Network-enabled audio device

• US 9,397,627 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• 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): BILGRAMI, ASGHAR H
• Application Number:
  US11/563,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,522 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 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 for hearing aids H04R25/43
• 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 network-enabled audio device that provides a display device that allows the user to select playlists of music much like a jukebox is disclosed. The user can compose playlists from disk files, CD'"'"'s, Internet streaming audio broadcasts, online music sites, and other audio sources. The user can also select a desired Web broadcast from a list of available Web broadcasts. In addition, the user can play standard audio CD'"'"'s and MP3 encoded CD'"'"'s and have access to local AM/FM stations. Further, the software, the user controls, and the display in the network-enabled audio device are operably configured and connected such that the user can listen to playlists that include CD'"'"'s and other audio sources just as the user would choose a playlist in a jukebox. The user accesses a server site via a PC and the Internet. From the server site, the user obtains a list of the devices in his or her Internet Personal Audio Network (IPAN) and what songs are on those devices. The IPAN includes an IPAN server, an IPAN client, and IPAN software stored on the network-enabled audio device. Thus, the network-enabled audio device provides people who are or are not comfortable with computers a way of taking music from various sources and putting it into one place for listening pleasure. In one embodiment, the Personal Computer (PC) is used to compose the playlists, but the user is able to listen to playlists and other audio sources without using the PC.

Claims

1. A method of operation of a network-enabled audio device comprising:

a) sending, in real-time from the audio device, a user initiated request to a remote server for supplemental information related to a song from a playlist assigned to the device while the song is playing on the device; and

b) receiving, by the audio device, the supplemental information from the remote server.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the supplemental information to a user upon receiving the supplemental information from the remote server.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental information comprises a title of the song and an artist performing the song, and the method further comprises displaying the title of the song and the artist performing the song to a user in real-time while the song is playing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental information comprises news related to an artist performing the song.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental information comprises information identifying albums by an artist performing the song.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental information comprises tour information identifying at least one location and time at which an artist performing the song will be appearing.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental information comprises offer information identifying at least one item promoted by an artist performing the song.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing an option to purchase the at least one item.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) receiving an advertisement for an item from the remote server; and

b) displaying the advertisement to a user while the song is playing.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing an option to purchase the item in response to the advertisement.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising interactively presenting the supplemental information to a user.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the supplemental information includes at least two of a group consisting of:

news information related to an artist performing the song, information identifying other albums by the artist performing the song, information identifying recommended songs similar to the song, information enabling the user to listen to samples of other songs, tour information identifying at least one location and date at which the artist performing the song will appear, and offer information identifying at least one item promoted by the artist performing the song.

23. The method of claim 4 further comprising displaying the supplemental information to a user upon receiving the supplemental information from the remote server.

24. The method of claim 5 further comprising displaying the supplemental information to a user upon receiving the supplemental information from the remote server.

27. The method of claim 16 further comprising displaying the supplemental information to a user upon receiving the supplemental information from the remote server.

6. A method comprising:

sending, in real-time from an audio device, a user initiated request to a remote server for supplemental information related to a song from a playlist assigned to the device while the song is playing on the device; and

receiving the supplemental information from the remote server,

wherein the supplemental information comprises information identifying recommended songs that are similar to the song.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the song is associated with a music genre and the recommended songs comprise songs that are from the music genre of the song.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the song is associated with a music genre and the recommended songs comprise songs that are from a second music genre that is similar to the music genre of the song.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the recommended songs comprise songs by an artist that is similar to an artist performing the song.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing an option to purchase the recommended songs.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing an option to listen to the recommended songs.

12. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing an option to download the recommended songs.

25. The method of claim 6 further comprising displaying the supplemental information to a user upon receiving the supplemental information from the remote server.

13. A method comprising:

sending, in real-time from an audio device, a user initiated request to a remote server for supplemental information related to a song from a playlist assigned to the device while the song is playing on the device; and

receiving the supplemental information from the remote server,

wherein the supplemental information comprises information identifying recommended songs that are similar to the song.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of songs are other songs by an artist performing the song.

26. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying the supplemental information to the user upon receiving the supplemental information from the remote server.

22. A method comprising:

sending, in real-time from an audio device, a user initiated request to a remote server for supplemental information related to a song from a playlist assigned to the device while the song is playing on the device; and

receiving the supplemental information from the remote server,

wherein sending the request comprises sending a sample of the song to the remote server, wherein the remote server identifies the song based on the sample of the song in order to provide the supplemental information.

28. The method of claim 22 further comprising displaying the supplemental information to a user upon receiving the supplemental information from the remote server.