Media playback component comprising playback queue and queue bypass

Abstract

A media playback component includes a demultiplexer for receiving a data stream and for demultiplexing media content items provided at a first demultiplexer output and at least one type of non-media content items provided at a second demultiplexer output. The media playback component includes playback queue, a queue input of which is connected to the first demultiplexer output. A bypass input of a queue bypass is connected to the second demultiplexer output. The media playback component includes a decoder including a first decoder input connected to a queue output of the playback queue and a second decoder input connected to a bypass output of the queue bypass. The decoder is configured for decoding the media content items in accordance with commands contained within the at least one type of non-media content items. Further embodiments relate to a method for (distributed) media playback, and to a server component for distributed playback architecture for media data.

1 . Media playback component comprising:
 a demultiplexer for receiving a data stream and for demultiplexing media content items and at least one type of non-media content items, wherein the media content items are provided at a first demultiplexer output and wherein the at least one type of non-media content items are provided at a second demultiplexer output;   a playback queue, wherein a queue input of the playback queue is connected to the first demultiplexer output, and wherein the playback queue ( 1920 ) has a queue output;   a queue bypass, wherein a bypass input of the queue bypass is connected to the second demultiplexer output, and wherein the queue bypass ( 1930 ) has a bypass output; and   a decoder comprising a multiplexer and a decoding subunit, wherein a first input of the multiplexer is connected to the queue output of the playback queue, wherein a second input of the multiplexer is connected to the bypass output of the queue bypass, wherein the multiplexer is configured for merging the media content items arriving at the first input of the multiplexer and the at least one type of non-media items arriving at the second input of the multiplexer to form an interleaved data stream, and wherein the interleaved data stream is forwarded to the decoding subunit being configured for decoding the media content items in accordance with commands contained within the at least one type of non-media content items in the interleaved data stream to obtain decoded media content items.   
     
     
         2 . A method for media playback comprising:
 receiving a data stream;   demultiplexing media content items and at least one type of non-media content items contained in the data stream;   appending the media content items to a playback queue;   enabling the at least one type of non-media content items to bypass the playback queue via a queue bypass; and   decoding the media content items provided by a queue output of the playback queue using a decoder, the decoder comprising a multiplexer and a decoding subunit, wherein a first input of the multiplexer is connected to a queue output of the playback queue, wherein a second input of the multiplexer is connected to a bypass output of the queue bypass, wherein the multiplexer merges the media content items arriving at the first input of the multiplexer and the at least one type of non-media items arriving at the second input of the multiplexer to form an interleaved data stream, and wherein the interleaved data stream is forwarded to the decoding subunit, the decoding subunit decoding the media content items in accordance with commands contained within the at least one type of non-media content items in the interleaved data stream to obtain decoded media content items.   
     
     
         3 . A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer readable digital storage medium having stored thereon a computer program having a program code for performing, when running on a computer, a method for media playback, the method comprising:
 receiving a data stream;   demultiplexing media content items and at least one type of non-media content items contained in the data stream;   appending the media content items to a playback queue;   enabling the at least one type of non-media content items to bypass the playback queue via a queue bypass; and   decoding the media content items provided by a queue output of the playback queue, using a decoder, the decoder comprising a multiplexer and a decoding subunit, wherein a first input of the multiplexer is connected to a queue output of the playback queue, wherein a second input of the multiplexer is connected to a bypass output of the queue bypass, wherein the multiplexer merges the media content items arriving at the first input of the multiplexer and the at least one type of non-media items arriving at the second input of the multiplexer to form an interleaved data stream, and wherein the interleaved data stream is forwarded to the decoding subunit, the decoding subunit decoding the media content items in accordance with commands contained within the at least one type of non-media content items in the interleaved data stream to obtain decoded media content items.   
     
     
         4 . A server component for a distributed playback architecture for media data, the server component comprising:
 a media source interface;   a virtual file system connected to the media source interface and for providing a transparent access to a media source accessible via the media source interface; and   a playback interface for providing media content stored in the media source to a playback component;   wherein the virtual file system comprises a buffer for buffering recent media content recently provided to the playback component in order to provide the recent media content to at least one further playback component when adding the at least one further playback component for synchronized playback at the playback component and the at least one further playback component.   
     
     
         5 . The server component according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one further playback component is connected to the virtual file system by means of a further playback interface, and wherein at least one of the playback interface and the further playback interface is a network interface for connecting at least one of the playback component and the further playback component to the server component via a network. 
     
     
         6 . The server component according to  claim 4 , further comprising a navigator for accessing selected media content supplied by the virtual file system in accordance with playback control commands provided to the navigator. 
     
     
         7 . The server component according to  claim 6 , further comprising a playback control command receiver for receiving playback control commands from the at least one further playback component. 
     
     
         8 . A method for distributed playback of media data, the method comprising:
 accessing a media source via a virtual file system;   providing media content stored in the media source and accessed via the virtual file system to a playback component for playback;   buffering recent media content that has recently been provided for playback;   receiving a request for synchronized playback from at least one further playback component; and   providing the buffered, recent media content to the at least one further playback component.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the playback component is connected to the virtual file system by means of a playback interface, wherein the at least one further playback component is connected to the virtual file system by means of a further playback interface, and wherein at least one of the playback interface and the further playback interface is a network interface for connecting at least one of the playback component and the further playback component to the server component via a network. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one playback control command at a navigator component interconnected between the virtual file system and the playback component;   accessing selected media content supplied by the virtual file system in accordance with playback control commands provided to the navigator component.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one playback control command is received from the at least one further playback component. 
     
     
         12 . A computer readable digital storage medium having stored thereon a computer program having a program code for performing, when running on a computer, a method for distributed playback of media data, the method comprising:
 accessing a media source via a virtual file system;   providing media content stored in the media source and accessed via the virtual file system to a playback component for playback;   buffering recent media content that has recently been provided for playback;   receiving a request for synchronized playback from at least one further playback component; and   providing the buffered, recent media content to the at least one further playback component.