Bidirectional Control of Media Players
First Claim
1. A method for controlling media players operating on a computer system, the method comprising:
- establishing an inter-process communication between a first media player and a second media player;
in the second media player, determining if the first media player is playing first media content using the inter-process communication;
if the first media player is playing the first media content, sending a command via the inter-process communication to the first media player to stop playing; and
starting playback of second media content on the second media player.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and computer program products for bidirectional control between two or more media players. A first media player is launched on a computer system either manually or automatically. A second media player is subsequently launched. Inter-process communication is established between the first and second media players. The second media player determines if the first media player is playing first media content. If the first media player responds affirmatively, the second media player sends a command via the inter-process communication to the first media player to stop playing. The first player responds to the request from the second player by stopping playback. The second media player then begins playback of a second media content. After the second media content stops playing, the second media player informs the first media player, and the first media player returns to playing the first media content.
85 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for controlling media players operating on a computer system, the method comprising:
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establishing an inter-process communication between a first media player and a second media player; in the second media player, determining if the first media player is playing first media content using the inter-process communication; if the first media player is playing the first media content, sending a command via the inter-process communication to the first media player to stop playing; and starting playback of second media content on the second media player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer program product comprising a tangible computer-readable medium for use with a computer system, the computer-readable medium having program code thereon for controlling playback of media content on a first media player, the computer code comprising:
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computer code for establishing an inter-process communication with the first media player; computer code for determining if the first media player is playing first media content; computer code for sending a command via the inter-process communication to the first media player to stop playing if the first media player is playing the first media content; and computer code for starting playback of a second media content. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for controlling a media server, the system comprising:
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a speaker; a video display; a first media player adapted to; connect to the media server to control the reception of audio or visual data from the media server, display audio or visual data retrieved from the media server on the speaker or video display, respectively, and communicate with other media players using inter-process communication; and a second media player adapted to; display audio or visual data on the speaker or video display, respectively, and communicate commands to the first media player, using inter-process communication, for directing the first media player to control the reception of audio or visual data from the media server. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling a media server, the method comprising:
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in a first media player, connecting to the media server and requesting transmission of a stream of first media data; in the first media player, receiving the stream of first media data and playing it; in a second media player, using inter-process communication, sending the first media player a command to stop receiving the stream; in the first media player, as a result of receiving the command, directing the media server to stop sending the stream; and in the second media player, playing second media data. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification