Asynchronous audio and video in an environment
Embodiments of an electronic system for asynchronous audio and video in and environment includes a server with a connection to a wireless access point or a personal digital device that communicates with the server through the wireless access point. The server receives and stores an audio track that is to accompany a public display. The personal digital device acts as a client to the server. A user interface enables a user of the personal digital device to request an audio track corresponding to the public display. The server initiates a stream of the requested audio track to be wirelessly transmitted to and received by the personal digital device. The personal digital device plays at least some of the requested audio track to the user.
1. An electronic system comprising:
a personal digital device that acts as a client to a server that stores an audio track that is to accompany a public display; and
a user interface on the personal digital device through which a user of the personal digital device requests an audio track corresponding to the public display;
and wherein:
the personal digital device receives the audio track through a wireless access point upon the server initiating a stream of the audio track through a connection to the wireless access point;
the personal digital device plays at least some of the audio track to the user; and
the personal digital device checks a location thereof to determine whether the audio track is available.
2. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
a frequency of location checking increases as the personal digital device becomes closer to an area within which the audio track is available.
3. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the personal digital device includes a means for selecting among multiple audio tracks in an environment in which the multiple audio tracks are available.
4. The electronic system of claim 3 wherein:
the personal digital device presents a menu of the multiple audio tracks with which the user selects one of the multiple audio tracks.
5. The electronic system of claim 3 wherein:
at least one of the multiple audio tracks does not relate to an available public display.
6. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the personal digital device stores a recently played audio track or a pointer to the recently played audio track.
7. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the personal digital device stores either an additional audio track that is related to a recently played audio track or a pointer to the additional audio track.
8. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the personal digital device controls the play of the audio stream with audio controls including at least one of pause, 1.5× speed, 2× speed, ½× speed, rewind and skip.
9. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the personal digital device includes a means for the user to select among multiple languages in which to hear the audio stream.
10. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the personal digital device includes a means with which the user can select among different start points or tracks for the audio stream.
11. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the personal digital device presents thumbnails of multiple public displays for the user to select a desired audio track.
12. The electronic system of claim 1 wherein:
the personal digital device presents the user interface with a skin that depends on the location of the personal digital device.