Media sharing community

• US 20120015613A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RMZ Development LLC
• Original Assignee: RMZ Development LLC
• Inventors: Sorisi, Joseph A., Zelson, Richard M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,258,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

The present invention enables a user to share his/her listening experience selectively with others without sharing headphones and without disturbing others who do not want to listen. In a preferred embodiment, a first listener can accomplish this by storing in a Portable Electronic Device or similar device a library of listening experiences, listening to one of the listening experiences, and while listening to that one listening experience streaming the one listening experience to at least one other Portable Electronic Device or similar device. A second listener at the other Portable Electronic Device can then listen to the same listening experience as the first listener at the same time. It is expected that the listening experiences will typically be songs or other music but the invention may be practiced with any type of audio content. The first listener may also create a playlist of the listening experiences in the library and make the playlist available to others. Others may use the playlist to access the library and listen to one or more listening experiences stored in the library. Also, utilizing the same interface and communication methodologies as described above, the technology platform detailed in this application can be used for commercial purposes to stream location based content, audio and otherwise, to a connected network of Portable Electronic Devices. Commercial uses of this functionality include providing commercial establishments with the ability to create synchronous (users come into a stream at the exact point that it is being streamed in real time) and or asynchronous (users can select and start a transmission from the beginning) featured channels (location based) where they can stream any self created or otherwise authorized content to other Portable Electronic Devices in their range.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless communication device having a transmitter and a receiver comprising

storing electronically in a library in the device at least one listening experience received at the receiver;

generating from the library electromagnetic signals representing a selected listening experience; and

providing the electromagnetic signals to the transmitter and to an audio output from the wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the listening experiences stored in the library are songs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic signals provided to the transmitter are streamed.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a list of listening experiences stored in the library and transmitting the list from the transmitter.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of receiving at the device a selection of one of the listening experiences on the list of listening experiences.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a Bluetooth.RTM or Wi-Fi transmitter.

7. A wireless communication device including a transmitter, a receiver, and an audio output, said device storing mobile application software for:

storing electronically in a library in the device at least one listening experience received at the receiver;

generating from the library electromagnetic signals representing the selected listening experience; and

providing the electromagnetic signals to the transmitter and to the audio output from the wireless device.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein at least some of the listening experiences stored in the library are songs.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the electromagnetic signals provided to the transmitter are streamed.

10. The device of claim 7 further comprising mobile application software for generating a list of listening experiences stored in the library and transmitting the list from the transmitter.

11. The device of claim 7 further comprising mobile application software for receiving at the device a selection of one of the listening experiences on the list of listening experiences.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the transmitter is a Bluetooth.RTM or Wi-Fi transmitter.

13. A wireless network comprising at least two wireless devices, each device including a transmitter, a receiver, an audio output and mobile application software that configures each device for:

storing electronically in a music library in the device at least one listening experience received at the receiver;

generating from the library electromagnetic signals representing the selected listening experience;

providing the electromagnetic signals to the transmitter and to the audio output from the wireless device; and

receiving electromagnetic signals transmitted from the other device.

14. The network of claim 13 wherein at least some of the listening experiences stored In the libraries are songs.

15. The network of claim 13 wherein the electromagnetic signals provided to the transmitter of a first wireless device are received by the receiver of a second wireless device.

16. The network of claim 15 wherein the electromagnetic signals are streamed.

17. The network of claim 13 further comprising mobile application software for generating a list of listening experiences stored in the library and transmitting the list from the transmitter of a first device to the receiver of a second device.

18. The network of claim 17 further comprising mobile application software for receiving at the first device from the second device a selection of one of the listening experiences on the list of listening experiences.

19. The network of claim 13 wherein the transmitter is a Bluetooth.RTM or Wi-Fi transmitter.