Personalized audio system and method
First Claim
1. In a personalized audio system comprising a consumer device comprising a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings, a user interface for receiving input from a user of the system, and a storage device for storing data, a method for providing a personalized audio channel, comprising the steps of:
- building a sound recording library on the storage device, the sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings;
receiving from the user an indication that the user desires to listen to a selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences;
selecting a sound recording from the sound recording library based on the profile associated with the selected audio channel;
retrieving from the sound recording library the selected sound recording; and
playing the sound recording for the user, wherein the step of building the sound recording library comprises the steps of;
receiving by the receiver a broadcast sound recording broadcast from a broadcast source;
determining whether the received broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording and/or determining whether the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording; and
adding a copy of the received broadcast sound recording to the library if the broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording or the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording and a copy of the received broadcast sound recording is not already included in the library.
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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.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. In a personalized audio system comprising a consumer device comprising a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings, a user interface for receiving input from a user of the system, and a storage device for storing data, a method for providing a personalized audio channel, comprising the steps of:
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building a sound recording library on the storage device, the sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings; receiving from the user an indication that the user desires to listen to a selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences; selecting a sound recording from the sound recording library based on the profile associated with the selected audio channel; retrieving from the sound recording library the selected sound recording; and playing the sound recording for the user, wherein the step of building the sound recording library comprises the steps of; receiving by the receiver a broadcast sound recording broadcast from a broadcast source; determining whether the received broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording and/or determining whether the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording; and adding a copy of the received broadcast sound recording to the library if the broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording or the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording and a copy of the received broadcast sound recording is not already included in the library. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for enabling a user to listen to personalized audio channels, comprising:
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a storage device; a plurality of sound recordings stored on the storage device; a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings; a user interface that enables the user to select a personalized audio channel and enables the user to indicate that the user desires to listen to the selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences; a processing unit comprising memory that stores software, wherein the software is operable to; select a sound recording stored in the storage device that fits the profile associated with the selected audio channel in response to the user indicating the user'"'"'s desire to listen to the selected personalized audio channel; retrieve from the storage device the selected sound recording; and play the sound recording for the user, the software also being operable to; determine whether the user has indicated a preference for a broadcast sound recording received by the receiver and/or determine whether the received broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel; determine whether a copy of the received broadcast sound recording is already stored on the storage device; and store a copy of the received broadcast sound recording in the storage device if a copy the broadcast sound recording is not already stored therein and the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording or the received broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for enabling a user to listen to personalized audio channels, comprising:
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a storage device; a plurality of sound recordings stored on the storage device; a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings broadcast from a broadcast source; a user interface that enables the user to select a personalized audio channel and enables the user to indicate that the user desires to listen to the selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences; means for selecting a sound recording stored in the storage device that fits the profile associated with the selected audio channel; means for retrieving from the storage device the selected sound recording; means for playing the selected sound recording for the user; means for determining whether the user has indicated a preference for a broadcast sound recording received by the receiver and/or determining whether the received broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel; means for determining whether a copy of the received broadcast sound recording is already stored on the storage device; and means for storing a copy of the received broadcast sound recording in the storage device if a copy the received broadcast sound recording is not already stored therein and the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording or the received broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. In a personalized audio system comprising a consumer device comprising a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings, a user interface for receiving input from a user of the system, and a storage device for storing data, a method for providing a personalized audio channel, comprising the steps of:
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storing on the storage device a library of sound recordings, the sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings; receiving from the user an indication that the user desires to listen to a selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences; in response to receiving said indication, selecting a sound recording from the sound recording library based on the audio channel selected by the user; retrieving from the sound recording library the selected sound recording; playing the sound recording for the user; and adding sound recordings to said library, wherein the step of adding sound recordings to the library comprises; receiving by the receiver a broadcast sound recording broadcast from a broadcast source; receiving by the receiver meta-data associated with the broadcast sound recording, wherein said meta-data is broadcast by the broadcast source together with said broadcast sound recording; after receiving said broadcast sound recording and said meta-data, determining whether the received broadcast sound recording should be added to said library, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said meta-data; and adding the received broadcast sound recording to the library in response to determining that the broadcast sound recording should be added to said library. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification