Proximity synchronizing audio gateway device

A method for automatically transmitting audio content to a mobile device comprising:

• storing audio content in a computer system;
• detecting when the mobile device moves to a first location sufficiently proximate to the computer system to create a wireless communications link with the mobile device;
• and
• automatically synchronizing the stored audio content to the mobile device when the wireless communications link is created;
• automatically identifying playlist information on the mobile device, the playlist information comprising a playlist and a position in the playlist currently playing on the mobile device;
• and
• transmitting the playlist information to at least one other mobile device that is at a second location sufficiently proximate to the computer system to create a wireless communication link to the computer system, wherein the other mobile device plays audio content associated with the position in the playlist upon receipt of the playlist information, and wherein the other mobile device seamlessly continues playback of the audio content associated with the position in the playlist and currently playing on the mobile device, when the mobile device moves to the first location.

A method for providing audio content from a gateway, comprising:

• detecting when a first mobile device moves to a location sufficiently proximate to the gateway to create a wireless communications link with the gateway;
• automatically synchronizing audio content stored on the first mobile device with audio content stored on the gateway when the wireless communications link is created;
• and
• sending playlist information stored on the mobile device to at least a second mobile device or a fixed device that is sufficiently proximate to the gateway to create the wireless communication link with the gateway, the playlist information comprising a playlist and a position in the playlist currently playing on the first mobile device, wherein the second mobile device or fixed device plays audio content associated with the position in the playlist upon receipt of the playlist information, and wherein the second mobile device or fixed device seamlessly continues playback of the audio content associated with the position in the playlist and currently playing on the first mobile device, when the first mobile device moves to the location.

A method for automatically synchronizing playback among players comprising:

• storing multimedia content in a computer system;
• detecting when a mobile player moves to a first location sufficiently proximate to the computer system to establish a wireless communications link to the mobile player;
• automatically synchronizing the stored content in the computer system with content stored in the mobile player upon establishment of the wireless communications link;
• automatically identifying playlist information on the mobile player, the playlist information including an identification of a multimedia content sequence playing on the mobile device and a position in the multimedia content sequence that is currently playing on the mobile player;
• and
• transmitting the playlist information to at least one other player that is at a second location sufficiently proximate to the computer system to establish a wireless communication link to the computer system, wherein the other player plays multimedia content associated with the position in the multimedia content sequence upon receipt of the playlist information, and further wherein the other player seamlessly continues playback of the multimedia content associated with the position in the multimedia content sequence and playing on the mobile player, when the mobile player moves to the first location.