SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALARM TONE SELECTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND PLAYBACK IN A NETWORKED AUDIOVISUAL DEVICE

• US 20090024943A1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chumby Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chumby Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Adler, Steven Michael, Tomlin, Stephen L.
• Application Number:
  US12/172,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024943A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/021 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

Systems and methods for alarm tone selection and distribution are disclosed. A first device may be configured to allow user selection of a content item for rendering in conjunction with a predefined alarm tone event such as an alarm, meeting time, or other event. The content item may then be associated with an application configured to render content upon occurrence of the event, and the user may be enabled to purchase non-owned content. The user may be further enabled to send content or a reference to content to a second device associated with a second user, where the second user may then be enabled to purchase and use the content for alarm tone functionality on the second device.

Claims

1. A method of selecting alarm tones for rendering on a device, comprising:

providing a first user interface configured to facilitate selection of a first content item;

receiving a user input at the first user interface, said user input provided to select the first content item;

setting a playback duration associated with the first content item;

associating the first content item with a predefined event;

determining if the playback duration has been exceeded; and

rendering the first content item on the device in response to occurrence of the predefined event if the playback duration has not been exceeded.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if the first content item is authorized for use; and

providing, responsive to said determining if the first content item is authorized for use, a second user interface configured to facilitate content purchase.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the playback duration is set to be unlimited if the first content item is owned by a user of the device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said providing a second user interface comprises:

providing a prompt for purchase of the first content item;

receiving, responsive to the prompt for purchase, a user input at the second user interface; and

identifying the first content item as owned if the content is purchased by a user of the device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the playback duration is set to be limited if the first content item is not owned.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the playback duration is set to be unlimited if the first content item is owned.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the playback duration is set to be limited if the first content item is owned for a limited playback duration.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a third user interface configured to facilitate purchase of the first content item if the playback duration has been exceeded;

providing a prompt for purchase of the first content item at the third user interface;

receiving, responsive to said prompt for purchase, a user input at the third user interface;

identifying the first content item as owned if the first content item is purchased by a user of the device;

setting the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned; and

disabling playback of the first content item if the first content item is not owned.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising setting the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is owned for a limited playback duration.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first content item is a media file.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the media file is an audio clip.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the media file is a video clip.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the media file is an image file.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the media file is a multimedia clip.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating the first content with a predefined event comprises:

providing a fourth user interface configured to facilitate selection of the predefined event;

providing a prompt to select the predefined event;

receiving, responsive to said prompt to select the predefined event, a user input at the fourth user interface; and

enabling rendering of the first content item in response to occurrence of the predefined event.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the predefined event is generated by a second application.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second application is an alarm clock application.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the predefined event is a preset alarm time.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the second application is a meeting time application.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the predefined event is a predefined meeting time.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the predefined event is generated by an external device.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the predefined event is generated by an application external to the device.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a first device, further comprising:

providing a fifth user interface configured to facilitate selecting a second content item to be provided to a second device;

providing a prompt to select the second content item;

receiving, responsive to said prompt to select the second content item, a first user input at the fifth user interface;

providing a prompt to select the second device; and

receiving, responsive to said prompt to select the second device, a second user input at the fifth user interface to select the second device.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing the second content item to the second device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the second content item is provided to the second device from the first device.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the second content item is provided to the second device from a server provided by a service provider associated with the first device.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing a reference to the second content item to the second device.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the reference is provided to the second device from the first device.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the reference is provided to the second device from a server provided by a service provider associated with the first device.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the predefined event is generated by a dedicated alarm system internal to the device.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the first content item comprises a media file stored on the device.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein the first content item comprises a reference to a media file.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the media file is stored externally to the device.

34. A device for selecting and rendering alarm tones, comprising:

a processor; and

a processor readable memory on which is stored a set of processor executable instructions disposed to;

provide, on the device, a first user interface configured to facilitate selection of a first content item;

receive a user input at the first user interface to select the first content item;

set a playback duration associated with the first content item;

associate the first content item with a predefined event;

determine if the playback duration has been exceeded; and

render the first content item on the device in response to occurrence of the predefined event if the playback duration has not been exceeded.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

determine if the first content item is authorized for use; and

provide, responsive to said determining if the first content item is authorized for use, a second user interface on the device configured to facilitate content purchase.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned by a user of the device.

37. The device of claim 35 wherein the processor executable instructions disposed to provide a second user interface include instructions to:

provide a prompt for purchase of the first content item;

receive an input at the second user interface responsive to the prompt for purchase; and

identify the first content item as owned if the content is purchased by a user of the device.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is not owned.

39. The device of claim 37 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned.

40. The device of claim 37 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is owned for a limited playback duration.

41. The device of claim 34 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

Provide, on the device, a third user interface configured to facilitate purchase of the first content item if the playback duration has been exceeded;

provide a prompt for purchase of the first content item at the third user interface;

receive, responsive to said prompt for purchase, a user input at the third user interface;

identify the first content item as owned if the first content item is purchased by a user of the device;

set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned; and

disable playback if the first content item is not owned.

42. The device of claim 41 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is purchased for a limited playback duration.

43. The device of claim 34 wherein the first content item is a media file.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein the media file is an audio clip.

45. The device of claim 43 wherein the media file is a video clip.

46. The device of claim 43 wherein the media file is an image.

47. The device of claim 43 wherein the media file is a multimedia clip.

48. The device of claim 34 wherein the processor executable instructions disposed to associate the first content item with a predefined event include instructions to:

provide, on the device, a fourth user interface configured to facilitate selection of the predefined event;

provide a prompt to select the predefined event;

receive, responsive to said prompt to select the predefined event, an input at the fourth user interface; and

enable rendering of the first content item in response to occurrence of the predefined event.

49. The device of claim 48 wherein the predefined event is generated by a second application.

50. The device of claim 49 wherein the second application is an alarm clock application.

51. The device of claim 50 wherein the predefined event is a preset alarm time.

52. The device of claim 49 wherein the second application is a meeting time application.

53. The device of claim 52 wherein the predefined event is a predefined meeting time.

54. The device of claim 48 wherein the predefined event is generated by an external device.

55. The device of claim 48 wherein the predefined event is generated by an application external to the device.

56. The device of claim 34 wherein the device is a first device and the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

provide, on the first device, a fifth user interface configured to facilitate selecting a second content item to be provided to a second device;

provide a prompt to select the second content item;

receive, responsive to said prompt to select the second content item, a first user input at the fifth user interface;

provide a prompt to select the second device; and

receive, responsive to said prompt to select the second device, a second user input at the fifth user interface to select the second device.

57. The device of claim 56 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to initiate providing of the second content item to the second device.

58. The device of claim 57 wherein the second content item is provided to the second device from the first device.

59. The device of claim 57 wherein the second content item is provided to the second device from a server provided by a service provider associated with the first device.

60. The device of claim 56 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to initiate providing a reference to the second content item to the second device.

61. The device of claim 60 wherein the reference to the second content item is provided to the second device from the first device.

62. The device of claim 60 wherein the reference to the second content item is provided to the second device from a server provided by a service provider associated with the first device.

63. The device of claim 34 wherein the predefined event is generated by a dedicated alarm system internal to the device.

64. The device of claim 34 wherein the first content item comprises a media file stored on the device.

65. The device of claim 35 wherein the first content item comprises a reference to a media file.

66. The device of claim 65 wherein the media file is stored externally to the device.

67. A method of sharing alarm tone content between a first device and a second device, comprising:

receiving, at the first device, a first content item in response to a request issued by the second device;

setting a playback duration associated with the first content item;

associating the first content item with a predefined event;

determining if the playback duration has been exceeded; and

rendering the first content item on the first device in response to occurrence of the predefined event if the playback duration has not been exceeded.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising:

determining if the first content item is authorized for use on the first device; and

providing a first user interface configured to facilitate content purchase.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the playback duration is set to be unlimited if the first content item is owned by a user of the first device.

70. The method of claim 68 wherein said providing a first user interface comprises:

providing a prompt for purchase of the first content item;

receiving, responsive to the prompt for purchase, a user input at the first user interface; and

identifying the first content item as owned if the content is purchased by a user of the first device.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the playback duration is set to be limited if the first content item is not owned.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein the playback duration is set to be unlimited if the first content item is owned.

73. The method of claim 69 wherein the playback duration is set to be limited if the first content item owned for a limited playback duration.

74. The method of claim 67 further comprising:

providing a second user interface configured to facilitate purchase of the first content item if the playback duration has been exceeded;

providing a prompt for purchase of the first content item at the second user interface;

receiving, responsive to said prompt for purchase, a user input at the second user interface;

identifying the first content item as owned if the first content item is purchased by a user of the first device;

setting the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned; and

disabling playback of the first content item if the first content item is not owned.

75. The method of claim 74 further comprising setting the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is owned for a limited playback duration.

76. The method of claim 67 wherein the first content item is a media file.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the media file is an audio clip.

78. The method of claim 76 wherein the media file is a video clip.

79. The method of claim 76 wherein the media file is an image.

80. The method of claim 76 wherein the media file is a multimedia clip.

81. The method of claim 67 wherein said associating the first content item with a predefined event comprises:

providing a third user interface configured to facilitate selection of the predefined event;

providing a prompt to select the predefined event;

receiving, responsive to said prompt to select the predefined event, a user input at the third user interface; and

enabling rendering of the first content item on the first device in response to occurrence of the predefined event.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein the predefined event is generated by a second application.

83. The method of claim 82 wherein the second application is an alarm clock application.

84. The method of claim 83 wherein the predefined event is a preset alarm time.

85. The method of claim 82 wherein the second application is a meeting time application.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein the predefined event is a predefined meeting time.

87. The method of claim 81 wherein the predefined event is generated by an external device.

88. The method of claim 81 wherein the predefined event is generated by an application external to the first device.

89. The method of claim 67 further comprising:

determining if playback of third party provided content is enabled on the first device; and

terminating playback of the first content item if playback of third party provided content is disabled on the first device.

90. The method of claim 67 wherein the predefined event is generated by a dedicated alarm system internal to the first device.

91. The method of claim 67 wherein the first content item comprises a media file stored on the first device.

92. The method of claim 67 wherein the first content item comprises a reference to a media file.

93. The method of claim 92 wherein the media file is stored externally to the first device.

94. A first device configured to share alarm tones provided by a second device, comprising:

a processor; and

a processor readable memory containing a set of processor executable instructions disposed to;

receive, at the first device, a first content item in response to a request issued by the second device;

set a playback duration associated with the first content item;

associate the first content item with a predefined event;

determine if the playback duration has been exceeded; and

render the first content item on the first device in response to occurrence of the predefined event if the playback duration has not been exceeded.

95. The device of claim 94 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

determine if the first content item is authorized for use on the first device; and

provide, responsive to said determining if the first content item is authorized for use, a second user interface on the first device configured to facilitate content purchase.

96. The device of claim 95 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned by a user of the first device.

97. The device of claim 95 wherein the processor executable instructions disposed to provide a second user interface include instructions to:

provide a prompt for purchase of the first content item;

receive an input at the second user interface responsive to the prompt for purchase; and

identify the first content item as owned if the content is purchased by a user of the first device.

98. The device of claim 97 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is not owned.

99. The device of claim 97 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned.

100. The device of claim 96 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is owned for a limited playback duration.

101. The device of claim 94 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

provide, on the first device, a third user interface configured to facilitate purchase of the first content item if the playback duration has been exceeded;

provide a prompt for purchase of the first content item at the third user interface;

receive, responsive to said prompt for purchase, a user input at the third user interface;

identify the first content item as owned if the first content item is purchased by a user of the first device;

set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned; and

disable playback if the first content item is not owned.

102. The device of claim 101 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is owned for a limited playback duration.

103. The device of claim 94 wherein the first content item is a media file.

104. The device of claim 103 wherein the media file is an audio clip.

105. The device of claim 103 wherein the media file is a video clip.

106. The device of claim 103 wherein the media file is an image.

107. The device of claim 103 wherein the media file is a multimedia clip.

108. The device of claim 94 wherein the processor executable instructions disposed to associate the first content item with a predefined event include instructions to:

provide, on the first device, a fourth user interface configured to facilitate selection of the predefined event;

provide a prompt to select the predefined event;

receive, responsive to said prompt to select the predefined event, an input at the fourth user interface; and

enable rendering of the first content item on the first device in response to occurrence of the predefined event.

109. The device of claim 108 wherein the predefined event is determined by a second application.

110. The device of claim 109 wherein the second application is an alarm clock application.

111. The device of claim 110 wherein the predefined event is a preset alarm time.

112. The device of claim 109 wherein the second application is a meeting time application.

113. The device of claim 112 wherein the predefined event is a predefined meeting time.

114. The device of claim 108 wherein the predefined event is generated by an external device.

115. The device of claim 108 wherein the predefined event is generated by an application external to the first device.

116. The device of claim 94 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

determine if playback of third party provided content is enabled on the first device; and

terminate playback of the first content item if playback of third party provided content is disabled on the first device.

117. The device of claim 94 wherein the predefined event is generated by a dedicated alarm system internal to the first device.

118. The device of claim 94 wherein the first content item comprises a media file stored on the first device.

119. The device of claim 118 wherein the first content item comprises a reference to a media file.

120. The device of claim 119 wherein the media file is stored externally to the first device.

121. A machine readable medium comprising processor executable instructions that when executed on a processor are disposed to:

provide, on a device, a first user interface configured to facilitate selection of a first content item;

receive a user input at the first user interface to select the first content item;

set a playback duration associated with the first content item;

associate the first content item with a predefined event;

determine if the playback duration has been exceeded; and

render the first content item on the device in response to occurrence of the predefined event if the playback duration has not been exceeded.

122. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

determine if the first content item is authorized for use; and

provide, responsive to said determining if the first content item is authorized for use, a second user interface on the device configured to facilitate content purchase.

123. The machine readable medium of claim 122 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned by a user of the device.

124. The machine readable medium of claim 122 wherein the processor executable instructions disposed to provide a second user interface include instructions to:

provide a prompt for purchase of the first content item;

receive an input at the second user interface responsive to the prompt for purchase; and

identify the first content item as owned if the content is purchased by a user of the device.

125. The machine readable medium of claim 124 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is not owned.

126. The machine readable medium of claim 124 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned.

127. The machine readable medium of claim 124 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is owned for a limited playback duration.

128. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

provide, on the device, a third user interface configured to facilitate purchase of the first content item if the playback duration has been exceeded;

provide a prompt for purchase of the first content item at the third user interface;

receive, responsive to said prompt for purchase, a user input at the third user interface;

identify the first content item as owned if the first content item is purchased by a user of the device;

set the playback duration to be unlimited if the first content item is owned; and

disable playback if the first content item is not owned.

129. The machine readable medium of claim 128 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to set the playback duration to be limited if the first content item is purchased for a limited playback duration.

130. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the first content item is a media file.

131. The machine readable medium of claim 130 wherein the media file is an audio clip.

132. The machine readable medium of claim 130 wherein the media file is a video clip.

133. The machine readable medium of claim 130 wherein the media file is an image.

134. The machine readable medium of claim 130 wherein the media file is a multimedia clip.

135. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the processor executable instructions disposed to associate the first content item with a predefined event include instructions to:

provide, on the device, a fourth user interface configured to facilitate selection of the predefined event;

provide a prompt to select the predefined event;

receive, responsive to said prompt to select the predefined event, an input at the fourth user interface; and

enable rendering of the first content item on the device in response to occurrence of the predefined event.

136. The machine readable medium of claim 135 wherein the predefined event is generated by a second application.

137. The machine readable medium of claim 136 wherein the second application is an alarm clock application.

138. The machine readable medium of claim 137 wherein the predefined event is a preset alarm time.

139. The machine readable medium of claim 136 wherein the second application is a meeting time application.

140. The machine readable medium of claim 139 wherein the predefined event is a predefined meeting time.

141. The machine readable medium of claim 135 wherein the predefined event is generated by an external device.

142. The machine readable medium of claim 135 wherein the predefined event is generated by an application external to the device.

143. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the device is a first device and the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

provide, on the first device, a fifth user interface configured to facilitate selecting a second content item to be provided to a second device;

provide a prompt to select the second content item;

receive, responsive to said prompt to select the second content item, a first user input at the fifth user interface;

provide a prompt to select the second device; and

receive, responsive to said prompt to select the second device, a second user input at the fifth user interface to select the second device.

144. The machine readable medium of claim 143 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to initiate providing of the second content item to the second device.

145. The machine readable medium of claim 144 wherein the second content item is provided to the second device from the first device.

146. The machine readable medium of claim 144 wherein the second content item is provided to the second device from a server provided by a service provider associated with the first device.

147. The machine readable medium of claim 143 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to initiate sending a reference to the second content item to the second device.

148. The machine readable medium of claim 147 wherein the reference to the second content item is sent to the second device from the first device.

149. The machine readable medium of claim 147 wherein the reference to the second content item is sent to the second device from a server provided by a service provider associated with the first device.

150. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the predefined event is generated by a dedicated alarm system internal to the device.

151. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the first content item comprises a media file stored on the device.

152. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the first content item comprises a reference to a media file.

153. The machine readable medium of claim 152 wherein the media file is stored externally to the device.

154. The machine readable medium of claim 121 wherein the device is a first device and the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

receive, at the first device, a second content item in response to a request issued by a second device;

set a second playback duration associated with the second content item;

associate the second content item with a second predefined event;

determine if the second playback duration has been exceeded; and

render the second content item on the first device in response to occurrence of the second predefined event if the second playback duration has not been exceeded.

155. The machine readable medium of claim 154 wherein the processor executable instructions are further disposed to:

determine if playback of third party provided content is enabled on the first device; and

terminate playback of the second content item on the first device if playback of third party provided content is disabled.