CONTENT STREAMING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20200026486A1
• Filed: 03/18/2019
• Published: 01/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: THURMAN, James L., DITTLINGER, John, JOHNSON, William, LI, Xiao, WANG, Yezhou
• Granted Patent: US 10,789,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: G10L 19/167 Audio streaming, i.e. formatting and decoding of an encoded audio signal representation into a data stream for transmission or storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/22 Mode decision, i.e. based on audio signal content versus external parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include an improved content streaming system that is configured to simplify and streamline the process of streaming media content from one or more content providers to one or more electronic devices. In some embodiments, the interaction of a user with one or more components in a content distribution system is used to initiate the streaming of media content to one or more content players from either a first content server or a second content server.

Claims

1. A method of streaming media content, comprising:

determining, by a first electronic device, that a first user input signal received from a first content player comprises streaming command information, wherein

the first user input signal was generated from a first signal generated by an electromechanical device of the first content player based on a user'"'"'s interaction with the electromechanical device, and

the first user input signal consists of information other than information configured to identify a media-containing file;

wirelessly transmitting a first delivery command to a first server after it is determined that the first user input signal comprises the streaming command information, wherein

the transmission of the first delivery command is provided automatically based on receipt of the first user input signal, and

the first delivery command comprises media identification information relating to a first playlist of a plurality of playlists;

receiving a first information link from the first server, wherein the first information link is derived from information provided in the first delivery command;

causing a first stream of information comprising at least one audio-containing file contained within the first playlist to be provided to the first electronic device from a first content server based on information contained within the first information link; and

transferring the first stream of information from the first electronic device to the first content player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first stream of information to be provided from the first content server further comprises:

retrieving information regarding a first content provider from memory of the first electronic device based on a receipt of the first user input signal, wherein the retrieved information comprises information relating to the at least one audio-containing file that is accessible from the first content provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

due to attributes of the interaction of the user with the electromechanical device the first content player generates either the first user input signal or a second signal, and

the second signal comprises one or more standard device control commands.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein interacting with the electromechanical device associated with the first content player is performed for at least a first time duration by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the first electronic device, that a received second user input signal comprises additional streaming command information, wherein

the second user input signal is received from the first content player,

the second user input signal was generated from a second signal generated by the electromechanical device of the first content player based on the user'"'"'s second interaction with the electromechanical device, and

the second delivery command comprises media identification information relating to a second playlist of the plurality of playlists; and

causing a second stream of information comprising at least one additional audio-containing file contained within the second playlist to be provided to the first content player from a second content server based on information contained within a second information link that is generated based on the determining that the second user input signal comprises streaming command information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first user input signal from the first content player causes a control software application to run on the first electronic device, wherein the control software application is configured to allow a user to:

generate the first playlist, or

modify the first playlist.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input signal further comprises information regarding a length of time that a user'"'"'s input, which generated the first user input signal, was provided to the first content player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input signal further comprises information regarding a length of time that the first content player has been powered “

on”

.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first stream of information comprising the at least one audio-containing file is provided from the first content server to a second content player.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing a control software application to run on the first electronic device; and

determining, by the control software application, that the first content player comprises the electromechanical device based on device ID information provided in the first user input signal.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second information link from the first server, wherein the second information link is derived from information provided in the first delivery command;

causing a second stream of information comprising at least one additional audio-containing file contained within a second playlist to be provided to the first electronic device from a second content server based on information contained within the second information link and based on determining the first stream of information is approaching an end of the first playlist; and

transferring the second stream of information from the first electronic device to the first content player.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input signal comprises an initiate streaming command and device identification information configured to identify the first content player.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the device identification information includes one or more of a serial number, model number, or software version for the first content player.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein a control software application running on the first electronic device determines that the first user input signal comprises the streaming command information, and the method of streaming media content further comprises:

retrieving, by the control software application, information regarding at least one media-containing file stored on the first content server;

storing the retrieved information in memory; and

forming the first delivery command, wherein the first delivery command is derived from the retrieved information stored in memory.

9. (canceled)

12. A method of streaming media content, comprising:

detecting, by a sensor in a first electronic device, first user input from a user;

wirelessly transmitting a first user input signal from the first electronic device to a second electronic device based on the detection of the first user input, wherein

the first user input signal comprises streaming command information, and

the first user input signal consists of information other than information configured to identify a media-containing file;

receiving, by the first electronic device, a first information link from the second electronic device, wherein the first information link is derived from information provided in the first user input signal;

causing a first stream of information comprising at least one audio-containing file contained within a first playlist to be provided from a first content server to the first electronic device based on information contained within the first information link; and

generating an audible signal by the first electronic device based on the received first stream of information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the first stream of information to be provided from the first content server further comprises:

retrieving information regarding a first content provider from memory of the second electronic device based on a receipt of the first user input signal, wherein the retrieved information includes information relating to the at least one audio-containing file that is accessible from the first content provider.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein

due to attributes of the interaction of the user with the electromechanical device the first electronic device generates either the first user input signal or a second signal, and

the second signal comprises one or more standard device control commands.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein interacting with the electromechanical device associated with the first electronic device is performed for at least a first time duration by the user.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprises:

detecting, by the first electronic device, a second user input from the user;

wirelessly transmitting a second user input signal from the first electronic device to the second electronic device based on the detection of the second user input, wherein the second user input signal comprises streaming command information;

receiving, by the first electronic device, a second information link from the second electronic device, wherein the second information link is derived from information provided in the second user input signal;

causing a second stream of information comprising at least one additional audio-containing file contained within a second playlist to be provided from the first content server or a second content server to the first electronic device based on information contained within the second information link; and

generating an audible signal by the first electronic device based on the received second stream of information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first user input signal further comprises information regarding a length of time that the user'"'"'s input was provided to the first electronic device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first user input signal further comprises information regarding a length of time that the first electronic device has been powered “

on”

.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the first user input signal further comprises device identification information.

25. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, by the first electronic device, a second information link from the second electronic device, wherein the second information link is derived from information provided in the first user input signal;

causing a second stream of information comprising at least additional one audio-containing file contained within a second playlist to be provided from a second content server to the first electronic device based on information contained within the second information link and based on determining the first stream of information is approaching an end of the first playlist; and

generating an audible signal by the first electronic device based on the received second stream of information.

26. The method of claim 12, wherein the first user input signal comprises an initiate streaming command and device identification information configured to identify the first electronic device.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the device identification information includes one or more of a serial number, model number, or software version for the first electronic device.

19. (canceled)

28. A method of streaming media content, comprising:

determining, by a first electronic device, that a first user input signal received from a first content player comprises streaming command information, wherein the first user input signal was generated from a first signal generated by an electromechanical device of the first content player based on a user'"'"'s interaction with the electromechanical device;

wirelessly transmitting a first delivery command to a first content server based on determining that the first user input signal comprises the streaming command information;

receiving a first information link from the first content server, wherein the first information link is derived from information provided in the first delivery command;

causing a first stream of information comprising at least one audio-containing file contained within a first playlist to be provided to the first electronic device from the first content server based on information contained within the first information link;

transferring the first stream of information from the first electronic device to the first content player;

wirelessly transmitting a second delivery command to a second content server based on determining that the first user input signal comprises the streaming command information,

receiving a second information link from the second content server, wherein the first information link is derived from information provided in the first delivery command;

causing a second stream of information comprising at least one additional audio-containing file contained within a second playlist to be provided to the first electronic device from the second content server based on information contained within the second information link and based on determining the first stream of information is approaching an end of the first playlist; and

transferring the second stream of information from the first electronic device to the first content player.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein

due to attributes of the interaction of the user with the electromechanical device the first content player generates either the first user input signal or a second signal, and

the second signal comprises one or more standard device control commands.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein receiving the first user input signal from the first content player causes a control software application to run on the first electronic device, wherein the control software application is configured to allow a user to generate the first playlist and the second playlist or modify the first playlist and the second playlist.