Internet radio receiver having a rotary knob for selecting audio content provider designations and negotiating internet access to URLS associated with the designations

• US 6,389,463 B2
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DigiMedia Tech, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: iM Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Bolas, Mark T., McDowall, Ian E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US09/334,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/217, 709/216, 709/219, 709/204, 709/227, 455/466, 348/9, 704/260
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• 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 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An device for receiving streaming audio or other audio sources netcast in analogous fashion to a radio broadcast, said device providing an interface analogous to a radio receiver, eliminating the necessity of an intervening personal computer system.

Claims

1. A method for receiving and playing audio content from an internet audio content provider capable of streaming audio to internet users, said method comprising:

providing an audio content receiving device for receiving and playing audio content from an internet based audio content provider, said audio content receiving device comprising

an enclosure housing a internet connection device, computer processor, computer memory, and an audio card, said enclosure having a control panel disposed on the exterior of the enclosure;

an audio speaker operably connected to receive output from the audio card and annunciate the audio output;

an input device on said control panel for indicating a selected audio content provider for access by the device by input of a content provider designation;

said computer memory storing a database of designated audio content provider designations and URL'"'"'s associated with each audio content provider designation;

said computer processor being programmed to connect with the internet through the internet connection device, to receive input of an audio content provider designation from the input device, interpret the input from the input device as a selection of a desired audio content provider, to look up from the memory the URL associated with the desired audio content provider, and negotiate with the internet to access the URL associated with the desired audio content provider and accept audio information from the URL for playback through the audio speakers;

providing a plurality of audio content providers on the internet accessible to the audio content receiving device through the internet, said internet server being programmed to respond to requests for audio content by streaming audio content to the audio content receiving device;

connecting to the internet with the audio content receiving device, accessing a particular audio content provider amongst the plurality of audio content providers based upon the users manipulation of the input device;

wherein the input device is a rotary knob, combined with a display capable of displaying audio content provider designations, and said rotary knob is operable by the user to cause display of various audio content provider designations on the display and direct the device to negotiate access with the associated audio content provider.

2. A device for receiving and playing audio content from an internet based audio content provider comprising:

an enclosure housing a internet connection device, computer processor, computer memory, and an audio card, said enclosure having a control panel disposed on the exterior of the enclosure;

an audio speaker operably connected to receive output from the audio card and annunciate the audio output;

a first input device on said control panel for indicating a selected audio content provider for access by the device by input of a content provider designation;

said computer memory storing a database of designated audio content provider designations and URL'"'"'s associated with each audio content provider designation;

said computer processor being programmed to connect with the internet through the internet connection device, to receive input of an audio content provider designation from the input device, interpret the input from the input device as a selection of a desired audio content provider, to look up from the memory the URL associated with the desired audio content provider, and negotiate with the internet to access the URL associated with the desired audio content provider and accept audio information from the URL for playback through the audio speakers;

wherein the input device is a rotary knob, combined with a display capable of displaying audio content provider designations, and said rotary knob is operable by the user to cause display of various audio content provider designations on the display and direct the device to negotiate access with the associated audio content provider.

3. A system for receiving and playing audio content from an internet audio content provider capable of streaming audio to internet users, said system comprising:

an audio content receiving device for receiving and playing audio content from an internet based audio content provider

an enclosure housing a internet connection device, computer processor, computer memory, and an audio card, said enclosure having a control panel disposed on the exterior of the enclosure;

an audio speaker operably connected to receive output from the audio card and annunciate the audio output;

an input device on said control panel for indicating at selected audio content provider for access by the device by input of a content provider designation;

said computer memory storing a database of designated audio content provider designations and URL'"'"'s associated with each audio content provider designation;

said computer processor being programmed to connect with the internet through the Internet connection device, to receive input of an audio content provider designation from the input device, interpret the input from the input device as a selection of a desired audio content provider, to look up from the memory the URL associated with the desired audio content provider, and negotiate with the internet to access the URL associated with the desired audio content provider and accept audio information from the URL for playback through the audio speakers.

an internet server accessible to the audio content receiving device through the internet, said internet server being programmed to respond to requests for audio content by streaming audio content to the audio content receiving device;

wherein the input device is a rotary knob, combined with a display capable of displaying audio content provider designations, and said rotary knob is operable by the user to cause display of various audio content provider designations on the display and direct the device to negotiate access with the associated audio content provider.