Synchronized playback of multimedia players

Abstract

A method for synchronized playback of media players, including selecting, by each of a plurality of media players, a multimedia file to be played, monitoring, by each of the plurality of media players, the environment for an external trigger, and upon detection of the external trigger, playing, by each of the plurality of media players, the selected multimedia file.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of synchronized playback of media players, comprising:
 recording, by a media player, a portion of a song being played by another player device;   determining a start point within the song; and   playing the song on the media player, beginning from the determined start point.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said determining comprises finding a location of a maximum cross-correlation between the recorded portion and the song. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the determined start point is of the form T+ΔT, where T is a time-based location of the recorded portion within the song, and ΔT is the time elapsed between the beginning of said recording and the end of said determining. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising identifying the song. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said determining comprises finding a location of a maximum cross-correlation between the recorded portion and the identified song. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the determined start point is of the form T+ΔT, where T is a time-based location of the recorded portion within the identified song, and ΔT is the time elapsed between the beginning of said recording and the end of said determining. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said identifying comprises:
 sending the recorded portion to a server computer; and   receiving, from the server computer, information identifying the song.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said determining comprises finding a location of a maximum cross-correlation between the recorded portion and the identified song. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the start point is of the form T+ΔT, where T is a time-based location of the recorded portion within the identified song, and ΔT is the time elapsed between the beginning of said recording and the end of said determining. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said determining comprises receiving, from the server computer, information identifying a time-based location within the song corresponding to the recorded portion. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the determined start point is of the form T+ΔT, where T is the identified time-based location, and ΔT is the time elapsed between the beginning of said recording and the end of said determining.