FM broadcast system competitive with satellite radio
First Claim
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1. A method of playing media on a playback device, the method comprising:
- generating a plurality of media content segments;
encrypting at least a portion of said media content segments to produce encrypted media content segments;
generating a library comprising said encrypted media content segments;
prior to delivery of said playback device to a user, storing said library on said playback device;
generating an active playlist comprising a representation of a set of said encrypted media content segments;
said playback device decrypting at least a portion of said set of said encrypted media content segments to produce decrypted media content segments; and
said playback device creating an output signal comprising a representation of a sequence of said media content segments responsive to said active playlist;
wherein;
said active playlist is generated at least in part by a media provider; and
said sequence includes at least a portion of said decrypted media content segments.
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Abstract
A media broadcast and distribution system is disclosed which substitutes storage for communications, allowing more efficient use of scarce bandwidth resources. One embodiment allows a terrestrial FM broadcaster to offer a larger number of higher quality audio channels than current satellite radio services such as Sirius and XM Satellite Radio. This embodiment also has features that offer a better user experience than with personal audio devices such as Apple'"'"'s iPod™. Another embodiment allows satellite radio services to expand their video offerings.
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Citations
80 Claims
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1. A method of playing media on a playback device, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of media content segments;
encrypting at least a portion of said media content segments to produce encrypted media content segments;
generating a library comprising said encrypted media content segments;
prior to delivery of said playback device to a user, storing said library on said playback device;
generating an active playlist comprising a representation of a set of said encrypted media content segments;
said playback device decrypting at least a portion of said set of said encrypted media content segments to produce decrypted media content segments; and
said playback device creating an output signal comprising a representation of a sequence of said media content segments responsive to said active playlist;
wherein;
said active playlist is generated at least in part by a media provider; and
said sequence includes at least a portion of said decrypted media content segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of playing an on demand report on a playback device, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of media content segments, at least a portion of said media content segments being on demand information segments;
storing at least a portion of said on demand information segments on said playback device;
updating at least a portion of said on demand information segments stored on said playback device to produce updated information segments;
generating a playlist;
a user indicating at said playback device a request for a user requested report; and
creating an output signal representative of said on demand report responsive to said playlist and responsive to said request;
wherein;
said playlist depends in part on user input information provided by said user;
said playlist depends in part on a model created by a media provider;
said user input information is related to said model;
said output signal includes a representation of at least one of said updated information segments;
said output signal is created within a short delay of said request by said user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of playing media on a playback device, the method comprising:
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generating a library of media content segments, a portion of which are a first type of content segments and a portion of which are a second type of content segments;
storing a representation of said library on said playback device;
categorizing at least some of said second type of content segments into a plurality of categories;
associating at least some of said second type of content segments with one or more of said first type of content segments;
associating at least some of said first type of content segments with two or more of said second type of content segments associated with two or more of said categories;
a user indicating a preference for one or more of said categories; and
playing a program of media content segments on said playback device;
wherein;
said program includes representations of a plurality of media content segments selected from said library; and
the selection of said media content segments selected from said library gives preference to media content segments of said second type which are associated with a category for which said user indicated a preference. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of playing media on a playback device, the method comprising:
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associating a user with an active tier selected from a plurality of user tiers;
generating a library of media content segments;
prior to delivery of said playback device to said user, storing at least a portion of said library on said playback device;
after delivery of said playback device to said user, updating at least a portion of said library stored on said playback device to produce an updated library of media content segments;
generating a collection of playlists;
storing at least a portion of said collection of playlists on said playback device;
updating a playlist contained within the collection of playlists stored on said playback device to produce an updated playlist;
playing a representation of a sequence of media content segments on said playback device;
wherein;
at least a portion of said sequence of media content segments are selected from said updated library responsive to said updated playlist;
said updated library comprises a plurality of a first type of media content segments and a plurality of a second type of media content segments;
said portion of said sequence of media content segments includes a plurality of media content segments of said first type and zero or more media content segments of said second type; and
the selection of said zero or more media content segments of said second type is dependent on said active tier. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A media playback device comprising:
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a memory;
a controller;
a user interface; and
a cryptoprocessor. wherein;
update information is communicated to said playback device over one or more communication channels;
said update information comprises first information and second information;
prior to delivery of said playback device to a user, a library of media content segments is stored in said memory;
after delivery of said playback device to said user, said library stored in said memory is updated utilizing said first information to produce an updated library;
a collection of playlists is stored in said memory;
said collection of playlists stored in said memory is updated utilizing said second information to produce an updated collection of playlists;
at least a portion of the media content segments in said updated library are encrypted;
at least a portion of the playlists in said updated collection of playlists are associated with one or more of a plurality of program channels;
said user utilizes said user interface to select an active program channel from said plurality of program channels;
said playback device creates an output signal representative of a media program;
said media program is associated with an active playlist chosen by said controller from said updated collection of playlists;
said active playlist is associated with said active program channel;
said active playlist is associated with at least one of the encrypted media content segments contained in said updated library;
said cryptoprocessor decrypts at least one of the encrypted media content segments associated with said active playlist to produce at least one decrypted media content segment; and
said media program includes a representation of said at least one decrypted media content segment. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method of playing an essentially real-time media program on a playback device, the method comprising:
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storing a library of media content segments in a memory on said playback device;
communicating a playlist to said playback device in essentially real-time over one or more communication channels;
producing an output signal at said playback device;
wherein;
said output signal is representative of said essentially real-time media program; and
said media program is at least partly determined by said playlist. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64)
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65. A media playback device comprising:
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a memory; and
a controller;
wherein;
a library of media content segments is stored in said memory;
said library stored in said memory is updated with update information received over an intermittent communication channel to produce an updated library;
at least a portion of the update information transmitted over said intermittent channel is not received by said playback device;
a playlist is stored in said memory;
said playlist is associated with a sequence of preferred media content segments;
at least a portion of one or more of said preferred media content segments is not present in said updated library;
said controller modifies said sequence of preferred media content segments to produce a modified sequence of media content segments;
each media content segment in said modified sequence of media content segments is present in said updated library;
said playback device produces an output signal representative of a media program; and
said media program is representative of said modified sequence of media content segments. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A media playback device comprising:
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a memory;
a controller; and
a user interface;
wherein;
a plurality of media content segments is stored in said memory;
said media content segments are categorized into a plurality of categories;
at least one of said categories is included in a set of special categories;
an active playlist is stored in said memory;
said active playlist comprises a first representation of a sequence of said media content segments;
said playback device produces an output signal;
said output signal comprises a second representation of said sequence of said media content segments;
said user interface includes one or more accelerator functions which reduce the length of time during which at least some media content segments are represented in said output signal; and
said controller inhibits at least one of said one or more accelerator functions during at least portions of time periods when said output signal is representative of a media content segment whose category is included in said set of special categories; and
the inhibition of an accelerator function is selected from the group consisting of requiring the payment of a fee and limiting how frequently said function can be utilized. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76)
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77. A method of playing media on a playback device, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of media content segments;
encrypting at least a portion of said media content segments to produce encrypted media content segments;
generating a library comprising said encrypted media content segments;
storing said library on said playback device;
generating an active playlist comprising a representation of a set of said encrypted media content segments;
said playback device authenticating said active playlist;
said playback device decrypting at least a portion of said set of said encrypted media content segments to produce decrypted media content segments; and
said playback device creating an output signal comprising a representation of a sequence of said media content segments responsive to said active playlist;
wherein;
said active playlist is generated at least in part by a media provider; and
said sequence includes at least a portion of said decrypted media content segments. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80)
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Specification