Internet audio channel selection system

• US 6,381,314 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aido LLC (Endpoint IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: James Walinski
• Inventors: Walinski, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/470,768
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 379/101.01, 379/90.01, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/88.17, 379/110.01, 370/352, 455/403, 455/426, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/45, 455/344, 455/133, 455/142, 455/150.1, 455/164.1, 455/168.1, 455/550, 455/557
• US Class Current: 379/101.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

An Internet audio channel selection system includes an audio channel selection device. The device includes a housing accommodating an electronic display for displaying audio channel selection information, an audio channel selection interface for selecting an audio channel from the audio channel selection information, at least one input interface for communicating with the Internet, and at least one output interface for communicating with at least one audio processing device. The device further includes a microprocessor disposed within the housing and communicating with the electronic display, the input interface and the output interface for downloading the audio channel selection information and selected audio channel transmission from the Internet, and directing the audio channel transmission to the at least one audio processing device. The selection system further includes a server to communicate with the audio channel selection device via the Internet. The server includes the audio channel selection information to be automatically displayed via the electronic display of the audio channel selection device.

Claims

1. An Internet audio network channel selection system, the system comprising:

an audio network channel selection device for interfacing with Internet audio network programming, the device including;

a housing accommodating an electronic display for displaying audio network channel selection information, an audio channel selection interface for selecting an audio network channel from the audio channel selection information, at least one input interface for communicating with the Internet, and at least one output interface for communicating with at least one audio processing device; and

a microprocessor disposed within the housing and communicating with the electronic display, the input interface and the output interface for downloading the audio network channel selection information and selected audio network channel transmission from the Internet, and directing the audio network channel transmission to the at least one audio processing device; and

a network server to communicate with the audio network channel selection device via the Internet, the server including the audio network channel selection information to be automatically displayed, via the electronic display of the audio network channel selection device, means for receiving a selected audio network channel transmission, and means for downloading the selected network audio channel transmission to the audio network channel selection device.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the output interface of the audio network channel selection device includes a modem.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing is one of a unit for home use, a portable unit, and unit for use with an automobile.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the server includes a home page to be displayed on the electronic display of the selection device for selecting and downloading audio network channel selection information and selected audio channel transmissions.

5. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein the home page has a menu including audio selection features.

6. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein the audio network channel selection features include selecting channels from the audio network section, storing these transmissions and manually searching URLs.

7. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein the storing audio transmissions feature includes storing the audio transmissions to the microprocessor of the audio network channel selection device.

8. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein the storing audio transmissions feature includes storing the audio transmissions to a peripheral device to be coupled to the audio network channel selection device.

9. A system as defined in claim 6, wherein the audio selection feature of selecting network audio channels includes automatic recording.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein the code number is a Radio Plus+program number.

11. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the Internet audio network programming is a collection of subscription based programming with identifying channel numbers.

12. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein the audio network selection feature includes voice chat with other listeners while using the selection device.

13. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein the audio network selection feature includes programming specific unused network channels with recorded audio.