System and method for request, delivery and use of multimedia files for audiovisual entertainment

• US 7,509,181 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Champion, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Stella L
• Application Number:
  US10/884,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20040244046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 381/77, 381/80, 381/85, 381/105, 381/1, 379/101.01, 379/102.03, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages

Abstract

A personal computer connected to the Internet can receive and store audio and audiovisual data or programming from the Internet. This audio and audiovisual programming can be provided by the computer over a digital connection to speakers and/or a monitor located away from the computer at a location convenient for a user. A remote control unit allows the user to send signals back over the digital connection to the computer to control the computer to provide the audio or audiovisual programming that the user desires over the digital connection to the speakers and/or monitor located where the user is. The computer may send a listing of the available programming to the remote control unit from which the user can make selections.

Claims

1. A system for managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:

an audio server for outputting an audio signal;

at least one speaker, separate and remote from said audio server;

a digital connection between a transceiver of said at least one speaker and said audio server over which said audio server provides said audio signal to said at least one speaker; and

a remote control unit, wherein said remote control unit controls output of said audio signal from said audio server to said at least one speaker;

wherein said transceiver communicates with said remote control unit, said remote control unit communicating with said transceiver and with said audio server over said same digital connection between said at least one speaker and said audio server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said digital connection Comprises a wireless network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio server transmits a listing of available audio programming by title to said remote control unit, and said remote control unit displays said listing of titles on a display device of said remote control unit.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said remote control unit comprises:

a user input device with which said user can select an audio program from said listing and transmit a command for said audio server to output that selected audio programming to said at least one speaker.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said remote control unit allows a user to create a play-list by selecting a sequence of audio programs from said listing.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises at least one on-line radio station.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises at least one streaming audio source.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises a play-list.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio signal from said audio server is compressed and said at least one speaker further comprises decompression hardware for decompressing said signal.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of speakers; and

a plurality of remote control units,

wherein said plurality of remote control units control said audio server such that a plurality of different audio signals are output by said audio server to respective speakers.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one speaker is incorporated in a video monitor and said audio server is incorporated in an audiovisual server that outputs an audiovisual signal to said monitor, said audiovisual signal including said audio signal for said at least one speaker.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said audiovisual server transmits a listing by title of available audiovisual programming to said remote control unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said remote control unit comprises:

a display device for displaying said listing; and

a user input device with which said user can select an audiovisual program from said list by title and transmit a command for said audiovisual server to output that selected audiovisual program to said monitor.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said audio server comprises a general-purpose computer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said audio server comprises a radio tuner in communication with and controlled by said computer.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote control unit controls both said audio server and said at least one speaker.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said remote control unit controls turning power on and off to said at least one speaker.

18. A method for managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:

outputting an audio signal with an audio server to at least one speaker, separate and remote from said audio server via a digital connection between said audio server and said at least one speaker;

receiving user input from said a remote control unit through a wireless transceiver located at said at least one speaker;

controlling output of said audio signal from said audio server to said at least one speaker with said remote control unit; and

transmitting a listing of available by programming by title from said audio server to said remote control unit and displaying said listing by title on a display device of said remote control unit;

wherein said same digital connection carries all of said audio signal, user input from said remote control unit and said listing of available programming.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein outputting an audio signal comprise transmitting said audio signal from said audio server to said speaker via a wireless network.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an audio program from said list with a user input device of said remote control unit; and

transmitting a command for said audio server to output that selected audio program to said at least one speaker.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises at least one on-line radio station.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises at least one streaming audio source.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said listing of available audio programming comprises a play-list.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising allowing a user to create a play-list by selecting a sequence of audio programs from said listing.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising decompressing said audio signal from said audio server with decompression hardware at said speaker.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

outputting a plurality of different audio signals to a plurality of speakers; and

controlling said plurality of different audio signals with a plurality of remote control units and a transceivers located with at least some of said speakers;

wherein said different audio signals are addressed to corresponding said speakers based on which of said plurality of remote control units requested one said audio signals through which of said speakers.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one speaker is incorporated in a video monitor and said audio server is incorporated in an audiovisual server, said outputting an audio signal comprising outputting an audiovisual signal including said audio signal for said at least one speaker.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting a listing of available audiovisual programming by title to said remote control unit from said audiovisual server.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

displaying said listing with a display device of said remote control unit;

receiving user input device selecting an audiovisual program from said list; and

transmitting a command for said audiovisual server to output that selected audiovisual program to said monitor.

30. A method of managing audio and audiovisual programming comprising:

wirelessly transmitting an audio signal from an audio server to at least one transceiver over a digital wireless link between said at least one transceiver and said audio server;

wherein said transceiver is located with at least one speaker, and said method comprises outputting said audio signal with said at least one speaker;

said method further comprising controlling said audio server and said transmitted audio signal using a remote control unit in communication with said transceiver located with said at least one speaker;

wherein said wireless digital link carries all of said audio signal and user input from said remote control unit to said audio server.