Audio player device for synchronous playback of audio signals with a compatible device

• US 7,742,740 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tunnel IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Syncronation, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldberg, David A., Simon, Neil, Goldberg, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US11/566,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/414.3, 455/420, 455/463, 455/18, 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/15, 455/16
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/076 for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analogue or digital, e.g. DECT, GSM, UMTS
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method, system and apparatus for playing an audio signal synchronously on a first mobile audio player and at least a second mobile audio player. More particularly, the invention pertains to an audio player device enabled for wireless transmission and reception of an audio signal. In one aspect, a delay enables the audio signal to be played synchronously on the audio player with a second audio player. In another aspect synchronization signals are used to play the audio signal synchronously on the first audio player and the second audio player.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first receiving media player device, a broadcast of a select media content from a broadcasting media player device via a first wireless communication channel;

re-broadcasting the select media content from the first receiving media player device to at least one additional receiving media player device via a second wireless communication channel; and

effecting playback of the select media content at the first receiving media player device such that playback of the select media content at the first receiving media player device is substantially synchronized with playback of the select media content at the broadcasting media player device and the at least one additional receiving media player device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional receiving media player device is unable to receive the broadcast of the select media content from the broadcasting media player device via the first wireless communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first wireless communication channel is a local wireless communication channel and the at least one additional receiving media player device is outside a local wireless communication range of the broadcasting media player device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein effecting playback of the select media content at the first receiving media player device comprises delaying playback of the select media content at the first receiving media player device by an amount of time needed to substantially synchronize playback of the select media content at the first receiving media player device with playback of the select media content at the at least one additional receiving media player device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein playback of the select media content is delayed at the first receiving media player device based on the equation:

delay_time=D·

(N_max-N),

wherein “

delay_time”

is an amount of delay, “

D”

is a predetermined amount of delay per hop, “

N_max”

is a maximum number of hops between the broadcasting media player device and any receiving media player device for which synchronized playback of the select media content is desired, and “

N”

is a number of hops between the broadcasting media player device and the first receiving media player device.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein playback of the select media content at the broadcasting media player device is delayed by an amount of time needed to substantially synchronize playback of the select media content at the broadcasting media player device with playback of the select media content at the first receiving media player device and the at least one additional receiving media player device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second wireless communication channels is a communication channel selected from a group consisting of:

a communication channel established via a local wireless network and a communication channel established via a mobile telecommunications network.