System and method for request, delivery and use of multimedia files for audiovisual entertainment in the home environment
First Claim
1. A system for managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:
- an audio server for outputing an audio signal;
at least one speaker; and
a digital connection between said at least one speaker and said audio server over which said audio server provides said audio signal in digital form to said at least one speaker.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A personal computer connected to the Internet can receive and store audio and audiovisual data or programming from the Internet. This audio and audiovisual programming can be provided by the computer over a digital connection to speakers and/or a monitor located away from the computer at a location convenient for a user. A remote control unit allows the user to send signals back over the digital connection to the computer to control the computer to provide the audio or audiovisual programming that the user desires over the digital connection to the speakers and/or monitor located where the user is. The computer may send a listing of the available programming to the remote control unit from which the user can make selections.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:
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an audio server for outputing an audio signal;
at least one speaker; and
a digital connection between said at least one speaker and said audio server over which said audio server provides said audio signal in digital form to said at least one speaker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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3. The system of 2, wherein said computer is connected to the Internet and said audio or audiovisual programming is received from the Internet.
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8. The system of 1, wherein said connection between said audio server and said at least one speaker is electrical wiring which also supplies power for said audio server and said at least one speaker, said audio server and said speaker each having a power-line modem connected thereto for communicating via said electrical wiring.
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14. A method of managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising transmitting an audio signal from an audio server to at least one speaker over a digital connection between said at least one speaker and said audio server, said transmitting of said audio signal being a digital transmission.
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21. The method of 14, wherein:
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said connection between said audio server and said at least one speaker is electrical wiring which also supplies power for said audio server and said at least one speaker, said audio server and said speaker each having a power-line modem connected thereto for communicating via said electrical wiring; and
said transmitting is performed via said electrical wiring.
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27. A system for managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:
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means for outputting an audio signal;
at least one speaker receiving said audio signal; and
digital transmission means between said at least one speaker and said means for outputting an audio signal, said digital transmission means transmitting said audio signal to said at least one speaker in digital form.
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Specification