METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING AND MANAGING CLUSTERS OF MOBILE AUDIO DEVICES

• US 20070129005A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tunnel IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Syncronation, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldberg, Benjamin, Goldberg, David, Goldberg, Miriam, Goldberg, Martha, Simon, Neil
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• 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 tempo display G10H2220/081; tempo control G10H2210/375
• 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, analog or digital, e.g. DECT GSM, UMTS smartphone, PDA or palmtop used for musical purposes G10H2230/015; mobile ringtone G10H2230/021
• 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 synchronised lyrics, e.g. for karaoke G10H2220/011
• 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

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling access of a mobile audio device to a cluster of compatible devices. More particularly, the invention pertains to a method to establish communications between a portable audio player and one or more audio players within a cluster. By way of example, users can use identifiers and matching to decide whether to accept or reject a requesting audio player to join the cluster. Further, the identifiers may be stored on the audio players for future reference. Also, directional exchange of information can allow a user to visually select members of the cluster. In a further example, a mobile audio device is configured to communicate within a cluster of audio devices. In addition, the broadcasting responsibility can be transferred among members of the group.

Claims

1. A method for accepting or rejecting a third mobile audio device to a cluster comprising a first mobile audio device and a second mobile audio device, comprising:

sending information about the user of the third device from the third device to the first device;

receiving and transmitting the sent information about the user of the third device from the first device to the second device;

displaying the sent information about the user of the third device on the first device;

displaying the transmitted information about the user of the third device on the second device;

deciding jointly by the user of the first device and the user of the second device whether to share music with the user of the third device; and

accepting or rejecting the third device depending on the joint decision.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein deciding jointly uses a rule selected from the group consisting of majority vote, unanimous vote, timed majority vote, and synchronized majority vote.

3. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising obtaining ratings of the user of the third device by the first device.

4. A portable audio device enabled to request to join a cluster of portable audio devices using a localized audio network, comprising:

a means for transmitting information associated with the portable audio device;

a means for receiving information transmitted from another device within the cluster;

a means for displaying the received information; and

a means for inputting votes for accepting the audio device into the cluster;

wherein the votes enable the joint decision whether to accept or reject the audio device into the cluster.

5. A portable audio device of claim 4 further comprising a means for accepting or rejecting the audio device into the cluster.

6. A portable audio device of claim 5 wherein the means for accepting or rejecting uses a rule selected from the group consisting of majority vote, unanimous vote, timed majority vote and synchronized majority vote.

7. A portable audio device of claim 5 wherein the means for accepting or rejecting the audio device into the cluster includes a means for obtaining ratings of the user of the third device by the first device.

8. A portable audio device of claim 4, wherein the received information comprises one or more of the name of the user, the nickname of the user, a unique identifier associated with the user, an alphanumerical identifier associated with the user, the musical preferences of the user, the age of the user, and the educational institution that the use attends.

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

a first sharing device and a second sharing device, each device 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;

a member user operating the second sharing device, wherein the broadcast user plays the musical signal for his own enjoyment on the first sharing device and transmits the musical signal to the receiver of the second sharing device of the member user, on which the musical signal is played for the member user; and

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.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second sharing device additionally comprises a signaler wherein the user operating the second sharing device can signal the broadcast user on the first sharing device expressing the intent to share music with the first sharing device.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a third sharing device, with a second member user operating the third sharing device, wherein the third sharing device plays the music signal from the first sharing device with the broadcast and member users, and wherein on the actuation of the switch, plays the music signal from the second sharing device with that of the broadcast and member users.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the third device plays the music signal substantially simultaneously with the first sharing device and the second sharing device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second sharing device transmits to the first sharing device an address on which the music signal will be transmitted by the second sharing device, and the first device transmits the address to the third sharing device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the second sharing device plays the music substantially simultaneously with the first sharing device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the second sharing device transmits to the first sharing device an address on which the music signal will be transmitted by the second sharing device.

16. 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;

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; and

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.

17. 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;

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; and

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.

18. A portable device that can share audio entertainment with a compatible portable device, comprising:

a transmitter for broadcasting to a compatible device, the broadcast comprising at least one of audio entertainment, an identifier associated with the portable device, or a transfer signal;

a receiver for receiving transmissions from a compatible device, the received transmissions comprising at least one of an identifier associated with the device that is broadcasting to the device;

audio entertainment and transfer signals broadcast to the device;

audio storage for storing audio entertainment received by the receiver;

a means for outputting audio entertainment, the audio entertainment being received by the receiver or from the audio storage; and

a manual switch, wherein actuation of the switch causes the portable device to switch between transmitting audio entertainment and receiving transmissions from the compatible device.

19. A portable device as in claim 18, wherein the identifier includes a least one piece of information about the user of the 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, a unique apparatus identifier, and the educational institution that the user attends.

20. A portable device as in claim 18, further comprising a visual display to display the identifier received by the device.

21. A method for the user of a sharing mobile wireless audio device to join in a sharing group with at least one other mobile wireless audio device, comprising:

establishing contact between the sharing device and the other mobile wireless audio device, wherein the contacting comprises physical proximity or directional communication;

exchanging information by the contact from the other audio device with the sharing mobile audio device;

determining whether the exchanged information satisfies criteria for joining;

allowing the other audio device to join the sharing group if the criteria are satisfied.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the contacting is provided by a contactor selected from the group consisting of light emitting diode, laser, inductive electronics, direct electrical contact or sonic communications.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the exchanged information comprises personal information of the user of the audio device selected from the group consisting of the name of the user, the nickname of the user, a unique identifier, an alphanumerical identifier, the musical preferences of the user, the age of the user, and the educational institution that the user attends.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein determining comprises obtaining ratings associated with an identifier of the user of the audio device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the determining is performed by an automated matcher.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the determining is performed manually.

27. A sharing mobile audio device, comprising:

a base electronic product selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a portable audio device, an MP3 player, and a portable digital assistant; and

a unit directly integrated with the base electronic product, for enabling wireless transmission and reception of communications between members of a cluster of compatible mobile devices, the unit further comprising;

a digital exchanger that exchanges digital information between the audio device and the other audio device, wherein the exchange comprises at least one of physical proximity or directional communication;

a determiner that determines whether the exchanged digital information satisfies criteria for joining; and

a means for joining the cluster.

28. The sharing mobile audio device of claim 27, wherein the digital exchanger comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode, a laser, inductive electronics, direct electrical contact, and sonic communications.

29. The sharing mobile audio device of claim 27, wherein the exchanged information comprises personal information of a user of the audio device selected from the group consisting of the name of the user, the nickname of the user, a unique identifier, an alphanumerical identifier, the musical preferences of the user, the age of the user, and the educational institution that the user attends.

30. The sharing mobile audio device of claim 27, wherein determining comprises obtaining ratings associated with the exchanged information.

31. The sharing mobile audio device of claim 30, wherein the ratings are obtained from the Internet.

32. A wireless communications system for sharing audio entertainment between a first mobile device and a second mobile device with a third mobile device additionally requesting to share audio entertainment, comprising:

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

personal information transmitted by the second mobile device to the first mobile device;

a transmitter for transmitting the 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; and

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;

wherein the user of the first mobile device and the user of the second mobile device make a communal decision on whether to share audio entertainment with the third mobile device.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the communal decision uses a rule selected from the group consisting of majority vote, unanimous vote, timed majority vote, or synchronized majority vote.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the personal information is additionally transmitted by the third mobile device to the second mobile device.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein the personal information is additionally transmitted by the first mobile device to the second mobile device.

36. The system of claim 32 wherein the first mobile device additionally comprises a display to display the personal information.

37. The system of claim 32 wherein the first mobile device additionally comprises a connection to the Internet whereby the ratings stored on the Internet in association with the information can be obtained.

38. A method for a first portable audio player to decide whether to accept a second portable audio player into an audio sharing cluster, comprising:

establishing communications between the portable audio player and the second portable audio player;

passing from the second audio player to the first audio player identifiers from prior clusters to which the second audio player had been associated;

matching the identifiers passed by the second audio player to the first audio player with a list of identifiers;

deciding to accept the second audio player into the cluster based on the matching; and

storing the identifier of the second audio player into the first audio player if the second audio player is accepted into the sharing cluster.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the list of identifiers is stored on the first audio player.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the list of identifiers are stored on the Internet, the method further comprising the step of connecting to the Internet and comparing the identifiers passed from the second audio player with identifiers downloaded from the Internet.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein deciding uses an automated algorithm.

42. A wireless audio player enabled to share an audio selection with a second wireless audio player, comprising:

means for establishing communications between the portable audio player and the second portable audio player;

means for transmitting from the second audio player to the first audio player identifiers from prior music sharing clusters to which the second audio player had been associated;

means for matching the identifiers passed by the second audio player to the first audio player with a list of identifiers;

means for deciding to transmit to the second audio player based on the matching; and

means for storing the identifier of the second audio player into the first audio player.

43. The player of claim 42, wherein the identifier received is compared with the store of identifiers to determine whether the audio selection should be shared with the second audio player.

44. The player of claim 42 further comprising a connection to the Internet wherein the identifier received from the second audio player is compared with identifiers downloaded from the Internet to determine whether the audio selection should be shared with the second audio player.

45. The player of claim 44 wherein the identifiers on the Internet are associated with rating of the second audio player.

46. An audio device enabled to control access by a searching audio device to a cluster comprising a plurality of compatible audio devices that form a local audio network, the audio device comprising:

means for sending information about a user of the searching device from the searching device to the audio device, wherein the searching device is searching for a cluster to join;

means for receiving and transmitting the sent information from the audio device to the plurality of audio devices in the cluster;

means for displaying the sent information on the audio device;

means for displaying the transmitted information on the plurality of devices in the cluster;

means for the cluster to jointly decide whether to share music with the user of the searching device; and

means for accepting or rejecting the searching device depending on the joint decision.