Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYNCRONIZING AUDIO PLAYBACK
IN COORDINATION WITH EXTERNAL VIDEO PLAYBACK
Larry A. Kawa
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to audio playback in a mobile
device and more
particularly to audio playback in coordination with external video playback.
[0003] Description of the Related Art
[0004] Video playback refers to the presentation on a display
substrate of previously
recorded video imagery. Historically, video playback included merely the
projection of a
multiplicity of frames stored in a pancake of film onto screen¨typically
fabric. Audio
playback simultaneously occurred with the playback of video imagery in a
coordinated
fashion based upon the transduction of optical patterns imprinted upon the
film in
association with one or more frames of imagery also imprinted upon the film.
Thus, the
coordination of playback of both audio and video remained the responsibility
of a single
projection device in the context of traditional film projection.
[0005] Unlike motion pictures, in the scholastic environment and even
in the context
of modern visual presentations, visual playback of a series of images such as
a slide show
occur separately from the playback of accompanying audio. In this regard, it
is
customary for the presenter to initiate playback, and in response to a
particular cue, such
as the presentation of a slide that states, "press play now", the presenter
can manually
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initiate playback of an audio cassette to audibly supplement the presentation
of a series of
slides in the slide show. However, the necessity of precision in coordinating
the playback
of the audio cassette with the presentation of different slides is lacking in
that each slide
of the slide show may remain visible on a presentation screen for an extended
duration.
100061 Coordinating the playback of audio separately from the projection of
a film in
a movie theater is not a problem of present consideration because modern file
projectors
manage both audio and video playback. However, circumstances arise where
external
audio may be desired in supplement to or in replacement of the audio
inherently present
during the projection of a film. For example, for an audience member who
comprehends
a language other than the language of a presented film and other audience
members, it is
desirable to simulcast audio of a language native to the audience member in
lieu of the
audio of the presented film that differs from the language of the audience
member. Yet,
coordinating the synchronized playback of the supplemental audio with the
playback of
the video without the cooperation of the projectionist of the film can be a
manually
intensive process of timing the initiation of the playback of the supplemental
audio in
respect to a particular cue of the film.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art
in respect
to the synchronized playback of audio with externally presented video and
provide a
novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for tunable
playback of audio coordinated with externally presented video imagery. In an
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embodiment of the invention, a method of tunable playback of audio coordinated
with
externally presented video imagery is provided. The method includes receiving
a film
selection selecting one film from amongst a set of films in a user interface
to a mobile
device and downloading into persistent storage of the mobile device, an audio
file
associated with the selected film. The method also includes initiating
playback of the
audio file through the mobile device and presenting one or more selectable
fine tune
controls in the user interface of the mobile device. In this regard, the
controls respond to
a selection thereof by skipping playback of the audio file by a predetermined
period of
time. Finally, the method includes responding to a selection of one of the
selectable fine
tune controls in the user interface, by skipping playback of the audio file by
the
predetermined period of time.
100081 In one
aspect of the embodiment, the set of films is filtered in accordance with
a determined location of the mobile device. In another aspect of the
embodiment, a
display of the user interface is dimmed during playback of the audio file. In
yet another
aspect of the embodiment, the mobile device is placed into an airplane mode
during
playback of the audio file. In even yet another aspect of the embodiment, the
audio is
played back over a wireless headset communicatively coupled to the mobile
device.
Finally, in even yet another aspect of the embodiment, the controls include a
skip forward
control configured to respond to a selection thereof by skipping forward the
playback of
the audio by a predetermined amount of time, and a skip backwards control
configured to
respond to a selection thereof by skipping backwards the playback of the audio
by a
predetermined amount of time.
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[0009] In another embodiment of the invention, an audio presentation
data processing
system is configured for tunable playback of audio coordinated with externally
presented
video imagery. The system includes a mobile device that includes a display,
audio
circuitry, memory and at least one processor. The system also includes a
tunable audio
playback module executing in the memory of the mobile device. The module
includes
program code enabled upon execution in the memory to present in the display a
set of
films, to select one of the films in the set, to download into the memory an
audio file
associated with the selected one of the films, to initiate playback of the
audio file through
the audio circuitry, to present in the display one or more selectable fine
tune controls, the
controls responding to a selection thereof by skipping playback of the audio
file by a
predetermined period of time and to respond to a selection of one of the
selectable fine
tune controls in the display by skipping playback of the audio file by the
predetermined
period of time.
[0010] Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part
in the description
which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be
learned by
practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and
attained by
means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the
following
detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive of the
invention, as claimed.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
part of
this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with
the
description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments
illustrated
herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the
invention is not
limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:
[0012] Figure 1 is a pictorial illustration of a process for tunable
playback of audio
coordinated with externally presented video imagery;
[0013] Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an audio presentation data
processing
system configured for tunable playback of audio coordinated with externally
presented
video imagery; and,
[0014] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for tunable playback
of audio
coordinated with externally presented video imagery.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Embodiments of the invention provide for tunable playback of audio
coordinated with externally presented video imagery. In accordance with an
embodiment
of the invention, a user interface can be presented within a mobile device
through which
an end user may select one of several films scheduled for presentation in a
particular
location, with the mobile device receiving the film selection. Optionally, the
films may
be filtered to include only those films scheduled for presentation at a
location determined
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to be co-extensive with a determined location of the mobile device.
Thereafter, an audio
track associated with the selected film can be downloaded to the mobile device
and a user
interface control can be presented in the user interface responsive to the
selection thereof,
playback of the audio through the mobile device can be initiated. Importantly,
one or
more selectable fine tune controls can be presented in the user interface so
as to control a
fine tune adjustment of the playback of the audio by skipping forward or
backwards of
the audio playback by a discrete number of seconds. In this way, an end user
viewing
concurrently presented film can fine tune coordinate the synchronized playback
of the
audio.
[0016] In
further illustration, Figure 1 pictorially shows a process for tunable
playback
of audio coordinated with externally presented video imagery. As shown in
Figure 1, a
selection user interface 120 can be presented in a mobile computing device 110
so as to
present a listing of films scheduled for presentation proximate to a location
of the mobile
computing device 110. One of the files in the selection user interface 120 can
be selected
in response to which an associated audio file 130 can be downloaded to the
mobile
computing device 110. Thereafter, a playback user interface 140 can be
presented in the
mobile computing device 110. The playback user interface 140 can include a
playback
user interface control 150 responsive to the selection of which the audio file
130 can be
played back in the mobile computing device. The playback user interface 140
additionally can include fine tuning controls 160, 170 responsive to the
selection of
which the playback of the audio file 130 can be skipped by a pre-determined
time period.
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100171 For example, during the initial presentation of a selected one of
the films in the
selection user interface 120, a prompt can be provided in the playback user
interface 140
to initiate playback of the associated audio file 130 by selecting the
playback user
interface control 150 when a particular image is presented in the film, or
when a
particular sound is heard in the film. Optionally, the mobile computing device
110 can
audibly detect the particular sound through a microphone and the mobile
computing
device 110 automatically can initiate playback of the associated audio file
130.
Thereafter, to the extent that the playback of the associated audio file 130
is not in perfect
synchronization with the presentation of the film, the fine tuning controls
160, 170 can be
selected in order to adjust the playback of the associated audio file 130 so
as to better
synchronize the playback of the associated audio file 130 with the
presentation of the
film.
100181 The process illustrated in connection with Figure 1 can be
implemented within
an audio presentation data processing system. In further illustration, Figure
2
schematically shows an audio presentation data processing system configured
for tunable
playback of audio coordinated with externally presented video imagery. The
system can
include a mobile computing device 280 that includes at least one processor 210
and
memory 220. The mobile computing device 280 also can include a display 230 and
audio
circuitry 240. The mobile computing device 280 yet further can include a
global
positioning system circuit 250 as well as a Bluetooth communications circuit
270. The
global positioning system circuit 250 can be enabled to locate the mobile
computing
device 280 and provide its location to requesting applications operating in
the mobile
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computing device 280. The Bluetooth communications circuit 270 in turn can
manage
the exchange of audio communications data from the audio circuitry to a
Bluetooth
headset.
[0019] A media player 260 can be included in the mobile computing device
280. The
media player 260 can be configured to playback an audio file loaded in the
memory 220
of the mobile computing device 280. Finally, a tunable audio playback module
300 can
be included in the mobile computing device 280. The module 300 can include
program
code enabled upon execution in the memory 220 to present a listing of films
scheduled
for playback proximate to a location reported by the global positioning system
circuit
250. The program code additionally can be enabled to receive a film selection
selecting
one of the films in the listing and to download to the mobile computing device
280 an
audio file associated with the selected one of the films. The program code
further can
be enabled to initiate the playback of the audio file in the media player 260.
[0020] Optionally, the program code can direct the dimming of the display
230 and
the placement of the mobile computing device 280 during the playback of the
audio file
into an airplane mode (e.g. disabling cellular communications by the mobile
computing
device 280). Finally, the program code can be enabled to tune the playback of
the audio
file by responding to the selection of one or more user interface controls in
the display
230 directing a directional skipping of a pre-determined segment of time of
the audio file.
In this way, the playback of the audio file can be synchronized with the
presentation of
the selected one of the films.
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100211 In even yet further illustration of the operation of the tunable
audio playback
module 300, Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for tunable
playback of audio
coordinated with externally presented video imagery. Beginning in block 310, a
location
of the mobile computing device can be obtained and in block 320, a list of
films
scheduled for presentation, filtered for proximity to the location, can be
retrieved from
over a computer communications network, such as the global Internet. In block
330, a
film selection of one of the films in the list is received and in block 340,
an associated
audio file can be downloaded from a remote repository in a network
communicatively
coupled to the mobile computing device. In block 350, playback of the audio
file can be
initiated in the mobile computing device and in decision block 360, it can be
determined
whether or not the synchronization of the playback of the audio file is to be
fine tuned in
respect to the presentation of the selected one of the films. If so, in block
370 the
playback of the audio file can be skipped by a pre-determined period of time.
100221 The present invention may be embodied within a system, a method, a
computer
program product or any combination thereof The computer program product may
include a computer readable storage medium or media having computer readable
program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of
the present
invention. The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that
can
retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The
computer
readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an
electronic storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage
device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the
foregoing.
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[0023] A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the
computer readable
storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard
disk, a
random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory
(SRAM),
a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk
(DVD), a
memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards
or
raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any
suitable
combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used
herein, is
not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or
other freely
propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a
waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a
fiber-optic
cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.
[0024] Computer readable program instructions described herein can be
downloaded
to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage
medium or
to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example,
the
Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.
The
network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers,
wireless
transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge
servers. A
network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device
receives
computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the
computer
readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage
medium within
the respective computing/processing device.
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[0025] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of
the
present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture
(ISA)
instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode,
firmware
instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written
in any
combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented
programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional
procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar
programming
languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on
the
user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software
package, partly
on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the
remote
computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be
connected to the
user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network
(LAN) or a
wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer
(for
example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some
embodiments,
electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry,
field-
programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may
execute the
computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the
computer
readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in
order to perform
aspects of the present invention.
[0026] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference
to
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems),
and
computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will
be
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understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and
combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams,
can be
implemented by computer readable program instructions.
[0027] These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a
processor
of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable
data
processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which
execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus,
create
means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or
block
diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also
be
stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a
programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a
particular
manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions
stored
therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which
implement
aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram
block or
blocks.
[0028] The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to
cause a
series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other
programmable
apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that
the
instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or
other
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device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram
block or blocks.
[0029] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the
architecture,
functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods,
and
computer program products according to various embodiments of the present
invention.
In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a
module,
segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable
instructions
for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative
implementations,
the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the
figures. For
example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed
substantially
concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order,
depending
upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the
block
diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the
block diagrams
and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-
based
systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations
of special
purpose hardware and computer instructions.
[0030] Finally, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of
describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used
herein, the
singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as
well, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that
the terms
"comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the
presence of
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stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but
do not
preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps,
operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0031] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of
all means or
step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any
structure,
material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements
as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been
presented for
purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive
or limited to
the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be
apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and
spirit of the
invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain
the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable
others of ordinary
skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with
various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0032] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the nature of the
present
invention, namely audio playback in a mobile device, that the inventive
concept is
inherently and inextricably linked to a mobile device that includes a display,
audio
circuitry, memory and at least one processor. One skilled in the art will
readily
apprehend that the inventive concept cannot in any meaningful way be
implemented by a
human being as a mere series of mental steps, and any such construction of the
claims is
expressly disclaimed. As such, it will be understood, when carrying out
purposive
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construction of the apparatus and method claims, that a mobile device having a
display,
audio circuitry, memory and at least one processor is an essential element of
each and
every such claim. Similarly, when carrying out purposive construction of the
claims
directed to a computer readable storage medium embodying program instructions,
it is
essential that such medium be a tangible medium whose instructions are
executable by a
mobile device that includes a display, audio circuitry, memory and at least
one processor.
[0033] Having
thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by
reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and
variations
are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the
appended
claims as follows:
