multimedia content shared by presenters in a collaborative environment. At operation 620, the presenter may upload the multimedia content, and the server may retrieve the multimedia content for sharing with one or more attendees in an online broadcast or meeting. The server may continuously retrieve presenter playback state information of the multimedia content in operation 630. The state information may include the current playback position of the multimedia content on the presenter's client device, as well as other playback data such as when the presenter played, looked up, paused, and stopped the multimedia content.

At operation 640, the server may broadcast the multimedia content such that one or more attendees can view the multimedia content on each attendee's own client device. Initially, the attendee's playback of the multimedia content may be automatically synchronized with the presenter's playback of the multimedia content during the online broadcast. While the attendees 'playback is synchronized 220 with the presenter's playback, the attendees may simultaneously view the presentation of the multimedia content by the presenter as the presenter is presenting the multimedia content. At operation 650, the system may enable the attendee to control his own multimedia content experience. The multimedia content may be presented on an attendee's separate client device such that the separate attendee is able to interact with and control the playback experience of the multimedia content on the attendee's own client device. For example, the attendees may play, pause, seek, scan, stop, and other similar playback actions on the multimedia content to view the content as desired by and at their own location.

Operation 650 may be followed by operation 660, at operation 660, the playback of the presenter and the playback of the attendees may not be synchronized such that the playback of the multimedia content by the presenter may not be broadcast to the attendee's client devices and the attendees may not be able to view the playback of the multimedia content by the presenter. In operation 670, after independently controlling the multimedia content playback, the attendees may choose to re-synchronize with the presenter's playback, and the server may re-synchronize the presenter's playback and the attendees 'playback based on state information provided from the presenter's client device to the server.

The operations included within process 600 are for illustration purposes. Automatic implementation of independent playback of multimedia content in a collaborative environment may be implemented by similar processes with fewer or additional steps, as well as in different order of operations using the principles described herein.

The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the embodiments. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims and embodiments.

Claims (15)

1. A method executed at least in part in a computing device for sharing multimedia content in an online meeting, the method comprising:

detecting sharing of multimedia content by a presenter (610);

receiving the multimedia content at a collaboration server (620);

broadcasting the multimedia content to at least one attendee of the online meeting (640);

enabling the multimedia content to be presented on the attendee's client device; and

enabling the attendee to perform a control action on the attendee's client device for the multimedia content (650).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control action (650) comprises one or more of: play, seek, scan, pause, rewind, fast forward, slow down, and stop the multimedia content.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling the attendee (120, 130) to control one or more of timing, initiation, and pacing of an animation embedded in the multimedia content (114, 116).

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a playback control action of the attendee (120, 130) on the multimedia content; and

playback of the multimedia content by a presenter (102) is automatically unsynchronized with playback of the multimedia content by the attendees on the attendee's client devices.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising: continuously retrieving state information (106) of playback of the multimedia content by the presenter (102) on the presenter's client device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the state information (106) includes a current playback position of the multimedia content (104) at the presenter's client device, and playback data such as when the presenter played, looked up, paused, and stopped the multimedia content.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling an attendee (120, 130) to choose to re-synchronize the attendee's playback of the multimedia content (104) with the presenter's (102) playback of the multimedia content; and

resynchronizing playback of the multimedia content by the attendees with playback by the presenter based on the status information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: resynchronizing playback of the multimedia content by the attendees (120, 130) with playback by the presenter (102) based on a time code included in the status information, the time code indicating a location of playback of the multimedia content by the presenter.

9. A server (112) for facilitating sharing multimedia content in an online conference, the server comprising:

a memory;

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing a playback synchronization application, the online conferencing application configured to:

detecting sharing of multimedia content by a presenter (610);

receiving the multimedia content from the presenter's client device (620);

broadcasting the multimedia content to at least one attendee of the online meeting (640);

enabling the multimedia content to be presented on the attendee's client device;

enabling the attendee to perform a control action on the attendee's client device (650) on the multimedia content;

detecting playback of the multimedia content by the presenter on the presenter's client device; and

the playback of the multimedia content by the presenter and the playback of the multimedia content by the attendees are automatically synchronized on the attendee's client devices (670).

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the online conferencing application is further configured to:

enabling the multimedia content (104) to be cached on the client devices of the attendees (120, 130).

11. The server of claim 9, wherein the online conferencing application is further configured to:

detecting a control action of the attendee (120, 130) on the multimedia content, wherein the control action comprises one or more of: playing, seeking, scanning, pausing, rewinding, fast forwarding, slow playing, and stopping the multimedia content; and

the playback of the multimedia content by the attendees is automatically unsynchronized 660 with the playback of the multimedia content by the presenter on separate client devices of the attendees.

12. The server of claim 9, wherein the online conferencing application is further configured to:

detecting a resynchronization selection of the attendee (120, 130);

retrieving current state information (106) of playback of the multimedia content by the presenter (102);

retrieving a time code included in the state information, the time code indicating a position of playback of the multimedia content by the presenter;

looking up the following locations of the multimedia on the attendee's client device: the position corresponds to a position of the presenter's playback of the multimedia content indicated by a time code in the state information; and

resynchronizing playback of the multimedia content by the attendees with playback of the multimedia content by the presenter (670).

13. The server of claim 9, wherein the online meeting comprises two or more attendees (120, 130), and wherein each attendee receives an independent broadcast stream of the multimedia content from a collaboration server in a cloud-based environment.

14. A computer-readable memory device with instructions stored thereon for sharing multimedia content in an online meeting in a collaborative environment, the instructions comprising:

detecting sharing of multimedia content by a presenter (610);

receiving the multimedia content at a collaboration server (620);

broadcasting the multimedia content to at least one attendee of the online meeting (640);

enabling the multimedia content to be presented on the attendee's client device; and

enabling the attendee to perform a control action on the attendee's client device (650) on the multimedia content;

detecting a playback action associated with the multimedia content by the presenter on the presenter's client device;

enabling the presenter to play back the multimedia content;

automatically synchronizing (670), on the attendee's client device, the playback of the multimedia content by the presenter with the playback of the multimedia content by the attendee;

detecting a control action of the attendee on the multimedia content, wherein the control action comprises one or more of: playing, seeking, scanning, pausing, rewinding, fast forwarding, slow playing, and stopping the multimedia content; and

the playback of the multimedia content by the presenter and the playback of the multimedia content by the attendees are automatically unsynchronized 660 on the attendee's client devices.

15. The computer-readable memory device of claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise:

enabling the multimedia content (104) to be cached on a client device of the attendee (120, 130); and

enabling playback of the multimedia at the attendee's client device independent of the playback of the multimedia content by the presenter (102) based on the status information (106) broadcast to the attendees.