Selection and retrieval of music from a digital database

• US 5,809,246 A
• Filed: 03/17/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hahek America Inc., DigiMedia Holdings Group, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Goldman
• Inventors: Goldman, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSOUAD, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US08/819,497
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.47, 395/601, 381/77, 381/80, 379/93.25, 379/101.01, 364/922.7, 370/270, 455/3.1, 455/6.3
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services

Abstract

A digital radio broadcast station which includes a common digital database having stored therein a plurality of at least several hundred (preferably at least 1800) different selections of music to be played and broadcast by the radio station. A processor system is provided for programming the operation of the digital radio broadcast station with a sequence of music selections, which are subsequently retrieved in order from the common digital database and played over the digital radio broadcast station. The common digital database comprises a disk array storage, preferably a dual port RAID disk array. The digital radio broadcast station also includes a plurality of work station consoles for use by personnel responsible for operating the radio station such as disc jockeys and engineers. A bridge network such as a modem is also provided for connecting the radio station to a further digital database for music selections not stored in the common digital database. The processor system is provided with a connection to a telephone network, such that radio station callers can communicate with the radio station by a touch tone telephone, and is also provided with a connection to an interactive cable television network, such that cable television viewers can communicate with the radio station over the interactive cable television network.

Claims

1. A music transmission system, comprising:

a computer memory storing a database comprising a plurality of pieces of music;

a computer system, attached to the computer memory, for defining a predetermined sequence of music to be transmitted by the music transmission system over a communications link;

means for retrieving said predetermined sequence of music from said database; and

a communications network between said computer system and a remote music source for access to music not stored in the database.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for retrieving a piece of music in said predetermined sequence not stored in said database from said remote music source.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said communications network comprises a bridged network.

4. A method for operating a music transmission system, comprising;

digitally storing, in a computer memory, a database comprising a plurality of pieces of music;

defining a predetermined sequence of music, in a computer system attached to the computer memory, to be transmitted by the music transmission system over a communications link;

retrieving said predetermined sequence of music from said database; and

accessing a remote music source for music not stored in said database over a communications network between said computer system and said remote music source.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising retrieving a piece of music in said predetermined sequence not stored in said database from said second music source.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising establishing a communications link between said computer system and a user so that the user communicates with said music transmission system.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising establishing a telephone link between said computer system and said user.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving a request from said user to request a piece of music to be played by said music transmission system over said telephone network.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving a request from said user, over said telephone link, to download a piece of music from said database to said user.

10. A method for operating a music transmission system, comprising:

digitally storing, in a computer memory, a database comprising a plurality of pieces of music;

defining a predetermined sequence of music, in a computer system attached to the computer memory, to be transmitted by the music transmission system over a communication link;

retrieving said predetermined sequence of music from said database; and

providing a connection between the computer system and a communications network so that a user communicates with the music transmission system.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting a piece of music, over the communications network, by the user to be played by said music transmission system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said communications network comprises a telephone network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said communications network comprises a cable television network.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising selecting a piece of music, over the communications network, to be transmitted to the user over the communications network.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said communications network comprises a telephone network.

16. The method of 15, wherein said communications network comprises a cable television network.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein said communications network comprises a cable television network.

17. A music transmission system, comprising:

a computer memory storing a database comprising a plurality of pieces of music;

a computer system, attached to the computer memory, for defining a predetermined sequence of music to be transmitted by the music transmission system over a communications link;

means for retrieving said predetermined sequence of music from said database; and

a connection between the computer system and a communications network so that a user communicates with the music transmission system.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising means for selecting a piece of music, over the communications network, by the user to be played by said music transmission system.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said communications network comprises a telephone network.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said communications network comprises a cable television network.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising selecting a piece of music, over the communications network, to be transmitted to the user over the communications network.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said communications network comprises a telephone network.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said communications network comprises a cable television network.

24. A method for operating an audio on demand network, comprising:

digitally storing, in a computer memory within a computer system, a database comprising a plurality of pieces of music;

providing a communications network between the computer system and a user so that the user communicates with the computer system over the communications network to select a piece of music;

retrieving from the database the selected piece of music; and

transmitting the selected piece of music to the user over the communications network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said communications network comprises a telephone network.

27. An audio on demand network, comprising:

a computer system comprising a computer memory, said computer memory storing a database comprising a plurality of pieces of music;

a communications network between the computer system and a user so that the user communicates with the computer system over the communications network to select a piece of music;

means for retrieving from the database the selected piece of music; and

means for transmitting the selected piece of music to the user over the communications network.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said communications network comprises a telephone network.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said communications network comprises a cable television network.