Community controlled audio entertainment system

• US 10,063,929 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nufbee, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nufbee, LLC
• Inventors: Barker, Bruce James
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, William J
• Application Number:
  US15/594,330
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/08 Text analysis or generation of parameters for speech synthesis out of text, e.g. grapheme to phoneme translation, prosody generation or stress or intonation determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104

Abstract

A group-controlled audio entertainment system provides each member of a group with the ability to rapidly select an audio clip from a menu of canned audio clips, and to cause an audio speaker to timely play the selected audio clip in a room where the group is watching a sporting event. The menu of audio clips is chosen to include a variety of sound recordings that fans will consider amusing or pertinent to certain types of sporting events, such as pre-recorded “trash-talk” clips. The system also allows users from remote locations to send audio clips to the audio speaker, to thereby “trash talk” during game time. Remote users can record audio clips and then forward them to the group-controlled audio speaker, or can send text and/or email messages to the group-controlled speaker that the system converts to corresponding audio.

Claims

1. A social networking method for selecting and sharing audio-based messages between a plurality of users viewing a video program, the method comprising:

automatically selecting a plurality of audio clips in response to a local user'"'"'s selection of a first video program for viewing at a local site,

displaying to said local user a menu that includes said automatically selected audio clips, wherein said menu identifies the content of each said audio clip,

receiving from said local user a selection of an audio clip from said menu, and

in response to said local user'"'"'s selection of an audio clip from said menu, transmitting a request to play said user-selected audio clip on an audio speaker at a remote site while a remote user is viewing said first video program at said remote site.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said automatic selection of audio clips is based at least in part on the genre of said first video program.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining when said local user has selected a second video program for viewing at said local site, and

in response to said determination, automatically adjusting said selection of audio clips in said menu based on the identity or genre of said second video program.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving real-time notice of an occurrence of an event in said first video program, and

automatically adjusting said selection of audio clips in said menu in response to said real-time notice.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said first video program is a live sports game and wherein said step of receiving real time notice of an occurrence of an event in said first video program comprises receiving from a network server a real-time notification of an occurrence of an event in said live sports game, and wherein said automatic menu adjusting step comprises displaying at least one new audio clip in the menu in response to said real-time notice.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said game event includes a score or a player ejection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first video program is a live sports game and wherein said automatic selection of audio clips includes automatically choosing at least some audio clips for inclusion in said menu based, at least in part, on predetermined preferences of said local user for a team or player in said live sports game.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said automatic selection of audio clips includes monitoring the content of electronic messages between said local user and said remote user while said first video program is playing, and automatically choosing at least some audio clips for inclusion in said menu based upon said content of said electronic messages.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said automatic selection of audio clips is further based on predetermined preferences of a plurality of members of a current community speaker session.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said automatic selection of audio clips further comprises:

searching at least one database that comprises a plurality of audio clips and associated parameters indicative of the content of said audio clips, wherein said associated parameters indicate the subject matter of audio clips from movies and television programs.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one database further includes personal audio recordings of said local user, audio recordings of celebrities, and sound effect recordings, and wherein said associated parameters indicate the content of each said recording.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of automatically adding to said database of personal audio recordings, audio messages recorded and sent by said local user during a community speaker session.

13. A method for exchanging messages between members of a social networking group, the method comprising:

automatically selecting a plurality of audio clips, wherein said selection is based at least in part on the identity of a video program currently shown on a video display at a local site where a first member is located,

displaying to said first member a menu that includes said automatically selected audio clips, wherein said menu includes an indication of the content of said audio clips,

receiving from said first member a selection of an audio clip from said menu, and in response to said first member'"'"'s selection,

playing said member-selected audio clip on a community controlled speaker at said local site while said first member is viewing said first video program at said local site, and

launching a request to play said member-selected audio clip on a community controlled speaker at a remote site while a second member is viewing said first video program at said remote site.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

muting the audio of said video program at said first site while said member-selected audio clip plays on a community controlled speaker at said local site.

15. A social networking system for selecting and sharing audio-based messages related to a video program being viewed by members of a social networking group, the system comprising:

on-deck manager module for automatically selecting a plurality of audio clips, wherein said selection is based at least in part on a first video program being viewed by a local member at a local site,

display that presents to said local member a menu that includes said automatically selected audio clips, wherein said menu includes indications of the content of each said audio clip,

user interface module for receiving from said local member a selection of an audio clip from said menu,

network connection manager that, in response to said local member'"'"'s selection, launches a request to play said member-selected audio clip on an audio speaker at a remote site while a remote member is viewing said first video program at said remote site.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said on deck manager module performs said automatic selection of audio clips based at least in part on the genre of said first video program.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

an event listener for determining when said local member has selected a second video program for viewing at said local site, and wherein said on-deck manager, in response to said determination, automatically adjusts said menu based on the identity or genre of said second video program.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

an event listener for receiving from a network server a real-time notification of an occurrence of an event in said first video program, and wherein

said on-deck manager adjusts said selection of audio clips in said menu in response to said real-time notice.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a data storage system storing at least one database of audio clips and associated parameters indicative of the content of said audio clips, wherein said at least one database includes parameters that identify the subject matter of audio clips from movies and television programs.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said at least one database further includes personal audio recordings of said social networking group members, audio recordings of celebrities, and sound effect recordings, and wherein said associated parameters indicate the content of each said recording.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising the step of automatically adding to a database of said social networking group members'"'"' personal audio recordings, personal audio recordings sent by said social networking group members during a community speaker session.