Systems and methods for autonomously scheduling and playing audio files

• US 9,658,819 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TAPS of America, TAPS of America LLC
• Original Assignee: TAPS of America LLC
• Inventors: Wellman, Willard Frederick, Spurrier, Christopher Carl, Wellman, Scott Robert, Wellman, Guy Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): KUNTZ, CURTIS A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maung, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/583,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20150186105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/60 of audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists

Abstract

Systems and methods for autonomously playing audio files at predeterminable times of a day, week, and/or year, including but not limited to astronomical events, for example, dusk or dawn. The systems and methods employ a computer program running on a standalone computer connected to an audio power amplifier and speaker system. The computer program includes an always-running service configured to execute a scheduling algorithm that causes selected audio files to be played according to one or more schedules.

Claims

1. A system for autonomously broadcasting at multiple locations within a town at least a first audio file at at least one astronomical event on predetermined days over multiple calendar years, the system comprising:

a standalone computer comprising nonvolatile memory in which at least the first audio file is stored;

a computer program running on the standalone computer;

a power audio amplifier connected to the standalone computer; and

a speaker system connected to the power audio amplifier for broadcasting at least the first audio file stored in the nonvolatile memory, the speaker system comprising multiple speakers located at the multiple locations within the town;

wherein the computer program comprises a configuration application adapted to define a first schedule and an interface for inputting user data that identifies an astronomical event and a holiday for when the first audio file is to be autonomously broadcast, wherein the astronomical event occurs at a different time of day on a daily basis and at different times of day at the multiple locations within the town, and wherein the holiday has a calendar date that varies on a yearly basis over the multiple calendar years, the computer program further comprising a service running on the computer and executing a scheduling algorithm that causes the first audio file to be autonomously broadcast by the speakers within the town at the astronomical event on the holiday on a yearly basis over the multiple calendar years;

wherein the computer program is configured to broadcast the first audio file at a time delay between the speakers located at the multiple locations within the town such that the first audio file is broadcast by each individual speaker of the speakers at the astrological event based on the location of each individual speaker.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the speaker system comprises more than one speaker spread out across a town.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the computer program is configured to broadcast the first audio file at a time delay between the more than one speaker spread out across the town.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores information that correlates locations, dates, and time zones to the astronomical event.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the astronomical event is chosen from the group consisting of civil dawn, sunrise, sunset, and civil dusk.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer program is adapted to broadcast the first audio file at a programmable offset time relative to the astronomical event.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the computer program is adapted to broadcast a second audio file and is adapted to interrupt the playing of the second audio file to broadcast the first audio file.

8. A method of using the system of claim 1 comprising using the computer program to define the first schedule, using the computer program to input into the first schedule the astronomical event and the holiday for when the first audio file is to be autonomously broadcast, and executing the scheduling algorithm to broadcast the first audio at the astronomical event on the holiday on a yearly basis over the multiple calendar years.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the scheduling algorithm does not utilize sensed ambient light to determine when to play the first audio file of the first schedule.

10. A method of autonomously broadcasting at multiple locations within a town at least a first audio file at at least one astronomical event on predetermined days over multiple calendar years, the method comprising:

storing at least the first audio file in nonvolatile memory of a standalone computer;

using a computer program of the standalone computer to define a first schedule that contains the first audio file;

using the computer program of the standalone computer to input into the first schedule user input data that identifies an astronomical event and a holiday for when the first audio is to be autonomously broadcast, wherein the astronomical event occurs at a different time of day on a daily basis and at different times of day at the multiple locations within the town, and wherein the holiday has a calendar date that varies on a yearly basis over the multiple calendar years; and

executing a scheduling algorithm that autonomously broadcasts the first audio file at the astronomical event on the holiday on a yearly basis over the multiple calendar years with a speaker system comprising multiple speakers located at the multiple locations within the town, wherein the computer program is configured to broadcast the first audio file at a time delay between the speakers located at the multiple locations within the town such that the first audio file is broadcast by each individual speaker of the speakers at the astrological event based on the location of each individual speaker.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the speaker system comprises more than one speaker spread out across a town.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the computer program broadcasts the first audio file at a time delay between the more than one speaker spread out across the town.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising storing information in the nonvolatile memory that correlates locations, dates, and time zones to the astronomical event.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the astronomical event is chosen from the group consisting of civil dawn, sunrise, sunset, and civil dusk.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first audio file is broadcast at a programmable offset time relative to the astronomical event.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising broadcasting a second file audio and interrupting the playing of the second audio file to broadcast the first audio file.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

using the computer program of the standalone computer to define at least a second schedule that contains at least a second audio file;

using the computer program of the standalone computer to input into the second schedule user input data that identifies a predetermined time and a predetermined day for when the second audio is to be autonomously broadcast; and

executing the scheduling algorithm that broadcasts the second audio file at the predetermined time on the predetermined day.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the scheduling algorithm does not utilize sensed ambient light to determine when to broadcast the first audio file of the first schedule.