Computer media synchronization player

• US 20040252400A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gogia, Sunit, Blank, William Thomas, Conrad, John, Honey, Brian D., Davis, Tyler V., Deutscher, John B., Rosen, Andrew D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,627,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel

Abstract

A media synch player includes a time control module, a digital data storage and retrieval device coupled to and responsive to the time control module and an audiovisual data signal output configured to supply audiovisual data to a display by playing a first media file from the digital data storage and retrieval device in response to commands from a system controller. The time control module is configured to request a system time from an external time server, reset the time control module in accordance with the system time, lock to a master clock contained in the external time server and resynchronize the first time control module in response to predetermined criteria being met.

Claims

1. A process for synchronizing multiple media players configured to provide content from digital media files, the process comprising:

requesting a system time from a time server associated with the multiple media players;

receiving a system time from the time server;

locking a clock in each of the multiple media players to a time from a master clock in the time server using the system time; and

providing content from each of the media players, wherein the content from each of the multiple media players is synchronized with content from others of the multiple media players.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein locking a clock in each of the multiple media players comprises phase locking to the master clock.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein locking a clock in each of the multiple media players comprises frequency locking to the master clock.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein locking a clock in each of the multiple media players comprises maintaining time synchrony to within predetermined limits.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein providing content comprises providing content from each of the multiple media players in response to commands from a control console at a time specified by the control console.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein providing content comprises providing content from Windows Media data.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein providing content comprises providing content from first Windows Media data from at least one of the multiple media players and providing content from second Windows Media data similar to, or different than, the first Windows Media data by at least one other of the multiple media players.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein providing content comprises providing content from first digital data from at least one of the multiple media players and providing content from second digital data similar to, or different than, the first digital data by at least one other of the multiple media players.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein providing content comprises providing content from media files stored on a hard drive.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein providing content comprises providing a video data stream and an audio data stream from at least one of the multiple media players.

11. The process of claim 1, further comprising resynchronizing the clocks in the multiple media players when predetermined criteria have been reached.

12. A process for orchestrating a playlist of at least first and second digital media files for synchronized play by respective first and second media players comprising:

synchronizing first and second clocks associated with the first and second media players, respectively, with a master clock associated with a time server;

initiating first playback of the first digital media file by the first media player; and

initiating second playback of the second digital media file by the second media player.

13. The process of claim 12, further comprising:

stopping, in response to a command from a control console, the first and second playback; and

restarting the first and second playback at a different point in the first and second digital media files in response to another command from the control console, wherein the restarting begins at a first point in the first digital media file corresponding to a second point in the second digital media file, and vice versa.

14. The process of claim 12, wherein the first and second digital media files comprise Windows Media files.

15. The process of claim 12, further comprising resynchronizing the first and second clocks during the first and second playback.

16. The process of claim 12, further comprising synchronizing first and second backup media players with the first and second media players.

17. The process of claim 12, further comprising switching from the first media player to a first backup media player in response to a command from a control console.

18. The process of claim 12, wherein synchronizing comprises synchronizing first and second clocks associated with respective first and second media players, where the first media player is in a first geographical region and the second media player is in a second geographical region.

19. The process of claim 12, wherein synchronizing comprises synchronizing first and second clocks associated with respective first and second media players, where the first and second media players are configured to provide content to respective first and second displays located at different points in a common arena.

20. A process for synchronizing audio visual data streams associated with first and second digital media players comprising:

synchronizing first and second clocks associated with the first and second digital media players, respectively, with a master clock associated with a time server;

initiating first playback of a first digital media file by the first digital media player;

initiating second playback of a second digital media file by the second digital media player, wherein the first and second initiating is in synchronism with the master clock, and wherein the second playback may shadow the first playback; and

switching a display from the first digital media player to the second digital media player in response to a command from a control console when the control console is provided with an indication of malfunction of the first digital media player.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein the first and second playback comprise playback of windows media data.

22. The process of claim 20, wherein the first and second playback comprise playback of digital data read from a hard drive.

23. The process of claim 20, further comprising, after initiating first and second playback:

stopping, in response to a command from a control console, the first and second playback; and

restarting the first and second playback at a different point in the first and second digital media files in response to another command from the control console, wherein the restarting begins at a first point in the first digital media file corresponding to a second point in the second digital media file, and vice versa.

24. The process of claim 20, wherein synchronizing includes establishing at least one of a phase lock or a frequency lock between the first and second clocks and the master clock.

25. A system comprising:

a first media synch player having a first time control module configured to be slaved to an external time server, the first media synch player including first media files, the first media synch player being configured to provide first content from the first media files in response to playlist commands from a live playback system controller; and

a second media synch player, wherein the second media synch player includes a second time control module configured to be slaved to the external time server and to maintain synchrony with the first time control module, the second media synch player including second media files analogous to the first media files, the second media synch player being configured to provide a continuation of the first content from the second media files in response to a signal indicative of malfunction of the first media synch player.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first and second media synch players comprise processors configured to execute windows media software to provide content from first and second media files comprising windows media.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the first and second time control modules are configured to be synchronized by signals in an NTP, GPS, SMPTE or other agreed upon time format.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the first and second time control modules are configured to:

request a system time from the external time server;

reset the first and second time control modules in accordance with the system time;

lock to a master clock contained in the external time server; and

resynchronize the first and second clocks in response to predetermined criteria being met.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the first and second media synch players each include a respective one of first and second hard drives, and the first and second media files comprise computer data stored on the respective hard drive or shared media storage location.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the first and second media synch players each include a respective one of first and second hard drives, and the first and second media files comprise windows media data stored on the respective hard drive.

31. A media synch player comprising:

a time control module;

a digital data storage and retrieval device coupled to and responsive to the time control module; and

an audiovisual data signal output configured to supply audiovisual data to a display by playing a first media file from the digital data storage and retrieval device in response to commands from a system controller, wherein the time control module is configured to;

request a system time from an external time server;

reset the time control module in accordance with the system time;

lock to a master clock contained in the external time server; and

resynchronize the first time control module in response to predetermined criteria being met.

32. The media synch player of claim 31, wherein the media synch player is configured to provide the audiovisual data in synchronism with audiovisual data from at least one other media synch player in response to commands from the system controller.

33. The media synch player of claim 31, wherein the media synch player is configured to:

stop playing the first media file in response to a command from the system controller;

locate a first point in the first media file different from a point at which the playing stopped; and

restart playing the first media at the first point.

34. The media synch player of claim 31, wherein the media synch player is configured to:

stop playing the first media file in response to a command from the system controller;

locate a first point in the first media file different from a point at which the playing stopped; and

restart playing the first media at the first point and in synchronism with at least one other media synch player.

35. One or more computer readable media having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors perform acts including:

synchronize a clock in a media player with an external clock; and

provide audiovisual content from a digital data storage device associated with the processor, or shared media storage location, in synchrony with audiovisual content from at least one other media player.

36. The computer readable media of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions to cause one or more processors to synchronize a clock comprises instructions to cause the one or more processors to perform acts including:

request a system time from an external device;

reset the clock in accordance with the system time;

lock the clock to a master clock contained in the external device; and

resynchronize the clock in response to predetermined criteria being met.

37. The computer readable media of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions to cause one or more processors to synchronize a clock comprises instructions to cause the one or more processors to perform acts including:

request a system time from a global positioning system time source;

reset the clock in accordance with the system time;

lock the clock to a master clock contained in an external device; and

resynchronize the clock in response to predetermined criteria being met.

38. The computer readable media of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions to cause one or more processors to synchronize a clock comprises instructions to cause the one or more processors to perform acts including:

request a system time from a time server;

reset the clock in accordance with the system time;

lock the clock to a master clock contained in time server; and

resynchronize the clock in response to predetermined criteria being met.

39. The computer readable media of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions to cause one or more processors to provide audiovisual content comprises instructions to cause the one or more processors to perform acts including provide audiovisual content from windows media files stored on a digital data storage device associated with the processor, or shared media storage location, in synchrony with audiovisual content from at least one other media player.

40. The computer readable media of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions to cause one or more processors to provide audiovisual content comprises instructions to cause the one or more processors to perform acts including provide audiovisual content from windows media files stored on a digital data storage device associated with the processor, or shared media storage location in synchrony with audiovisual content from another media player configured as a backup to the media player.

41. The computer readable media of claim 35, wherein the plurality of instructions to cause one or more processors to provide audiovisual content comprises instructions to cause the one or more processors to perform acts including provide audiovisual content from windows media files stored on a digital data storage device associated with the processor, or shared media storage location, in synchrony with audiovisual content from another media player configured to provide different audiovisual content than the media player.

42. A display device having rendered thereon a query specification for coordinating multiple media synchronization players providing audiovisual content from respective associated digital storage media by playing back digital files stored thereon, the query specification comprising a query grid configured to permit formation of a playlist including sequences of one or more selected file names corresponding to files stored on the respective associated digital storage media.

43. The display device of claim 42, wherein the query grid is configured to permit formation of a playlist of windows media files, images, patterns, colors, or animations.

44. The display device of claim 42, further comprising a dialog box configured to facilitate contemporaneous modification of playback of the digital files by restarting first playback of a first digital media file on a first media synchronization player and second playback of a second digital media file on a second media synchronization player at a different point in the first and second digital media files, wherein the restarting begins at a first point in the first digital media file corresponding to a second point in the second digital media file, and vice versa.