System for playback of network audio material on demand

• US 6,502,194 B1
• Filed: 04/16/1999
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Synetix Technologies
• Inventors: Matsumoto, David Kiyoshi, Berman, Russell Todd, Radford, Michael Andrew, Kennedy, Brett Austin
• Primary Examiner(s): HUA, LY
• Application Number:
  US09/293,252
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/57, 705/26, 705/27, 713/200, 713/201, 370/69.1, 370/231, 370/352, 370/354, 370/310, 370/468, 709/231, 709/233, 709/235
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols

Abstract

A playback unit resembling a home audio component, retrieves audio data from a remote server and plays them back in real time, using a home audio system, in response to user selection. The playback unit provides an interface between a network source for audio material, such as the Internet, and a conventional home audio system for playback. The playback unit has a relatively simple operating system that does not require a lengthy boot-up sequence, cannot be accessed by the user, and does not require the launch of special software to initiate playback. Access to audio material and distribution rights can be controlled by network servers. In this to way, the playback unit can retrieve audio material from the network on demand, thereby vastly expanding the range of music available for playback, and can reproduce that music using the home audio system for high quality playback in a comfortable setting, with controlled access to audio material and controlled distribution and duplication of the material.

Claims

1. A playback apparatus for receiving digital audio material from a network server and providing it to a home audio system for playback, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface that receives commands from a user for selection of an audio composition from a network server, for initiating receipt of the digital audio material comprising portions of the selected audio composition, and for controlling playback of the received digital audio material, wherein the user interface includes a display that shows status of the playback;

a memory that contains operating system instructions and that temporarily stores the digital audio material comprising portions of the selected audio composition, such that digital audio material comprising the complete selected audio composition is not available to the user from the memory; and

a processor that executes the operating system instructions stored in the memory to perform apparatus functions in response to the user commands and to initiate the playback of received digital audio material.

2. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the apparatus functions performed by the processor include display of a menu selection list, from which the user will make the selection of the audio composition.

3. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the apparatus functions performed by the processor include sending a current song list version for the selected musical category to a network server and receiving an indication from the network server if the current song list is in need of updating.

4. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the apparatus functions performed by the processor include sending the user selection to a network server and receiving from the network server the network address of audio material comprising the user selection.

5. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the apparatus sends the user selection to a network directory and user list server and a network audio material server, wherein the directory and user list server checks user information against a list of authorized users to control download of audio material and the audio material server provides the audio material comprising the selected composition.

6. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the directory and user list server sets a copy authorization flag that is provided to the audio material server, and the audio material server checks the copy authorization flag to determine if digital copying at the apparatus will be permitted.

7. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the apparatus functions performed by the processor include processing the received audio material to provide an analog so output signal to the home audio system for playback and listening, and processing the received audio material to provide a digital output stream to a storage media only if digital copying is permitted by the copy authorization flag.

8. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the playback apparatus receives the audio material from the audio material server in a plurality of packets that are temporarily stored in the playback apparatus memory.

9. A playback unit that receives digital audio material from a network server and provides it to a home audio system for playback, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface that receives commands from a user for selection of an audio composition from a network server, for initiating receipt of the digital audio material comprising portions of the selected audio composition, and for controlling playback of the received digital audio material, wherein the user interface includes a display that shows status of the playback;

a memory that contains operating system instructions and that temporarily stores the digital audio material comprising portions of the selected audio composition, such that digital audio material comprising the complete selected audio composition is not available to the user from the memory; and

a processor that executes the operating system instructions stored in the memory to perform apparatus functions in response to the user commands and to initiate the playback of received digital audio material, wherein the apparatus functions performed by the processor include (1) display of a menu selection list from which the user will make the selection of the audio composition, (2) sending the user selection to a network server and receiving the audio material comprising the user selection, (3) processing the received audio material to provide an analog output signal to the home audio system for playback and listening, and (4) processing the received audio material to provide a digital output stream to a storage media only if digital copying permission was granted by a received copy authorization flag.

10. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the playback apparatus receives the audio material from the audio material server in a plurality of packets that are temporarily stored in the playback apparatus memory.

11. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the apparatus functions performed by the processor include sending a current song list version for the selected musical category to a network server and receiving an indication from the network server if the current song list is in need of updating.

12. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the apparatus sends the user selection to a network directory and user list server and a network audio material server, wherein the directory and user list server checks user information against a list of authorized users to control download of audio material and the audio material server provides the audio material comprising the selected composition.

13. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the directory and user list server sets a copy authorization flag that is provided to the audio material server, and the audio material server checks the copy authorization flag to determine if digital copying at the apparatus will be permitted.

14. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the playback apparatus receives the audio material from the audio material server in a plurality of packets that are temporarily stored in the playback apparatus memory.

15. A method of operating a playback apparatus that receives digital audio material from a network server and provides it to a home audio system for playback, comprising the steps of:

selecting an available music category through a user interface supported by an operating system that is stored in memory of the playback apparatus;

sending a current song list version for the selected music category to a network server and receiving an updated song list if the current song list is in need of updating;

selecting an available composition, sending the selected composition title to a network server, and receiving from the network server the network address of a network audio material server at which audio material comprising the user selection is stored;

receiving the audio material from the network audio material server; and

processing the received audio material to provide an analog output signal to the home audio system for playback and listening, and processing the received audio material to provide a digital output stream to a digital storage media only if digital copying is permitted by a copy authorization flag.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the audio material comprises receiving the audio material from the network audio material server in a plurality of packets that are temporarily stored in memory of the playback apparatus.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, further including the steps of sending the user selection to a network directory and user list server and the network audio material server, wherein the directory and user list server checks user information against a list of authorized users to control download of audio material.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the copy authorization flag that is checked in the step of processing the received audio material is set by the directory and user list server and is provided to the network audio material server, and the audio material server checks the copy authorization flag to determine if digital copying at the apparatus will be permitted.

19. A method of operating a playback apparatus that receives digital audio material from a network server and provides it to a home audio system for playback, the method comprising:

receiving user commands through an operating system that is stored in semiconductor memory for selection of an audio composition from a network server;

receiving digital audio material from the network server;

temporarily storing the digital audio material comprising portions of the selected audio composition in playback apparatus memory, such that digital audio material comprising the complete selected audio composition is not stored in the memory at the same time; and

processing the received audio material to provide an analog output signal to the home audio system for playback and listening, processing the received audio material to provide a digital output stream to a storage media only if digital copying permission was granted by a received copy authorization flag.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the step of receiving digital audio material comprises receiving the audio material from an audio material server in a plurality of packets that are temporarily stored in the playback apparatus memory.

21. A playback apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the apparatus functions performed by the processor include sending a current song list version for the selected musical category to a network server and receiving an indication from the network server if the current song list is in need of updating.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the playback apparatus forwards the user request to a network directory and user list server and to a network audio material server, wherein the directory and user list server checks user information against a list of authorized users to control download of audio material and the audio material server provides the audio material comprising the selected composition upon authorization from the directory and user list server.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the directory and user list server sets a copy authorization flag that is provided to the audio material server, and the audio material server checks the copy authorization flag to determine if digital copying at the playback apparatus will be permitted.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the playback apparatus receives the audio material from the audio material server in a plurality of packets that are temporarily stored in the playback apparatus memory.