Music share

• US 20070197160A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allen Heath, Kristyn Health
• Original Assignee: Allen Heath, Kristyn Health
• Inventors: Heath, Allen, Health, Kristyn
• Application Number:
  US11/700,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197160A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention details a low cost novel apparatus and method of coordinated broadcasting of music among connected peer listeners in a wireless ad-hoc networking environment. One or more receiver/listeners and one or more broadcasting/listeners equipped with a portable music player in local proximity, can use short-range wireless transmission to participate and listen to the same song at the same time. Moreover, the present invention allows listeners in the transmission range to discover broadcasters through channel switching and profile matching. As one broadcaster can have many listeners, channel switching and profile matching are used by the listeners to identify capable broadcasters and by broadcast/listeners to change transmission channels.

Claims

1. A low cost apparatus and method for interactively broadcasting music between multiple users, including at least a first user and a second user, comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless ad-hoc network between at least a first broadcast apparatus with a music player used by the first user and a second listening apparatus used by the second user;

sending a first message from the first apparatus to a public channel or a selected radio frequency;

scanning the public channel or radio frequency and receiving the first message with first profile to the second apparatus;

to direct the second apparatus to a private channel or select frequency;

performing matching evaluation between the first profile and a storage area of the second apparatus in the second apparatus to determine if channel selection has already been made

Selecting the private channel or select frequency to receive music

Broadcasting music on the private channel or select frequency from the first apparatus

Receiving music on the private channel or select frequency to the second apparatus

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the step of broadcasting music, the method can further include the following steps:

scanning the public channel or radio frequency and receiving the first message with first profile to a third apparatus;

to direct the third apparatus to a private channel or radio frequency;

performing matching evaluation between the first profile and a storage area of the third apparatus to determine if channel selection has already been made

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of establishing the wireless ad-hoc network comprises performing short-range radio technologies.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of sending the first message from the first apparatus comprises sending its unique id and selected private channel or frequency to the second apparatus.

5. A method for interactively broadcasting music between multiple users, including at least a first user with a music player and a second user, comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless ad-hoc network between at least a first broadcast apparatus used by the first user and a second listening apparatus used by the second user;

sending a first message from the first apparatus to a public channel or radio frequency;

scanning the public channel and receiving the first message with the profile to the second apparatus;

performing matching evaluation between the first message with the profile and a storage area of the second apparatus in the second apparatus to determine if selection has already been made

scanning the public channel and receiving the first message with first profile to a second apparatus;

to direct the second apparatus to a private channel or frequency;

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein after the step of broadcasting music, the method can further include the following steps:

scanning the public channel or radio frequency and receiving the first message to a third apparatus used by a third user over the wireless ad-hoc network;

direct the third apparatus to the private channel; and

broadcasting music from the first, to the second and the third apparatuses.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of establishing the wireless ad-hoc network comprises performing short-range radio technologies.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of sending the first message from the first apparatus comprises sending a signature of the first apparatus to identify it as a capable device, a unique id and private channel id or radio frequency for the broadcasting apparatus

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of selecting a private channel for first apparatus can be accomplished by listening to the public channel or radio frequency for other broadcasters and storing their private channels and selecting the next available channel or radio frequency.

10. A method for interactively broadcasting music between multiple users, including at least a first user and a second user, comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless ad-hoc network between at least a first broadcasting apparatus used by the first user and a second listening apparatus used by the second user;

sending a sequence of messages between the first apparatus and the second apparatus;

selecting a broadcaster; and

private channel or radio frequency then broadcasting the song in the apparatuses.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of exchanging a sequence of messages between the first apparatus and the second apparatus further comprises:

sending a first message from the first apparatus to a public channel;

scanning the public channel and receiving the first message to the second apparatus; and

direct the first apparatus to a private channel or radio frequency.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a second broadcaster is selected by second apparatus by receiving the broadcasters message over the public channel or select radio frequency and is directed to the private channel or radio frequency of the second broadcaster

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein after the step of selecting a private channel by broadcasting unit is performed by the first broadcasting listening over the public network

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of sending the first message from the first apparatus comprises sending a first signature of the first apparatus as identification of capable broadcasters

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of establishing the wireless ad-hoc network comprises performing short-range radio technologies.

16. An interactive multi-party linking music listening system comprising at least one listening apparatuses and one broadcasting apparatus communicating over a wireless ad-hoc network, wherein one of the apparatuses is also the first listening apparatus, the first listening apparatus at least comprising:

a first signature to identify the first listening apparatus;

a plurality of channels for communicating between the listening apparatuses, wherein the channels include at least one public channel or radio frequency for advertising the first signature;

a controlled interface for enabling interactive communication over the wireless ad-hoc network;

a channel controller for instructing the channels to be in use and storing signatures of listening apparatuses other than the first listening apparatus;

a wireless transceiver connected to the channel controller, for receiving and sending messages over the wireless ad-hoc network and relaying messages;

a profile storage and matching unit connected to the channel controller, for storing unique id and private channel numbers as a first profile and perform matching between profiles of the listening apparatuses other than the first listening apparatus; and

a music broadcast unit connected to the apparatus, for broadcasting music,

whereby the first listening apparatus can broadcast music with the listening apparatuses other than the first listening apparatus with agreement from all parties.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the wireless transceiver is implemented by short-range radio technologies.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the wireless transceiver is implemented by a Bluetooth technology.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the music broadcast unit comprises a digital music device.

20. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the music broadcast unit comprises a MP3 player.

21. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the music broadcast unit comprises a stereo output from any stereo headphone.

22. An interactive multi-party linking music listening system comprising at least one broadcast/listening apparatuses and one listening apparatus communicating over a wireless ad-hoc network, wherein one of the broadcast/listening apparatuses is a first listening apparatus, the first listening apparatus at least comprising:

a first signature to identify the first broadcast apparatus;

a plurality of channels for communicating between the listening apparatuses, wherein channels include at least one public channel for advertising the first signature;

a controlled interface for enabling interactive communication over the wireless ad-hoc network;

a channel controller for instructing the channels to be in use and storing signatures of listening apparatuses other than the first listening apparatus;

a wireless transceiver connected to the random access controller, for receiving and sending messages over the wireless ad-hoc network and relaying messages to the random access controller;

a channel selection device that the user uses to accept or reject the listening apparatuses other than the first listening apparatus;

a music broadcast unit connected to the apparatus, for broadcasting music,

whereby the first listening apparatus can broadcast music with the listening apparatuses other than the first listening apparatus with agreement from all parties.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the wireless transceiver is implemented by short-range radio technologies.

24. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the wireless transceiver is implemented by a Bluetooth technology.

25. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the music broadcast unit comprises a digital music device.

26. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the music broadcast unit comprises a MP3 player.

27. The system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the user can determine to accept or reject based on a matching for previously selected unique ids.