Systems and methods for the identification and/or distribution of music and other forms of useful information

• US 8,983,642 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernadette Depke, Brian Houlihan, Robert J. Depke
• Original Assignee: Bernadette Depke, Brian Houlihan, Robert J. Depke
• Inventors: Houlihan, Brian, Depke, Robert J., Depke, Bernadette
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US13/829,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20130205222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/634 Query by example, e.g. query by humming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/65 Clustering; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/125 Library distribution, i.e. distributing musical pieces from a central or master library
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications systems and methods. More specifically, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for identifying and/or distributing music and other types of useful information for users in a very simple and convenient manner. A variety of systems and methods are disclosed which provide users with quick and convenient access to various forms of information, such as, for example, audio information including music and news items as well as coupons and other information. The systems and methods allow users to store data representative of a time of transmission and preferably a source of transmission so that data of interest may be identified for ordering an/or downloading.

Claims

1. A system for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring song identifying data comprising:

a portable battery powered electronic device that provides digital music storage and playback operations having an electronic memory and interface circuitry that establishes a temporary communication interface directly between a radio system and the portable battery powered electronic device, the interface circuitry transferring control signals generated by the radio system specifically for controlling the selective transfer of music data from the portable battery powered electronic device directly to the radio system via the temporary communication interface, the portable battery powered electronic device having circuitry that processes and responds to the control signals generated by the radio system, one or more of the control signals initiating transfer from the portable battery powered electronic device of one or more songs of digitally recorded music data directly to the radio system via the temporary communication interface for reproduction by the radio system; and

wherein the portable battery powered electronic device has circuitry that automatically communicates directly with the radio system via the temporary communication interface for automatically transferring digital song identifying data from an electronic memory of the radio system to the portable battery powered electronic device for storage therein; and

further wherein the portable battery powered electronic device automatically communicates with a user computer and provides the digital song identifying data to the user computer, and wherein the digital song identifying data is initially stored in the electronic memory of the radio system based on a user selection made via an interface of the radio system, the digital song identifying data is automatically transferred from the electronic memory of the radio system to the portable battery powered electronic device without user selection of the data for transfer and a computer program of the system for storing and reproducing digital music data located at the user computer automatically generates an electronic message which transfers the digital song identifying data to a remote server without user selection of the data at the user computer and a responsive electronic communication received at the user computer is processed to present the user with link data for preview and/or purchase of one or more songs corresponding to the digital song identifying data.

2. The system for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring song identifying data of claim 1, wherein the interface circuitry is a USB interface.

3. The system for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring song identifying data of claim 1, wherein the digital song identifying data is automatically transferred from the portable battery powered electronic device to the computer during a synchronization operation.

4. A method for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring song identifying data via a portable battery powered electronic device which provides digital music storage and playback operations comprising:

establishing an electronic communication interface directly between the portable battery powered electronic device and a radio system, wherein the electronic communication interface transfers control signals generated at the radio system, from the radio system to the portable battery powered electronic device and transfers digital music data from the portable battery powered electronic device to the radio system based on the received control signals;

automatically receiving and storing in an electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device, digital song identifying data that is automatically transferred from an electronic memory of the radio system via the electronic communication interface at a time when the electronic communication interface is established; and

subsequently establishing an electronic communication interface between the portable battery powered electronic device and a user computer; and

automatically transferring the digital song identifying data from the digital music storage and playback device to the user computer via the electronic communication interface with the user computer, and wherein the digital song identifying data is initially stored in the electronic memory of the radio system based on a user selection made via an interface of the radio system, the digital song identifying data is automatically transferred from the electronic memory of the radio system to the digital music storage and playback device without user selection of the data for transfer and a computer program of the user computer automatically generates an electronic message which transfers the digital song identifying data to a remote server without user selection of the data at the user computer and a responsive electronic communication received at the user computer is processed by the computer to present the user with link data for preview and/or purchase of one or more songs corresponding to the digital song identifying data.

5. The method for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring song identifying data of claim 4, wherein the communication interface circuitry is a USB interface.

6. The method for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring song identifying data of claim 4, wherein the song identifying data is automatically transferred from the portable battery powered electronic device to the computer during a synchronization operation.

10. The method for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring song identifying data of claim 4, further comprising purchasing at least one song using the link data.

7. A system for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring song identifying data via a portable battery powered electronic device which provides digital music storage and playback operations comprising:

the portable battery powered electronic device having an electronic communication interface means providing an electronic communication interface directly between the portable battery powered electronic device and a radio system;

the portable battery powered electronic device having a means for receiving control signals directly from the radio system in the portable batter powered electronic device via the electronic communication interface, wherein one or more of the control signals initiates the transfer of one or more songs of digitally recorded music data from the portable battery powered electronic device to the radio system for reproduction by the radio system;

the portable battery powered electronic device having a means for automatically receiving and storing in an electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device, digital song identification information that is automatically transferred from an electronic memory of the radio system via the electronic communication interface means when the portable battery powered electronic device is interfaced directly with the radio system via the electronic communication interface means; and

the electronic communication interface means providing an electronic communication interface between the portable battery powered electronic device and a personal computer for automatically transferring the digital song identification information from the portable battery powered electronic device to electronic memory in the personal computer, and wherein the digital song identification information is initially stored in the electronic memory of the radio system based on a user selection made via an interface of the radio system, the digital song identification information is automatically transferred from the electronic memory of the radio system to the portable battery powered electronic device without user selection of the data for transfer and a computer program of the user computer automatically generates an electronic message which transfers the digital song identification information to a remote server without user selection of the data at the user computer and a responsive electronic communication received at the user computer is processed via the computer to present the user with link data for preview and/or purchase of one or more songs corresponding to the digital song identification information.

8. The system for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring the digital song identification information of claim 7, wherein the interface circuitry is a USB interface.

9. The system for storing and reproducing digital music data and automatically transferring digital song identification information of claim 7, wherein the digital song identification information is automatically transferred from the portable battery powered electronic device to the computer during a synchronization operation.

11. An automobile sound system comprising:

tuner circuitry and a user interface presenting a plurality of user selections, one or more of the user selections in the user interface, when selected, generating at least one control signal causing the tuner circuitry to select a predetermined frequency for demodulation and reproduction via the automobile sound system;

an electronic communication interface providing a temporary electronic communication interface directly between the automobile sound system and a portable battery powered electronic device which provides digital music storage and playback operations;

wherein the user interface for the automobile sound system presents a plurality of user selections specifically designated for controlling interaction with the portable battery powered electronic device and which, when selected, cause generation of one or more control signals based on a user selection at the automobile sound system user interface that are transferred directly to the portable battery powered electronic device via the temporary electronic communication interface, the one or more control signals causing transfer of one or more digitally recorded songs from the portable battery powered electronic device directly into the automobile sound system via the temporary electronic communication interface for reproduction by the automobile sound system;

wherein the automobile sound system user interface also includes user selection circuitry for generating a storage instruction signal based on a user input selection, the user input selection indicating a user intention to subsequently transfer a currently reproduced song into the portable battery powered electronic device, the storage instruction signal causing the automobile sound system to store in an electronic memory of the automobile sound system digital information sufficient to identify the currently reproduced song, and the automobile sound system stores digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs in the electronic memory of the automobile sound system based on user input selections at a time when the portable battery powered electronic device is not connected to the automobile sound system; and

further wherein the automobile sound system automatically communicates with the portable battery powered electronic device to provide the automatic transfer of the digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs from the automobile sound system electronic memory to a memory of the portable battery powered electronic device when the portable battery powered electronic device is temporarily connected to the automobile sound system via the electronic communication interface, and further wherein the automatic transfer of the digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs occurs without user selection of the digital information to be transferred from the automobile sound system electronic memory to the memory of the portable battery powered electronic device; and

wherein the automobile sound system effects communication with a user computer based on the automated transfer of the digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs into the memory of the portable battery powered electronic device, the communication occurring via the portable battery powered electronic device at a time when the portable battery powered electronic device is connected to the user computer based on the original automatic transfer of the digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs into the portable battery powered electronic device thereby providing the digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs to the user computer, a computer program executed at the user computer causing automatic generation of an electronic communication from the computer to a remote server, the electronic communication transferring digital information sufficient to identify the plurality of songs stored in the memory of the portable battery powered electronic device without selection of the digital information by the user and the computer program of the user computer processing a responsive communication in order to provide the user with a plurality of link data providing for the purchase and/or preview of the plurality of songs originally designated by the user selection circuitry of the automobile sound system.