Portable wireless player and associated method

• US 20060069724A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Langdon, Warren E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,688 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS

Abstract

A method of providing programming to a portable wireless music player includes connecting to a music service provider from a remote client and defining a play list at the music service provider through user interaction at the remote client. The player connects to the music service provider over a wireless service network and downloads music to the player from the music service provider in accordance with the previously defined play list. The music or other programming is played at the player.

Claims

1. A method of providing programming to a portable wireless music player having a memory and being operative to transmit and receive information over a wireless link to a wireless service network, the portable wireless music player being only a relatively simple listening device with limited functionality so as not to be time critical in its operations, the wireless service network being in communication with a music service provider wherein the music service provider allows connections from remote clients, the method comprising:

connecting to the music service provider from a remote client;

defining a play list at the music service provider through user interaction at the remote client;

connecting to the music service provider with the portable wireless music player over the wireless service network;

downloading music to the portable wireless music player from the music service provider in accordance only with the previously defined play list such that the portable wireless music player is only a relatively simple listening device with limited functionality so as not to be time critical in its operations; and

playing the music at the player.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the music service provider is connected to the Internet, and wherein connecting to the music service provider from the remote client further comprises connecting over the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless service network includes a packet network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless service network includes a virtual local area network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless service network includes a last leg, and wherein the last leg is in accordance with Internet protocol.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the last leg is in accordance with dynamic host configuration protocol.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the connection between the music service provider and the portable wireless music player, including a portion of the connection over the last leg includes a quality of service rating.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the wireless service network is for providing a plurality of services in addition to connections to the music service provider, wherein the plurality of services have different quality of service ratings.

9. A method of providing programming to a portable wireless player having a memory and being operative to transmit and receive information over a wireless link to a wireless service network, the portable wireless music player being only a relatively simple listening device with limited functionality so as not to 5 be time critical in its operations, the wireless service network being in communication with a service provider wherein the service provider allows connections from remote clients, the method comprising:

connecting to the service provider from a remote client;

defining a play list at the service provider through user interaction at the remote client;

connecting to the service provider with the portable wireless music player over the wireless service network, the connection between the service provider and the portable wireless music player including a quality of service rating wherein the wireless service network provides a plurality of services in addition to connections to the service provider, and wherein the plurality of services have different quality of service ratings;

downloading programming to the portable wireless music player from the service provider in accordance only with the previously defined play list such that the portable wireless music player is only a relatively simple listening device with limited functionality so as not to be time critical in its operations; and

playing the programming at the portable wireless music player.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the service provider is connected to the Internet, and wherein connecting to the service provider from the remote client further comprises connecting over the Internet.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the wireless service network includes a packet network.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the wireless service network includes a virtual local area network.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the wireless service network includes a last leg, and wherein the last leg is in accordance with Internet protocol.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the last leg is in accordance with dynamic host configuration protocol.

15. A portable wireless player for use in playing programming received over a wireless link to a wireless service network, the wireless service network being in communication with a service provider that allows connections from remote clients wherein a remote client connects to the service provider and defines a play list at the service provider through user interaction at the remote client, the portable wireless player comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed in the housing;

a memory disposed in the housing;

a transmitter for transmitting information over the wireless service network;

a receiver for receiving information over the wireless service network; and

instructions in the memory that direct the processor to connect to the service provider over the wireless service network, to download programming to the portable wireless music player in accordance only with the previously defined play list such that the portable wireless music player is only a relatively simple listening device with limited functionality so as not to be time critical in its operations, and to play the programming.

16. The player of claim 15 wherein the wireless service network includes a last leg in accordance with Internet protocol, and wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions in the memory for connecting to the wireless service network in accordance with Internet protocol.

17. The player of claim 16 wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions in the memory for connecting to the wireless service network in accordance with dynamic host configuration protocol.

18. The player of claim 17 wherein the connection between the music service provider and the player, including a portion of the connection over the last leg includes a quality of service rating.

19. The player of claim 18 wherein the wireless service network is for providing a plurality of services in addition to connections to the music service provider, wherein the plurality of services have different quality of service ratings.

20. A portable wireless music player for use in playing music received over a wireless link to a wireless service network, the wireless service network being in communication with a music service provider that allows connections from remote clients wherein a remote client connects to the music service provider and defines a play list at the music service provider through user interaction at the remote client, the portable wireless player comprising:

a housing;

a processor disposed in the housing;

a memory disposed in the housing;

a transmitter for transmitting information over the wireless service network;

a receiver for receiving information over the wireless service network;

instructions in the memory that direct the processor to connect to the music service provider over the wireless service network, to download music to the portable wireless music player in accordance only with the previously defined play list such that the portable wireless music player is only a relatively simple listening device with limited functionality so as not to be time critical in its operations, and to play the music;

a display for displaying the play list; and

a plurality of control buttons for selecting music to play from the play list on the display.