Wireless environment method and apparatus

• US 8,265,545 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digital Stream IP, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Dima Communications Inc
• Inventors: Knox, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US13/101,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20110257774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.06, 455/3.05, 455/3.02, 455/3.01, 725/153
• US Class Current: 455/3.06
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/63 Querying
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/08 among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/80 characterised by transmission among terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/92 for local area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for a first controlled device, such as a wireless local transmitter that accepts a plurality of digital audio signals and corresponding program information signals converted from a controlled source, such as the encoded digital data provided by a digital data signal source, typically a community antenna television (CATV) cable or direct broadcast satellite, then modulates said digital audio and corresponding program information signals on different carrier frequencies and transmits the modulated signals to a plurality of second controlled devices, such as remote digital receiver/tuners that demodulate said signals to output music in stereophonic sound and display the corresponding program information by means of an alphanumeric display. The first and second controlled devices contain microprocessor systems for communicating, controlling, storing, processing, and display of digital data within the operation of the respective system. A high speed, error free digital signal protocol is utilized for transmitting digital audio and corresponding program information signals to and from the digital receiver/tuner. The digital data transmitter and digital receiver/tuners utilize the 44.1 kilohertz (kHz) Compact Disc (CD) clock signal embedded in digital audio signals provided by an established delivery system to derive clocking signals for reception and processing of digital audio signals and for implementing the display information communications protocol.

Claims

1. A wireless digital audio player for operation by a user, comprising:

a user interface for the user to select a digital audio program from a plurality of digital audio programs;

a tuner to tune to a radio frequency signal associated with the selected digital audio program;

a demodulator to receive from the tuner a radio frequency signal and to demodulate the radio frequency signal, wherein the radio frequency signal carries digital audio data and program information corresponding to the selected digital audio program;

a processor coupled to the user interface for separating the program information from the digital audio data; and

a digital to analog converter to convert the audio data corresponding to the selected digital audio program into an analog signal for playback by the user.

2. The wireless digital audio player of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a switch for user activation of a control signal to request the transmission of digital audio data.

3. The wireless digital audio player of claim 2, further comprising a transmitter coupled to the user interface to transmit the control signal.

4. The wireless digital audio player of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a key for transmission of a control signal for the purchase of the selected digital audio program.

5. The wireless digital audio player of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a key for purchasing music using information from an account of the user.

6. The wireless digital audio player of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a keypad for selecting a digital audio program.

7. The wireless digital audio player of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a keypad for responding to a music survey.

8. The wireless digital audio player of claim 1, wherein the received radio frequency signal carries music survey data.

9. A wireless digital audio player for operation by a user, comprising:

a user interface for the user to select a digital audio program from a plurality of digital audio programs;

a tuner to tune to a radio frequency signal associated with the selected digital audio program;

a demodulator to receive from the tuner a radio frequency signal and to demodulate the radio frequency signal, wherein the radio frequency signal carries digital audio data and program information corresponding to the selected digital audio, program; and

a processor coupled to the user interface for separating the program information from the digital audio data;

wherein the user interface includes a switch for user activation of a control signal to request the transmission of digital audio data.

10. The wireless digital audio player of claim 9, further comprising a transmitter coupled to the user interface to transmit the control signal.

11. The wireless digital audio player of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a key for transmission of a control signal for the purchase of the selected digital audio program.

12. The wireless digital audio player of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a key for purchasing music using information from an account of the user.

13. The wireless digital audio player of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a keypad for selecting a digital audio program.

14. The wireless digital audio player of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a keypad for responding .to a music survey.

15. The wireless digital audio player of claim 9, wherein the received radio frequency signal carries music survey data.

16. A wireless digital audio player for operation by a user, comprising:

a user interface for the user to select a digital audio program from a plurality of digital audio programs;

a tuner to tune to a radio frequency signal associated with the selected digital audio program;

a demodulator to receive from the tuner a radio frequency signal and to demodulate the radio frequency signal, wherein the radio frequency signal carries digital audio data and program information corresponding to the selected digital audio program; and

a processor coupled to the user interface for separating the program information from the digital audio data;

wherein the user interface includes a key for transmission of a control signal for the purchase of the selected digital audio program.

17. The wireless digital audio player of claim 16, wherein the user interface includes a key for purchasing music using information from an account of the user.

18. The wireless digital audio player of claim 16, wherein the user interface includes a keypad for selecting a digital audio program.

19. The wireless digital audio player of claim 16, wherein the user interface includes a keypad for responding to a music survey.

20. The wireless digital audio player of claim 16, wherein the received radio frequency signal carries music survey data.