Method, computer readable media and apparatus for the selection and rendering of audio files in a networked environment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at a virtual jukebox device that is communicatively coupled to at least one networked device via a network interface, at least one playback request from at least one networked device for rendering at least one audio file;
storing the received at least one playback request in a queue in the virtual jukebox device;
requesting a copy of the at least one audio file associated with the at least one playback request;
storing the copy of the requested at least one audio file in the virtual jukebox device;
rendering the stored copy of the requested at least one audio file by the virtual jukebox device; and
receiving at the virtual jukebox device, from the at least one networked device via the network interface, at least one vote for or against the at least one audio file.
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Abstract
A networked virtual jukebox renders audible music or other audio files to all within audio range of the virtual jukebox. The order of rendering is determined by requesting methods, which include networked peer-voting input, recent play history, random selection and voting. Voting is received from each networked device in communication with the networked virtual jukebox using all types of input methods such as keyboard, mouse, and voice input. The networked virtual jukebox can also operate unattended by playing music and/or audio files based on random selection of past voting.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a virtual jukebox device that is communicatively coupled to at least one networked device via a network interface, at least one playback request from at least one networked device for rendering at least one audio file;
storing the received at least one playback request in a queue in the virtual jukebox device;
requesting a copy of the at least one audio file associated with the at least one playback request;
storing the copy of the requested at least one audio file in the virtual jukebox device;
rendering the stored copy of the requested at least one audio file by the virtual jukebox device; and
receiving at the virtual jukebox device, from the at least one networked device via the network interface, at least one vote for or against the at least one audio file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising the steps of:
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rendering an audio file;
receiving via a network a message from a networked device, the message comprising one of the following;
a vote for the audio file being rendered; and
a vote against the audio file being rendered;
providing a relative vote indication corresponding to a summation of received votes relating to the audio file being rendered;
comparing the relative vote indication to a voting threshold; and
stopping the rendering of the audio file if the relative vote indication does not meet or exceed the voting threshold. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method in a virtual jukebox system comprising the steps of:
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storing a list of previously rendered audio files, the audio files having been rendered in response to received requests from networked devices;
completing the rendering of all requested audio files;
selecting an audio file from the list of previously rendered files; and
rendering the selected audio file. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer readable medium including computer instructions for operating a virtual jukebox system, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:
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rendering an audio file;
receiving via a network a message from a networked device, the message comprising one of the following;
a vote for the audio file being rendered; and
a vote against the audio file being rendered;
providing a relative vote indication corresponding to a summation of received votes relating to the audio file being rendered;
comparing the relative vote indication to a voting threshold; and
stopping the rendering of the audio file if the relative vote indication does not meet or exceed the voting threshold. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A computer readable medium including computer instructions for operating a virtual jukebox system, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:
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rendering an audio file;
receiving via a network a message from a networked device, the message comprising one of the following;
a vote for the audio file being rendered; and
a vote against the audio file being rendered;
providing a relative vote indication corresponding to a summation of received votes relating to the audio file being rendered;
comparing the relative vote indication to a voting threshold; and
stopping the rendering of the audio file if the relative vote indication does not meet or exceed the voting threshold. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A virtual jukebox system comprising:
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a network interface for communication with at least one networked device;
an audio platform interface for rendering audio files;
data memory comprising a queue for storing at least one playback request from at least one networked device for rendering at least one audio file corresponding to the at least one playback request;
a program memory;
a processor/controller, electrically coupled to the network interface, the data memory, and the program memory;
a queue manager, electrically coupled to the program memory, for managing the queue;
an audio player manager, electrically coupled to the program memory, for;
requesting a copy of the at least one audio file corresponding to the at least one playback request;
storing the copy of the requested at least one audio file in the data memory; and
rendering the stored copy of the requested at least one audio file; and
a voting manager, electrically coupled to the program memory, for receiving, from the at least one networked device via the network interface, at least one vote for or against the at least one audio file. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A list of lists, each of the individual lists containing at least one list item corresponding to at least one song that has been rendered by a virtual jukebox system, the at least one song further being associated with
a number of votes for and against the at least one song that were cast during its rendering, and a time of last rendering.
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31. A method of selecting from a plurality of previously rendered songs, a song for rendering when no songs are requested, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a first random number;
using the first random number to select a list of songs from a plurality of lists of songs;
generating a second random number;
using the second random number to select a song from the selected list of songs;
placing the selected song in a queue; and
placing a copy of the selected song in a cache; and
rendering the selected song from the cache. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer readable medium including computer instructions for selecting from at least two lists of previously rendered songs, a song for rendering when no songs are requested, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:
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generating a first random number;
using the first random number to select a list from a least two lists of songs;
generating a second random number;
using the second random number to select a song from the selected list of songs;
placing the randomly selected song in a queue;
placing a copy of the randomly selected song in a cache; and
rendering the song from the cache. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification