Patent ID: 7627808

Claim:
A process for synchronizing multiple media players being executed on one or more computers, each media player configured to provide at least audio and video content from digital media files, the process comprising: requesting a system time from a time server associated with the multiple media players; receiving a system time from the time server; locking a clock in each of the multiple media players to a time from a master clock in the time server using the system time; providing content from each of the multiple media players, the content from each of the multiple media players is synchronized with content from the other multiple media players, wherein: the synchronized content comprises synchronizing content for the multiple media players such that selected content for a first media player is not the same as selected content for a second media player; and the synchronizing is performed by an administrator using a central control console to control the multiple media players; 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 multiple media players; and in an event the predetermined criteria are not met, waiting for a predetermined time until evaluating another query task, wherein: providing content comprises providing content from each of the multiple 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 multiple media players in providing 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 multiple media players; a file name corresponding to a media file for each of the multiple media players; and selection tools for selecting particular display options for each of the multiple media players; a player setup dialog box corresponding to the setup of each of the multiple media players, the player setup dialog box comprising: an internet protocol address for each of the multiple media players; and an identification of a backup media player for each of the multiple media players; a timers dialog box corresponding to timing associated with event details and the setup of each of the multiple media players; and a live playback system dialog box controlling each of the multiple media players comprising a slider control pointer facilitating user manipulation of a playback position of the media file for a particular media player.