Proximity synchronizing audio playback device

• US 20020174243A1
• 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: Gladwin, Stephen Christopher, Spurgat, Jeffrey Jonathan, Andrews, Hoyet H. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,732,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/88 which are wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• 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: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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

Abstract

A digital audio playback device that includes a wireless communication link to enable it to interact and synchronize with computing platforms as well as other mobile digital audio players and fixed digital audio players. A digital audio playback device is configured such that the computing platform may automatically or upon user request copy, add or remove digital audio content or other information, such as playlists. In addition, digital content on the digital audio playback device can be synchronized with a computing platform. In one embodiment of the invention, the digital audio playback device is configured to enable wireless communication among other digital playback devices and/or a computing platform to allow synchronization and control.

Claims

1. A digital playback device comprising:

a processor coupled to said system bus for executing software instructions;

one or more storage devices, coupled to said system bus;

a wireless communication platform coupled to said system bus for wirelessly receiving digital signals and directing said digital signals to said system bus; and

a decoder for decoding digital signals and generating decoded digital signals.

2. The digital playback device as recited in claim 1, further including a digital to analog converter coupled to said decoder for converting said decoded signals to analog signals.

3. The digital playback device as recited in claim 2, further including a user input interface coupled to said system bus.