Patent Description:
The present invention further relates to multimedia file configuration on a digital platform for a playback thereof.

The present invention further relates to multimedia file playback.

In particular, the present invention relates to the playback of multimedia files to facilitate the consumption and playback of music and multimedia content on digital platforms.

To date, it is possible to start playing back a multimedia content and in particular a musical song in different modes:.

It is known, for example, that to start a song using a CD or traditional physical medium, a series of sequential actions must be carried out, such as opening the player, inserting the medium, choosing the song, etc., which make the operation quite slow.

In addition, a CD is a medium which can scratch and deteriorate over time, becoming unusable, and simultaneously not updatable over time; furthermore, the CD is a medium which is now poorly compatible with most of everyday's applications so, for example, car radios or modern PCs/NBs no longer include CD players.

On the other hand, it is known that multiple selections are required to carry out a text search or search by means of voice assistant before reaching the song to be played.

<CIT> discloses a contactless card for multimedia access according to the prior art.

The object of the present invention is to provide a multimedia file configuration and/or playback tool, system and method which is efficient in terms of playback start times.

Another object of the present invention is to obtain a non-complex multimedia file configuration and/or playback tool, system and method.

A further object of the present invention is to obtain a simple to use multimedia file configuration and/or playback tool, system and method.

The present invention relates to the playback of multimedia files, for example on music streaming platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer.

The present invention therefore aims to facilitate the consumption and playback of music and multimedia content, in particular audio-video, on digital platforms by providing users with an easier and faster start-up process from the primary device to the second device which plays back the content without requiring a direct contact between the two devices.

In a base formulation thereof, the invention provides a card as primary device.

The interaction between the primary device and a second device, i.e., the hardware which will playback the content, can occur with different technologies such as, for example, NFC technology or the use of the camera of the second device.

An example of an application of the invention is the start of the playback of a song by means of simple interaction gestures with an electronic device, such as placing a card on a smartphone.

In one example, the card sends a signal to a suitable hardware on the second device, by means of NFC technology, or to a camera installed on the second device on which the content is subsequently played back.

The second device, i.e., a hardware device capable of recognizing one of the technologies used by the first device, is arranged to receive the necessary input from the first device itself and starts, i.e., plays back the content on a target digital platform.

In the more general formulation thereof, the present invention proposes a solution capable of simultaneously accelerating the diffusion of the use of streaming platforms and stimulating the physical media market again. The invention represents a quick and simple connection between a physical device and an electronic device capable of playing back the multimedia content via a contactless mode.

Just like the most modern credit cards allow to make a payment by approaching them to a POS capable of reading such cards, so the invention allows to start the playback of the multimedia content, in particular audio-video, for example a song or a video clip, on another electronic device such as a smartphone or another device capable of receiving input from one of the technologies used in the invention.

The content playback process is structured as follows: the user places the invention near an electronic device capable of receiving the input and the electronic device performs the target action, such as starting the playback of a song on the Spotify application using NFC technology or the barcode of the streaming platform.

The same playback process applies to streaming platforms such as Spotify, Amazon Music or YouTube.

The primary device is preferably a card preferably obtained as a physical medium in PVC with an NFC chip or/and a QR code printed on the medium itself.

The interaction with an electronic reading device, for example a smartphone, takes place by means of an NFC reader or a camera, through which the target operation is started (e.g., playback of a song on Spotify). In another example, the electronic reading device is a "jukebox" or a "speaker" with NFC reader which reads from the primary device, i.e., preferably a physical medium such as a PVC card with NFC chip.

The invention achieves the following technical effects:.

The technical effects/advantages mentioned, and other technical effects/advantages of the invention, will emerge in further detail from the description provided herein below of an example embodiment provided by way of approximate and non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings.

The invention describes a primary device comprising identification means comprising a complete link for accessing a playback platform of a multimedia file, in which the identification means comprises one of a transceiver module with NFC technology, a QR code, a barcode, or the like.

The invention further describes multimedia file configuration and multimedia file playback methods and systems on a digital playback platform.

With particular reference to <FIG>, a primary device <NUM> is shown.

In an embodiment of the invention, the primary device <NUM> is one of a magnetic card, a microprocessor card, or the like.

In another embodiment of the invention, the primary device <NUM> is an electronic device comprising one of a smartphone, a PC tablet, or the like. With particular reference to <FIG> or <FIG>, according to the invention, the primary device <NUM> comprising identification means <NUM> comprising a complete link D_Link for access to a playback platform 200_i of a multimedia file F_mul.

In particular, the complete link D_Link allows a direct access to the multimedia file F_mul on the multimedia playback platform 200_i.

The identification means <NUM> comprises one of a transceiver module with NFC technology, a QR code, a barcode, or the like.

The invention embodies in an aspect thereof, a base playback system of a multimedia file F_Mul comprising the primary device <NUM> and a secondary electronic device <NUM>, shown in the figures, arranged to read, in contactless mode, the identification means <NUM> from the primary device <NUM>.

The secondary electronic device <NUM>, according to the invention, comprises an electronic device among a smartphone, a PC tablet, or the like.

According to the invention, the secondary electronic device <NUM> comprises one of a short-range radio frequency reader, in particular NFC, or QR code reader, or barcode reader or the like, or a camera, arranged to read the identification means <NUM> from the primary device <NUM>.

According to the invention, the reading of the identification means <NUM> redirects the secondary electronic device <NUM>, by means of the complete link D_Link, to a playback platform 200_i (<FIG> and <FIG>) of the multimedia file F_mul.

The secondary electronic device <NUM> is arranged to playback the multimedia file F_mul corresponding to the complete link D_Link.

In an aspect thereof, the invention describes an advanced playback system of multimedia files (F_mul).

This system is used by the end user who wants to listen to a content by a content creator, in particular a song by an artist, who has made it available in the manner described below.

The system according to the invention comprises the primary device <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the primary device <NUM> comprises identification means <NUM> of a base link B_Link for accessing a playback platform 200_i of a multimedia file F_mul, as shown in <FIG>.

Preferably, the playback platform 200_i comprises one of, at least, Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Pandora.

The system further comprises the secondary electronic device <NUM> for accessing a multimedia file F_mul.

The secondary electronic device <NUM> is arranged to read, in contactless mode, the identification means <NUM>.

In a first embodiment of the invention the primary device <NUM> is associated with access data D_100 for an access to the configuration software platform <NUM> by the content creator and the access to the configuration software platform <NUM> can be carried out by any suitable electronic device. In a second embodiment of the invention, the reading of the identification means <NUM> redirects said device, by means of the aforementioned base link B_Link, to a configuration software platform <NUM>.

In general, the configuration software platform <NUM>, according to the invention, allows a developer, or the artist who requested access thereto, to redirect from the main link or base link to the target link or action which allows the immediate playback of the multimedia file F_mul.

By means of the proprietary configuration software platform <NUM> it is possible to choose to implement specific "deeplinks" related to the individual platforms as redirect destinations.

According to the invention, the configuration software platform <NUM> returns to said secondary electronic device <NUM> a complete link D_Link stored on the configuration software platform <NUM> and generated as a function of the base link B_Link.

The secondary electronic device <NUM> is arranged to receive the complete link D_Link, and in response to receiving the complete link D_Link, send to the configuration software platform <NUM> data D_OS representative of the operating system OS installed on the secondary electronic device <NUM>.

The configuration software platform <NUM> is configured to receive the data D_OS representative of the operating system OS and define a specific deep link D_Link_S for the multimedia file F_mul for an access by the secondary electronic device <NUM> operating with the operating system OS specified by said data D_OS.

In other words, once a "deeplink" is started/activated, the system analyses the hardware device and understands the type thereof (e.g., iOS, Android, etc.). Depending on this type, the specific action of the single software operating system is performed and consequently the application or target destination is opened.

For example, by approaching the invention to an Android smartphone, the software, by means of the link, understands that it is an Android and initiates the opening of the apk of the target app (e.g., Spotify) and not simply the opening of a web page. On the contrary, if it had been read by an iPhone, the app would have been launched by means of a "different trigger".

The secondary device (<NUM>) is further arranged to access the specific deep link D_Link_S and playback the multimedia file F_mul corresponding to said specific deep link D_Link_S.

According to the invention, the specific deep link D_Link_S is set based on the playback platform 200_i on which the multimedia file F_Mul is to be played back.

In other words, to access one of, at least, Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, a specific deeplink will be set.

For example, for Spotify, the deeplink is created by entering the spotify URI of the track or playlist.

An alphanumeric name is also added, which will complete the url (so that it is unique and SEO friendly), as well as a multimedia content image, for example to be used as a cover and background.

The url of the deeplink retrieves all the parameters entered during creation.

The page contains a script which starts the redirect process using the spotify URI.

There is also a server-side control (php) which verifies the type of device through the user agent, whether it is a desktop or mobile device; in the case of a mobile device, an additional control verifies if it is an Android or Apple device, since the intents for opening the application differ from each other.

As soon as the page loads, a timeout starts which within <NUM> seconds starts the redirect by means of spotify URI, both for desktop and mobile device.

For the mobile device, if the Spotify app is installed, the redirect starts the application and plays the song automatically; an attempt is made to open the spotify uri by treating it as a link, both on Android and on iOS.

If the app is not present, the user is redirected to the spotify web player.

With regard to desktop, the operation is similar: if the spotify app is installed, the program is started on the song in question.

Otherwise, it is redirected to the spotify web player.

In one aspect thereof, the invention also relates to an advanced multimedia file playback method comprising the features associated with the components of the advanced multimedia file playback system described.

In another aspect, the invention refers to an access configuration system to multimedia files F_mul, as shown in <FIG>.

This system is exploited by the content creator, for example an artist who wants his content to be played back, his song to be listened to, and therefore wants to make the content available for playback.

The system comprises the primary device <NUM> already described.

The system further comprises the secondary electronic device (<NUM>).

The system further comprises the configuration software platform <NUM> arranged for an access configuration to the multimedia file F_Mul.

In one embodiment, the primary device <NUM> is associated with access data D_100 for an access to the configuration software platform <NUM> and the access to the configuration software platform <NUM> by means of the secondary electronic device <NUM> occurs based on the access data D_100.

According to the invention, the secondary electronic device (<NUM>) is arranged to read, in contactless mode, the identification means <NUM> on the primary device <NUM> to obtain the base link B_Link.

In a first embodiment of the invention the primary device <NUM> is associated with access data D_100 for an access to the configuration software platform <NUM> by the content creator and the access to the configuration software platform <NUM> can be carried out by any suitable electronic device.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the secondary electronic device <NUM> is further arranged to access the configuration software platform <NUM> and, on the configuration software platform <NUM>, select a digital playback platform 200_i.

According to the invention, the digital playback platform 200_i is directed starting from the base link B_Link read and is configured to make the multimedia file F_mul available for playback.

The configuration software platform <NUM>, according to the invention, is configured to generate a complete link D_Link as a function of the base link B_Link and the selected digital playback platform 200_i. The technical effect achieved is that access to a web location by means of the complete link D_Link allows an immediate playback of the multimedia file F_mul.

The software platform <NUM> stores the complete link D_Link.

In one aspect thereof, the invention also relates to a multimedia file access configuration method comprising the features associated with the components of the multimedia file access configuration system described.

A primary device was described comprising identification means comprising a complete link for accessing a playback platform of a multimedia file, in which the identification means comprise one of a transceiver module with NFC technology, a QR code, a barcode, or the like.

Multimedia file configuration and multimedia file playback methods and systems on a digital playback platform were also described.

Claim 1:
An access configuration method to multimedia files (F_mul) comprising the steps of:
- providing a primary device (<NUM>) comprising identification means (<NUM>) of a base link (B_Link) for access to a digital playback platform (200_i) of a multimedia file (F_mul), wherein said identification means (<NUM>) comprises one of a transceiver module with NFC technology, a QR code, a barcode, or the like;
- providing a configuration software platform (<NUM>) arranged for a configuration of said primary device (<NUM>);
- providing a secondary electronic device (<NUM>);
- reading, in contactless mode, by said secondary electronic device (<NUM>) said identification means (<NUM>) on said primary device (<NUM>) to obtain said base link (B_Link);
- accessing said configuration software platform (<NUM>);
- on said configuration software platform (<NUM>), selecting a digital playback platform (<NUM>) addressed starting from said base link (B_Link) read, on which to make said multimedia file (F_mul) available for playback;
- generating a complete link (D_Link) on said configuration software platform (<NUM>) as a function of said base link (B_Link) and said selected digital playback platform (200_i), wherein said complete link (D_Link) allows an immediate playback of said multimedia file (F_mul);
- storing on said configuration software platform (<NUM>) said complete link (D_Link).