DIGITAL MUSIC SYSTEM

• US 20070022156A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Magic Home Entertainment, LLC
• Original Assignee: Magic Home Entertainment, LLC
• Inventors: Grubbs, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US11/424,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/101 applying security measures for digital rights management data processing systems or methods, specially adapted for commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce G06Q30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio

Abstract

A digital music system and method. There is a server and a player in wireless data communication over a local network according to a publicly available data format and a publicly available communication protocol. The server and/or player include: an accessory module, a self-configuration module; a control module, a database module, a network module, a streaming server module, a stream source module, a data translation module, a zone control module, and a stream pulling module. The server module receives a first array of media meta-data; contrasts the first array with a second array corresponding to accessible music; and orders access to an inaccessible media file from a media vendor.

Claims

1. A digital music system for enabling open and modular configuration, comprising:

a) a server module configured to store media meta-data and direct media performance;

b) a player module configured to perform media according to instruction from the control module; and

c) wherein the server module and player module are in wireless data communication over a local network according to a publicly available data format and a publicly available communication protocol.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a) an accessory module configured to perform media; and

b) a self configuration module configured to authenticate the accessory module and enable control of the accessory module by the server module.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the server module comprises:

a) a server control module configured to direct media performance;

b) a database module in communication with the server control module and configured to store meta-data regarding a media file;

c) a network module in communication with the server control module and configured to deliver data over the local network;

d) a streaming server module in communication with the server control module and configured to provide a plurality of data streams;

e) a stream source module in communication with the server control module and configured to enable a plurality of player modules to receive diverse streams; and

f) a data translation module in communication with the network module and configured to convert meta-data to be delivered outside the server module into a publicly available data format.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the player module comprises:

a) a zone control module configured to direct media performance;

b) a network module in communication with the zone control module and configured to deliver data over the local network;

c) a data translation module in communication with the network module and configured to convert meta-data to be delivered outside the player module into a publicly available data format; and

d) a stream pulling module configured to receive a stream and deliver stream data to the audio module.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the self configuration module further comprises:

an authentication module configured to receive and validate a certificate; and

a decryption module configured to decrypt an encrypted certificate from the player module.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data translation module in communication with the network module and configured to convert meta-data to be delivered outside the server module into a publicly available data format.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the data translation module is in communication with the database module and is configured to deliver an array of meta-data outside of the local network according to a publicly available protocol and data format.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the server module is in data communication with the internet and may propagate media meta-data thereto.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the server module performs the steps of:

a) receiving a first array of media meta-data according to a publicly available format and protocol;

b) contrasting the first array with a second array of media meta-data, the second array corresponding to a list of music files accessible by the server module;

c) determining that an inaccessible media file described in the first array is not accessible; and

d) ordering access to the inaccessible media file from a media vendor by delivering to the media vendor an array of meta-data corresponding to the inaccessible media file according to a publicly available format and protocol.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the server module further comprises a licensing module in communication with the server control module and configured to restrict the playing of unlicensed media.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the player module further comprises a licensing module in communication with the server control module and configured to restrict the playing of unlicensed media.

12. A method for producing a digital open modular music system, comprising:

a) providing a server module in communication with a local network according to a publicly available format and protocol; and

b) providing a player module in communication with the server module according to a publicly available format and protocol and configured to play media.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

a) providing an accessory module configured to perform media; and

b) providing a self configuration module configured to authenticate the accessory module and enable control of the accessory module by the server module.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

a) providing a server control module configured to direct media performance;

b) providing a database module in communication with the server control module and configured to store meta-data regarding a media file;

c) providing a network module in communication with the server control module and configured to deliver data over the local network;

d) providing a streaming server module in communication with the server control module and configured to provide a plurality of data streams;

e) providing a stream source module in communication with the server control module and configured to enable a plurality of player modules to receive diverse streams; and

f) providing a data translation module in communication with the network module and configured to convert meta-data to be delivered outside the server module into a publicly available data format.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

a) providing a zone control module configured to direct media performance;

b) providing a network module in communication with the zone control module and configured to deliver data over the local network;

c) providing a data translation module in communication with the network module and configured to convert meta-data to be delivered outside the player module into a publicly available data format; and

d) providing a stream pulling module configured to receive a stream and deliver stream data to the audio module.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing an authentication module configured to receive and validate a certificate; and

providing a decryption module configured to decrypt an encrypted certificate from the player module.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a data translation module in communication with the network module and configured to convert meta-data to be delivered outside the server module into a publicly available data format.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

a) receiving a first array of media meta-data according to a publicly available format and protocol;

b) contrasting the first array with a second array of media meta-data, the second array corresponding to a list of music files accessible by the server module;

c) determining that an inaccessible media file described in the first array is not accessible; and

d) ordering access to the inaccessible media file from a media vendor by delivering to the media vendor an array of meta-data corresponding to the inaccessible media file according to a publicly available format and protocol.

19. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code providing instruction for carrying out the steps of;

a) providing a server module in communication with a local network according to a publicly available format and protocol; and

b) providing self-configuration, communication, and integration of a player module according to a publicly available format and protocol.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the computer readable code further provides instructions for carrying out the further steps of:

a) receiving a first array of media meta-data according to a publicly available format and protocol;

b) contrasting the first array with a second array of media meta-data, the second array corresponding to a list of music files accessible by the server module;

c) determining that an inaccessible media file described in the first array is not accessible; and

d) ordering access to the inaccessible media file from a media vendor by delivering to the media vendor an array of meta-data corresponding to the inaccessible media file according to a publicly available format and protocol.