Audio file management for automated synchronization of an audio track with external video playback

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide for audio file management for synchronized audio playback in coordination with external video playback. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for audio file management for synchronized audio playback in coordination with external video playback includes receiving a request to synchronize playback of an audio file locally stored in a mobile device with audio resulting from projection of a motion picture in a movie theater. The method additionally includes synchronizing playback of the audio file with the audio resulting from the projection of the motion picture in response to receiving the request. The method yet further includes determining that the synchronized playback of the audio file in the mobile device has completed. Finally, the method includes responding to the determination, by irretrievably modifying the audio file in the mobile device and by subsequently deleting the irretrievably modified audio file from the mobile device.

1 . A method for audio file management for synchronized audio playback in coordination with external video playback, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to synchronize playback of an audio file locally stored in a mobile device with audio resulting from projection of a motion picture in a movie theater;   determining an end time associated with the projection of the motion picture;   synchronizing playback of the audio file with the audio resulting from the projection of the motion picture in response to receiving the request;   determining that the synchronized playback of the audio file in the mobile device has completed and that a threshold period of time has elapsed since the end time; and,   responding to the determination that synchronized playback of the audio file already stored on the mobile device has completed and that a threshold period of time has elapsed since the end time, by irretrievably modifying the audio file in the mobile device and subsequently deleting the irretrievably modified audio file from the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the irretrievable modification comprises:
 selecting multiple different portions of the audio file;   generating a different random number for each of the multiple different portions; and, changing each selected portion to a value based upon a correspondingly generated one of the different random numbers.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: determining a location of the mobile phone during the synchronized playback; and, performing the irretrievable modification of the audio file not only in response to the determination that the synchronized playback of the audio file has completed, but also in response to a determination that the mobile phone is no longer located within a threshold distance of the determined location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: determining a start time associated with the projection of the motion picture; computing an end time based upon a known duration of the motion picture; and, performing the irretrievable modification of the audio file not only in response to the determination that the synchronized playback of the audio file has completed, but also in response to a determination that a threshold period of time has elapsed since the end time. 
     
     
         5 . A data processing system configured for audio file management for synchronized audio playback in coordination with external video playback, the system comprising:
 a mobile computing device comprising at least one processor, memory, cellular telephony circuitry and a display; and,   an audio synchronization module executing in the memory of the mobile computing device, the module comprising program code enabled to respond to a request to synchronize playback of an audio file stored locally in the mobile device with audio resulting from projection of a motion picture in a movie theater, by determining an end time associated with the projection of the motion picture, synchronizing playback of the audio file through the mobile device with audio resulting from the projection of the motion picture, determining that the synchronized playback of the audio file in the mobile device has completed and that a threshold period of time has elapsed since the end time, and by irretrievably modifying the audio file in the mobile device and subsequently deleting the irretrievably modified audio file from the mobile device in response to the determination.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the irretrievable modification comprises: selecting multiple different portions of the audio file; generating a different random number for each of the multiple different portions; and, changing each selected portion to a value based upon a correspondingly generated one of the different random numbers. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the program code is further enabled to: determine a location of the mobile phone during the synchronized playback; and, perform the irretrievable modification of the audio file not only in response to the determination that the synchronized playback of the audio file has completed, but also in response to a determination that the mobile phone is no longer located within a threshold distance of the determined location. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the program code is further enabled to: determine a start time associated with the projection of the motion picture; compute an end time based upon a known duration of the motion picture; and, perform the irretrievable modification of the audio file not only in response to the determination that the synchronized playback of the audio file has completed, but also in response to a determination that a threshold period of time has elapsed since the end time. 
     
     
         9 . A computer program product for audio file management for synchronized audio playback in coordination with external video playback, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a request to synchronize playback of an audio file locally stored in a mobile device with audio resulting from projection of a motion picture in a movie theater;   determining an end time associated with the projection of the motion picture;   synchronizing playback of the audio file with the audio resulting from the projection of the motion picture in response to receiving the request;   determining that the synchronized playback of the audio file in the mobile device has completed and that a threshold period of time has elapsed since the end time; and, responding to the determination that synchronized playback of the audio file already stored on the mobile device has completed and that a threshold period of time has elapsed since the end time, by irretrievably modifying the audio file in the mobile device and subsequently deleting the irretrievably modified audio file from the mobile device.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the irretrievable modification comprises: selecting multiple different portions of the audio file; generating a different random number for each of the multiple different portions; and, changing each selected portion to a value based upon a correspondingly generated one of the different random numbers. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises: determining a location of the mobile phone during the synchronized playback; and, performing the irretrievable modification of the audio file not only in response to the determination that the synchronized playback of the audio file has completed, but also in response to a determination that the mobile phone is no longer located within a threshold distance of the determined location. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises: determining a start time associated with the projection of the motion picture; computing an end time based upon a known duration of the motion picture; and, performing the irretrievable modification of the audio file not only in response to the determination that the synchronized playback of the audio file has completed, but also in response to a determination that a threshold period of time has elapsed since the end time.