Method and system for synchronizing playing of an ordered list of auditory content on multiple playback devices

• US 8,364,296 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wilhelm, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELBIN, JESSE A
• Application Number:
  US11/968,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 709/209, 709230-234, 715/727, 725/78, 725/80, 710/15, 710/19, 455/3.06, 455/502, 455/503, 455/507, 455/66.1, 455/70
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

A method, system and program product for synchronizing playing of a playlist on multiple audio devices. The method includes installing code on multiple audio devices connected to a network, the code being configured to synchronize playing of a playlist on the devices, and configuring, using the code, one device as a primary device for synchronizing playing of the files in the playlist on the other devices located in multiple locations. Further, the method includes communicating data corresponding to a current state of the primary device to each secondary device that is to play the playlist in synchronization with the primary device, synchronizing, using data communicated by the primary device, a current state of the secondary device that is to play the file, and playing the playlist on the secondary device, such that the secondary device plays the playlist at a same time in synchronization with the primary device.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing play of first and second auditory files on first and second secondary audio playback devices and a primary audio playback device, the first and second auditory files being stored on both the first and second audio playback devices, the method comprising the steps of:

the primary audio playback device receiving requests from both the first and second audio playback devices to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device, and in response, the primary audio playback device registering both the first and second audio playback devices to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device;

based in part on the registrations of the first and second audio playback devices, the primary audio playback device sending a play list, listing the first and second auditory files, to the first and second audio playback devices to enable the first and second audio playback devices to acquire the first and second auditory files if not already stored on the first and second audio playback devices; and

subsequent to the storing of the first and second auditory files on both the first and second audio playback devices and the sending of the play list to the first and second audio playback devices, the primary audio playback device determining that both the first and second audio playback devices are registered to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device, and the primary audio playback device communicating to the first and second audio playback devices, at approximately the same time, a command to begin play of the first auditory file stored on the first and second audio playback devices such that the first and second audio playback devices play the first auditory file substantially in synchronization with each other and the primary audio playback device, and after play of the first auditory file, the primary device communicating to the first and second audio play devices, at approximately the same time, another command to begin play of the second auditory file stored on the first and second audio playback devices such that the first and second audio playback devices play the second auditory file substantially in synchronization with each other and the primary audio playback device; and

wherein the play list also lists a third auditory file which is stored on the second audio playback device but not on the first audio playback device; and

the primary playback device receives from the first audio playback device a request to remove the third auditory file from the play list, and in response, the primary audio playback device deletes the third auditory file from the play list and does not command either the first or second audio playback device to play the third auditory file.

2. A computer program product for synchronizing play of first and second auditory files on first and second secondary audio playback devices and a primary audio playback device, the first and second auditory files being stored on both the first and second audio playback devices, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions, for execution on the primary audio playback device, to receive requests from both the first and second audio playback devices to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device, and in response, to register both the first and second audio playback devices to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device;

program instructions, for execution on the primary audio playback device, based in part on the registrations of the first and second audio playback devices, to send a play list, listing the first and second auditory files, to the first and second audio playback devices to enable the first and second audio playback devices to acquire the first and second auditory files if not already stored on the first and second audio playback devices; and

program instructions, for execution on the primary audio playback device, operative subsequent to the storing of the first and second auditory files on both the first and second audio playback devices and the sending of the play list to the first and second audio playback devices, to determine that both the first and second audio playback devices are registered to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device, and communicate to the first and second audio playback devices, at approximately the same time, a command to begin play of the first auditory file stored on the first and second audio playback devices such that the first and second audio playback devices play the first auditory file substantially in synchronization with each other and the primary audio playback device, and after play of the first auditory file, to communicate to the first and second audio play devices, at approximately the same time, another command to begin play of the second auditory file stored on the first and second audio playback devices such that the first and second audio playback devices play the second auditory file substantially in synchronization with each other and the primary audio playback device; and

wherein the play list also lists a third auditory file which is stored on the second audio playback device but not on the first audio playback device; and

program instructions, instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution on the primary playback device, to receive from the first audio playback device a request to remove the third auditory file from the play list, and in response, delete the third auditory file from the play list such that the primary playback device does not command either the first or second audio playback devices to play the third auditory file.

3. A computer system product for synchronizing play of first and second auditory files on first and second secondary audio playback devices and a primary audio playback device, the first and second auditory files being stored on both the first and second audio playback devices, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions, for execution on the primary audio playback device, to receive requests from both the first and second audio playback devices to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device, and in response, to register both the first and second audio playback devices to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device;

program instructions, for execution on the primary audio playback device, based in part on the registrations of the first and second audio playback devices, to send a play list, listing the first and second auditory files, to the first and second audio playback devices to enable the first and second audio playback devices to acquire the first and second auditory files if not already stored on the first and second audio playback devices; and

program instructions, for execution on the primary audio playback device, operative subsequent to the storing of the first and second auditory files on both the first and second audio playback devices and the sending of the play list to the first and second audio playback devices, to determine that both the first and second audio playback devices are registered to play auditory files in synchronization with the primary audio playback device, and communicate to the first and second audio playback devices, at approximately the same time, a command to begin play of the first auditory file stored on the first and second audio playback devices such that the first and second audio playback devices play the first auditory file substantially in synchronization with each other and the primary audio playback device, and after play of the first auditory file, to communicate to the first and second audio play devices, at approximately the same time, another command to begin play of the second auditory file stored on the first and second audio playback devices such that the first and second audio playback devices play the second auditory file substantially in synchronization with each other and the primary audio playback device;

wherein the play list also lists a third auditory file which is stored on the second audio playback device but not on the first audio playback device; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution on the primary playback device, to receive from the first audio playback device a request to remove the third auditory file from the play list, and in response, delete the third auditory file from the play list such that the primary playback device does not command either the first or second audio playback devices to play the third auditory file.