Proximity synchronization of audio content among multiple playback and storage devices

Abstract

A wireless communication system and in particular to a wireless communication system for digital audio players that provides for increased functionality, such as communication, interaction and synchronization between a computing platform and various mobile, portable or fixed digital audio players, as well as providing a communication link between the various digital audio players themselves. The computing platform may act, for example, through a wireless network or wireless communication platform, to control the digital audio players; to act as a cache of digital audio data for the digital audio players; as well as provide a gateway to the Internet to enable the digital audio players to access additional digital audio content and other information. The computing platform may also be used to automatically update digital audio content on the digital audio players; synchronize digital audio content and playlists between digital audio players; and automatically continue a particular playlist as the user moves from one digital audio player to another.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A local wireless communication network for digital content players, the network comprising:
 two or more portable digital content players; each of said portable digital content players having a wireless communication platform for establishing a bi-directional communication link with at least the other digital content player, each of said portable digital content players including a message handler system for receiving messages from other portable digital content players and responding to said messages when said portable digital content players are in range of each other, said two or more portable digital content players including a storage device for storing digital content and further including a digital player for enabling selective playing said digital content