System and method for request, delivery and use of multimedia files for audiovisual entertainment in home environment

• US 20040244046A1
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Champion
• Original Assignee: Mark Champion
• Inventors: Champion, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages

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.

Claims

1-27. -27. (cancelled)

28. A system for managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:

an audio server for outputting an audio signal;

at least one speaker, separate and remote from said audio server;

a connection between said at least one speaker and said audio server over which said audio server provides said audio signal to said at least one speaker; and

a remote control unit, wherein said remote control unit controls output of said audio signal from said audio server to said at least one speaker.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising a transceiver for said remote control unit located with said at least one speaker, said remote control unit communicating with said audio server over said digital connection between said at least one speaker and said audio server.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein said digital connection comprises a wireless network.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein said audio server transmits a listing of available audio programming to said remote control unit.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said remote control unit comprises:

a display device for displaying said listing; and

a user input device with which said user can select an audio program from said list and transmit a command for said audio server to output that selected audio program to said at least one speaker.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises at least one on-line radio station.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises at least one streaming audio source.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises a play-list.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein said remote control unit allows a user to create a play-list by selecting a sequence of audio programs from said listing.

37. The system of claim 28, wherein said audio signal from said audio server is compressed and said at least one speaker further comprises decompression hardware for decompressing said signal.

38. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a plurality of speakers; and

a plurality of remote control units,

wherein said plurality of remote control units control said audio server such that a plurality of different audio signals are output by said audio server to respective speakers.

39. The system of claim 28, wherein said audiovisual server is a computer.

40. The system of claim 28, wherein said at least one speaker is incorporated in a video monitor and said audio server is incorporated in an audiovisual server that outputs an audiovisual signal to said monitor, said audiovisual signal including said audio signal for said at least one speaker.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said audiovisual server transmits a listing of available audiovisual programming to said remote control unit.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said remote control unit comprises:

a display device for displaying said listing; and

a user input device with which said user can select an audiovisual program from said list and transmit a command for said audiovisual server to output that selected audiovisual program to said monitor.

43. A method for managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:

outputting an audio signal with an audio server to at least one speaker, separate and remote from said audio server; and

controlling output of said audio signal from said audio server to said at least one speaker with a remote control unit.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising locating a transceiver for said remote control unit with said at least one speaker, said remote control unit communicating with said audio server over a digital connection between said at least one speaker and said audio server.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein outputting an audio signal comprise transmitting said audio signal from said audio server to said speaker via a wireless network.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising transmitting a listing of available audio programming from said audio server to said remote control unit.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying said listing with a display device on said remote control unit;

receiving a selection of an audio program from said list with a user input device of said remote control unit; and

transmitting a command for said audio server to output that selected audio program to said at least one speaker.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises at least one on-line radio station.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises at least one streaming audio source.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises a play-list.

51. The method of claim 46, further comprising allowing a user to create a play-list by selecting a sequence of audio programs from said listing.

52. The method of claim 43, further comprising decompressing said audio signal from said audio server with decompression hardware at said speaker.

53. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

outputting a plurality of different audio signals to a plurality of speakers; and

controlling said plurality of different audio signals with a plurality of remote control units.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein said at least one speaker is incorporated in a video monitor and said audio server is incorporated in an audiovisual server, said outputting an audio signal comprising outputting an audiovisual signal including said audio signal for said at least one speaker.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising transmitting a listing of available audiovisual programming to said remote control unit from said audiovisual server.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:

displaying said listing with a display device of said remote control unit;

receiving user input device selecting an audiovisual program from said list; and

transmitting a command for said audiovisual server to output that selected audiovisual program to said monitor.

57. A system for managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:

an audio server for outputting an audio signal;

at least one wireless transceiver located remotely from said audio server for wirelessly receiving said audio signal; and

a wireless connection between said at least one transceiver and said audio server over which said audio server provides said audio signal in digital form to said at least one transceiver.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein said audio server and said wireless transceiver are located in different rooms.

59. The system of claim 57, further comprising one or more speakers located with said wireless transceiver for outputting said audio signal received by said transceiver from said audio server.

60. The system of claim 57, further comprising a remote control unit for controlling said audio server.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein said remote control unit communicates with said audio server via said wireless connection between said transceiver and said audio server.

62. A method of managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising wirelessly transmitting an audio signal from an audio server to at least one transceiver over a digital wireless link between said at least one transceiver and said audio server.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising outputting said audio signal received by said transceiver from said audio server with one or more speakers located with said wireless transceiver.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising controlling said audio server with a remote control unit.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said remote control unit communicates with said audio server via said wireless connection between said transceiver and said audio server.

66. A wireless transceiver configured to:

wirelessly receive an audio signal from an audio server; and

output said audio signal to a speaker associated with said wireless transceiver.

67. The transceiver of claim 66, further comprising a remote control unit configured to communicate with said transceiver, wherein said transceiver transmits commands from said remote control unit wirelessly to said audio server.

68. An audio server comprising:

means for generating an audio signal; and

a wireless transceiver for wirelessly transmitting said audio signal to a second, remotely located transceiver.

69. The audio server of claim 68, further comprising a speaker associated with said second transceiver, wherein said speaker receives said audio signal through said second transceiver and outputs said audio signal.