Personalized audio system and method

• US 7,321,923 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Music Choice
• Original Assignee: Music Choice
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Jeremy, Yurman, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US10/098,482
• Time in Patent Office: 2,136 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/223, 709/231, 709/217, 707/10, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/104, 725/13, 725/14, 725/45, 725/46, 455/3.06, 705/26, 705/14, 386/52
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/61 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/637 Administration of user profiles, e.g. generation, initialization, adaptation or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/639 using playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/64 Browsing; Visualisation therefor generation of a list or set of audio data G06F16/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/686 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, title or artist information, time, location or usage information, user ratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/105 User profile, i.e. data about the user, e.g. for user settings or user preferences
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/131 Library retrieval, i.e. searching a database or selecting a specific musical piece, segment, pattern, rule or parameter set
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/47 for recognising genres
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 : using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 : Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 : for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 : Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A personalized audio system and method that overcomes many of the broadcast-type disadvantages associated with conventional radio stations. According to one embodiment, the personalized audio system includes the following: (1) a user interface that enables a user of the personalized audio system to specify a profile for a personalized audio channel, (2) a sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings, (3) a playlist generator that (a) selects a plurality of sound recording identifiers from a set of sound recording identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of sound recording identifiers identifies a sound recording that matches the profile and that is stored in the library, and that (b) creates a playlist that lists the plurality of sound recording identifiers in a particular order, and (4) a sound recording reproducing device for reproducing the plurality of identified sound recordings according to the particular order in which the sound recording identifiers are listed in the playlist so that the user can listen to the sound recordings. Advantageously, the personalized audio system does not provide the user with a way to determine the plurality of sound recording identifiers prior to the reproducing means reproducing the plurality of sound recordings, and the personalized audio system does not provide the user with a way to directly control which sound recording identifiers in the set are selected by the playlist generator to be included in the plurality of sound recording identifiers.

Claims

1. In a personalized audio system comprising a consumer device comprising a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings, a user interface for receiving input from a user of the system, and a storage device for storing data, a method for providing a personalized audio channel, comprising the steps of:

building a sound recording library on the storage device, the sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings;

receiving from the user an indication that the user desires to listen to a selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences;

selecting a sound recording from the sound recording library based on the profile associated with the selected audio channel;

retrieving from the sound recording library the selected sound recording; and

playing the sound recording for the user, wherein the step of building the sound recording library comprises the steps of;

receiving by the receiver a broadcast sound recording broadcast from a broadcast source;

determining whether the received broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording and/or determining whether the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording; and

adding a copy of the received broadcast sound recording to the library if the broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording or the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording and a copy of the received broadcast sound recording is not already included in the library.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving input from the user, wherein the input comprises audio channel profile information.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a wanted list based at least in part on a profile associated with a personalized audio channel, wherein the wanted list comprises a plurality of sound recording identifiers, and wherein the step of determining whether the broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording further comprises the step of determining whether the broadcast sound recording is listed in the wanted list.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step of determining whether the broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording comprises the step of determining whether the broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel, wherein the profile includes a genre identifier that identifies a genre of music.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining whether the broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel comprises the step of determining one or more characteristics of the received broadcast sound recording.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the characteristic that is determined is a style or genre.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of adding the broadcast sound recording to the library comprises the step of encrypting the broadcast sound recording and storing the encrypted sound recording in the storage device so that the user will not have direct access to the sound recording.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of building the sound recording library further comprises the step of playing the received broadcast sound recording for the user in real-time as the broadcast sound recording is being received from the broadcast source.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step of determining whether the user has indicated a preference for the broadcast sound recording comprises the step of determining whether the user activated a predetermined user interface button or icon while the broadcast sound recording was being played.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of building the sound recording library further comprises the steps of:

determining a broadcast station over which the greatest number of most needed sound recordings is likely to be broadcast; and

tuning the receiver to the determined broadcast station.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of building the sound recording library further comprises the steps of:

receiving a program schedule for a station over which sound recordings are broadcast;

determining whether the program schedule indicates that a needed sound recording is scheduled to be broadcast; and

tuning the receiver to the station prior to the time at which the needed sound recording is scheduled to be broadcast.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the sound recording from the sound recording library based on the profile associated with the selected audio channel comprises the step of selecting a sound recording from a list of sound recordings, wherein the entire list was generated based on the profile associated with the selected audio channel.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of determining whether the received broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of creating a set of sound recording identifiers based, at least in part, on a profile associated with a personalized audio channel, wherein the step of determining whether the broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording further comprises the step of determining whether an identifier associated with the broadcast sound recording is included in said set of sound recording identifiers.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein step of determining whether the broadcast sound recording is a needed sound recording comprises determining whether the broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether the broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel comprises the step of determining one or more characteristics of the received broadcast sound recording.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the characteristic that are determined is a style or genre.

18. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of determining whether the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of building the sound recording library further comprises the step of playing the received broadcast sound recording for the user in real-time as the broadcast sound recording is being received from the broadcast source.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein step of determining whether the user has indicated a preference for the broadcast sound recording comprises the step of determining whether the user activated a predetermined user interface button or icon while the broadcast sound recording was being played.

21. An apparatus for enabling a user to listen to personalized audio channels, comprising:

a storage device;

a plurality of sound recordings stored on the storage device;

a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings;

a user interface that enables the user to select a personalized audio channel and enables the user to indicate that the user desires to listen to the selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences;

a processing unit comprising memory that stores software, wherein the software is operable to;

select a sound recording stored in the storage device that fits the profile associated with the selected audio channel in response to the user indicating the user'"'"'s desire to listen to the selected personalized audio channel;

retrieve from the storage device the selected sound recording; and

play the sound recording for the user, the software also being operable to;

determine whether the user has indicated a preference for a broadcast sound recording received by the receiver and/or determine whether the received broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel;

determine whether a copy of the received broadcast sound recording is already stored on the storage device; and

store a copy of the received broadcast sound recording in the storage device if a copy the broadcast sound recording is not already stored therein and the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording or the received broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the software is further operable to create a wanted list based at least in part on a profile associated with a personalized audio channel, wherein the wanted list lists a plurality of sound recordings, and wherein, in determining whether the broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel, the software determines whether the broadcast sound recording is listed in the wanted list.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein, in determining whether the broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel, the software determines one or more characteristics of the broadcast sound recording.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one of the characteristic that are determined is a genre to which the broadcast sound recording belongs.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein, before storing the broadcast sound recording in the storage device, the software encrypts the sound recording so that the user will not have direct access to the sound recording.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the software is further operable to play the received broadcast sound recording for the user in real-time as the broadcast sound recording is being received.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein, in determining whether the user has indicated a preference for the broadcast sound recording, the software determines whether the user activated a predetermined user interface button or icon while the broadcast sound recording was being played.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the software is further operable to:

determine a broadcast station over which the greatest number of most needed sound recordings is likely to be broadcast; and

tune the receiver to the determined broadcast station.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the software is further operable to:

receive a program schedule for a station over which sound recordings are broadcast;

determine whether the program schedule indicates that a needed sound recording is scheduled to be broadcast; and

tune the receiver to the station prior to the time at which the needed sound recording is scheduled to be broadcast.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein, in selecting a sound recording stored in the storage device that fits the profile associated with the selected audio channel in response to the user indicating the user'"'"'s desire to listen to the selected personalized audio channel, the software selects a sound recording from a list of sound recordings, wherein the entire list was generated based on the profile associated with the selected audio channel.

31. An apparatus for enabling a user to listen to personalized audio channels, comprising:

a storage device;

a plurality of sound recordings stored on the storage device;

a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings broadcast from a broadcast source;

a user interface that enables the user to select a personalized audio channel and enables the user to indicate that the user desires to listen to the selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences;

means for selecting a sound recording stored in the storage device that fits the profile associated with the selected audio channel;

means for retrieving from the storage device the selected sound recording;

means for playing the selected sound recording for the user;

means for determining whether the user has indicated a preference for a broadcast sound recording received by the receiver and/or determining whether the received broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel;

means for determining whether a copy of the received broadcast sound recording is already stored on the storage device; and

means for storing a copy of the received broadcast sound recording in the storage device if a copy the received broadcast sound recording is not already stored therein and the user has indicated a preference for the received broadcast sound recording or the received broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising means for creating a wanted list based at least in part on a profile associated with a personalized audio channel, wherein the wanted list lists a plurality of sound recordings, and wherein the means for determining whether the broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel comprises means for determining whether the broadcast sound recording is listed in the wanted list.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the means for determining whether the broadcast sound recording fits a profile associated with a personalized audio channel comprises means for determining one or more characteristics of the broadcast sound recording.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein at least one of the characteristic that are determined is a genre to which the broadcast sound recording belongs.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the means for storing the broadcast sound recording in the storage device comprises means that encrypts the sound recording so that only an encrypted copy of the sound recording is stored in the storage device, thereby denying the user from having direct access to the sound recording.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising means for playing the received broadcast sound recording for the user in real-time as the broadcast sound recording is being received from the broadcast source.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means for determining whether the user has indicated a preference for the broadcast sound recording comprises means for determining whether the user activated a predetermined user interface button or icon while the broadcast sound recording was being played.

38. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

means for determining a broadcast station over which the greatest number of most needed sound recordings is likely to be broadcast; and

means for tuning the receiver to the determined broadcast station.

39. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

means for receiving a program schedule for a station over which sound recordings are broadcast;

means for determining whether the program schedule indicates that a needed sound recording is scheduled to be broadcast; and

means for tuning the receiver to the station prior to the time at which the needed sound recording is scheduled to be broadcast.

40. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the means for selecting a sound recording stored in the storage device that fits the profile associated with the selected audio channel in response to the user indicating the user'"'"'s desire to listen to the selected personalized audio channel comprises means for selecting a sound recording from a list of sound recordings, wherein the entire list was generated based on the profile associated with the selected audio channel.

41. In a personalized audio system comprising a consumer device comprising a receiver for receiving broadcast sound recordings, a user interface for receiving input from a user of the system, and a storage device for storing data, a method for providing a personalized audio channel, comprising the steps of:

storing on the storage device a library of sound recordings, the sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings;

receiving from the user an indication that the user desires to listen to a selected personalized audio channel, wherein the personalized audio channel has a profile associated therewith, and the profile comprises information related to or concerning the user'"'"'s sound recording preferences;

in response to receiving said indication, selecting a sound recording from the sound recording library based on the audio channel selected by the user;

retrieving from the sound recording library the selected sound recording;

playing the sound recording for the user; and

adding sound recordings to said library, wherein the step of adding sound recordings to the library comprises;

receiving by the receiver a broadcast sound recording broadcast from a broadcast source;

receiving by the receiver meta-data associated with the broadcast sound recording, wherein said meta-data is broadcast by the broadcast source together with said broadcast sound recording;

after receiving said broadcast sound recording and said meta-data, determining whether the received broadcast sound recording should be added to said library, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on at least a portion of said meta-data; and

adding the received broadcast sound recording to the library in response to determining that the broadcast sound recording should be added to said library.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said meta-data comprises a sound recording identifier that identifies said broadcast sound recording and said determination is based, at least in part, on said sound recording identifier.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said step of determining whether the received broadcast sound recording should be added to said library comprises determining whether said sound recording identifier that identifies said broadcast sound recording is included in a set of stored sound recording identifiers.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein said meta-data comprises an identifier that identifies a style or genre of said broadcast sound recording and said determination is based, at least in part, on said style or genre identified by said identifier.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said step of determining whether the received broadcast sound recording should be added to said library comprises determining whether said style or genre identified by said identifier matches a profile associated with a personalized audio channel.