Patent ID: 7516078

Claim:
A method for synchronizing a group of mobile devices that can play playback data, wherein playback data includes files, links to files, or streaming content or a combination of the three, the method comprising: determining a leader mobile device from the group of mobile devices; wherein the leader may be determined from each of the group of mobile devices; wherein the leader mobile device changes on an ad hoc basis; and wherein the leader mobile device is in charge of synchronizing the group of mobile devices; and wherein the leader automatically changes to a different mobile device within the group when the different mobile device alters the playback data by adding or deleting playback data; automatically determining whether a mobile device contains a portion of playback data and a playlist; wherein the determination includes the leader sending a request to the mobile device that causes the mobile device to determine whether it has stored each of the files on the playlist and to respond to the leader with the names of any files that are missing from the playlist along with time stamps of control settings; providing the portion of playback data to the mobile device via a wireless communication system in response to a determination that the mobile device did not contain the portion of playback data, wherein the portion of playback data is for synchronous playing by the group of mobile devices; and providing information to the mobile device via the wireless communication system, the information defining a point in the portion of playback data at which the mobile device is to begin playing the portion of playback data in response to a determination that the mobile device did contain the portion of playback data; wherein each of the mobile devices in the group is configured to play the same playback data at approximately the same time such that the playback data is experienced by the entire group.