Method, computer readable media and apparatus for the selection and rendering of audio files in a networked environment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a virtual jukebox by a group of persons, comprising the steps of:
- receiving, at a virtual jukebox device that is communicatively coupled to networked devices via a network interface, at least one playback request from at least one of the networked devices for rendering at least one audio file, each of the networked devices being operated by at least one person of the group of persons;
storing the received at least one playback request in a queue in the virtual jukebox device;
requesting a copy of the at least one audio file associated with the at least one playback request;
storing the copy of the requested at least one audio file in the virtual jukebox device;
rendering the stored copy of the requested at least one audio, file by the virtual jukebox device;
contemporaneously with the step of rendering, receiving at the virtual jukebox device, from the networked devices via the network interface, at least one vote for or against the at least one audio file; and
based upon an aggregate summation of the at least one vote received, providing audio to the group of persons in a shared acoustical environment, the audio corresponding to the at least one audio file being rendered.
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Abstract
A networked virtual jukebox renders audible music or other audio files to all within audio range of the virtual jukebox. The order of rendering is determined by requesting methods, which include networked peer-voting input, recent play history, random selection and voting. Voting is received from each networked device in communication with the networked virtual jukebox using all types of input methods such as keyboard, mouse, and voice input. The networked virtual jukebox can also operate unattended by playing music and/or audio files based on random selection of past voting.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of operating a virtual jukebox by a group of persons, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a virtual jukebox device that is communicatively coupled to networked devices via a network interface, at least one playback request from at least one of the networked devices for rendering at least one audio file, each of the networked devices being operated by at least one person of the group of persons; storing the received at least one playback request in a queue in the virtual jukebox device; requesting a copy of the at least one audio file associated with the at least one playback request; storing the copy of the requested at least one audio file in the virtual jukebox device; rendering the stored copy of the requested at least one audio, file by the virtual jukebox device; contemporaneously with the step of rendering, receiving at the virtual jukebox device, from the networked devices via the network interface, at least one vote for or against the at least one audio file; and based upon an aggregate summation of the at least one vote received, providing audio to the group of persons in a shared acoustical environment, the audio corresponding to the at least one audio file being rendered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising the steps of:
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rendering an audio file; receiving via a network a message from a networked device, the message comprising one of the following; a vote for the audio file being rendered, and a vote against the audio file being rendered; providing a relative vote indication corresponding to a summation of received votes relating to the audio file being rendered; comparing the relative vote indication to a voting threshold; stopping the rendering of the audio file if the relative vote indication does not meet or exceed the voting threshold; and contemporaneous with the step of rendering the audio file, providing audio in a shared acoustical environment, the audio corresponding to the audio file being rendered. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A computer readable storage medium including computer instructions for operating a virtual jukebox system, the computer instructions comprising instructions for:
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rendering an audio file; receiving via a network a message from a networked device, the message comprising one of the following; a vote for the audio file being rendered, and a vote against the audio file being rendered; providing a relative vote indication corresponding to a summation of received votes relating to the audio file being rendered; comparing the relative vote indication to a voting threshold; stopping the rendering of the audio file if the relative vote indication does not meet or exceed the voting threshold; and contemporaneously with rendering the audio file, providing audio in a shared acoustical environment, the audio corresponding to the audio file being rendered. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A virtual jukebox system for listening to a same audio file by all listeners of a group of listeners, the virtual jukebox system including a single set of speakers through which all listeners of the group can hear the same audio file, comprising:
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a network interface for communication with at least one networked device; an audio platform interface for rendering audio files; data memory comprising a queue for storing at least one playback request from at least one networked device for rendering at least one audio file corresponding to the at least one playback request; a program memory; a processor/controller, electrically coupled to the network interface, the data memory, and the program memory; a queue manager, electrically coupled to the program memory, for managing the queue; an audio player manager, electrically coupled to the program memory, for; requesting a copy of the at least one audio file corresponding to the at least one playback request, storing the copy of the requested at least one audio file in the data memory, rendering the stored copy of the requested at least one audio file, and providing audio in a shared acoustical environment, the audio corresponding to the at least one audio file being rendered; and a voting manager, electrically coupled to the program memory, for receiving, from the at least one networked device via the network interface, at least one vote for or against the at least one audio file. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A virtual jukebox system for allowing multiple users to collectively decide upon listening to a same audio file at a same time in a shared acoustical environment, comprising:
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a plurality of networked devices, each networked device associated with a user; and a virtual jukebox device, the virtual jukebox device including a speaker; a processor coupled to the speaker; a network interface, coupled to the processor, for communication with the plurality of networked devices; and a memory, coupled to the processor, for storing audio files, the memory further including a virtual jukebox application for receiving a playback request for an audio file from at least one of the plurality of networked devices, receiving from the plurality of networked devices, at least one vote for or against the playback request, requesting from the memory a copy of the audio file corresponding to the playback request, and, in response to votes, and providing audio in the shared acoustical environment through the speaker by which all users can hear the same audio at the same time, the audio corresponding to the audio file of the playback request. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification