Apparatus for distributing and playing audio information

• US 6,823,225 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1997
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: iM Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Sass, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENDLETON, BRIAN T
• Application Number:
  US08/984,772
• Time in Patent Office: 2,546 Days
• Field of Search: 364/400.01, 369/1, 395/200.3, 395/200.33, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 709/217, 709/219, 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• 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 60/21 Billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations

Abstract

A system and method for distributing audio information is disclosed. The system comprises a receiver, a server, and a communication network. The receiver allows a user to select and receive audio information that is stored at a location remote to the user. The server stores data and network addresses of programs that are available to the user. The communication network facilitates communication between the receiver, the server, and other devices attached to the network. The server or a network source may transmit audio data to the receiver that contemporaneously receives and plays the data for the user.

Claims

1. A system for distributing audio programs and information over the internet, said internet comprising a plurality of content servers with unique addresses, said content servers capable of serving audio data directly or indirectly to receiving client computers or appliances, said internet also comprising a plurality of receiving client computers or appliances adapted for connection to the internet, said system comprising:

at least one additional server, said additional server having storage means for storing address information for the plurality of content servers, said additional server programmed to permit receiving client computers or appliances to select a content server, said additional server being programmed to negotiate transmission of audio data from the plurality of content servers to receiving client computers requesting such transmission;

wherein the receiving client computer or appliance is programmed with software for communicating with the additional server and selecting a content server address from amongst the addresses stored in the additional server and thereafter receiving audio data from the selected content server;

wherein the additional server additionally comprises means for identifying geographic data pertaining to the receiving client computer;

means for storing geographically correlated audio content, where the geographically correlated audio content is correlated to the geographic data; and

means for transmitting the geographically correlated audio data to the receiving client computer in place of a portion of the audio content transmitted by the selected content server.

2. A system for distributing audio programs and information over the internet, said internet comprising a plurality of content servers with unique addresses, said content servers capable of serving audio data directly or indirectly to receiving client computers or appliances, said internet also comprising a plurality of receiving client computers or appliances adapted for connection to the internet, said system comprising:

at least one additional server, said additional server having storage means for storing address information for the plurality of content servers, said additional server programmed to permit receiving client computers or appliances to select a content server, said additional server being programmed to negotiate transmission of audio data from the plurality of content servers to receiving client computers requesting such transmission;

wherein the receiving client computer or appliance is programmed with software for communicating with the additional server and selecting a content server address from amongst the addresses stored in the additional server and thereafter receiving audio data from the selected content server;

wherein the additional server additionally comprises means for identifying geographic data pertaining to the receiving client computer;

means for storing geographically correlated audio content, where the geographically correlated audio content is correlated to the geographic data;

means for transmitting the geographically correlated audio data to the receiving client computer simultaneously with transmission of the audio data; and

the receiving client computer is additionally programmed to simultaneously receive and play the audio content from the selected content server and receive and store the geographically correlated audio data for playback after reception.

3. A system for distributing audio programs and information over the internet, said internet comprising a plurality of content servers with unique addresses, said content servers capable of serving a stream of audio data directly or indirectly to receiving client computers or appliances, said internet also comprising a plurality of receiving client computers or appliances adapted for connection to the internet, said system comprising:

at least one additional server, said additional server having storage means storing address information for the plurality of content servers, said additional server programed to permit receiving client computers or appliances to select a content server, said additional server being programmed to negotiate transmission of audio data from the plurality of content servers to receiving client computers requesting such transmission;

wherein the receiving client computer or appliance is programmed with software for communicating with the additional server and selecting a content server address from amongst the addresses stored in the additional server and thereafter receiving a stream of audio data from the selected content server;

wherein the additional server additionally comprises means for identifying geographic data pertaining to the receiving client computer;

means for storing geographically correlated audio content, where the geographically correlated audio content is correlated to the geographic data; and

means for transmitting the geographically correlated audio data to the receiving client computer in place of a portion of the stream of audio content transmitted by the selected content server.

4. A system for distributing audio programs and information over the internet, said internet comprising a plurality of content servers with unique addresses, said content servers capable of serving a stream of audio data directly or indirectly to receiving client computers or appliances, said internet also comprising a plurality of receiving client computers or appliances adapted for connection to the internet, said system comprising:

at least one additional server, said additional server having storage means storing address information for the plurality of content servers, said additional server programmed to permit receiving client computers or appliances to select a content server, said additional server being programed to negotiate transmission of audio data from the plurality of content servers to receiving client computers requesting such transmission;

wherein the receiving client computer or appliance is programmed with software for communicating with the additional server and selecting a content server address from amongst the addresses stored in the additional server and thereafter receiving a stream of audio data from the selected content server;

wherein the additional server additionally comprises means for identifying geographic data pertaining to the receiving client computer;

means for storing geographically correlated audio content, where the geographically correlated audio content is correlated to the geographic data;

means for transmitting the geographically correlated audio data to the receiving client computer simultaneously with transmission of the a stream of audio data; and

the receiving client computer is additionally programmed to simultaneously receive and play the stream of audio content from the selected content server and receive and store the geographically correlated audio data for playback after reception.