SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTONOMOUSLY SCHEDULING AND PLAYING AUDIO FILES

• US 20150186105A1
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TAPS of America, TAPS of America LLC
• Original Assignee: TAPS of America LLC
• Inventors: Wellman, Willard Frederick, Spurrier, Christopher Carl, Wellman, Scott Robert, Wellman, Guy Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,658,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists

Abstract

Systems and methods for autonomously playing audio files at predeterminable times of a day, week, and/or year, including but not limited to astronomical events, for example, dusk or dawn. The systems and methods employ a computer program running on a standalone computer connected to an audio power amplifier and speaker system. The computer program includes an always-running service configured to execute a scheduling algorithm that causes selected audio files to be played according to one or more schedules.

Claims

1. A system for autonomously scheduling audio files and then playing the audio files at predeterminable times of a day, week, and/or year according to at least a first schedule, the system comprising:

a standalone computer comprising nonvolatile memory in which audio files are stored;

a computer program running on the standalone computer;

a power audio amplifier connected to the standalone computer; and

a speaker system connected to the power audio amplifier for broadcasting selected audio files of the audio files stored in the nonvolatile memory;

wherein the computer program comprises a configuration application adapted to define the first schedule, associate the selected audio files with the first schedule, and schedule the predeterminable times of a day, week, and/or year when the selected audio files are to be played and broadcast according to the first schedule, the computer program further comprising an always-running service configured to execute a scheduling algorithm that causes the selected audio files to be played according to the first schedule.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer program is adapted to schedule at least one of the selected audio files to be played and broadcast at a repetitive event.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer program is adapted to schedule at least a first of the selected audio files to be played and broadcast at a moving event.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the moving event is an astronomical event.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores information that correlates locations, dates, and time zones to the astronomical event.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the astronomical event is chosen from the group consisting of civil dawn, sunrise, sunset, and civil dusk.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the computer program is adapted to schedule the first selected audio file to be played and broadcast at a programmable offset time relative to the moving event.

8. The system according to claim 3, wherein the computer program is adapted to schedule a second of the selected audio files to be played and broadcast at a repetitive event, and is adapted to interrupt the playing of the second selected audio file to play and broadcast the first selected audio file.

9. A method of using the system of claim 1 to define the first schedule, associate the selected audio files with the first schedule, schedule the predeterminable times of a day, week, and/or year when the selected audio files are to be played and broadcast, and execute the scheduling algorithm to play the selected audio files according to the first schedule.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the scheduling algorithm does not utilize sensed ambient light to determine when to play the selected audio files of the first schedule.

11. A method of autonomously scheduling audio files and then playing the audio files at predeterminable times of a day, week, and/or year according to at least a first schedule, the method comprising:

storing audio files in nonvolatile memory of a standalone computer;

defining the first schedule;

associating selected audio files of the stored audio files with the first schedule;

scheduling the predeterminable times of a day, week, and/or year when the selected audio files are to be played and broadcast; and

executing a scheduling algorithm that plays the selected audio files according to the first schedule.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the selected audio files is scheduled to be played and broadcast at a repetitive event.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the selected audio files is scheduled to be played and broadcast at a moving event.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the moving event is an astronomical event.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising storing information in nonvolatile memory that correlates locations, dates, and time zones to the astronomical event.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the astronomical event is chosen from the group consisting of civil dawn, sunrise, sunset, and civil dusk.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first selected audio file is scheduled to be played and broadcast at a programmable offset time relative to the moving event.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising scheduling a second of the selected audio files to be played and broadcast at a repetitive event, and interrupting the playing of the second selected audio file to play and broadcast the first selected audio file.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

defining at least a second schedule;

associating additional selected audio files of the stored audio files with the second schedule;

scheduling predeterminable times of a day, week, and/or year when the additional selected audio files are to be played and broadcast; and

executing the scheduling algorithm that plays the additional selected audio files according to the second schedule.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the scheduling algorithm does not utilize sensed ambient light to determine when to play the selected audio files of the first schedule.