Computer media synchronization player

A process for orchestrating a playlist of at least first and second digital media files for synchronized play by respective first and second media players being executed on one or more computers comprising:

• synchronizing first and second clocks associated with the first and second media players, respectively, with a master clock associated with a time server;
• initiating first playback of the first digital media file by the first media player;
• initiating second playback of the second digital media file by the second media player, wherein initiating the first and second playback of the first and second digital media files is performed by a central control console that allows a user to synchronize the first and second media players, the first and second media players not displaying same graphic content;
• and
• evaluating a query task against a predetermined criteria, the evaluating comprising:
• in an event the predetermined criteria are met, resynchronizing the clocks in the first and second media players;
• and
• in an event the predetermined criteria are not met, waiting for a predetermined time until evaluating another query task,
• wherein:
• initiating the first and second playback comprises providing content from each of the first and second media players in response to commands from a central control console at a time specified by the central control console, the commands being assembled from the playlist and providing instruction for coordination of each of the first and second media players in providing the content in a predetermined sequence;
• and
• the central control console includes a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the administrator to selectively choose separate content and separate control options for the first and second media players and further enabling the administrator to modify the playback of at least one of the first and second media players such that modified playback of at least one of the first and second media players deviates from the playlist the GUI comprising:
• an event details dialog box comprising:
• a label identifying each of the first and second media players;
• a file name corresponding to a media file for each of the first and second media players;
• and
• selection tools for selecting particular display options for each of the first and second media players;
• a player setup dialog box corresponding to the setup of each of the first and second media players, the player setup dialog box comprising:
• an internet protocol address for each of the first and second media players;
• and
• an identification of a backup media player for each of the first and second media players;
• a timers dialog box corresponding to timing associated with event details and the setup of each of the first and second media players;
• and
• a live playback system dialog box controlling each of the first and second media players comprising a slider control pointer facilitating user manipulation of a playback position of the media file for a particular media player.

A system comprising:

• a first media synch player having a first time control module configured to be slaved to an external time server, the first media synch player including first media files, the first media synch player being configured to provide first content from the first media files in response to user selected playlist commands from a live playback system controller;
• a second media synch player having a second time control module configured to be slaved to the external time server and to maintain synchrony with the first time control module, the second media synch player including second media files analogous to the first media files, the second media synch player being configured to provide second content from the second media files in response to the user selected playlist commands from the live playback system controller, wherein the first and second content are not the same content;
• and
• a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling an administrator to selectively choose separate content and separate control options for the first and second media synch players and further enabling the administrator to modify the playback of at least one of the first and second media synch players such that modified playback of at least one of the first and second media players deviates from the playlist, the GUI comprising:
• an event details dialog box comprising:
• a label identifying each of the first and second media synch players;
• a file name corresponding to the first and second media files for each of the first and second media synch players;
• and
• selection tools for selecting particular display options for each of the first and second media synch players;
• a player setup dialog box corresponding to the setup of each of the first and second media synch players, the player setup dialog box comprising:
• an internet protocol address for each of the first and second media synch players;
• and
• an identification of a backup media player for each of the first and second media synch players;
• a timers dialog box corresponding to timing associated with event details and the setup of each of the first and second media synch players;
• and
• a live playback system dialog box controlling each of the first and second media synch players comprising a slider control pointer facilitating user manipulation of a playback position of the media file for a particular media synch player;
• wherein:
• the first and second media synch players each include a respective one of first and second hard drives, and the first and second media files comprise computer data stored on each of the respective hard drives or a shared media storage location;
• and
• both the first and second time control modules are configured to:
• request a system time from the external time server;
• reset their respective time control modules in accordance with the system time;
• lock to a master clock contained in the external time server;
• and
• send a query task, and in response to sending the query task:
• resynchronize the first and second time control modules in an event a predetermined criteria is reached;
• and
• wait for a predetermined time and then issue another query task in an event the predetermined criteria is not reached.

One or more computer readable storage media storing a plurality of computer instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

• synchronizing a clock in a first media player with an external clock;
• providing first audiovisual content from a digital data storage device associated with the one or more processors, or a shared media storage location, in synchrony with second audiovisual content from a second media player, wherein the first and second audiovisual content are:
• manually selected by an administrator using a central control console;
• and
• not the same content;
• and
• evaluating a query task against a predetermined criteria, and in response to the evaluating, further causing the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
• resynchronizing the first and second media players in an event the predetermined criteria is reached;
• and
• waiting for a predetermined time until evaluating another query task in an event the predetermined criteria is not reached,
• wherein:
• providing the first audiovisual content in synchrony with the second audiovisual content comprises providing content from each of the first and second media players in response to commands from the central control console at a time specified by the central control console, the commands being assembled from a playlist and providing instruction for coordination of each of the first and second media players in providing the content in a predetermined sequence;
• and
• the central control console includes a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the administrator to selectively choose separate content and separate control options for the first and second media players and further enabling the administrator to modify the playback of at least one of the first and second media players such that modified playback of at least one of the first and second media players deviates from the playlist, the GUI comprising:
• an event details dialog box comprising:
• a label identifying each of the first and second media players;
• a file name corresponding to a media file for each of the first and second media players;
• and
• selection tools for selecting particular display options for each of the first and second media players;
• a player setup dialog box corresponding to the setup of each of the first and second media players, the player setup dialog box comprising:
• an internet protocol address for each of the first and second media players;
• and
• an identification of a backup media player for each of the first and second media players;
• a timers dialog box corresponding to timing associated with event details and the setup of each of the first and second media players;
• and
• a live playback system dialog box controlling each of the first and second media players comprising a slider control pointer facilitating user manipulation of a playback position of the media file for a particular media player.