Personalized audio system and method

• US 7,783,722 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Music Choice
• Original Assignee: Music Choice
• Inventors: Yurman, Ronald M., Rosenberg, Jeremy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Philip C
• Assistant Examiner(s): FORD, GRANT M
• Application Number:
  US10/098,620
• Time in Patent Office: 3,081 Days
• Field of Search: 345/700, 345/716, 345/733, 345/742, 345/744, 345/745, 345/747, 345/762, 345/768, 705/1, 705/14, 705/26, 705/54, 709217-219, 709/231, 709/225, 700/94, 725/10, 725/18, 725/24, 725/46
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/02 Arrangements for generating broadcast information; Arrangements for generating broadcast-related information with a direct linking to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time; Arrangements for simultaneous generation of broadcast information and broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• 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: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A system and method for updating audio channel profiles that are used to create personalized audio channels. According to one embodiment, the method includes the following acts: receiving a broadcast sound recording over a conventional broadcast audio channel; playing the sound recording so that the user can listen to the sound recording; receiving an indication from the user that the user likes the sound recording; and modifying at least one of the one or more audio channel profiles in response to receiving the indication.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

storing one or more channel profiles;

associating each of the one or more channel profiles with a personalized channel, wherein the channel profile associated with a personalized channel is used to select the recordings that are played for the personalized channel, wherein the one or more channel profiles includes a first channel profile and a second channel profile, wherein the first channel profile is associated with a first personalized channel and the second channel profile is associated with a second personalized channel;

transmitting a broadcast recording over a broadcast channel, wherein the step of transmitting the broadcast recording over the broadcast channel comprises transmitting the broadcast recording to a plurality of unspecified receivers simultaneously;

while the broadcast recording is being transmitted, receiving an indication from a user of a receiver tuned to the broadcast channel that the user likes the broadcast recording;

modifying at least one of the one or more channel profiles in response to receiving the indication that the user likes the received broadcast recording;

displaying to the user a user interface that enables the user to select either the first or second personalized channel, wherein the user interface displays both (1) a name associated with the first personalized channel and (2) a name associated with the second personalized channel;

in response to the user selecting the first personalized channel, selecting a set of recordings to play for the user based on the first channel profile, but not the second channel profile, so that the set of recordings match the first channel profile; and

in response to the user selecting the second personalized channel, selecting a set of recordings to play for the user based on the second channel profile, but not the first channel profile, so that the set of recordings match the second channel profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one of the one or more profiles includes a set of one or more recording identifiers, and the step of modifying said at least one of the one or more channel profiles comprises the step of adding a recording identifier that identifies the received broadcast recording to said set of recording identifiers included in the at least one profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one of the one or more profiles includes a set of one or more artist identifiers, and the step of modifying said at least one of the one or more channel profiles comprises the step of automatically adding an artist identifier that identifies the artist that recorded the received broadcast recording to said set of artist identifiers included in the at least one profile.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the user to specify the degree to which the user likes the recording.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of prompting the user to select at least one of the channel profiles in response to receiving the indication, wherein the step of modifying at least one of the one or more profiles comprises the step of modifying the selected profile or profiles.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining information about the transmitted broadcast recording.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the broadcast recording in a cache of the receiver as the broadcast recording is being received at the receiver.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a user to create a Previously Presented channel profile without requiring the user to input any user identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a user to create a first channel profile that specifies at least one artist, song and/or genre of music and a second channel profile that specifies at least one artist, song and/or genre of music, wherein the second channel profile specifies at least one artist, song, and/or genre of music that is not specified in the first channel profile.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel profile associated with a personalized channel is used to select all of the sound recordings that are played for the personalized channel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a playlist based on information contained in one of the channel profiles.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of selecting one or more of the channel profiles based on the obtained information concerning the broadcast recording and wherein the step of modifying at least one of the one or more channel profiles comprises the step of modifying at least one of the selected profiles.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of providing a means for enabling the user to provide an indication that the user would like to obtain a copy of the broadcast recording.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the information concerning the recording indicates a genre to which the recording belongs.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the user may obtain a copy of the broadcast recording in response to the user providing an indication that the user would like to obtain a copy of the broadcast recording; and

copying the recording from the cache to a non-volatile storage medium if it is determined that the user may obtain the copy.