Localized audio networks and associated digital accessories

• US 20050160270A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tunnel IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Syncronation, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldberg, David, Goldberg, Miriam D., Simon, Neil R., Goldberg, Benjamin M., Goldberg, Martha B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/076 for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analogue or digital, e.g. DECT, GSM, UMTS
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Individuals share music through portable audio devices that synchronously play music by transmitting music signals from one device to the other. Upon request, other individuals can join such a sharing group as a member, and these new members can either be accepted automatically, or through voting by existing group members. So that members of a group can converse, the fraction of ambient sound admitted by the earphones of the portable device can be manually set. In order to enhance the enjoyment of the music, wearable transducers, such as light emitting diodes, respond to signals related to the beat of the music. Signals can be automatically generated, or manually specified, and signals thereafter stored for playback with the music to which it is related. Wearable transducers associated with individuals at a large music event can be set to receive common signals such that the transducers respond in synchrony with one another

Claims

1. A method for sharing music from stored musical signals between a first user with a first music player device and at least one second user with at least one second music player device, comprising:

playing the musical signals for the first user on the first music player device while essentially simultaneously wirelessly transmitting the musical signals from the first music player device to the at least one second music player device; and

receiving the musical signals by the at least one second player device, wherein the musical signals can be played on the at least one second player device within a predetermined time difference from the playing of the musical signals on the first music player device;

wherein the first and the at least one second users are mobile and maintain less than a predetermined distance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is 40 feet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is less than 100 feet.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined distance is less than 500 feet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting and receiving involve the use of an Internet protocol.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the Internet protocol uses a connectionless transport layer.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the Internet protocol uses a link layer involving a protocol chosen from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting and receiving use analog radio frequency transmission.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitted music signals are digital.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the transmitted digital music signals are compressed.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first music player device is carried by the first user.

12. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising displaying by the first user a humanly-perceptible light display that is roughly synchronized with the beat of the musical signals.

13. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising communicating an identifier of the at least one second user to the first music player device, and indicating the identifier to the first user on a display located on the first music player device.

14. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising transferring a substantially unique music identifier of the musical signal wherein the personal identifier is stored on the at least one second music player device in association with the musical identifier.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the user of the at least one second music player device retrieves the musical signal from a remote system by using the music identifier.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the remote system is located on the Internet.

17. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising a substantially unique personal identifier of the first user wherein the personal identifier is transferred to the at least one second music player device and stored in association with the music identifier of the music transmitted by the first music player device to the at least one second music player device.

18. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising monitoring the strength of the musical signal received by the at least one second music player device and communicating with the at least one second user the strength of the musical signal.

330. A method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is less than 100 msec.

331. A method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is less than 20 msec.

19. A system of music sharing for a plurality of mobile users, comprising:

a first sharing device and at least one second sharing device, each comprising a musical signal store, a musical signal transmitter, a musical signal receiver, and a musical signal player;

a broadcast user operating the first sharing device; and

at least one member user operating the at least one second sharing device, wherein the broadcast user plays the musical signal for his own enjoyment on the first sharing device and simultaneously transmits the musical signal to the receiver of the at least one second sharing device of the at least one member user, on which the musical signal is played for the at least one member user, wherein the broadcast user and the at least one member user hear the musical signal substantially simultaneously.

20. The system of claim 19, additionally comprising a manual switch on at least one second sharing device, wherein actuation of the switch causes the first sharing device to cease transmitting the musical signal and for the second sharing device to begin transmitting musical signal from the musical signal store of the second sharing device, wherein the broadcast user and the at least one member user hear the musical signal from the second sharing device substantially simultaneously.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the first sharing device and the at least one second sharing device additionally comprise a substantially unique identifier, wherein the first sharing device communicates its substantially unique identifier to the at least one second sharing device and the at least one second sharing device communicates its substantially unique identifier to the first sharing device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the identifier includes a least one piece of information about the user of the sharing device taken from the group consisting of the name of the user, the nickname of the user, a numerical identifier, an alphanumerical identifier, the musical preferences of the user, the age of the user, and the educational institution that the user attends.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first sharing device and the at least one second sharing device additionally comprise a visual display on which the substantially unique identifiers which have been communicated to the respective device are displayed.

24. The system of claim 19 additionally comprising at least one requesting member user operating an at least one requesting sharing device, wherein the at least one requesting member user requests to receive transmission of the musical signal from the first sharing device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the at least one requesting sharing device is associated with a substantially unique identifier which is communicated by the requesting sharing device to the first sharing device and wherein the first sharing device additionally comprises a display on which the identifier is displayed.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the broadcast user elects whether to transmit the musical signal from the first sharing device to the requesting sharing device.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the broadcast user and the at least one member user elect through voting whether to transmit the musical signal from the first sharing device, wherein a majority vote is determinative.

28. The system of claim 25 wherein the broadcast user and the at least one member user elect through voting whether to transmit the musical signal from the first sharing device, wherein a unanimous vote is required for transmitting.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the identifier of the requesting sharing device is compared with identifiers stored in the first device, such that the match of the identifier of the requesting sharing device with a stored identifier allows the first sharing device to transmit the musical signal to the requesting sharing device.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the stored identifiers are retrieved from the Internet.

31. The system of claim 19 wherein the first sharing device additionally comprises a visual display.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the visual display indicates the number of member users receiving the musical signal.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the visual display can display whether the musical being played by the sharing device comes from the musical signal store of the same device, or from the musical signal store another sharing device.

34. The system of claim 19 wherein the first sharing device is mobile.

35. The system of claim 19 wherein the first sharing device is carried by the user.

36. The system of claim 19 wherein the first sharing device and at least one sharing device maintain less than a predetermined distance.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the predetermined distance is less than 40 feet.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein the predetermined distance is less than 100 feet.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein the predetermined distance is less than 500 feet.

40. The system of claim 19, additionally comprising a substantially unique user identifier associated with the broadcast user and a substantially unique musical signal identifier associated with each musical signal, wherein the user identifier and the musical signal identifier are transmitted from the first sharing device to the at least one second sharing device and stored in association with one another on the at least one second sharing device.

41. A wireless communications system for sharing audio entertainment between a first mobile device and a second mobile device in the presence of a non-participating third mobile device, comprising:

an announcement signal transmitted by the first mobile device for which the second mobile device and the third mobile device are receptive;

a response signal transmitted by the second mobile device in response to the announcement signal for which the first mobile device is receptive and for which the third mobile device is not receptive;

an identifier signal transmitted by the first mobile device to the second mobile device in response to the response signal, and which is not receptive to the third mobile device; and

a broadcast signal comprising audio entertainment that is transmitted by the first mobile device, and which is receptive by the second mobile device on the basis of the reception of the identifier signal;

wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted by a connectionless transport protocol and the announcement signal is transmitted by a connection-oriented transport protocol.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the announcement signal is transmitted via an Internet protocol.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the Internet protocol is a connection-oriented transport protocol.

44. The system of claim 41 wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP.

45. The system of claim 41 wherein the announcement signal is transmitted via an Internet protocol further comprising a link layer protocol selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

46. The system of claim 41 wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted via an Internet protocol.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein the Internet protocol is a connectionless transport protocol.

48. The system of claim 41 wherein the connectionless transport protocol is UDP.

49. The system of claim 46 wherein the Internet protocol further comprises a link layer protocol selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

50. The system of claim 41 wherein the broadcast signal is an analog radio frequency signal.

51. The system of claim 41 wherein the announcement signal is transmitted via telephony.

52. The system of claim 41 wherein the broadcast signal is compressed.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the compression is MP3.

54. The system of claim 41 wherein the broadcast signal is encrypted.

55. The system of claim 41 wherein the identifier signal is an IP socket address.

56. The system of claim 41 wherein the identifier signal is a decryption code.

57. The system of claim 41 wherein the identifier signal is a digital password.

58. The system of claim 41 wherein the announcement signal and the broadcast signal use different IP transport protocols.

59. The system of claim 41 additionally comprising a transfer signal that is transmitted by the first mobile device upon halting the transmission of its broadcast signal, and which transfer signal is receptive by the second mobile device, such that reception by the second mobile device causes the device to transmit a second broadcast signal comprising audio entertainment for which the first unit is receptive.

60. The system of claim 41 wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted via peer-to-peer communications.

61. The system of claim 60, additionally comprising a switch, wherein actuation of the switch causes the device to toggle between peer-to-peer communications and infrastructure-based communications.

62. The system of claim 41 wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted via infrastructure-based communications.

63. An audio entertainment device, comprising:

a signal store that stores an audio entertainment signal;

a transmitter that can transmit the stored audio entertainment signal;

a receiver that can receive the transmitted audio entertainment signal from a transmitter of another such device; and

a player that can play audio entertainment from a member selected from the group of stored audio entertainment signals or audio entertainment signals transmitted from the transmitter of another such device.

64. The device of claim 63 wherein the transmitter transmits to the receiver of the same device in order to play through the player of that device.

65. The device of claim 63 wherein the player can play audio entertainment from signals obtained from either the receiver or from the audio store.

66. The device of claim 63 additionally comprising a visual display that is perceptive to the user of the device, indicating information about the audio entertainment signal.

67. The device of claim 66 wherein a third device can receive the transmitted audio signal, wherein all such devices transmitting and receiving the same audio entertainment signal constitute a sharing group.

68. The device of claim 67 additionally comprising a substantially unique identifier that identifies the user of the device, wherein at least one device of the sharing group displays the identifier of the user of another device within the sharing group.

69. The device of claim 68 wherein the identifier includes a least one piece of information about the user taken from the group consisting of the name of the user, the nickname of the user, the musical preferences of the user, a numerical identifier, an alphanumerical identifier, the age of the user, or the educational institution that the user attends.

70. The device of claim 68 wherein the identifier is interspersed within the transmitted audio entertainment signal.

71. The device of claim 66 wherein the visual display can display the number of devices in the sharing group.

72. The device of claim 66 wherein the visual display can display whether the audio entertainment being played by a device comes from the audio store of the device of which the display is a part, or from another device.

73. The device of claim 63 wherein the second device provides information to the second user about the strength of the audio signal received by the receiver.

74. The device of claim 73 additionally comprising a visual display, wherein the signal strength information is provided in the visual display

75. The device of claim 73 wherein the signal strength information is provided secondary audio signals played substantially simultaneously with the audio entertainment signal through the player of the device.

76. The device of claim 63 wherein the signal store stores a compressed audio signal.

77. The device of claim 63 wherein the compressed audio signal is transmitted through the transmitter.

78. The device of claim 63 wherein the compressed audio signal is decompressed prior to being transmitted through the transmitter.

79. The device of claim 63 wherein the identifier is interspersed within the transmitted audio signal.

80. The device of claim 63 additionally comprising a delay circuit.

81. The device of claim 80 wherein the playing of the audio entertainment signal is delayed in each device so that the audio entertainment signal in all devices playing from the same stored audio entertainment signal is played substantially simultaneously.

82. The device of claim 63 additionally comprising a manual control with at least three states, wherein in the first state the player plays a stored audio entertainment signal and does not transmit the stored entertainment signal, wherein in the second state the player plays a stored audio entertainment signal and substantially simultaneously transmits the same audio entertainment signal, and wherein in the third state the player plays an audio entertainment signal received by the receiver.

83. The device of claim 63 wherein the ambient sound admitted by the earphone can be manually controlled.

84. The device of claim 63 additionally comprising a microphone wherein the device can transmit vocal sounds from the user of the device.

85. The device of claim 63 additionally comprising a manual control such that actuation transmits a message.

86. The device of claim 63 wherein the device can connect with the telephone network.

87. The device of claim 63 wherein the device is mobile and can be carried by a user.

88. The device of claim 63 additionally comprising a control signal transmitter that transmits control signals that controls a humanly-perceptible display in a wearable accessory.

89. The device of claim 88 wherein the control signal transmitter is the same as the transmitter that transmits stored audio entertainment signals.

90. The device of claim 88, additionally comprising a store of control signals.

91. The device of claim 88, additionally comprising a generator wherein the generator coverts stored audio entertainment signals into control signals.

264. The device of claim 71 additionally comprising a visual display on which a visual representation of the control signals is displayed.

92. An audio entertainment device comprising:

a wireless transmitter for the transmission of audio entertainment signals;

a wireless receiver for the reception of the transmitted audio entertainment signals from a transmitter of audio entertainment signals;

a first manually-separable connector for electrically connecting with an audio player, wherein the connector allows transfer of audio entertainment signals from the player to the device;

a second connector for connecting with a speaker; and

a control to manually switch between at least three states, wherein in the first state the speaker plays audio entertainment signals from the audio player and the transmitter does not transmit the audio entertainment signals, wherein in the second state the speaker plays audio entertainment signals from the audio player and the transmitter essentially simultaneously transmits the audio entertainment signals, and wherein in the third state the speaker plays audio entertainment signals received by the receiver.

93. The device of claim 92 wherein the first connector connects to the audio player through the audio output jack.

94. The device of claim 92 wherein the speaker is chosen from the group consisting of earphone and headphone.

95. The device of claim 92 wherein the device additionally comprises a control signal generator that converts audio entertainment signals into control signals that control a humanly-perceptible display in a wearable accessory.

96. The device of claim 92 additionally comprising a second transmitter that transmits control signals that control a humanly-perceptible display in a wearable accessory.

97. The device of claim 92 additionally comprising a display that indicates the state of the device.

98. The device of claim 92 wherein the receiver is receptive of the audio entertainment signals transmitted by the transmitter.

99. The device of claim 92 wherein the receiver is operational when the first connector is manually separated from the audio player.

100. A system for the sharing of stored music between a first user and a second user, comprising:

a first device for playing music to the first user, comprising a store of musical signals, a first controller that prepares musical signals from the first store for transmission and playing, a first player that takes musical signals from the first controller and plays the signals for the first user, and a transmitter, that is capable of taking the musical signals from the controller and transmitting the musical signals via wireless broadcast; and

a second device for playing music to the second user, comprising a receiver receptive of the transmissions from the transmitter of the first device, a second controller that prepares musical signals from the receiver for playing, and a second player that takes musical signal from the second controller and plays the signals for the second user;

wherein the first user and the second user hear the musical signals at substantially the same time.

101. The system of claim 100 wherein the store of musical signals comprises compressed digital audio files.

102. The system of claim 100 wherein the compressed digital audio files are in formats taken from the group consisting of mp3, wav, cda, wma, and au.

103. The system of claim 100 wherein the preparation of the musical signals by the first controller comprises decompression of compressed binary files.

104. The system of claim 100 wherein the transmitter transmits via an Internet protocol.

105. The system of claim 104 wherein the Internet protocol has a link level selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

106. The system of claim 100 wherein the first device is a telephone.

107. The system of claim 100 wherein the first device transmits compressed musical signals and the second controller decompresses the compressed musical signals received by the receiver.

108. The system of claim 100 wherein the transmitter additionally transmits an annunciator signal indicating the presence of a transmitter of musical signals.

109. The system of claim 100 wherein the second device receiver becomes receptive of transmissions from the first device by obtaining an identifier from the first device.

110. The system of claim 109 wherein the first device additionally comprises an associated visual transducer and the second device additionally comprises a visual receiver, wherein the visual transducer outputs a visual identifier signal that is received by the visual receiver.

111. The system of claim 109 wherein the first device additionally comprises a first electrical connector and the second device additionally comprises a second electrical connector, wherein the identifier is communicated via an electrical signal passed from the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector.

112. The system of claim 111 wherein the communication of the identifier signal occurs via an inductive coupling between the first connector and the second connector.

113. The system of claim 109 wherein the second device additionally comprises a microphone, wherein the identifier is communicated in an audio signal that is produced by the first player and which is received by the microphone.

114. The system of claim 109 wherein the identifier is transmitted by the transmitter and received by the receiver.

115. The system of claim 100 wherein the second device receiver becomes receptive of transmissions from the first device by transmitting an identifier to the first device.

116. The system of claim 115 wherein the second device additionally comprises a visual transducer and the first device additionally comprises a visual receiver, wherein the visual transducer outputs a visual identifier signal that is received by the visual receiver.

117. The system of claim 115 wherein the first device additionally comprises a first electrical connector and the second device additionally comprises a second electrical connector, wherein the identifier is communicated via an electrical signal passed from the second electrical connector to the first electrical connector.

118. The system of claim 117 wherein the communication of the identifier signal occurs via an inductive coupling between the first connector and the second connector.

119. The system of claim 115 wherein the first device additionally comprises a microphone, wherein the identifier is communicated in an audio signal that is produced by the second player and which is received by the microphone.

120. The system of claim 115 wherein the identifier is transmitted by the transmitter and received by the receiver.

121. The system of claim 100 wherein the first controller additionally generates control signals related to the musical signals.

122. The system of claim 121 wherein the store additionally comprises stored control signals that are used by the first controller.

123. The system of claim 121 wherein the controller generates control signals from the musical signals.

124. The system of claim 123 wherein the controller performs frequency analysis of the musical signals in order to generate the control signals.

125. The system of claim 121 wherein the first device additionally transmits the control signals to the second device using the first transmitter.

126. The system of claim 125 wherein the control signals and the musical signals transmitted by the first device are interspersed within a single digital stream.

127. The system of claim 125 wherein the control signals and the musical signals are transmitted in two digital streams.

128. The system of claim 121 wherein the first device additionally comprises a second transmitter that transmits control signals.

129. The system of claim 128 wherein the second transmitter uses an IP protocol.

130. The system of claim 129 wherein the Internet protocol uses a link layer selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, and ultrawideband.

131. The system of claim 121 wherein the second transmitter uses analog radio frequency transmissions.

132. The system of claim 100, additionally comprising a wearable accessory, comprising a control signal receiver that is receptive of control signals transmitted by the first device, an accessory controller that generates transducer signals from the received control signals, and a transducer that generates humanly-perceptive music accompaniment signals from the transducer signals.

133. The system of claim 132 wherein the music accompaniment signals are visual signals.

134. The system of claim 133 wherein the visual signals are generated by a light emitting diode

135. The system of claim 132 wherein the music accompaniment signals are tactile signals.

136. The system of claim 132 wherein the accessory controller performs frequency analysis on the received control signals.

137. The system of claim 132 wherein the wearable accessory additionally comprises a switch, wherein actuation of the switch causes the accessory to be receptive to an entraining signal from the first device, such that the accessory will accept signals from the first device.

138. An earphone for listening to audio entertainment allowing for the controlled reception of ambient sound by a user, comprising

a speaker that is oriented towards the user'"'"'s ear;

an enclosure that reduces the amount of ambient noise perceptive to the user; and

a manually-adjustable characteristic of the enclosure that adjusts the amount of ambient sound perceptive to the user.

139. The earphone of claim 138 wherein the manually-adjustable characteristic is the size of apertures in the enclosure that admit ambient sound.

140. The earphone of claim 138 wherein the manually-adjustable characteristic is the number of apertures in the enclosure that admit ambient sound.

141. The earphone of claim 138 wherein the manually-adjustable characteristic is the surface area of the enclosure.

142. The earphone of claim 138 wherein the manually-adjustable characteristic is the thickness of the enclosure.

143. The earphone of claim 138, additionally comprising a spacer that attaches to the earphone and which increases the distance between the speaker and the user'"'"'s ear.

144. The earphone of claim 138, additionally comprising a secondary enclosure that encloses the enclosure and the speaker, and which is detachable from the earphone.

145. A mobile device for the transmission of audio entertainment signals comprising

an audio signal store for the storage of the audio entertainment signals;

an audio signal player for the playing of the audio entertainment signals;

an wireless transmitter for the transmission of the audio entertainment signals; and

a transmitter control to manually switch between two states consisting of the operation and the non-operation of the audio transmitter.

146. The device of claim 145 wherein the transmitter is connected to the audio jack of the audio signal player.

147. The device of claim 146 wherein the audio signal that is transmitted via the audio jack is subsequently divided between the transmitter and the headphone.

148. The device of claim 146 wherein the transmitter additionally comprises a second jack to which the earphone plug can connect, such that the insertion of the earphone plug into the second jack allows the audio signal to be heard in the earphone

149. A mobile device for the reception of digital audio entertainment signals comprising:

an audio signal store for the storage of the digital audio entertainment signals;

an audio receiver for the reception of external digital audio entertainment signals from a mobile audio signal transmitter located within a predetermined distance of the audio receiver;

a receiver control with at least a first state and a second state; and

an audio signal player that plays digital audio entertainment signals from the audio signal store when the receiver control is in the first state, and that plays digital audio entertainment signals from the audio receiver when the receiver control is in the second state.

150. The device of claim 149, additionally comprising a jack to which a listening device chosen from the group consisting of earphone and headphone can be connected.

151. A method for the shared enjoyment of music from stored musical signals between a first user with a first music player device and at least one second user with at least one second music player device, comprising:

playing the musical signals for the first user on the first music player device while essentially simultaneously wirelessly transmitting synchronization signals from the first music player device to the at least one second music player device; and

receiving the synchronization signals by the at least one second player device, wherein the synchronization signals allow the musical signals on the at least one second player device to be played essentially simultaneously with the playing of the musical signals on the first music player device;

wherein the first and the at least one second users are mobile.

152. The method of claim 151 wherein the same musical signals are stored on the first music player device and the at least one second music player device.

153. The method of claim 152 wherein the musical signals are stored as compressed audio files.

154. The method of claim 151 wherein the synchronization signals comprise the current sample number being played on the first music player device.

155. The method of claim 154 wherein the synchronization signals further comprise the sample rate of the musical signal being played on the first music player device.

156. The method of claim 151 wherein the synchronization signals comprise the current time relative to the beginning of the musical signal being played on the first music player device.

157. The method of claim 151, additionally comprising transferring the musical signals from the first music player device to the at least one second music player device.

158. A wireless communications system for sharing audio entertainment between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, comprising:

a broadcast identifier transmitted by the first mobile device to the second mobile device;

a personal identifier transmitted by the second mobile device to the first mobile device; and

a broadcast signal comprising audio entertainment that is transmitted by the first mobile device of which the second device is receptive;

wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device have displays which can display the identifier signal that they receive and the second mobile device can play the audio entertainment from the broadcast signal that it receives.

159. The system of claim 158 wherein the identifier signals are transmitted via an Internet protocol.

160. The system of claim 159 wherein the Internet protocol is a connection-oriented transport protocol.

161. The system of claim 159 wherein the Internet protocol further comprises a link layer protocol selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

162. The system of claim 158 wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted via an Internet protocol.

163. The system of claim 162 wherein the Internet protocol is a connectionless transport protocol.

164. The system of claim 162 wherein the Internet protocol further comprises a link layer protocol selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

165. The system of claim 158 wherein the broadcast signal is an analog radio frequency signal.

166. The system of claim 158 wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted via telephony.

167. The system of claim 158 wherein the broadcast signal is compressed.

168. The system of claim 158 wherein the broadcast signal is encrypted.

169. The system of claim 158, additionally comprising a transfer signal that is transmitted by the first mobile device upon halting the transmission of its broadcast signal, and which transfer signal is receptive by the second mobile device, such that reception by the second mobile device causes the device to transmit a second broadcast signal comprising audio entertainment for which the first unit is receptive.

170. The system of claim 158 wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted via peer-to-peer communications.

171. The system of claim 170 additionally comprising a switch, wherein actuation of the switch causes the device to toggle between peer-to-peer communications and infrastructure-based communications.

172. The system of claim 158 wherein the broadcast signal is transmitted via infrastructure-based communications.

173. The system of claim 158 wherein the personal identifier includes a least one piece of information about the user of the second mobile device taken from the group consisting of the name of the user, the nickname of the user, a numerical identifier, an alphanumerical identifier, the musical preferences of the user, the age of the user, and the educational institution that the user attends.

174. The system of claim 158 additionally comprising a third mobile device whose user requests to receive the broadcast signal and additionally comprising a requester identifier signal transmitted by the third mobile device to the first mobile device.

175. The system of claim 174 wherein the requester identifier signal is additionally transmitted by the third mobile device to the second mobile device.

176. The system of claim 174 wherein the requester identifier signal is additionally transmitted by the first mobile device to the second mobile device.

177. The system of claim 174 wherein the requester identifier is displayed on the display of the first mobile device.

178. The system of claim 174 wherein the third mobile device receives the broadcast signal without the affirmative action of the first mobile device.

179. The system of claim 174 wherein the third mobile device must receive the affirmative action of the first mobile device in order to receive the broadcast signal.

180. The system of claim 174 wherein the third mobile device must receive the affirmative action of the first mobile device and all other mobile devices receptive of the broadcast signal.

181. The system of claim 180 wherein the affirmative action is a unanimous vote.

182. The system of claim 180 wherein the affirmative action is a majority vote.

183. The system of claim 158, additionally comprising a substantially unique musical identifier related to the audio entertainment, wherein the musical identifier is transmitted by the first mobile device to the second mobile device in association with the broadcast signal, and the musical identifier is stored on the second mobile device in association with the broadcast identifier.

184. A system for identifying a first device that introduces a music selection to a second device, comprising:

a mobile music transmitter operated by the first device;

a mobile music receiver operated by the second device;

a music signal comprising the music selection transmitted by the transmitter and received by the receiver;

an individual musical identifier that is associated with the music selection; and

an individual transmitter identifier that identifies the transmitter, wherein the transmitter identifier and the individual music identifier are stored in association with each other in the receiver.

185. A method for enhancing enjoyment of a musical selection, comprising:

obtaining control signals related to the musical selection;

transmitting the control signals wirelessly;

receiving the control signals; and

converting the control signals to a humanly-perceptible form.

186. The method of claim 185 wherein the distance over which the control signals are transmitted has a minimum range of at least 1 foot-.

187. The method of claim 185 wherein the distance over which the control signals are transmitted has a maximum range of less than 500 feet.

188. The method of claim 185 wherein the humanly-perceptible form is a visually-perceptible form.

189. The method of claim 185 wherein the humanly-perceptible form is a tactilely-perceptible form.

190. The method of claim 185 wherein the transmitting and receiving use radio frequency communications.

191. The method of claim 185 wherein the radio frequency communications use an Internet protocol.

192. The method of claim 185 wherein the Internet protocol involves a link layer chosen from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

193. The method of claim 185 wherein obtaining additionally comprises extracting the musical beat from the musical selection.

194. The method of claim 185 wherein obtaining additionally comprises retrieving the control signals from a store of control signals.

195. The method of claim 185 wherein the control signals are divided into multiple channels.

196. The method of claim 195 wherein the step of converting comprises a step of demultiplexing the control signals.

197. The method of claim 185 wherein the steps of transmitting and receiving are performed using means conveyed by a single person.

198. The method of claim 197 wherein the user is mobile.

199. The method of claim 185 wherein the step of transmitting is performed by a stationary user and the step of receiving is performed by a mobile user.

200. The method of claim 185 wherein the musical selection is provided by musicians in concert playing essentially simultaneously with obtaining control signals.

201. The method of claim 185 wherein the control signals are transmitted with a substantially unique identifier.

202. The method of claim 185 wherein the control signals control the appearance of a wearable device.

203. A method for generating and storing control signals corresponding to musical signals, comprising:

playing musical signals for a user;

receiving manual input signals from the user that are produced substantially in synchrony with the music;

generating control signals from the input signals; and

storing the control signals so that they can be retrieved with the musical signals.

204. The method of claim 203 wherein receiving comprises transducing tactile input from the user.

205. The method of claim 204 wherein the tactile input is produced using a user appendage selected from the group consisting of hand, finger and foot.

206. The method of claim 203 wherein receiving comprises transducing sound output produced by the user.

207. The method of claim 203 wherein storing comprises interleaving control signals within the musical signals.

208. The method of claim 203 wherein storing additionally comprises creating a digital file.

209. The method of claim 203 wherein storing additionally comprises associating the digital file with the musical signals.

210. A wearable personal accessory, comprising:

an input transducer taken from the group consisting of a microphone and an accelerometer, said transducer generating a time-varying input transduction signal;

a controller which accepts the input transduction signal, and which generates an output transducer signal whose signal varies in amplitude with time;

an output transducer receptive of the output transducer signal, and which provides a humanly-perceptible signal; and

an energy source for powering the input transducer, controller and output transducer.

211. The accessory of claim 210 wherein the accelerometer responds to the movements of the user in one axis of movement.

212. The accessory of claim 210 wherein the accelerometer responds to the movements of the user in more than one axis of movement.

213. The accessory of claim 210 wherein the controller performs automatic gain control on the signal from the input transducer.

214. The accessory of claim 210 wherein the output transducer is a light transducer.

215. The accessory of claim 214 wherein the output transducer comprises a light emitting diode.

216. The accessory of claim 214 wherein the output transducer comprises a liquid crystal display.

217. The accessory of claim 214 wherein the output transducer comprises an organic light emitting diode.

218. The accessory of claim 210 wherein the output transducer is a tactile transducer.

219. The accessory of claim 210 wherein the output transducer comprises a first and a second transduction element.

220. The accessory of claim 219 wherein the first transduction element responds preferentially to a first band of frequencies of the input transduction signal and the second transduction element responds preferentially to a second band of frequencies of the input transduction signal.

221. The accessory of claim 219 wherein the first transduction element responds preferentially to a first band of amplitudes of the input transduction signal and the second transduction element responds preferentially to a second band of amplitudes of the input transduction signal.

222. A wearable personal accessory controlled via wireless communications, comprising:

a wireless communications receiver, receptive of an external control signal;

a controller that accepts the external control signal and that generates a time-varying visual output transducer signal;

a visual output transducer that is receptive of the output transducer signal, and which provides a humanly-perceptible visual signal; and

an energy store for powering the receiver, controller and output transducer;

wherein the visual output transducer generates visually-perceptive output.

223. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the external control signal is a time-varying amplitude signal.

224. The accessory of claim 223 wherein the amplitude signal is analog.

225. The accessory of claim 223 wherein the amplitude signal is digital.

226. The accessory of claim 223 wherein the amplitude signal is substantially a musical signal.

227. The accessory of claim 226 wherein the controller performs frequency filtering of the external control signal.

228. The accessory of claim 226 wherein the controller determines the primary beat of the music.

229. The accessory of claim 228 wherein the primary beat of the music is determined according to the positions in the music where the amplitude rises at least a predetermined factor over less than a predetermined time.

230. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the external control signal is a digital signal of pairs comprising positions within the music and the amplitudes to which the output transducers are set at such times.

231. The accessory of claim 230 wherein the positions are chosen from the group of characteristics consisting of samples and times.

232. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the receiver is an analog radio frequency receiver.

233. The accessory of claim 232 wherein the analog radio frequency communications are at a frequency set by a crystal oscillator, wherein the crystal oscillator can be manually exchanged in order to change the frequency of operation.

234. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the receiver receives Internet protocol signals.

235. The accessory of claim 234 wherein the Internet protocol further comprises a link layer selected from the group consisting of Bluetooth, 802.11 and ultrawideband.

236. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the visual output transducer comprises a first light transducer and a second light transducer.

237. The accessory of claim 236 wherein the external control signal comprises a multiplexed first signal and second signal, and wherein the first signal relates to the first light transducer and the second signal relates to a second light transducer.

238. The accessory of claim 237 wherein the controller comprises at least two ports, wherein the first port relates to the first light generating element and the second port related to the second light generating element.

239. The accessory of claim 236 wherein the first light transducer responds preferentially to a first range of frequency in the musical signal, and the second light transducer responds preferentially to a second range of frequency in the musical signal.

240. The accessory of claim 236 wherein the first light transducer responds preferentially to a first range of amplitude in the musical signal, and the second light transducer responds preferentially to a second range of amplitude in the musical signal.

241. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the visual output transducer comprises a light emitting diode.

242. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the visual output transducer comprises an organic light emitting diode.

243. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the visual output transducer comprises a liquid crystal display.

244. The accessory of claim 222 additionally comprising a tactile transducer responsive to the external control signal.

245. The accessory of claim 222 additionally comprising a sound transducer responsive to the external control signal.

246. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the external control signal additional comprises a digital identifier.

247. The accessory of claim 246 wherein the visual output transducer additionally provides an identifier signal that corresponds to the digital identifier, wherein such identifier signal is higher frequency than is humanly perceptible, and wherein the identifier signal is output substantially simultaneously with the humanly-perceptible visual signal.

248. The accessory of claim 222 additionally comprising a manually-separable electrical connection, wherein the connection connects the receiver to the controller.

249. The accessory of claim 222 additionally comprising a manually-separable electrical connection, wherein the connection connects the controller to the output transducer.

250. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the accessory functions as an accoutrement selected from the group consisting of a ring, a pendant, a hair clip, an earring, a necklace, a brooch, a belt buckle, watches, and a bracelet.

251. The accessory of claim 222 wherein the accessory is incorporated into an article of clothing selected from the group consisting of a backpack, a wallet, a purse, a hat and a shoe.

252. The accessory of claim 222 additionally comprising a manual control whose operation sets either a first state and a second state and wherein in the first state the accessory responds exclusively to external control signals comprising a substantially unique identifier.

253. The accessory of claim 252 wherein the identifier to which the accessory responds in the first state is received by the receiver when the accessory is set to the second state.

254. The accessory of claim 253 additionally comprising a third state which is manually set, wherein in the third state, the accessory responds to external control signals in the absence of a substantially unique identifier.

255. A device for converting user tactile responses to stored music into a stored control signal, comprising:

a player that plays stored music audible to the user;

a manually-operated transducer that outputs an electrical signal, wherein the transducer is actuated by the user in response to the music;

a controller that receives the electrical signal and outputs a control signal; and

a store that receives the control signal and stores it.

256. The device of claim 255 wherein the control signal comprises a list of positions, wherein the positions are chosen from the set of characteristics consisting of samples and time relative to the beginning of the stored music.

257. The device of claim 255 wherein the control signal further comprises a list of amplitudes corresponding to the positions.

258. The device of claim 257 additionally comprising a second manually-operated transducer that outputs a second electrical signal, wherein the controller additionally receives the second electrical signal.

259. The device of claim 255 wherein the transducer comprises a musical drum operated by the user whose audible output is received by a microphone that generates the electrical signal received by the controller.

260. The device of claim 255 wherein the controller performs frequency filtering on the electrical signal.

261. The device of claim 255 wherein the transducer is a tactile transducer that is operated by an appendage of the user selected from the group consisting of finger, hand, and foot.

262. The device of claim 255 wherein the store is a file system and the control signal is stored as control file and the stored music is stored as a music file, wherein the control file and the music file are stored in association with each other.

263. The device of claim 255 wherein the control signals are stored in an interleaved fashion with the stored music.

265. A music player that wirelessly transmits control signals related to the music, wherein the control signals control a wearable electronic accessory, comprising:

a store of music signal files;

a controller that reads a musical signal file from the store and generates audio signals and that further generates the control signals;

a transducer that converts the audio signals into sound audible to the user; and

a wireless transmitter that transmits the control signal to the wearable electronic accessory.

266. The player of claim 265 wherein the music signal files comprise compressed audio files.

267. The player of claim 265 wherein the controller performs frequency filtering of the external control signal.

268. The player of claim 265 wherein the controller determines the primary beat of the music.

269. The player of claim 268 wherein the primary beat of the music is determined according to the positions in the music where the amplitude rises at least a predetermined factor over less than a predetermined time.

270. The player of claim 265 wherein the control signals are pairs comprising positions within the music and the amplitudes to which the output transducers are set at such times.

271. The player of claim 265 wherein the positions are chosen from the set of characteristics consisting of samples and times.

272. The player of claim 265 wherein the transmitter is an analog radio frequency transmitter.

273. The player of claim 265 wherein the transmitter transmits according to an Internet protocol.

274. The player of claim 273 wherein the Internet protocol has a link layer selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

275. The player of claim 265 additionally comprising a visual transducer that generates visually-preceptive output in response to the control signal, wherein the visual transducer receives the control signal from the controller.

276. The player of claim 275 wherein the visual transducer is a light emitting diode.

277. The player of claim 275 wherein the visual transducer is a liquid crystal display.

278. The player of claim 265 additionally comprising a store of configuration files wherein the configuration files include parameters read by the controller that affect the generation of control signals from the musical signals.

279. A music player that wirelessly transmits control signals related to the music, wherein the control signals control a wearable electronic accessory, comprising:

a store of music signal files;

a second store of control signal files associated with the music signal files;

a controller that reads a musical signal file from the store and generates audio signals and that further reads an associated control signal file;

a transducer that converts the audio signals into sound audible to the user, and a wireless transmitter that transmits the control signals from the associated control signal file to the wearable electronic accessory.

280. The player of claim 279 wherein the music signal files comprise compressed audio files.

281. The player of claim 279 wherein the transmitter is an analog radio frequency transmitter.

282. The player of claim 279 wherein the transmitter transmits according to an Internet protocol.

283. The player of claim 282 wherein the Internet protocol has a link layer selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

284. The player of claim 279 wherein the store of control information comprises at least one binary data file that relates to a single music signal file.

285. The player of claim 279 wherein the store of control information is interleaved with a related music signal file in binary data format.

286. The player of claim 279 additionally comprising a visual transducer that generates visually-preceptive output in response to the electrical control signal, wherein the visual transducer receives the electrical control signal from the controller.

287. A system for exhibition of music enjoyment, comprising:

a source of music signals;

a controller that generates control signals from the music signals;

a transmitter of the control signals, wherein the transmission of the control signals is synchronized with the playing of the music signals;

a receiver of the control signals; and

a transducer that responds to the control signals.

288. The system of claim 287 wherein the source of music signals are stored binary music files.

289. The system of claim 288 wherein the stored binary data files are compressed audio files.

290. The system of claim 288 wherein the music signals are stored on a medium selected from the group consisting of compact disk, digital video disk, hard disk drive, removable disks, flash memory, magneto-optical disk, and audio tape.

291. The system of claim 287 wherein the source of music signals are musicians playing live music.

292. The system of claim 287 wherein the receiver and transducer are worn by a user.

293. The system of claim 287 wherein the receiver and the transducer are physically separated from the transmitter by more than 5 feet.

294. The system of claim 287 wherein the transducer is a visual transducer that generates humanly-perceptible visual signals.

295. The system of claim 294 wherein the visual transducer is a light emitting diode

296. The system of claim 294 wherein the visual transducer is a liquid crystal display

297. The system of claim 287 wherein the transducer is a tactile transducer.

298. The system of claim 287 wherein the minimum range of the transmitter for which the receiver is receptive is at least 1 foot.

299. The system of claim 287 wherein the maximum range of the transmitter for which the receiver is receptive is less than 500 feet.

300. The system of claim 287 wherein the controller determines the primary beat of the music.

301. The system of claim 287 wherein the controller performs frequency filtering.

302. The system of claim 287, additionally comprising a second controller that is electrically connected to the receiver, and which generates transducer control signals from the control signals received by the receiver, wherein the transducer control signals directly control the transducer.

303. The system of claim 302 wherein the control signals are time-varying amplitude signals and wherein the second controller performs frequency filtering.

304. The system of claim 302 additionally comprising a switch that is electrically connected to the second controller such that actuation of the switch places the second controller into entraining mode, wherein the receiver becomes receptive of entraining signals from the transmitter.

305. The system of claim 304 wherein a receiver that is entrained will receive control signals other than from the transmitter in the absence of signals from the transmitter.

306. The system of claim 304 wherein additional actuation of the switch will allow reception of control signals by the receiver from a transmitter to which it is not entrained.

307. The system of claim 287 wherein the transmitter and receiver communicate via an Internet protocol.

308. The system of claim 287 wherein the transmitter and receiver communicate via digital radio frequency communications.

309. The system of claim 287 wherein the transmitter and receiver communicate via analog radio frequency communications.

310. The system of claim 309 wherein the analog radio frequency communications are at a frequency set by a crystal oscillator and wherein the crystal oscillator can be manually replaced.

311. The system of claim 287 additionally comprising a transferor for the transmission of music signals.

312. The system of claim 311 wherein the transmitter and the transferor are the same.

313. The system of claim 311 wherein the transmitter and the transferor are different, and communicate via different communications protocols.

314. The system of claim 287 additionally comprising a second receiver for the reception of music signals, wherein the music signals that are received are played by the music player.

315. A method for transferring a wearable-accessory control file stored on a first device to a second device in which an associated music file is stored, comprising:

storing on the first device the name of the music file in conjunction with the control file with which it is associated;

requesting by the second device of the first device for a control file stored in conjunction with the name of the music file; and

transferring the control file from the first device to the second device, wherein the control file is stored on the second device in conjunction with the name of the associated music file.

316. The method of claim 315 additionally comprising the step of extracting, wherein the control file is stored on the first device interspersed with the music file as a combined file, and the control file is extracted from the music file prior to being transferred to the second device.

317. The method of claim 315 wherein the requesting is performed over a wide area network.

318. The method of claim 315 wherein the name of the control file comprises the root of the name of the associated music file appended with a predetermined extension that is different from that of the music file.

319. The method of claim 315 wherein the control file and the associated music file both comprise the same substantially unique identifier.

320. A device for transmitting control signals to a wearable accessory receptive of such control signals, comprising:

a manually-separable input connector for connecting to an output port of an audio player, wherein audio signals are conveyed from the audio player to the device across the connector;

a controller for generating control signals from the audio signals; and

a transmitter for transmitting the control signals.

321. The device of claim 320 additionally comprising a second connector, wherein a portion of the audio signal conveyed to the device is conveyed to the second connector, and wherein an earphone can connect to the second connector.

322. The player of claim 320 wherein the controller performs frequency filtering of the audio signal.

323. The player of claim 320 wherein the controller determines the primary beat of the audio signal.

324. The player of claim 320 additionally comprising a visual transducer that generates visually-preceptive output in response to the control signals, wherein the visual transducer receives the control signals from the controller.

325. The system of claim 320 wherein the transmitter transmits via an Internet protocol.

326. The system of claim 320 wherein the transmitter transmits via digital radio frequency communications.

327. The system of claim 320 wherein the transmitter transmits via analog radio frequency communications.

328. The system of claim 327 wherein the analog radio frequency communications are at a frequency set by a crystal oscillator and wherein the crystal oscillator can be manually replaced.

329. The system of claim 320 wherein the transmitter additionally transmits the audio signal to wireless earphones.