Download and playback of audio content using short-distance wireless communication
First Claim
1. A system for download and playback of audio content, comprising:
- a local audio store affixed adjacent a service facility, said local audio store operable to store at least one digitized audio file representing said audio content;
a remote audio store movably separate from said local audio store, said remote audio store operable to store said at least one digitized audio file representing audio content;
a digital communication link temporarily interconnecting said local audio store and said remote audio store, said digital communication link operable to download said at least one digitized audio file from said local audio store into said remote audio store;
an audio playback device operable to play back said audio content of said at least one digitized audio file in real time, said audio playback device being interconnected with said remote audio store through a playback processor, said playback processor operable to retrieve said at least one digitized audio file from said remote audio store and to convert said at least one digitized audio file into a real time stream of said audio content; and
a playback user interface interconnected with said playback processor and configured to capture user control input and to provide control signals to said playback processor in response to said user control input.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for downloading and playback of audio content represented by digitized audio files, which are stored locally adjacent a service facility, such as a gas pump. A customer selects download of a file into remote digital storage, typically within a vehicle, through a temporary digital communication link between the local storage and the vehicle. Advantageously, the communication link can utilize BLUETOOTH™ short-distance wireless radio technology, which communicates data and voice in point-to-multipoint networks over 0-10 meter distances uses automatic frequency-hopping within the 2.4 GHz ISM band. After downloading, in response to customer input within the vehicle, a selected digitized audio file is retrieved from remote digital storage, converted into a real time audio stream, and delivered through an audio playback device. The locally stored digitized audio files are updated periodically from a larger externally networked digital storage, thereby providing new audio content.
39 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for download and playback of audio content, comprising:
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a local audio store affixed adjacent a service facility, said local audio store operable to store at least one digitized audio file representing said audio content;
a remote audio store movably separate from said local audio store, said remote audio store operable to store said at least one digitized audio file representing audio content;
a digital communication link temporarily interconnecting said local audio store and said remote audio store, said digital communication link operable to download said at least one digitized audio file from said local audio store into said remote audio store;
an audio playback device operable to play back said audio content of said at least one digitized audio file in real time, said audio playback device being interconnected with said remote audio store through a playback processor, said playback processor operable to retrieve said at least one digitized audio file from said remote audio store and to convert said at least one digitized audio file into a real time stream of said audio content; and
a playback user interface interconnected with said playback processor and configured to capture user control input and to provide control signals to said playback processor in response to said user control input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29)
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14. A method of downloading and playback of audio content, comprising:
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establishing a temporary digital communication link between a local audio store affixed adjacent a service facility and a remote audio store movably separate from said local audio store;
selecting audio content options;
downloading at least one digitized audio file representing said selected audio content options from said local audio store into said remote audio store over said temporary digital communication link; and
terminating said temporary digital communication link.
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25. A system for download and playback of audio content, comprising:
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a local audio store affixed adjacent a service facility, said local audio store operable to store at least one digitized audio file representing said audio content;
a remote audio store movably separate from said local audio store, said remote audio store operable to store said at least one digitized audio file representing audio content;
a wireless digital communication link having an effective working length in the range from zero meters to approximately ten meters and temporarily interconnecting said local audio store and said remote audio store, said wireless digital communication link operable to download said at least one digitized audio file from said local audio store into said remote audio store; and
an audio playback apparatus operable to play back said audio content of said at least one digitized audio file in real time.
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26. A method of downloading and playback of audio content, comprising:
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establishing a temporary wireless digital communication link having an effective working length in the range from zero meters to approximately ten meters between a local audio store affixed adjacent a service facility and a remote audio store portably separate from said local audio store;
selecting audio content options;
downloading at least one digitized audio file representing said selected audio content options from said local audio store into said remote audio store over said temporary wireless digital communication link at a transfer rate of up to 721 kilobits/second and at frequencies hopping by approximately one-MHz intervals over the frequency range from approximately 2.402 GHz to approximately 2.480 GHz; and
terminating said temporary wireless digital communication link.
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Specification