111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US008230099B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Wee I
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,230,099 B2
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING
`PLAYLISTS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Martin Weel, Modjeska, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Dryden Enterprises, LLC, Wilmington,
`DE (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 705 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/114,286
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`May2, 2008
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2008/0208379 Al
`
`Aug. 28, 2008
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(62) Division of application No. 10/840,110, filed on May
`5, 2004.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 15116
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ......... 709/231; 709/217; 709/218; 709/219
`(58) Field of Classification Search . ... ... ... ... .. ... 709/231,
`709/217-219
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner- Mohamed Wasel
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Withrow & Terranova,
`PLLC
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A system for sharing play lists utilizes a network, such as the
`Internet. A player device other than a general purpose com(cid:173)
`puter, such as a dedicated media player or a remote control for
`a dedicated media player, is in communication with the server
`over the network. The player device is configured to receive a
`playlist, queue the playlist, display the playlist, and play a
`selection from the playlist. A user profile may be used to
`identify play lists that are likely to contain selections of inter(cid:173)
`est to the user.
`
`12 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`18
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 1
`
`

`

`US 8,230,099 B2
`Page 2
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`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 2
`
`

`

`US 8,230,099 B2
`Page 3
`
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`
`EP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1536352 A1
`6/2005
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
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`
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`* cited by examiner
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`SERVER
`
`11
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`DEDICATED
`MEDIA PLAYER
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`SERVER
`
`12 - -
`
`11
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`18
`
`DEDICATED
`MEDIA PLAYER
`
`FIG. 2
`
`17
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`32
`
`34
`
`USER FILLS OUT A
`QUESTIONNAIRE TO DEFINE A ....__
`PROFILE
`
`USER'S PROFILE IS
`COMMUNICATED TO A SERVER
`
`USER'S PROFILE IS COMPARED
`TO OTHER PROFILES STORED ....._ ___
`IN THE SERVER
`
`31
`
`33
`
`ONE OR MORE PLA YLISTS,
`CORRESPONDING TO THOSE
`PROFILES THAT BEST MATCH
`THE USER'S PROFILE, ARE
`COMMUNICATED TO THE
`USERS DEVICE
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`43
`
`44
`
`45
`
`46
`
`47
`
`DEDICATED
`MEDIA PLAYER
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`42 - -
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`CLIENT
`
`43
`
`44
`
`45
`
`46
`
`48
`
`REMOTE
`CONTROL
`
`DEDICATED
`MEDIA PLAYER
`
`FIG. 5
`
`47
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 24, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`USER FILLS OUT A
`QUESTIONNAIRE TO DEFINE A .--.(cid:173)
`PROFILE
`
`FIG. 6
`
`USER'S PROFILE IS
`COMMUNICATED TO A PEER
`
`USER'S PROFILE IS COMPARED
`.....-------... TO OTHER PROFILES STORED
`IN THE PEER
`
`61
`
`62
`
`63
`
`ANOTHER PEER
`COMPUTER IS
`IDENTIFIED
`
`66
`
`67
`
`65
`
`IS AT LEAST
`ONE MATCH
`FOUND?
`
`YES
`
`ONE OR MORE PLAYLISTS,
`CORRESPONDING TO THOSE
`PROFILES THAT BEST MATCH
`THE USER'S PROFILE, ARE
`COMMUNICATED TO THE
`USERS DEVICE
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 9
`
`

`

`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING
`PLAYLISTS
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`This patent application is a Divisional ofU.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 10/840,110, filed May 5, 2004, entitled "Sys(cid:173)
`tem and Method for Sharing Play lists," which is hereby incor(cid:173)
`porated herein by reference in its entirety. This patent
`application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10
`10/840,104, filed May 5, 2004, entitled "Hybrid Set-Top Box
`for Digital Entertainment Network"; U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 10/840,109, filed May 5, 2004, entitled "Playlist
`Downloading for Digital Entertainment Network"; U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 10/840,108, filed May 5, 2004,
`entitled "Device Discovery for Digital Entertainment Net(cid:173)
`work"; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/019,015, filed
`Jan. 24, 2008, entitled "Device Discovery for Digital Enter(cid:173)
`tainment Network", which is a divisional of the above-refer(cid:173)
`enced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,108, all of
`which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
`
`2
`that another individual has compiled. This list may then be
`used to make or modifY a play list for the user.
`Although such play lists and play list sharing systems have
`proven generally suitable for their intended purposes, they
`5 possess inherent deficiencies, which detract from their overall
`effectiveness and desirability. For example, according to con(cid:173)
`temporary methodology, play lists are only communicated to
`and used with general purpose computers, such as IBM com-
`patible personal computers (PCs) and Apple computers.
`Further, there is no contemporary system for easily identi-
`fYing people who have similar interest, such that their play list
`can be downloaded. Rather, according to contemporary meth(cid:173)
`odology, playlists are obtained by searching on keywords,
`such as the titles of selections contained within the play lists.
`15 However, the mere fact that the person's playlist has a par(cid:173)
`ticular selection in it does not necessarily mean that the play(cid:173)
`list contains other selections that a user may enjoy.
`As such, although the prior art has recognized, to a limited
`extent, the problems of finding and using play lists, the pro-
`20 posed solutions have, to date, been ineffective in providing a
`satisfactory remedy. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a
`system and method for sharing play lists, wherein the play lists
`are communicated to, stored in, and displayed upon player
`devices other than general purpose computers. It is also desir-
`25 able to provide a method for identifying playlists that are
`likely to contain selections that will be enjoyed by a user.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to the sharing of
`play lists. The present invention relates more particularly to a
`system and method for sharing play lists wherein a dedicated
`media player is configured to receive, store, and display play(cid:173)
`lists and to play selections from play lists.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Play lists for music and movies are well known. A play list
`is a list of a user's favorite selections. Popular personal com(cid:173)
`puter (PC) media playing programs, such as Windows Media
`Player (a trademark of Microsoft Corporation), offer the
`capability for a user to compile a playlist. The user may
`subsequently select items to be played from the play list and
`the media playing program then plays the selected items. The
`use of such a play list simplifies the selection process and thus
`makes listening to music or viewing movies easier and more
`enjoyable.
`Typically, such selection is accomplished by viewing a
`play list within the media playing program and by designating
`which selection is to be played. The selection to be played 45
`may be designated by clicking on it with a mouse, for
`example.
`Play lists also facilitate the playing of a plurality of selec(cid:173)
`tions in a particular order. That is, the play list may be com(cid:173)
`piled in an order in which the playing of selections therefrom 50
`is desired. The selections may then be automatically played
`sequentially from the play list. Typically, selections may also
`be played randomly from a play list.
`Play lists are typically compiled by reviewing a list of selec(cid:173)
`tions available for play and then choosing those selections 55
`that the user would like to have on the play list. Thus, a user
`may review songs that are stored on a personal computer's
`hard drive and compile a play list therefrom, for example.
`The play list may subsequently be edited or updated as new
`selections become available and/or the user's preferences 60
`change. Thus, a user's play list may reflect a group of selec(cid:173)
`tions that was compiled over an extended length of time, such
`as several years.
`The sharing of play lists is also known. Popular file sharing
`programs, such as Kazaa (a trademark of Sharman Net- 65
`works), facilitate the sharing of play lists. Using such systems,
`it is possible for a user to download a list of songs or movies
`
`30
`
`While the apparatus and method has or will be described
`for the sake of grmatical fluidity with functional explana(cid:173)
`tions, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless
`expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be con(cid:173)
`strued as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of
`35 "means" or "steps" limitations, but are to be accorded the full
`scope of the meaning and equivalents of the definition pro(cid:173)
`vided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents,
`and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated
`under 35 USC 112 are to be accorded full statutory equiva-
`40 Ients under 35 USC 112.
`The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates
`the above mentioned deficiencies associated with the prior
`art. More particularly, according to one aspect the present
`invention comprises a system for sharing play lists, wherein
`the system comprises a dedicated media player that is con(cid:173)
`figured to receive a play list and to display the play list. Selec(cid:173)
`tions from the playlist may thus be chosen and played, as
`desired.
`As used herein, a dedicated media player is defined as a
`media player other than a general purpose computer. Further
`details on the use of this term and examples of dedicated
`media players are provided below.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a system for sharing playlists, wherein the system
`comprises a network and a player device. The player device
`typically comprises either a dedicated media player or a
`remote control for a dedicated media player.
`The player device is in communication with the network
`and the player device is configured to receive a play list, store
`the play list, display the play list, and play a selection from the
`play list.
`The network may comprise any desired type of network.
`Preferably, the network comprises a wide area network
`(WAN), such as the Internet. However, the network may
`alternatively comprise a local area network (LAN).
`Player devices include music players, video players, and
`remote controls for music players and video players. More
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 10
`
`

`

`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`3
`specific examples of player devices include MP3 players,
`cellular telephones, set top boxes, a stereos, televisions, car
`stereos, video monitors, and video storage player devices, as
`well as remote controls for any of these devices. One example
`of a video storage player device is TiVo (a trademark ofTiVo,
`Inc.).
`The player device may be a portable player device that is
`configured to receive streaming audio. The player device may
`also be a non-portable player device that is configured to
`receive streaming audio and/or a remote control therefor.
`The player device may comprise a network adapter, such as
`an Ethernet card, to facilitate communication with a network.
`The player device may comprise either a wired or wireless
`network adapter. Examples of wireless network adapters
`include those that comply with the Bluetooth (a trademark of
`Bluetooth SIG, Inc.) standard and those that comply with the
`WiFi (a trademark of the WiFi Alliance) standard.
`The player device preferably comprises an LCD display for
`displaying the playlist. However, any other suitable type of
`display may similarly be utilized.
`The player device is preferably configured to facilitate
`searching for play lists. That is, the player device upon which
`the playlists are stored and displayed is preferably also
`capable oflocating, requesting and retrieving play lists, pref(cid:173)
`erably by merely pushing a button.
`Alternatively, play lists may be located and requested via
`the use of a general purpose computer or the like. Play lists do
`not have to be requested by the same device that receives the
`playlist. For example, a general purpose computer may be
`used to request playlists that are then communicated from 30
`other general purpose computers or other dedicated media
`players to the user's player device.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`server upon which a plurality of play lists is stored and the
`player device is configured to receive playlists from the 35
`server. Thus, the player device may participate in the network
`as a client according to a client/server model of the network.
`According to another aspect, the present invention does not
`include a server. Rather, the present invention comprises a
`plurality of other player devices and/or general purpose com- 40
`puters upon which a plurality of play lists are stored and the
`user's player device is configured to receive play lists from the
`other player devices and/or general purpose computers. Thus,
`the user's player device may participate in the network as a
`peer according to a peer-to-peer model of the network.
`Preferably, the player device is configured to store a plu(cid:173)
`rality of different playlists. Thus, the user may select a par(cid:173)
`ticular playlist according to the user's location, whom the
`user is with, the type of player device the selection is to be
`played upon, or the preference of the user based upon any 50
`objective or subjective criteria or merely based upon a whim.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a player device defined by a dedicated media player
`and/or a remote control for the media player, wherein the
`player device comprises a receiving circuit for receiving play- 55
`lists and a display for displaying the playlists.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a server within which is stored a plurality of play lists.
`The server is configured to communicate the playlist to a
`player device that is not a general purpose computer.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a method for sharing playlists, wherein the method
`comprises communicating a play list to a player device com(cid:173)
`prising a dedicated media player and/or a remote control for
`the dedicated media player.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a method for sharing playlists, wherein the method
`
`4
`comprises communicating a play list to a player device that is
`not a general purpose computer.
`Preferably, the method comprises defining a user profile for
`a recipient of the playlist and matching that user profile to a
`user profile of another person, wherein the communicated
`play list is the play list of the other person.
`The profile preferably includes the type of music listened
`to, at least one artist, at least one selection, at least one
`instrument, at least one record company, a region, a country,
`10 a state, a city, a school, and/or an ethnicity. Thus, a user may
`enhance the likelihood of finding a playlist that contains
`selections enjoyed by another person living in the same city as
`the user and having the same ethnicity, for example.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com-
`15 prises a method of defining a play list, wherein the method
`comprises defining a user profile and the user profile is used to
`determine selections that may be enjoyed by a user.
`The user profile is preferably compared to user profiles of
`others to determine a match. Then, a playlist of the other
`20 person for which a match was determined is communicated to
`the user and used to at least partially define a play list for the
`user.
`Optionally, the user profile is used to define a statistical
`aggregate of other users and the play list is determined by the
`25 statistical aggregate. Thus, the playlist represent an average
`of the selections enjoyed by a group of other people.
`Optionally, the user profile comprises a list of selections
`enjoyed by the user and a frequency of which these selections
`are played. For example, the user profile may comprise a list
`of selections enjoyed by the user and a rating of the selections
`by the user.
`The method optionally comprises defining a period of time
`and using the period of time to determine which selections
`were popular then. The playlist comprises at least some of
`these selections.
`As one example, the method further comprises defining a
`playlist, which comprises at least some selections that were
`popular during approximately the last week. As a further
`example, the method further comprises defining a playlist,
`which comprises at least some selections that were popular
`during approximately the last month. As yet a further
`example, the method further comprises defining a playlist,
`which comprises at least some selections that were popular
`during approximately the last year.
`Thus, a user may enhance the likelihood of finding a play(cid:173)
`list that contains selections enjoyed by another person,
`wherein the selections were released within the last month,
`for example.
`The playlist may optionally be edited to add or remove
`selections therefrom.
`The user's playlist may optionally be updated by adding
`selections that have been added to the playlist of another.
`Similarly, the user's playlist may optionally be updated by
`removing selections that have been removed from the play list
`of another. Such updating may optionally be performed auto(cid:173)
`matically.
`Optionally, selections may automatically be added to a
`play list when those selections are played in excess of a pre(cid:173)
`determined rate by the player. Similarly, selections may auto-
`60 matically be deleted from a play list when those selections are
`played less than a predetermined rate by the player.
`Optionally, one or more selections on a playlist may be
`designated as private. Any selections on the play list that are
`designated as private are not shared with others.
`Optionally, any selections on the play list that are not com(cid:173)
`patible with the player with which the play list is associated
`are removed therefrom. Compatibility may be due to hard-
`
`45
`
`65
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 11
`
`

`

`US 8,230,099 B2
`
`6
`The play list may be updated by communicating an updated
`list of selections played by the other person to the player
`device.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a method for defining a play list for a user, wherein the
`method comprises finding at least one other person with simi(cid:173)
`lar tastes by matching a profile of the user to a profile of the
`other person.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a data structure comprising a playlist defined by a
`method comprising communicating the playlist to a player
`device that is not a general purpose computer.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a data structure comprising a playlist defined by a
`method comprising defining a user profile and using the user
`profile to determine selections that may be enjoyed by a user.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a computer readable media having stored thereon a data
`structure comprising a play list defined by a method compris(cid:173)
`ing communicating the play list to a player device that is not a
`general purpose computer.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a computer readable media having stored thereon a data
`structure comprising a play list defined by a method compris(cid:173)
`ing defining a user profile and using the user profile to deter-
`mine selections that may be enjoyed by a user.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com(cid:173)
`prises a computer readable media having stored thereon a
`30 method for defining a play list, wherein the method comprises
`communicating the playlist to a player device that is not a
`general purpose computer.
`According to another aspect, the present invention com-
`35 prises a computer readable media having stored thereon a
`method for defining a play list, wherein the method comprises
`defining a user profile and using the user profile to determin