Unitary Electronic Speaker Device For Receiving An Assignment Of A Playlist From A Home Personal Computer And Rendering The Playlist

• US 20150295553A1
• Filed: 06/25/2015
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Golden IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Black Hills Media, LLC (Concert Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Qureshey, Safi, Sheppard, Daniel D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,369,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• 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 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• 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: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/00 Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/08 Constructional details, e.g. cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• 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 67/00 : Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/146 : Markers for unambiguous identification of a particular session, e.g. session cookie or URL-encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 : Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0006 : where voice calls cross both networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 : Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 : Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers for hearing aids H04R25/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 : Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 : Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems

Abstract

An unitary electronic speaker device and system for rendering a playlist are provided. An assignment of a playlist identifying a plurality of songs is received from a home personal computer. In one embodiment, the unitary electronic speaker device does not have any storage space other than the memory, and uses the hard disk embodied in the home personal computer to supply the songs. The songs are received and rendered at the unitary electronic speaker device in an order defined by the playlist. Any number of the unitary electronic speaker devices may be connected in a network with the home personal computer. In one embodiment a plurality of unitary electronic speaker devices are connected through a LAN using Ethernet

Claims

1. An unitary electronic speaker device comprising:

a communication interface operable to communicatively couple the unitary electronic speaker device over a network to a home personal computer;

a memory;

at least one processor associated with the memory and the communication interface, the at least one processor configured to;

receive a playlist identifying a plurality of songs stored on the home personal computer, the playlist defining a sequence for playing the plurality of songs; and

receive, from the home personal computer, at least one song identified by the playlist;

a speaker;

an amplifier coupling the at least one processor and the speaker and configured to;

render, according to the sequence defined by the playlist, the songs identified by the playlist via the speaker; and

a physical input control configured to;

receive volume control input information; and

effect a sound level at which the songs are rendered according to the volume control input information.

2. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein the at least one processor comprises two processors, wherein a first processor of the two processors is a general purpose processor and, a second processor of the two processors is a digital signal processor.

3. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 further comprising:

a digital-to-analog converter coupling the at least one processor and the amplifier; and

wherein to render the songs the at least one processor is further configured to;

decode compressed audio data comprising the songs into corresponding uncompressed audio data; and

transfer uncompressed digital audio data to the digital-to-analog converter to effect rendering a corresponding analog audio signal through the amplifier to the speaker.

4. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein the unitary electronic speaker device does not have any storage space other than the memory.

5. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein the unitary electronic speaker device has no disk for data storage space.

6. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises two memories, wherein a first memory of the two memories is a first random access memory and a second memory of the two memories is a flash memory.

7. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is an Ethernet interface.

8. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein the communication interface is an interface to a radio frequency link.

9. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein to receive the playlist the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive an assignment of the playlist from an other device.

10. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 9 wherein the other device is the home personal computer and the network is a LAN.

11. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 10 wherein to receive the songs the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive one of streams of the songs and downloads of the songs.

12. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 9 wherein the other device is a server and the network is further coupled to the Internet.

13. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 12 wherein to receive the songs the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive one of streams of the songs and downloads of the songs.

14. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 9 wherein to receive an assignment of the playlist from an other device the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive from the home personal computer, alarm information, the alarm information reflecting a time that will trigger the unitary electronic speaker device to initiate rendering of the playlist;

detect the triggering of the alarm; and

initiate the rendering of the playlist.

15. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 14 wherein the alarm information identifies a recurring alarm.

16. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 9 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

provide the playlist to an other device, wherein the other device is unitary electronic speaker device.

17. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 16 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

provide ones of the songs identified by the playlist to the other device.

18. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 9 wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

provide the playlist to a plurality of other devices, wherein the other devices are unitary electronic speaker devices.

19. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 18 wherein to provide the playlist to the other devices, the at least one processor is further configured to:

provide ones of the songs identified by the playlist to ones of the other devices.

20. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 10 wherein to receive an assignment of the playlist from an other device the at least one processor is further configured to:

scan the memory of the unitary electronic speaker device for songs identified by the playlist to incorporate into the playlist.

21. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein to receive the songs the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a command from a remote control device to begin rendering; and

in response to receiving the command, initiate receiving the songs.

22. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein plurality of songs are identified by URL.

23. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of songs are identified by song title.

24. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein the songs are not stored locally on the unitary electronic speaker device.

25. The unitary electronic speaker device of claim 1 wherein:

the speaker comprises a plurality of speakers;

the amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifiers; and

wherein the unitary electronic speaker device further comprises a plurality of digital-to-analog convertors coupled to the at least one processor to effect rendering corresponding analog audio signals through respective amplifiers of plurality of amplifiers to respective speakers of the plurality of speakers.

26. An unitary electronic speaker device comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicatively couple the unitary electronic speaker device over a network to a home personal computer;

a memory;

at least one processor coupled to the memory and the communication interface, the processor configured to;

receive an assignment of a playlist identifying a plurality of songs stored on the home personal computer, the playlist defining a sequence for playing the plurality of songs;

receive a command reflecting that the playlist identifying a plurality of songs should be played in a shuffled sequence;

receive, from the home personal computer, at least one song identified by the playlist; and

a speaker;

an amplifier coupling the at least one processor and the speaker and configured to;

render, according to the shuffled sequence, the songs identified by the playlist via the speaker; and

a physical input control configured to;

receive volume control input information; and

effect a sound level at which the songs are rendered according to the volume control input information.

27. A system comprising:

a home personal computer comprising;

a first communication interface configured to;

communicatively couple the home personal computer and an unitary electronic speaker device; and

a first processor connected to a first memory and the first communication interface, the first processor configured to;

receive user input identifying a playlist;

based on the user input, select the playlist;

assign, based on the selection, the playlist to

an unitary electronic speaker device; and

the unitary electronic speaker device comprising;

a second communication interface configured to communicatively couple the unitary electronic speaker device over a network to a home personal computer;

a second memory;

a second processor coupled to the second memory and the second communication interface, the second processor configured to;

receive an assignment of a playlist identifying a plurality of songs stored on the home personal computer, the playlist defining a sequence for playing the plurality of songs; and

receive, from the home personal computer, at least one song identified by the playlist;

a speaker;

an amplifier coupling the second processor and the speaker and configured to;

render, according to the sequence defined by the playlist, the songs identified by the playlist via the speaker; and

a physical input control operable to;

receive volume control input information; and

effect a sound level at which the songs are rendered according to the volume control input information.

28. The system of claim 27 where in the personal computer is further configured to:

provide to an other unitary electronic speaker device, the playlist identifying a plurality of songs stored on the home personal computer; and

provide to the other unitary electronic speaker device the least one song identified by the playlist and received from the home personal computer.

29. The system of claim 28 where in the personal computer is further configured to:

receive second user input to create the playlist;

based on the second user input, creating the playlist;

receive third user input identifying a song to add to the playlist; and

based on the third user input, adding the song to the playlist.

30. An unitary electronic speaker device comprising:

an Ethernet communication interface configured to communicatively couple the unitary electronic speaker device over a network to a home personal computer;

a random access memory;

a flash memory;

a general purpose processor associated with the random access memory, the flash memory, and the Ethernet communication interface, the general purpose processor configured to;

receive an assignment of a playlist identifying a plurality of songs stored on the home personal computer, the playlist defining a sequence for playing the plurality of songs;

receive, from the home personal computer, at least one song identified by the playlist;

receive from the home personal computer, alarm information, the alarm information reflecting a time that will trigger the unitary electronic speaker device to render the playlist;

detect a triggering of the alarm; and

in response to the triggering, render according to the sequence defined by the playlist, the songs identified by the playlist; and

a physical input control configured to;

receive volume control input information; and

effect a sound level at which the songs are rendered according to the volume control input information; and

a digital signal processor associated with the general purpose processor and configured to modify digital audio signals comprising the songs;

a digital-to-analog converter configured to receive the digital audio signals from the digital signal processor and convert the digital audio signals into corresponding analog audio signals;

an amplifier coupling the digital-to-analog converter to a speaker and configured to;

receive analog audio signals from the digital-to-analog converter;

effect a sound level at which the analog audio signals are rendered according to the volume control input information;

provide an amplified analog audio signals to the speaker for rendering; and

wherein the unitary electronic speaker device has no disk for data storage space.