Synchronized Playback of Media 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for synchronized playback on media players comprising:
 selecting, by one of the media players, a multimedia file to be played;   monitoring, by the one of the media players, an environment to detect a generated visual effect, the generated visual effect intended to initiate play of the multimedia file in synchronization on the media players;   receiving, by the one of the media players, the generated visual effect;   responsive to detecting the generated visual effect, playing, by the one of the media players, the multimedia file in synchronization with at least one other of the media players.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising waiting a fixed delay after the receipt of the visual effect to play the multimedia file, the fixed delay configured to allow multiple of the media players to play the multimedia file in synchronization. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising generating, by the one of the media players, the generated visual effect. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising waiting a fixed delay after the generation of the visual effect to play the multimedia file. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generated visual effect is generated by the other media player or another computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generated visual effect comprises a person raising a hand. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generated visual effect comprises a person smiling. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generated visual effect comprises lighting a screen with a specific color. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generated visual effect comprises displaying a specific shape on a screen. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the multimedia file further comprises:
 receiving a portion of the multimedia file;   sending the received portion of the multimedia file to a server computer; and   receiving, from the server computer, information identifying the multimedia file.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising synchronizing playback of the multimedia file with another media player already playing the multimedia file. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 receiving, by the one of the media players and from the other media player, a portion of the multimedia file; 
 determining, by the one of the media players, a start point within the multimedia file, the start point determined to allow the one of the media players to play the multimedia file in synchronization with the other media player; and 
 playing, by the one of the media players, the multimedia file at the determined start point. 
 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 one or more computer processors; and   one or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the one or more computer processors, perform operations comprising:   selecting, by a media player, a multimedia file to be played;   monitoring, by the media player, an environment to detect a generated visual effect, the generated visual effect intended to initiate play of the multimedia file in synchronization on the media players;   receiving, by the media player, the generated visual effect;   responsive to detecting the generated visual effect, playing, by the media player, the multimedia file in synchronization with at least one other media player.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise waiting a fixed delay after the receipt of the visual effect to play the multimedia file, the fixed delay configured to allow multiple media players to play the multimedia file in synchronization. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise generating, by the media player, the generated visual effect. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise waiting, by the media player, a fixed delay after the generation of the visual effect to play the multimedia file. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the generated visual effect is generated by the other media player or another computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a portion of the multimedia file; and   analyzing the received portion of the multimedia file to identify the multimedia file.   
     
     
         19 . A media player comprising:
 one or more computer processors; and   one or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the one or more computer processors, perform operations comprising:   selecting, by the media player, a multimedia file to be played;   monitoring, by the media player, an environment to detect a generated visual effect, the generated visual effect intended to initiate play of the multimedia file in synchronization on the media players;   receiving, by the media player, the generated visual effect;   responsive to detecting the generated visual effect, playing, by the media player, the multimedia file in synchronization with at least one other media player.   
     
     
         20 . The media player of  claim 19 , the operations further comprising:
 receiving, by the media player and from the other media player, a portion of the multimedia file;   determining, by the media player, a start point within the multimedia file, the start point determined to allow the media player to play the multimedia file in synchronization with the other media player; and   playing, by the media player, the multimedia file at the determined start point.