Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory detects a user input to play a media item, where the media item is associated with at least a portion of an audio track and one or more media files. The device requests the media item from a server in response to the user input and, in response to the request, receives, from the server, the one or more media files and information identifying at least the portion of the audio track. The device obtains at least the portion of the audio track based on the information identifying at least the portion of the audio track. The device also displays the one or more media files and, while displaying the one or more media files, plays back at least the portion of the audio track in synchronization with the one or more media files.

Abstract: An electronic device with processor(s), memory, and a touch screen display presents a media item, where the media item is associated with a metadata structure that includes first information identifying at least a portion of an audio track, second information identifying one or more media files, and third information identifying one more audio and/or video effects. The presenting includes: displaying one or more media files associated with the media item; and playing back at least a portion of an audio track associated with the media item in synchronization with the one or more media files. While presenting the media item, the device: detects a touch input gesture; and, in response to detecting the touch input gesture, applies an audio and/or video effect specified by the third information to the audio track being played back and/or at least a portion of the one or more media files being displayed.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory displays a first user interface including a plurality of audio tracks, detects a first user input selecting one of the plurality of audio tracks, and, in response to detecting the first user input, displays a second user interface for recording a video clip. The device also detects a second user input to initiate recording of the video clip and detects a third user input to stop recording of the video clip. The device further detects a fourth user input to publish the media item based on the video clip and the selected audio track and, in response to detecting the fourth user input, publishes the media item to a server, including sending to the server information identifying the selected audio track, the video clip, and information related to synchronization of the selected audio track and the video clip.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods and systems for managing media items. In one aspect, a method is performed at a server system. The method includes: (1) receiving a creation request to create a media item, the request including information identifying one or more audio files and one or more visual media files; (2) in response to receiving the request, adding an entry to a media item database for the media item, the entry including metadata identifying the audio files and the visual media files and synchronization information for synchronizing the one or more audio files with the one or more visual media files; (3) receiving at least one of the one or more visual media files; and (4) storing the at least one visual media file at a first location, where the information identifying the one or more visual media files includes information identifying the first location.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods and systems for storage of media item metadata. In one aspect, a method is performed at a server system with one or more processors and memory. The method includes receiving, from a client device, metadata corresponding to a modified media item, where the modified media item is a modified version of a media item corresponding to a particular node in a family tree within a database of media items. The method further includes, in response to receiving the metadata corresponding to the modified media item, appending, to the family tree, a new leaf node that is linked to the particular node, where the new leaf node corresponds to the modified media item.

Abstract: A server system with one or more processors and memory receives, from a client device, information including one or more criteria for a media item to be generated. In some embodiments, the one or more criteria include one or more audio tracks for the media item to be generated. In some embodiments, the one or more criteria include one or more keywords for the media item to be generated. The server system identifies one or more media files in a database of media files for the media item to be generated based at least in part on the one or more criteria. The server system sends, to the client device, first information identifying the one or more media files. In some embodiments, the server system also sends, to the client device, synchronization information for synchronizing one or more audio tracks with the one or more identified media files.

Abstract: A server system with one or more processors and memory maintains a database for a plurality of root media items, where: a respective root media item is associated with a family tree that includes a genesis node and multiple leaf nodes; and the genesis node corresponds to the respective root media item and a respective leaf node of the multiple leaf nodes corresponds to a first modified media item that is a modified version of the respective root media item. The server system: receives at least a portion of modified metadata corresponding to a second modified media item that is a modified version of a media item corresponding to a respective node in the family tree; and, in response, appends, to the family tree, a new leaf node that is linked to the respective node, where the new leaf node corresponds to the second modified media item.

Abstract: An electronic device with processor(s), memory, and a touch screen display presents a media item, where the media item is associated with a metadata structure that includes first information identifying at least a portion of an audio track, second information identifying one or more media files, and third information identifying one more audio and/or video effects. The presenting includes: displaying one or more media files associated with the media item; and playing back at least a portion of an audio track associated with the media item in synchronization with the one or more media files. While presenting the media item, the device: detects a touch input gesture; and, in response to detecting the touch input gesture, applies an audio and/or video effect specified by the third information to the audio track being played back and/or at least a portion of the one or more media files being displayed.

Abstract: A server system with one or more processors and memory maintains a database for a plurality of root media items, where: a respective root media item is associated with a family tree that includes a genesis node and multiple leaf nodes; and the genesis node corresponds to the respective root media item and a respective leaf node of the multiple leaf nodes corresponds to a first modified media item that is a modified version of the respective root media item. The server system: receives at least a portion of modified metadata corresponding to a second modified media item that is a modified version of a media item corresponding to a respective node in the family tree; and, in response, appends, to the family tree, a new leaf node that is linked to the respective node, where the new leaf node corresponds to the second modified media item.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory detects a user input to play a media item, where the media item is associated with at least a portion of an audio track and one or more media files. The device requests the media item from a server in response to the user input and, in response to the request, receives, from the server, the one or more media files and information identifying at least the portion of the audio track. The device obtains at least the portion of the audio track based on the information identifying at least the portion of the audio track. The device also displays the one or more media files and, while displaying the one or more media files, plays back at least the portion of the audio track in synchronization with the one or more media files.

Abstract: An electronic device with one or more processors and memory displays a first user interface including a plurality of audio tracks, detects a first user input selecting one of the plurality of audio tracks, and, in response to detecting the first user input, displays a second user interface for recording a video clip. The device also detects a second user input to initiate recording of the video clip and detects a third user input to stop recording of the video clip. The device further detects a fourth user input to publish the media item based on the video clip and the selected audio track and, in response to detecting the fourth user input, publishes the media item to a server, including sending to the server information identifying the selected audio track, the video clip, and information related to synchronization of the selected audio track and the video clip.

Abstract: Various software services may benefit from enhancements to interactive services. For example, context aware interactive experiences over a network may benefit from a platform for their creation, distribution, and management. A method can include receiving an application descriptor at a user device from a server, wherein the application descriptor corresponds to an interactive application. The method can also include creating an application instance on an interactive experience processing system targeted to a platform's architecture and interactive capabilities based on the application descriptor. The method can further include responding to at least one action of a user of the interactive application via interactive multimedia rendered on the user device. The application instance can include an application core including at least one interaction node and at least one media node.

Abstract: A novel form of visualizing and viewing media in text, image, audio, and video format is introduced in which media with interconnected relationships benefit from visualizing and ranking techniques and systems. A method can include organizing media stored on a plurality of nodes, the media being contextually connected based on time, story, character, or other criteria derived automatically through metadata and/or analysis, or generated manually by content creators or users. The method can also include generating one or more images of the nodes based on at least one parameter related to a user. The image(s) of the nodes can illustrate connections between the nodes, and can be generated based on datasets selected by the user, a desired level of detail selected by the user, or a prioritized set of nodes most relevant to the user. The nodes can provide links to view and watch media in text, image, and video format, and can be augmented by social commentary, connection, sharing, and e-commerce.

Abstract: A pushbutton user interface enables a user to preview the effect of activating a pushbutton of the interface before the pushbutton is activated. The pushbutton user interface can be implemented so that an input (preview input) to the pushbutton that does not produce an activation of the pushbutton is sensed and, in response to the sensed input, a preview is displayed that indicates the effect of activating the pushbutton. The preview input can be sensed using, for example, a force-sensitive resistor, potentiometer or strain gauge. The preview display can include, for example, a visual display, an audio display, a haptic display, or a combination of two or three such displays. The pushbutton user interface can be implemented so that the preview input and an activation input (i.e., an input that produces an activation of the pushbutton) are sensed as a result of an input to the pushbutton along the same axis or along different (e.g., orthogonal) axes.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling multiple input devices, such as VCRs, DVD players and videoconferencing equipment, and at least one output device, such as a projector and a monitor, in a video presentation system. The system includes a processor connected to a user control interface, the multiple input devices and the at least one output device. The user interface is a unified control system for the input and out put devices. A user can select through the user control interface one of the input devices. The processor can determine and control an operating state of the input device, and control the operating state of the at least one output device. The processor can also control the connection of the input device to the output device.