Proximity synchronization of audio content among multiple playback and storage devices

• US 20020173273A1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fullaudio Corporation
• Inventors: Andrews, Hoyet Harrison III, Gladwin, Stephen Christopher, Spurgat, Jeffrey Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/68 Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/88 which are wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams

Abstract

A wireless communication system and in particular to a wireless communication system for digital audio players that provides for increased functionality, such as communication, interaction and synchronization between a computing platform and various mobile, portable or fixed digital audio players, as well as providing a communication link between the various digital audio players themselves. The computing platform may act, for example, through a wireless network or wireless communication platform, to control the digital audio players; to act as a cache of digital audio data for the digital audio players; as well as provide a gateway to the Internet to enable the digital audio players to access additional digital audio content and other information. The computing platform may also be used to automatically update digital audio content on the digital audio players; synchronize digital audio content and playlists between digital audio players; and automatically continue a particular playlist as the user moves from one digital audio player to another.

Claims

1. A local wireless communication network for digital audio players, the network comprising:

a host;

a first wireless communication platform coupled to said host; and

one or more digital audio players having a second wireless communication platform coupled to each of said one or more digital audio players for establishing a communication link between said host and said one or more digital audio players.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein said host and said first wireless communication platform are configured as a gateway.

3. The network as recited in claim 2, wherein said host is a personal computing platform.

4. The network as recited in claim 2, wherein said host is a set top box.

5. The network as recited in claim 2, wherein said host is a stand alone audio gateway.

6. A local wireless communication network for digital audio players, the network comprising:

one or more digital audio players; and

one or more wireless communication platforms, said one or more wireless communication platforms coupled to said one or more digital audio players for establishing a communication link between at least two of said one or more digital audio players.