System and method for limiting dead air time in internet streaming media delivery

• US 20050165942A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Musicqubed Innovations LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sonicbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Bolas, Mark T., McDowall, Ian E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/12 wherein another information is substituted for the portion of broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages

Abstract

An system for receiving streaming audio or other audio sources netcast in streaming audio content, where the system avoids dead air time in the audio play by providing an alternative audio content to fill time spent negotiating connections and buffering information.

Claims

1. A system for receiving and playing audio content from an internet based audio content provider through a client computer programmed to communicate through the internet with a plurality of internet based audio content providers and receive audio content in streaming media format from the internet based audio content providers and play the audio content on audio speakers operably connected to the client computer, said system comprising:

a system management server accessible to the client computer, said system management server programmed to receive requests from the computer for connection to an internet based streaming audio content provider; and

computer memory accessible to the client computer, said computer memory storing a plurality of files of audio content, said plurality of audio files comprising audio content distinct from the streaming audio content;

wherein the system management server is further programmed to communicate with the client computer when the client computer is directed by a user to switch from a first internet based streaming audio content provider to a second internet based streaming audio content provider and direct the client computer to play at least one of the plurality of files of audio content while the client computer is switching from the first internet based streaming audio content provider and negotiating a connection with the second internet based streaming audio content provider and buffering content provided in streaming media format by the second internet based audio content provider.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer memory accessible to the client computer is physically located within the client computer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer memory accessible to the client computer is physically located with the system management server.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer memory is accessible to the client computer through the internet.

5. A system for receiving and playing audio content from an internet based audio content provider through a client computer programmed to communicate through the internet with a plurality of internet based audio content providers and receive audio content in streaming media format from the internet based audio content providers and play the audio content on audio speakers operably connected to the client computer, said system comprising:

a system management server accessible to the client computer, said system management server programmed to receive requests from the client computer for connection to a first internet based streaming audio content provider;

computer memory accessible to the client computer, said computer memory storing a plurality of pre-roll audio files;

wherein upon a user'"'"'s input requesting connection to a second internet based audio content provider, the system management server is further programmed to communicate with the client computer and direct the client computer to play at least one of the plurality of pre-roll audio files while the client computer is negotiating a connection with the second internet based audio content provider and buffering content provided in streaming media format by the second internet based audio content provider.