Methods and systems for mixing media with communications

• US 20090143007A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Terlizzi, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,254,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104

Abstract

A communications device may transmit a media item chosen by a user over a communication path also being used to transmit an established communications operation. The user may select a media item of any known type, including for example a musical selection, a video, a voicemail, a podcast, an image, or any other suitable media item. The user may select any suitable contact method for the communications operation, including for example, telephone, voicemail, email, text message, chatting, fax, or any other suitable method.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting media using a communications device, comprising:

establishing a communication path with a second communications device;

performing an ongoing communications operation with the second communications device;

identifying media available for playback by the communications device;

combining the identified media with the ongoing communications operation; and

transmitting the combination of the identified media and the ongoing communications operation to the second communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying media available for playback by the communications device further comprises receiving a user selection of media.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying media available for playback by the communications device further comprises identifying a media type.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the media type is at least one of music, video, images, voicemail, and podcasts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying media available for playback by the communications device further comprises identifying a playback interval for the identified media.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications operation is at least one of telephone, email, voicemail, text message, chat and fax.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein combining the identified media with the ongoing communications operation further comprises combining the identified media with the ongoing communications operation using at least one of a multiplexer, an audio mixer, and video processing circuitry.

8. A method for receiving media combined with a communications operation using a communications device, comprising:

establishing a communication path with a second communications device;

performing an ongoing communications operation with the second communications device; and

receiving a combination of media and the ongoing communications operation from the second communications device, wherein the media is available for playback by the second communications device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the communications operation is at least one of telephone, email, voicemail, text message, chat and fax.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identified media is at least one of music, video, images, voicemail, and podcasts.

11. A system for transmitting media using a communications device, comprising:

a communications network;

a first communications device;

a second communications device; and

a communication path between the first communications device and the second communications device for performing an ongoing communications operation, wherein;

the first communications device identifies media available for playback by the first communications device;

the first communications device combines the identified media with the ongoing communications device;

the combination of the identified media with the ongoing communications device is transmitted over the communication path; and

the second communications device receives the combination of the identified media with the ongoing communications device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the communications network is a wireless communications network.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first communications device receives an identified playback interval.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first communications device is operative to control the playback of the identified media transmitted with the ongoing communications operation.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the second communications device is operative to control the playback of the identified media transmitted with the ongoing communications operation.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first communications device is operative to receive a playback control instruction for the identified media from the second communications device.

17. A communications device for transmitting media combined with an ongoing communications operation, the communications device comprising control circuitry and communications circuitry, the control circuitry operative to:

direct the communications circuitry to establish a communication path with a second communications device;

perform an ongoing communications operation with the second communications device;

identify media available for playback by the communications device;

combine the identified media with the ongoing communications operation; and

direct the communications circuitry to transmit the combination of the identified media and the ongoing communications operation to the second communications device.

18. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to receive a user selection of media.

19. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the identified media is at least one of music, video, images, voicemail, and podcasts.

20. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to identify a playback interval for the identified media.

21. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the communications operation is at least one of telephone, email, voicemail, text message, chat and fax.

22. The communications device of claim 17, wherein the control circuitry is further operative to combine the identified media with the ongoing communications operation using at least one of a multiplexer, an audio mixer, and video processing circuitry.

23. A communications device for receiving media combined with a communications operation, the communications device comprising control circuitry and communications circuitry, the control circuitry operative to:

direct the communications circuitry to establish a communication path with a second communications device;

perform an ongoing communications operation with the second communications device; and

receive a combination of media and the ongoing communications operation from the second communications device, wherein the media is available for playback by the second communications device.

24. The communications device of claim 23, wherein the communications operation is at least one of telephone, email, voicemail, text message, chat and fax.

25. The communications device of claim 23, wherein the identified media is at least one of music, video, images, voicemail, and podcasts.