Content player for broadcasting to information appliances

• US 7,194,520 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adiona IP, LLC (Endpoint IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Alfaro, Enrique, Beard, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B.
• Application Number:
  US09/792,388
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709218-219, 709/203, 709/231, 709/238, 709/246, 370/338, 370/352, 370/401, 455/432.1
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• 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: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a content player that allows a user to access media content through an information appliance. The content player is suitable for receiving media content from a network, then the media content may be transmitted to various information appliances. The information appliance is suitable for receiving the media content from the content player and conveying the media content. The information appliance, itself, may be capable of controlling the media content transmitted from the content player and received by the information appliance.

Claims

1. A content broadcaster, comprising:

a personal computer configured to access and receive media content from a world wide network and configured to playback the media content, the media content including at least one of audio data and video data, the personal computer including a controller, a memory, a network connection device, a display system, and an input/output system, the controller configured to communicate with the memory, the network connection device, the display system, and the input/output system with a system bus;

a plurality of information appliances, each information appliance configured to communicate with the personal computer with a bi-directional communication link between the information appliance and the input/output system of the personal computer;

where personal computer is configured to broadcast the media content to the information appliance using the bi-directional communication link;

where the information appliance is configured to transmit control signals to the personal computer using the bi-directional communication link, the control signals configured to command the controller to broadcast a specified portion of the media content to the plurality of information appliances;

where each of the information appliances is located in a different room;

wherein the bi-directional communication link comprises a wireless transmission system; and

wherein the information appliance comprises a radio capable of receiving a frequency-hopping spread spectrum signal transmitted by the personal computer over the bi-directional communication link.

2. The content broadcaster of claim 1, wherein the bi-directional communication link comprises a cable.

3. The content broadcaster of claim 1, wherein the personal computer comprises an Internet radio receiver.

4. The content broadcaster of claim 1, wherein the radio is capable of wirelessly receiving a radio broadcast over a uni-directional communication link between the radio and a radio broadcast source other than the personal computer.

5. The content broadcaster of claim 1, wherein the specified portion of the media content consists of the audio data.

6. The content broadcaster of claim 1,

wherein each informational appliance is configured to provide control signals that signal the personal computer to broadcast particular media content.

7. The content broadcaster of claim 6

wherein at least one of the information appliances is an internet radio including a tuning selector;

wherein the at least one of the information appliances is configured to transmit a control signal to the personal computer that indicate the particular media content responsive to the tuning selector; and

wherein the personal computer is configured to transmit the particular media content to the at least one and other informational appliances responsive to the control signal.

8. A method of broadcasting media content to an information appliance from a personal computer that is linked to a network, the personal computer in communication with the information appliance by a bi-directional communication link between the personal computer and the information appliance, the personal computer configured to playback the media content, the media content including at least two programs, the method comprising:

locating the personal computer in one room;

locating the information appliance in another room distinct from the one room;

using the personal computer to receive the media content from the network;

storing the media content in a memory that is included in the personal computer;

transmitting control signals from the information appliance in the another room to the personal computer in the one room over the bi-directional communication link, the control signals indicative of a selected one of the at least two programs;

broadcasting the selected one of the at least two programs from the personal computer to the information appliance over the bi-directional communication link in response to the control signals, the information appliance configured to receive and playback the selected one of the at least two programs;

configuring the personal computer to playback the media content;

transmitting the control signals and the selected one of the at least two programs over a wireless communication link; and

transmitting the selected one of the at least two programs from the personal computer in the one room to a radio in the another room over the wireless communication link using a frequency-hopping spread spectrum signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the control signals and the selected one of the at least two programs over the bi-directional communication link comprises transmitting the control signals and the selected one of the at least two programs over a cable.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein transmitting the control signals from the information appliance to the personal computer comprises:

tuning the radio to a particular frequency; and

transmitting the control signals from the radio to the in response to tuning the radio to the particular frequency.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, after tuning the radio to the particular frequency, broadcasting the selected one the at least two programs from the beginning of the selected one of the at least two programs from the personal computer in the one room to the information appliance in the another room responsive to the control signals transmitted, in turn, in response to the tuning.