Personalized audio system and method
First Claim
1. A personalized audio system, comprising:
- a user interface that enables a user of the personalized audio system to specify a profile for a personalized audio channel;
a sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings;
a playlist generator that (a) selects one or more sound recording identifiers from a set of sound recording identifiers, wherein each of the selected one or more sound recording identifiers identifies a sound recording that matches the profile and that is stored in the library, and that (b) creates a playlist that lists the selected one or more sound recording identifiers in a particular order; and
a sound recording reproducing device for reproducing each of the identified sound recordings according to the particular order in which the selected one or more sound recording identifiers are listed in the playlist so that the user can listen to the sound recordings, whereinfor each sound recording identifier included in the playlist, the personalized audio system does not provide the user with information about the artist(s) who created the sound recording identified by the identifier until (a) such time as the sound recording is played by the audio system or (b) a point in time immediately prior to the playing of the sound recording by the audio system, andthe personalized audio system does not provide the user with a way to directly control which sound recording identifiers in the set are selected by the playlist generator to be included in the group of selected one or more sound recordings identifiers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A personalized audio system and method that overcomes many of the broadcast-type disadvantages associated with conventional radio stations. According to one embodiment, the personalized audio system includes the following: (1) a user interface that enables a user of the personalized audio system to specify a profile for a personalized audio channel, (2) a sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings, (3) a playlist generator that (a) selects a plurality of sound recording identifiers from a set of sound recording identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of sound recording identifiers identifies a sound recording that matches the profile and that is stored in the library, and that (b) creates a playlist that lists the plurality of sound recording identifiers in a particular order, and (4) a sound recording reproducing device for reproducing the plurality of identified sound recordings according to the particular order in which the sound recording identifiers are listed in the playlist so that the user can listen to the sound recordings. Advantageously, the personalized audio system does not provide the user with a way to determine the plurality of sound recording identifiers prior to the reproducing means reproducing the plurality of sound recordings, and the personalized audio system does not provide the user with a way to directly control which sound recording identifiers in the set are selected by the playlist generator to be included in the plurality of sound recording identifiers.
403 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A personalized audio system, comprising:
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a user interface that enables a user of the personalized audio system to specify a profile for a personalized audio channel; a sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings; a playlist generator that (a) selects one or more sound recording identifiers from a set of sound recording identifiers, wherein each of the selected one or more sound recording identifiers identifies a sound recording that matches the profile and that is stored in the library, and that (b) creates a playlist that lists the selected one or more sound recording identifiers in a particular order; and a sound recording reproducing device for reproducing each of the identified sound recordings according to the particular order in which the selected one or more sound recording identifiers are listed in the playlist so that the user can listen to the sound recordings, wherein for each sound recording identifier included in the playlist, the personalized audio system does not provide the user with information about the artist(s) who created the sound recording identified by the identifier until (a) such time as the sound recording is played by the audio system or (b) a point in time immediately prior to the playing of the sound recording by the audio system, and the personalized audio system does not provide the user with a way to directly control which sound recording identifiers in the set are selected by the playlist generator to be included in the group of selected one or more sound recordings identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a personalized audio system having a consumer device, wherein the consumer device has a user interface for receiving input from a user of the device, a method for providing a personalized audio channel, comprising the steps of:
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receiving through the user interface input from the user, wherein the input comprises audio channel profile information; associating the profile information with an audio channel; receiving an indication from the user that the user desires to listen to the audio channel; selecting a set of sound recordings based on the profile information and based on a statute, regulation, and/or contract in response to receiving the indication from the user, wherein the audio channel profile information does not specify that any one or more particular songs should be selected; and reproducing each selected sound recording for the user to hear, wherein the selected set of sound recordings are selected in a particular order and are reproduced in the particular order in which they are selected. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. In a personalized audio system having a consumer device, wherein the consumer device has a user interface for receiving input from a user and a storage device for storing a sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings, a method for providing a personalized audio channel, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving through the user interface input from the user, wherein the input indicates that the user desires to listen to a selected personalized audio channel, the selected personalized audio channel having a profile created or modified by the user of the consumer device, the profile specifying one or more genres or styles of music; selecting a sound recording based on the profile of the selected personalized audio channel; determining whether the selected sound recording is stored in the sound recording library; retrieving the sound recording from the sound recording library if a determination is made that the sound recording is stored in the sound recording library; retrieving the sound recording from a server that is remote from the consumer device if a determination is made that the sound recording is not stored in the sound recording library; and playing the sound recording for the user, wherein the steps of selecting the sound recording and determining whether the selected sound recording is stored in the sound recording library occur after receiving said input that indicates the user desires to listen to the selected personalized audio channel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A personalized audio system, comprising:
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a user interface for receiving input from a user of the system; a storage device storing a sound recording library; receiving means for receiving through the user interface input from the user, wherein the input indicates that the user desires to listen to a selected personalized audio channel, the selected personalized audio channel having a profile created or modified by a user of the consumer device; selection means for selecting a sound recording based on the profile of the selected personalized audio channel, wherein said selection means is configured to select the sound recording after and in response to the receiving means receiving said input; determining means for determining whether the selected sound recording is stored in the sound recording library on the storage device, wherein said determining means is configured to determine whether the selected sound recording is stored in the sound recording library after said selection means selects the sound recording; retrieving means for retrieving the sound recording from the sound recording library if a determination is made that the sound recording is stored in the sound recording library; retrieving means for retrieving the sound recording from a server if a determination is made that the sound recording is not stored in the sound recording library; and playing means for playing the sound recording for the user. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. In a personalized audio system having a consumer device, wherein the consumer device has a user interface for receiving input from a user of the device, a processor, and a storage device storing a sound recording library, an article of manufacture for providing a personalized audio channel, the article of manufacture comprising:
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at least one processor readable carrier; and instructions carried on the at least one carrier; wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the at least one carrier by the processor and thereby cause the processor to operate so as to; a) receive through the user interface input from the user, wherein the input indicates that the user desires to listen to a selected personalized audio channel, the selected personalized audio channel having a profile created or modified by a user of the consumer device; b) select a sound recording based on the profile of the selected personalized audio channel; c) determine whether the sound recording is stored in the sound recording library on the storage device; d) retrieve the sound recording from the sound recording library if a determination is made that the sound recording is stored in the sound recording library; e) retrieve the sound recording from a server if a determination is made that the sound recording is not stored in the sound recording library; and f) play the sound recording for the user, wherein the steps of selecting the sound recording and determining whether the selected sound recording is stored in the sound recording library occur after the processor receives the input that indicates the user desires to listen to the selected personalized audio channel. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification