Network enabled audio device and radio site

• US 9,312,827 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Golden IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Black Hills Media, LLC (Concert Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Qureshey, Safi, Sheppard, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, DUYEN MY
• Application Number:
  US14/546,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20150072612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• 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 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/00 Gain control in amplifiers or frequency changers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/08 Constructional details, e.g. cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 : Session protocols
• 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 67/00 : Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/146 : Markers for unambiguous identification of a particular session, e.g. session cookie or URL-encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 : Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0006 : where voice calls cross both networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 : Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/01 : Input selection or mixing for amplifiers or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 : Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 : Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems

Abstract

A device for receiving an Internet radio broadcast is provided. The device comprises a communication interface, at least one input control mounted on the device. a display, and at least one processor in communication with the communication interface, the at least one input control, and the display, and memory containing software executable by the at least one processor. The device is operative to: access through the communication interface an Internet radio having a list of Internet radio broadcast stations; store a list of preferred Internet radio broadcast stations; in a first display mode and in response to a physical manipulation of the at least one input control, scroll through and display on the display at least one Internet radio broadcast station from the list of available Internet radio broadcast stations; in a second display mode and in response to a physical manipulation of the at least one input control, scroll through and display on the display at least one preferred Internet radio broadcast station from a list of user-preselected preferred Internet radio broadcast stations; send information identifying a selected Internet radio broadcast station from either the first or second display mode; and receive the Internet radio broadcast provided by the selected Internet radio broadcast station.

Claims

1. A device for receiving an Internet radio broadcast, comprising:

a communication interface;

at least one input control mounted on the device;

a display;

at least one processor in communication with the communication interface, the at least one input control, and the display; and

memory containing software executable by the at least one processor, whereby the device is operative to;

access through the communication interface a list of Internet radio broadcast stations from an Internet site;

store a list of preferred Internet radio broadcast stations;

in a first display mode and in response to a physical manipulation of the at least one input control, scroll through and display on the display at least one Internet radio broadcast station from the list of Internet radio broadcast stations available;

in a second display mode and in response to a physical manipulation of the at least one input control, scroll through and display on the display at least one preferred Internet radio broadcast station from a list of user-preselected preferred Internet radio broadcast stations;

send information identifying a selected Internet radio broadcast station from either the first or second display mode; and

receive the Internet radio broadcast provided by the selected Internet radio broadcast station.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one output element in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the device is further operative to output the received Internet radio broadcast through the output element.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

in a third display mode and in response to a physical manipulation of the at least one input control, display information on the display, the information pertaining to a currently received Internet radio broadcast.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further operative to receive the list of Internet radio broadcast stations from the Internet site over a communications network through the communication interface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is operative to receive the Internet radio broadcast provided by the selected Internet radio broadcast station through the Internet site by receiving a reformatted version of the Internet radio broadcast provided by the selected Internet radio broadcast station through the Internet site.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the reformatted version of the Internet radio broadcast is generated by the Internet site.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further operative to play the received Internet radio broadcast provided by the selected Internet radio broadcast station after receipt of the Internet radio broadcast provided by the selected Internet radio broadcast station through the Internet site.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further operative to receive an address for the Internet site.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is further operative to establish a connection with the Internet site after receipt of the address for the Internet site.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is further operative to:

receive information necessary to establish a user account at the Internet site; and

communicate the information necessary to establish the user account at the Internet site to the Internet site after the connection with the Internet site is established.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is further operative to:

receive the list of Internet radio broadcast stations from the Internet site over a communications network through the communication interface after the user account is established.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is further operative to:

receive a command to log in to the user account before the receipt of the selection for the Internet radio broadcast station among the list of Internet radio broadcast stations.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is further operative to:

receive a command to log in to a user account established before receipt of the selection for the Internet radio broadcast station among the list of Internet radio broadcast stations.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a unitary stereo receiver device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the communications interface is an Ethernet interface.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein:

the at least one processor comprises a general purpose processor and a digital signal processor; and

the memory comprises a random access memory and a flash memory, and

wherein the stereo receiver device has no disk for data storage space.

17. The device of claim 14 further comprising:

a physical input control operable to;

receive volume control input information; and

effect a sound level at which audio is rendered according to the volume control input information; and

a digital-to-analog converter; and

an amplifier coupling the digital-to-analog converter to an output element and operable to;

receive uncompressed audio data from the digital-to-analog converter; and

provide an amplified analog signal to the output element.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein the device is further operable to:

receive an assignment of a playlist identifying a plurality of songs stored on a home personal computer, the playlist defining a sequence for playing the plurality of songs;

receive, from the home personal computer, at least one song identified by the playlist; and

render according to the sequence defined by the playlist, the songs identified by the playlist.

19. The device of claim 14 further comprising:

an AM tuner; and

an FM tuner.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein the selected Internet radio broadcast station receives from the Internet site a list of available program sources.

20. A unitary stereo receiver device for receiving an Internet radio broadcast, comprising:

an Ethernet communication interface;

a first input control mounted on the unitary stereo receiver device;

a display;

an AM tuner;

an FM tuner;

at least one processor in communication with the Ethernet communication interface, the first input control, and the display;

memory containing software executable by the at least one processor, whereby the unitary stereo receiver device is operative to;

render an Internet radio broadcast by;

accessing through the communication interface of the device Internet radio station directory server having a list of Internet radio broadcast stations from an Internet site;

storing a list of preferred Internet radio broadcast stations;

in a first display mode and in response to a physical manipulation of the first input control, scrolling through and displaying on the display at least one Internet radio broadcast station from the list of Internet radio broadcast stations available;

in a second display mode and in response to a physical manipulation of the first input control, scrolling through and displaying on the display at least one preferred Internet radio broadcast station from the list of preferred Internet radio broadcast stations;

sending information identifying a selected Internet radio broadcast station from either the first or second display mode; and

receiving the Internet radio broadcast provided by the selected Internet radio broadcast station; and

render a playlist by;

receiving a playlist identifying a plurality of songs stored on a home personal computer, the playlist defining a sequence for playing the plurality of songs;

receiving, from the home personal computer, at least one song identified by the playlist; and

rendering according to the sequence defined by the playlist, the songs identified by the playlist; and

a second input control operable to;

receive volume control input information; and

effect a sound level at which songs rendered according to the volume control input information; and

a digital-to-analog converter; and

an amplifier coupling the digital-to-analog converter to an output element and operable to;

receive uncompressed audio data from the digital-to-analog converter; and

provide an amplified analog signal to the output element, and

wherein the at least one processor comprises a general purpose processor and a digital signal processor; and

the memory comprises a random access memory and a flash memory, and

wherein the unitary stereo receiver device has no disk for data storage space.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the selected Internet radio broadcast station receives from the Internet site a list of available program sources.