Computer media synchronization player

• US 7,627,808 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gogia, Sunit, Conrad, John, Honey, Brian D., Davis, Tyler V., Deutscher, John B., Blank, William Thomas, Rosen, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackwell; James H
• Application Number:
  US10/461,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/500.1, 715/513, 715/200, 715/205, 715/234, 715/723, 715/716, 725/63, 709/204, 709/205, 709/208, 709/219, 709/224, 709/248, 386/46, 345/723, 348/E7.069, 370/503
• US Class Current: 715/200
• 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 being executed on one or more computers, each media player configured to provide at least audio and video 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;

providing content from each of the multiple media players, the content from each of the multiple media players is synchronized with content from the other multiple media players, wherein;

the synchronized content comprises synchronizing content for the multiple media players such that selected content for a first media player is not the same as selected content for a second media player; and

the synchronizing is performed by an administrator using a central control console to control the multiple media players; and

evaluating a query task against a predetermined criteria, the evaluating comprising;

in an event the predetermined criteria are met, resynchronizing the clocks in the multiple media players; and

in an event the predetermined criteria are not met, waiting for a predetermined time until evaluating another query task,

wherein;

providing content comprises providing content from each of the multiple media players in response to commands from the central control console at a time specified by the central control console, the commands being assembled from a playlist and providing instruction for coordination of each of the multiple media players in providing content in a predetermined sequence; and

the central control console includes a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the administrator to selectively choose separate content and separate control options for the first and second media players and further enabling the administrator to modify the playback of at least one of the first and second media players such that modified playback of at least one of the first and second media players deviates from the playlist, the GUI comprising;

an event details dialog box comprising;

a label identifying each of the multiple media players;

a file name corresponding to a media file for each of the multiple media players; and

selection tools for selecting particular display options for each of the multiple media players;

a player setup dialog box corresponding to the setup of each of the multiple media players, the player setup dialog box comprising;

an internet protocol address for each of the multiple media players; and

an identification of a backup media player for each of the multiple media players;

a timers dialog box corresponding to timing associated with event details and the setup of each of the multiple media players; and

a live playback system dialog box controlling each of the multiple media players comprising a slider control pointer facilitating user manipulation of a playback position of the media file for a particular media player.

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 Windows Media data.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein providing content comprises providing content from first Windows Media data for at least the first media player and providing content from second Windows Media data similar to, or different than, the first Windows Media data for at least the second media player.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein providing content comprises providing content from first digital data for at the first media player and providing content from second digital data similar to, or different than, the first digital data for at least the second media player.

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

9. 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.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is a set amount of time.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the multiple media players each include an associated display, and the displays associated with the multiple media players are tiled together to provide a single larger effective display.

12. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions configuring a computer to perform the process of claim 1.

13. 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 being executed on one or more computers 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;

initiating second playback of the second digital media file by the second media player, wherein initiating the first and second playback of the first and second digital media files is performed by a central control console that allows a user to synchronize the first and second media players, the first and second media players not displaying same graphic content; and

evaluating a query task against a predetermined criteria, the evaluating comprising;

in an event the predetermined criteria are met, resynchronizing the clocks in the first and second media players; and

in an event the predetermined criteria are not met, waiting for a predetermined time until evaluating another query task,

wherein;

initiating the first and second playback comprises providing content from each of the first and second media players in response to commands from a central control console at a time specified by the central control console, the commands being assembled from the playlist and providing instruction for coordination of each of the first and second media players in providing the content in a predetermined sequence; and

the central control console includes a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the administrator to selectively choose separate content and separate control options for the first and second media players and further enabling the administrator to modify the playback of at least one of the first and second media players such that modified playback of at least one of the first and second media players deviates from the playlist the GUI comprising;

an event details dialog box comprising;

a label identifying each of the first and second media players;

a file name corresponding to a media file for each of the first and second media players; and

selection tools for selecting particular display options for each of the first and second media players;

a player setup dialog box corresponding to the setup of each of the first and second media players, the player setup dialog box comprising;

an internet protocol address for each of the first and second media players; and

an identification of a backup media player for each of the first and second media players;

a timers dialog box corresponding to timing associated with event details and the setup of each of the first and second media players; and

a live playback system dialog box controlling each of the first and second media players comprising a slider control pointer facilitating user manipulation of a playback position of the media file for a particular media player.

14. The process of claim 13, further comprising:

stopping, in response to a command from the central 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 central 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.

15. The process of claim 13, wherein the first and second digital media files comprise Windows Media files.

16. The process of claim 13, further comprising synchronizing first and second backup media players with the first and second media players.

17. The process of claim 13, further comprising switching from the first media player to a first backup media player in response to a command from the central control console.

18. The process of claim 13, wherein synchronizing comprises synchronizing first and second clocks associated with the 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 13, wherein synchronizing comprises synchronizing first and second clocks associated with the 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. The process of claim 13, 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.

21. The process of claim 13, wherein the predetermined criteria is a set amount of time.

22. One or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions configuring a computer to perform the process of claim 13.

23. 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 user selected playlist commands from a live playback system controller;

a second media synch player having 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 second content from the second media files in response to the user selected playlist commands from the live playback system controller, wherein the first and second content are not the same content; and

a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling an administrator to selectively choose separate content and separate control options for the first and second media synch players and further enabling the administrator to modify the playback of at least one of the first and second media synch players such that modified playback of at least one of the first and second media players deviates from the playlist, the GUI comprising;

an event details dialog box comprising;

a label identifying each of the first and second media synch players;

a file name corresponding to the first and second media files for each of the first and second media synch players; and

selection tools for selecting particular display options for each of the first and second media synch players;

a player setup dialog box corresponding to the setup of each of the first and second media synch players, the player setup dialog box comprising;

an internet protocol address for each of the first and second media synch players; and

an identification of a backup media player for each of the first and second media synch players;

a timers dialog box corresponding to timing associated with event details and the setup of each of the first and second media synch players; and

a live playback system dialog box controlling each of the first and second media synch players comprising a slider control pointer facilitating user manipulation of a playback position of the media file for a particular media synch player;

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 each of the respective hard drives or a shared media storage location; and

both the first and second time control modules are configured to;

request a system time from the external time server;

reset their respective time control modules in accordance with the system time;

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

send a query task, and in response to sending the query task;

resynchronize the first and second time control modules in an event a predetermined criteria is reached; and

wait for a predetermined time and then issue another query task in an event the predetermined criteria is not reached.

24. The system of claim 23, 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.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the first and second time control modules are configured to be synchronized by signals in an NIP, GPS, SMPTE or other agreed upon time format.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the first and second media files comprise windows media data stored on the respective hard drives.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the predetermined criteria is a set amount of time.

28. One or more computer readable storage media storing a plurality of computer instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

synchronizing a clock in a first media player with an external clock;

providing first audiovisual content from a digital data storage device associated with the one or more processors, or a shared media storage location, in synchrony with second audiovisual content from a second media player, wherein the first and second audiovisual content are;

manually selected by an administrator using a central control console; and

not the same content; and

evaluating a query task against a predetermined criteria, and in response to the evaluating, further causing the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

resynchronizing the first and second media players in an event the predetermined criteria is reached; and

waiting for a predetermined time until evaluating another query task in an event the predetermined criteria is not reached,

wherein;

providing the first audiovisual content in synchrony with the second audiovisual content comprises providing content from each of the first and second media players in response to commands from the central control console at a time specified by the central control console, the commands being assembled from a playlist and providing instruction for coordination of each of the first and second media players in providing the content in a predetermined sequence; and

the central control console includes a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the administrator to selectively choose separate content and separate control options for the first and second media players and further enabling the administrator to modify the playback of at least one of the first and second media players such that modified playback of at least one of the first and second media players deviates from the playlist, the GUI comprising;

an event details dialog box comprising;

a label identifying each of the first and second media players;

a file name corresponding to a media file for each of the first and second media players; and

selection tools for selecting particular display options for each of the first and second media players;

a player setup dialog box corresponding to the setup of each of the first and second media players, the player setup dialog box comprising;

an internet protocol address for each of the first and second media players; and

an identification of a backup media player for each of the first and second media players;

a timers dialog box corresponding to timing associated with event details and the setup of each of the first and second media players; and

a live playback system dialog box controlling each of the first and second media players comprising a slider control pointer facilitating user manipulation of a playback position of the media file for a particular media player.

29. The computer readable storage media of claim 28, 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 comprising:

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

resetting the clock in accordance with the system time;

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

resynchronizing the clock in response to predetermined criteria being met.

30. The computer readable storage media of claim 28, 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 comprising:

requesting a system time from a time server;

resetting the clock in accordance with the system time;

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

resynchronizing the clock in response to predetermined criteria being met.

31. The computer readable storage media of claim 28, wherein the predetermined criteria is a set amount of time.