Systems and methods for the identification and/or distribution of music and other forms of useful information

• US 10,268,442 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernadette Depke, Brian Houlihan, Robert J. Depke
• Original Assignee: Bernadette Depke, Brian Houlihan, Robert J. Depke
• Inventors: Depke, Bernadette, Depke, Robert J, Houlihan, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US14/829,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20150356528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/634 Query by example, e.g. query by humming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/65 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/125 Library distribution, i.e. distributing musical pieces from a central or master library
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications systems and methods. More specifically, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for identifying and/or distributing music and other types of useful information for users in a very simple and convenient manner. A variety of systems and methods are disclosed which provide users with quick and convenient access to various forms of information, such as, for example, audio information including music and news items as well as coupons and other information. The systems and methods allow users to store data representative of a time of transmission and preferably a source of transmission so that data of interest may be identified for ordering an/or downloading.

Claims

1. A vehicle sound system comprising:

a plurality of different sources of audio information, at least one of which is an FM broadcast receiver, a user interface for the vehicle sound system providing a plurality of user selections for selecting different individual FM broadcasts for reproduction by the vehicle sound system;

a temporary digital communication interface providing electrical communication between a portable battery powered electronic device which independently provides digital music storage and playback operations, the temporary digital communication interface transferring digital audio information from an electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device hr reproduction by the vehicle sound system;

a user interface having a plurality of user device control selections causing transfer of digital audio information from the portable battery powered electronic device to the vehicle sound system for reproduction by the vehicle sound system; and

further wherein the vehicle sound system cooperates with a music purchasing system having a computer program located at a user computer by storing new song ordering information in an electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device, the new song ordering information being designated by a user of the vehicle sound system via a user selection in the user interface of the vehicle sound system, the new song ordering information being automatically stored by the vehicle sound system in an electronic memory of the vehicle sound system and automatically transferred to the electronic memory in the portable battery powered electronic device in a manner that is consistent with the automatic acquisition of the new song ordering information by the music purchasing system computer program at the user computer without user selection of the new song ordering information at the user computer when the portable battery powered electronic device is connected to the user computer so that transfer of the new song ordering information from the vehicle sound system to the music purchasing system is incidental to the operation of the portable battery powered both at the vehicle sound system and the user computer.

2. The vehicle sound system of claim 1, further comprising a satellite broadcast receiver and the new song ordering information is acquired from a satellite broadcast.

3. The vehicle sound system of claim 1, further comprising a digital broadcast receiver and the new song ordering information is acquired from a digital radio broadcast.

4. The vehicle sound system of claim 1, further wherein the computer program at the user computer is a computer program that causes the automatic transfer of the new song ordering information to a remote server, and the computer program at the user computer processing a responsive communication in order to present the user with link information for preview and purchase of music corresponding to the new song ordering information.

5. A vehicle sound system comprising:

a temporary digital communication interface providing electrical communication between a portable battery powered electronic device which independently provides digital music storage and playback operations, the temporary digital communication interface transferring digital audio information from an electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device for reproduction by the vehicle sound system;

a user interface having a plurality of user device control selections causing transfer of digital audio information from the portable battery powered electronic device to the vehicle sound system for reproduction by the vehicle sound system; and

further wherein the vehicle sound system cooperates with a music purchasing system having a computer program located at a user computer by storing new song ordering information in an electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device, the new song ordering information being designated by a user of the vehicle sound system via a user selection in the user interface of the vehicle sound system, the new song ordering information being automatically stored by the vehicle sound system in an electronic memory of the vehicle sound system and automatically transferred to an electronic memory in the portable battery powered electronic device in a manner that is consistent with the automatic acquisition of the new song ordering information by the music purchasing system computer program at the user computer without user selection of the new song ordering information at the user computer when the portable battery powered electronic device is connected to the user computer so that transfer of the new song ordering information from the vehicle sound system to the music purchasing system is incidental to the operation of the portable battery powered both at the vehicle sound system and the user computer.