METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMUNICATING WITHIN A WIRELESS MUSIC SHARING CLUSTER

• US 20070129006A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dedicated Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dedicated Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Inventors: Goldberg, Benjamin, Goldberg, David, Goldberg, Martha, Simon, Neil, Goldberg, Mariam
• Application Number:
  US11/566,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129006A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.60
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/40 Rhythm
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/076 for extraction of timing, tempo; Beat detection tempo display G10H2220/081; tempo control G10H2210/375
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/175 for jam sessions or musical collaboration through a network, e.g. for composition, ensemble playing or repeating; Compensation of network or internet delays therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analog or digital, e.g. DECT GSM, UMTS smartphone, PDA or palmtop used for musical purposes G10H2230/015; mobile ringtone G10H2230/021
• 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: G10H 2240/325 Synchronizing two or more audio tracks or files according to musical features or musical timings synchronised lyrics, e.g. for karaoke G10H2220/011
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for enabling communication and music transfer within a cluster of mobile audio playback devices. In one aspect, a method is disclosed for maintaining physical proximity between devices with a cluster of devices to enable audio signal transmission and communication between devices. In another aspect, a method is disclosed by which a member of a cluster can make a request for a music selection to be played within the cluster. In another aspect, an audio entertainment device is enabled for music transmission and reception within the cluster of devices coincident with communication and exchange of dynamic information.

Claims

1. A method for providing a first member player of a music sharing cluster with dynamic information from a second member player about an audio selection, comprising:

playing the audio selection on the first member player;

broadcasting the audio selection from the first member player to the second member player;

playing the broadcast audio selection on the second member player;

transferring dynamic information from the second member player to the first member player; and

presenting the dynamic information on the first member player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic information comprises information selected from the group consisting of positive comments about the audio selection, negative comments about the audio selection, audio selection requests and requests for becoming the cluster broadcaster.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of broadcasting uses an Internet protocol.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of presenting uses one or more of text messages, visual icons, artificial voice synthesis, visible light modulation and voice communication.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inputting of dynamic information onto the second member player by the user of the second member player.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of inputting uses one of a microphone, a keyboard, a stylus, or a selectable icon.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of broadcasting uses one of AM radio, FM radio or digital radio.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of broadcasting uses telephony.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the member players of the cluster are mobile.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the playing on the first member player and the playing on the second broadcast member is synchronous.

11. An audio player for sharing dynamic information within a cluster of audio players, comprising:

means for playing an audio selection on a first member player;

means for broadcasting the audio selection from the first member player to a second member player;

means for playing the broadcast audio selection on the second member player;

means for transferring dynamic information from the second member player to the first member player; and

means for presenting the dynamic information on the first member player.

12. An audio player as in claim 11 wherein dynamic information comprises one or more of positive comments about the audio selection, negative comments about the audio selection, audio selection requests, and requests for becoming the cluster broadcaster.

13. An audio player as in claim 11 wherein the means for broadcasting uses an Internet protocol.

14. An audio player as in claim 11, wherein the means for presenting the dynamic information comprises one of test messages, visual icons artificial voice synthesis, visible light modulation or voice communication.

15. An audio device for playing audio entertainment coincident with voice communication, comprising:

a speaker for outputting sound;

a player for playing the audio entertainment through the speaker, wherein the audio entertainment has an amplitude of sound;

at least one interunit transmitter/receiver for receiving voice communication from another audio device wherein the voice communication is output through the speaker, and wherein the voice communication has an amplitude of sound; and

an amplitude control for separately controlling the amplitude of sound from the player or the voice communication from the interunit transmitter/receiver through the speaker or the ratio of the amplitude of sound from the player to the amplitude of sound through the communications received by the interunit transmitter/receiver that is output by the speaker.

16. The audio device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the device comprises a telephone.

17. The audio device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the device is mobile.

18. The audio device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the interunit transmitter/receiver uses TCP sockets.

19. The audio device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the interunit transmitter/receiver uses a link layer with a protocol selected from the group consisting of 802.11, Bluetooth, ultrawideband, HiperLAN and WDCT.

20. A method for members of a music sharing cluster to make a request, comprising:

transmitting an audio selection from a first audio player to a second audio player;

playing the transmitted audio selection on the second audio player;

inputting a request on the second audio player;

transferring the request from the second audio player to the first audio player; and

displaying the request on the first audio player.

21. A method of claim 20 wherein the request comprises a request to become the broadcaster for the cluster or a request to hear an audio selection.

22. A method of claim 20 wherein displaying is selected from the group consisting of displaying on a screen or providing sound communication.

23. A method to maintain physical proximity between audio devices in an audio sharing cluster, comprising:

transmitting an audio signal from a first audio device to a second audio device;

monitoring the signal reception received by the second audio device; and

communicating the monitored signal reception to the first audio device;

wherein a user of the first audio device uses the communicated signal reception to maintain physical proximity to the second audio device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the second audio device communicates with the audio device at a predetermined interval.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein monitored signal reception is selected from the group consisting of signal presence and signal strength.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising alerting the user of the first audio device if the signal reception by the second audio device is inadequate.