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

• US 9,116,987 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• 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, Bernadette, Depke, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flanders, Andrew C
• Application Number:
  US13/840,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20130205079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 700/94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 downloading digital music data comprising:

one or more computer devices, each of which is respectively located at a corresponding one or more individual user locations;

each computer device having a computer software program stored in an electronic memory of the computer device, the computer software program including a plurality of machine instructions, one or more of the machine instructions which, when executed by a processor of the computer device cause automatic generation of an electronic communication that transfers digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs;

the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs being automatically acquired by the computer device from an electronic memory of a portable battery powered electronic device providing digital music storage and playback operations that is temporarily connected to the computer device via a bi-directional communication interface, the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs being automatically acquired by the computer device without selection of the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs by a user;

the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs comprising music content selection data initially electronically stored on a remote device and subsequently stored in the portable battery powered electronic device, the electronic communication being automatically transferred via the internet from the computer device in a predetermined format to an internet based music ordering system having one or more servers; and

the music ordering system automatically transferring digital data back via internet communication from at least one of the servers of the music ordering system to the computer device from which the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs was transferred; and

the digital data that is transferred back to the computer device includes link data that the computer device uses to generate user interface options presented to the user at a computer device interface enabling the user to selectively preview and/or order for downloading to the computer device one or more individual songs corresponding to the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs originally transferred from the computer device to the music ordering system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable battery powered electronic device memory is an EEPROM memory.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable battery powered electronic device memory is a magnetic disc drive memory.

4. A method for downloading digital music data comprising:

storing a computer program in an electronic memory of one or more computer devices, each of which is respectively located at a corresponding individual user location;

the computer program including a plurality of machine instructions, and causing execution of one or more of the machine instructions, which when executed by a processor of the computer device cause the computer device to automatically generate an electronic communication that transfers digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs, the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs being automatically acquired without user selection from an electronic memory of a portable battery powered electronic device providing digital music storage and playback operations that is temporarily connected to the corresponding computer device via a bi-directional communication interface, the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs being initially electronically stored on a remote device and subsequently stored in the electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device;

the electronic communication being transferred via the internet from the computer device to an internet based music ordering system having one or more servers; and

the internet based music ordering system automatically transferring data back via internet communication from at least one of the servers of the music ordering system to the computer device from which the digital data was transferred and the digital data that is transferred back to the computer device includes link data that the computer device uses to generate user interface options presented to the user at a computer device interface enabling the user to selectively preview and/or order for downloading to the computer one or more individual songs corresponding to the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs originally transferred from the computer device to the music ordering system.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the portable battery powered electronic device memory is an EEPROM memory.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the portable battery powered electronic device memory is a magnetic disc drive memory.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing preview of a song at the computer based on user selection of an interface option.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing purchase of a song at the computer based on user selection of an interface option and transferring digital song data to the computer.

5. A computer program copy embodied as a plurality of executable machine instructions stored in a non-transitory digital non-volatile electronic memory of a computer device as a plurality of defined digital logic values, the computer device comprising a portion of a system for downloading digital music data when the computer program copy is executed by the computer device, the computer program copy comprising:

at least some of the machine instructions which, when the defined digital logic values are read out from the digital non-volatile electronic memory and executed by a processor of the computer device cause the automatic generation of an electronic communication that transfers digital data sufficient to identify at least one song, the digital data sufficient to identify at least one song being automatically acquired by the computer device from an electronic memory of a portable battery powered electronic device providing digital music storage and playback operations that is temporarily connected to the computer device via a bi-directional communication interface without selection of the digital data by a user, the digital data comprising music content selection data initially electronically stored on a remote device and subsequently stored in the electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device, the electronic communication being transferred via the internet from the computer device to an internet based music ordering system having one or more servers; and

the computer device receiving and processing an automatically generated responsive electronic communication transmitted from a server of the music ordering system via the internet which automatically transfers data back to the computer device which is processed by the computer device based on execution of additional machine instruction of the computer program, the data received at the computer device including link data that the computer uses to generate user interface options for selectively previewing and/or ordering for downloading to the computer device one or more individual songs identified by the digital data sufficient to identify at least one song originally transferred from the computer device to the music ordering system.

8. The computer program of claim 5, wherein the portable battery powered electronic device memory is an EEPROM memory.

9. The computer program of claim 5, wherein the portable battery powered electronic device memory is a magnetic disc drive memory.

12. A method of using a portable battery powered electronic device which provides digital music storage and playback operations comprising:

establishing a bi-directional electronic communication interface between the portable battery powered electronic device and a computer device and executing machine instructions of a computer software program stored in an electronic memory of the computer device using a processor of the computer device, one or more of the machine instructions which, when executed by a processor of the computer device cause automatic generation of an electronic communication that transfers digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs, the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs being automatically acquired by the computer device from an electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device providing digital music storage and playback operations, the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs being automatically acquired by the computer device without selection of the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs by a user, the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs comprising music content selection data initially electronically stored on a remote device and subsequently stored in the portable battery powered electronic device, the electronic communication being automatically transferred via the internet from the computer device in a predetermined format to an internet based music ordering system having one or more servers; and

automatically transferring digital data back via internet communication from at least one of the servers of the music ordering system to the computer device from which the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs was transferred, and processing the digital data that is transferred back to the computer device in order generate user interface options presented to the user at a computer device interface enabling the user to selectively preview and/or order for downloading to the computer device one or more individual songs corresponding to the digital data sufficient to identify one or more songs originally transferred from the computer device to the music ordering system.

13. The method of using a portable battery powered electronic device which provides digital music storage and playback operations of claim 12, wherein the interface circuitry is a USB interface.

14. The method of using a portable battery powered electronic device which provides digital music storage and playback operations of claim 12, wherein the digital song identification information is automatically transferred from the portable battery powered electronic device to the computer during a synchronization operation.

15. The method of using a portable battery powered electronic device which provides digital music storage and playback operations of claim 12, further comprising purchasing at least one song using the link data.

16. An audio reproduction device comprising:

a user interface presenting a plurality of user content selections, one or more of the user content selections in the user interface, when selected, causing reproduction of a predetermined broadcast via the audio reproduction device;

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

wherein the user interface for the audio reproduction device presents a plurality of user device control selections specifically designated for controlling 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 audio reproduction device 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 audio reproduction device via the temporary electronic communication interface for reproduction by the audio reproduction device;

wherein the audio reproduction device user interface also includes a user input song designator associated with a music purchasing computer program located at a remote user computer device, the user input song designator causing the audio reproduction device to store in an electronic memory of the audio reproduction device digital information sufficient to identify a song being reproduced by the audio reproduction device, and the audio reproduction device stores digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs in the electronic memory of the audio reproduction device based on user input selection of the song designator; and

further wherein the audio reproduction device 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 audio reproduction device electronic memory to a memory of the portable battery powered electronic device when the portable battery powered electronic device is temporarily connected to the audio reproduction device 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 audio reproduction device electronic memory to the memory of the portable battery powered electronic device; and

further wherein the audio reproduction device cooperates with the music purchasing computer program based on the automatic transfer of the digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs into the electronic memory of the portable battery powered electronic device thereby facilitating the automatic acquisition of the digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs by the music purchasing computer program at the user computer without user selection of the digital information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs at the user computer.

17. The audio reproduction device of claim 16, further comprising a satellite broadcast receiver and the information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs stored in the electronic memory of the audio reproduction device includes digital information sufficient to identify at least one song that is acquired from a satellite broadcast.

18. The audio reproduction device of claim 16, further comprising a digital broadcast receiver and the information sufficient to identify a plurality of songs stored in the electronic memory of the audio reproduction device includes digital information sufficient to identify at least one song that is acquired from a digital radio broadcast.