(12) Unlted States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`Abecassis
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`USOO6192340B1
`
`INTEGRATION OF MUSIC FROM A
`PERSONAL LIBRARY WITH REAL-TIME
`INFORMATION
`
`MusicMatch 4.20.0048 software, Help Topics: MusicMatch
`Jukebox V4 [selcted topics], Copyright 1999 MusicMatch,
`Inc.
`
`(54)
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor' Max Abecassis 3207 Clint Moore Rd
`'
`#205 Boca Raton FL (US) 33496
`’
`’
`Under 35 U.S.C. 154(b), the term of this
`patent shall be extended for 0 days.
`
`'
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. NO‘: 09/420’852
`(22)
`Filed:
`Oct. 19, 1999
`
`(51)
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`
`Int. Cl.7 ............................. G10L 11/00' H04H 7/00'
`H04B 1/18; H04M 3/00
`........................... 704/270; 704/275; 455/63;
`455/418; 455/1851
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 704/200, 270,
`704/500, 503, 272, 275; 455/63, 418, 185.1
`
`“RealNetworks— The Home Of Streaming Media”, http://
`www.real.com/, http://www.real.com/producs/realjukebox/
`indeX.html?src=hp,butn,home RealNetworks Inc., Oct. 18,
`1999’
`“AltaVista Home”, http://www.altavista.com/, AltaVista
`Company, Oct. 18, 1999.
`“Yahool”, http://www.yahoo.com/, Yahoo!
`1999
`
`Inc., Oct. 18,
`
`“MSN Search”, http://auto.search.msn.com/, MicrOSOfi Cor-
`poration, Oct. 18; 1999.
`“The Nasdaq Stock Market”, http://www.nasdaq.com/, The
`Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., Oct. 18, 1999.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U~S- PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`V
`Primary Examiner—Talivaldis I. Smits
`Assistant Examiner—Daniel A. Nolan
`
`4,788,675
`5,231,661
`
`.
`11/1988 Jones et al.
`7/1993 Harnum et al.
`
`.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`.......................... 348/7
`
`.
`
`3/1994 Baker et a1~ -
`572999125 *
`13/133451
`iglman .et a1.
`3743121723:
`6/1996 R :IclaSSIS'
`5’524’051
`7/1996 Leron Jr
`5,539,635
`9/1996 Schulh6f a. a1.
`5’557’541
`12/1996 Ryan .
`5,590,195
`.
`2/1997 Hendricks et al.
`5,600,573
`5,675,575 * 10/1997 Wall, Jr. et a1.
`..................... 370/326
`5,684,918 * 11/1997 Abecassis ............................... 386/83
`577429893 *
`4/1998 lek -
`.
`37:35:33;
`3/133:
`33511115110111 """""""""""""""" 704/275
`5,815,671
`9%998 MESS: ‘
`5,841,979 * 11/1998 Schulhof a al
`5,940,797
`8/1999 Abe .
`5,956,629
`9/1999 Morrison .
`.
`5,960,406
`9/1999 Rasansky et al.
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`704/500
`
`i
`
`iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
`
`“MusicMatch Jukebox”, http://musicmatch.com/, http://mu-
`sicmatch.com/about,us/,
`http ://musicm atch.com/jukebox/,
`MusicMatch Inc., Sep. 29, 1999.
`
`An apparatus capable of, and a method of, playing audio, the
`apparatus comprising communicating, processing, and play-
`ing means for, and the method comprising the steps of:
`communicating a user’s information preferences to an infor-
`mation provider; receiving, from the information provider,
`informational items that are responsive to the user’s infor-
`mation references; interleaving and sequencing, for the user,
`a playing of the received informational items with a playing
`of a plurality of musical items included in an audio library
`of the user; and playing, for the user and responsive to the
`interleaving and sequencing,
`the received informational
`items within a playing of the plurality of musical items; and
`wherein the playing comprises a voice synthesizing of an at
`least one of informational
`item; wherein the playing is
`responsive to a schedule preferences of the user; wherein a
`verified apparent listening of a playing of an informational
`item is associated with a credit; and/or wherein a user’s
`reception of a communication unrelated to the informational
`items is integrated within a playing of musical items.
`
`20 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`2
`491
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`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 1
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`Services
`provider
`
`102 communications module
`106 video sound
`107 multi-user
`108multi-services
`111 system cpu
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1 09
`power
`supply
`
`fixed
`storage
`
`1 1 3
`dsp
`
`1 1 4
`video/
`data
`
`non-
`
`USGI'
`
`compact
`storage
`
`
`
`
`1 31
`1 32
`1 21
`1 0
`user
`system status
`control
`video}data
`remgya‘be
`interface
`display
`programs
`disc module
`storage
`
`1 41
`remote
`control
`
`142
`keyboard
`
`1 43
`VOICe
`recognition
`
`Viewer Access
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`Samsung—LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 2
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`EEG-“El
`MENU
`HELP SELECTION
`
`Elli-11E]
`
`III--
`
`FWD SFWD
`
`Elljlljl
`
`VOLUME
`
`V
`PS/PLAY STOP
`SPEED
`"Eli!
`SREV
`REV
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 3
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`m @
`
`300
`
`304
`
`301
`
`302
`
`303
`
`351
`
`372
`
`305
`
`}311
`
`AM
`
`FM
`
`UP DWN SET
`
`[2 PREV NEXT DEL DIAL
`[awn @D- 319
`
`3mg@@00
`
`mil-u
`
`
`
`TIME 10:30AM 04-20-92
`RMDR 1:50PM 04-20-92
`
`DAD MOM TEEN CHILD
`
`MENU
`HELP SELECTION
`mil-[flu
`
`CHI--
`
`CHANNEL
`Emil
`VOLUME
`IIIIEIEEI
`MARK CLEAR
`EDITING
`
`FREV
`FFWD
`PS/PLAY STOP
`---IEI
`SREV
`REV
`FWD SFWD
`
`WHAT? ANGLE
`[El
`
`SPEED
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 4
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`401
`
`_,___ ' l 400
`
`
`
`
`'
`
`7
`
`421 422 423
`424
`_/
`
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 5
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
` 3-1 restricted Access
`
`513 512
`
`52FIG. 5
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 6
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`Information Preferences
`
`E
`
`l—
`
`-
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 7
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`
`RADIo
`
`ON
`
`
`DEMAND
`
`701
`
`PLAY MUSIC
`RESPONSIVE TO
`PREFERENCES 733
`
`
`
`
` USER
`CONTROL
`ENABLED
`
`OBTAIN ID
`
`AND/OR
`
`INVALID ID
`PASSWORD
`
`
`AND/OR
`PASSWORD
`
`
`ID/PASSWORD
`
`
`ACCEPTED
`
`
`RESTRICTED
`USE
`
`
`
`OTHER
`RESTRICTIONS
`
`
`NO
`
`
`ESTABLISHED
`
`SCHEDULE
`PREFERENCES
`
`
`
`ESTABLISH
`SCHEDULE
`PREFERENCES
`
`ESTABLISH ED
`INFORMATION
`PREFERENCE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INFORMATION
`ON-DEMAND
`
`ESTABLISH
`
`INFORMATION
`PREFERENCES
`
`
`
`
` RECEIVE
`BROADCASTED
`
`
`INFORMATION
`
`COMMUNICATE
`
`INFORMATION
`SELECT
`PREFERENCES
`INFORMATION
`
`
`RECEIVE
`
`SELECTED
`INFORMATION
`
`INTERLEAVE
`& SEQUENCE
`MUSIC & INFO 761
`
`PLAY
`MUSIC & INFO
`
`
`TERMINATION
`
`BY USER
`
`
`PRE-ESTABLISHED
`
`TERMINATION
`NO
`
`
`
`YES
`
`UPDATE/OBTAIN
`INFORMATION
`
`764
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 8
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ESTABLISHED
`
`MUSIC
`
`PREFERENCE
`YES
`731
`
`NO
`
`ESTABLISH
`MUSIC
`PREFERENCES 732
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`RADIO
`ON
`
`DEMAND
`
`701
`
`
`
`
`LISTENING
`
`VERIFICATION
`
`
`
`N=o 851
`
`
`
`58.10208“
`
`PREFERENCES 732
`REEIJEEST
`RESPONSE
`
`INTERLEAVE
`
`& SEQUENCE
`MUSIC & INFO 761
`
`PLAY
`
`
`
`MUSIC & INFO
`
`
` AUDIO/INFO
`ASSOCIATED
`WITH CREDIT
`
`
`
`852
`
`3 55
`
`ES 56
`
`Y
`
`LISTENING
`
`PLAY
`
`AUDIO
`
`702
`
`COMMUNICATE
`INFORMATION
`
`PREFERENCES 752
`
`RECEIVE
`SELECTED
`INFORMATION 753
`
`
`
`762
`
`®NO
`N0 0
`
`3 53
`
`ES
`
`ADDITIONAL
`VERIFICATION
`
` AUDIO/INFO
`
`ASSOCIATED
`WITH DEBIT
`
`7
`
`NOT CREDITED
`
`
`PURCHASE
` PROVIDE
`
` CAPTURE &
`PROCESS
`
`ACCOUNTING
`
`880
`
`FIG. 8
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 9
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 9 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`COUSIIIIEA‘ND
`M
`
`901
`
`I CKNOWLEDG =
`USER
`COMMAND
`
`902
`
`
`
`
`ACCESS
`DENIED
`
`MESSAGE
`
`904
`
`ACCESS
`
`PERMI'I'I'ED
`
` YES
`
`NO
`' 03
`
`ENABLE
`RETRIEVAL
`
`ROUTINES
`
`905
`
`
`MULTI-STAGE
`
`REFRIEVAL
`
`LINKAGE TO
`
`NETWORK
`
`PROVIDER
`
`
`
`
`SELECTION
`ES
`PROVIDER
`
`914
`SELECTION
`NO
`-
`91 2
`OFF-LINE
`AUD'°"NF°
`ON LINE
`SELECTION 921
`AUDIO/INFO
`PROVIDER
`SELECTION
`LINKAGE
`920
`
`911
`
`922
`
`COMMUNICATE
`AUDIO/INFO
`SELECTION 923
`
`FIG. 9
`
`
`
`RECEIVE
`AUDIO & INFO 941
`
`INTEFILEAVE
`& SEQUENCE
`AUDIO & INFO 942
`
`
`
`ON LINE
`'
`
`“D'Os'gshggiMAND NO
`
`
`ES
`COMMSJENRCATE
`PREFERENCES 931
`
`
`PLAY
`AUFD'ISESVIIEIEFO
`932 AUDISLQYINFO
`
`
`943
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC EX. 1008 p. 10
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 10 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
` PLAYING
`RADIO-ON-
`
`DEMAND
`1001
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`RECEIVED
`
`
`
`
`
`IDENTIFIED ailé. DETERMINED
`
`
`INTENDED
`RECIPIENT
`
`INTENDED
`
`RECIPIENT
`
`ROUTE TO
`APPROPRIATE
`
`
`DEVICE
`ROUTE TO
`
`DEFAULT
`
`
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`1006
`
`COMMUNICATION
`
`1 01 2
`MESSAGE
`NO
`ACCEPTED
`1 O1 1
`YES ® 1 01 3
`
`PAUSE
`ON-LINE
`
`
`RADIO-ON-
`RADIO-ON-DEMAND
`
`DEMAND
`
`1 024
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT
`PAUSE
`REQUEST
`
`
`RADIO-ON-
`
`DEMAND
`PAUSED
`
`
`COMEIfiLIJ‘Nll-CEIgION
`'
`
`1 031
`
`
`CONTACT
`
`MANAGEMENT
`
`SOFTWARE
`
`
`
`PROVIDE
`FOR
`NOTATIONS
`
`1 042
`
`PAUSE EXCEEDS
`TIME LIMIT
`
`
`
`COMMUNICATION
`COMPLETED
`
`
`
`IDENTIFY
`SUITABLE
`
`POINT
`
`1 061
`
`RESUME
`RADIO—ON-
`DEMAND
`
`UPDATE
`
`1062
`
`ITEMS
`
`1 063
`
`RESCHEDULE
`ITEMS
`
`1 064
`
`CONTINUE
`WITH UPDATED
`
`SESSION
`
`1065
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC Ex. 1008 p. 11
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 11
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 11 0f 11
`
`US 6,192,340 B1
`
` ESTABLISHED
`
`INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`ESTABLISH
`
`
`INFORMATION
`PREFERENCES
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`755
`
`INFORMATION
`
`ON-DEMAND
`
`
`RECEIVE
`
`BROADCASTED
`
`INFORMATION
`
`COMMUNICATE
`INFORMATION
`754
`
`PREFERENCES
`SELECT
`
`INFORMATION
`RECEIVE
`
`
`
`SELECTED
`INFORMATION
`
`
`
`
`
`DOWNLOAD
`TO SECOND
`PLAYER
`
`
`DOWNLOAD
`
`T0 SECOND
`PLAYER
`
`PLAY
`INFORMATION
`
`
`TERMINATION
`BY USER
`
`
`
`FIG. 11
`
`Samsung-LG—HTC Ex. 1008 p. 12
`
`Samsung-LG-HTC Ex. 1008 p. 12
`
`

`

`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`1
`INTEGRATION OF MUSIC FROM A
`PERSONAL LIBRARY WITH REAL-TIME
`INFORMATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`Systems for, and methods of, integrating a playing of
`music that
`is responsive to a user’s music preferences
`applied to the user’s audio library with a playing of real-time
`information that
`is responsive to the user’s information
`preferences.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`A number of radio markets offer listeners a substantial
`
`variety of musical and/or informational radio broadcast
`formats. Real-time broadcasts offer
`the advantages of
`companionship, currency, and exposure to music not previ-
`ously listened to by a particular listener. However, a
`broadcast, by definition, cannot intend to play a particular
`listener’s favorite selection of songs or precisely the infor-
`mation that is of interest to that listener.
`
`Clearly, systems that permit a user to play only the
`favorite songs from a library of music offer advantages of
`customized selection that cannot be duplicated by a broad-
`cast format. Limiting the playing to songs from a personal
`library, also avoids having to listen to commercials, or to
`unsuitable or undesirable content. However, such systems
`do not provide, for example, news information, or the sense
`of currency and companionship that a real-time broadcast
`offers.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS
`
`The term “audio” refers to any audible content, tone, or
`sound regardless of the source or technology implemented.
`Audio includes, for example, music, songs, tunes, tracks,
`titles, voice, speech, content similar to or analogous to
`content that may be provided by a broadcast radio station,
`and sounds including the unheard sound of a tree falling in
`the forest. Audio also comprises information that is associ-
`ated with, may be associated with, or may serve to produce,
`an audible content. Audio may be part of, be extracted from,
`and/or be generated from, text, data, information, or video,
`e.g., a track from a DVD-Video. Audio may be part of, be
`extracted from, and/or be generated from video including,
`for example, still characters, graphics,
`images, motion
`pictures, films, interactive electronic games, and multimedia
`productions; music videos, full motion pictures, and televi-
`sion programming; and news, sports, cultural,
`entertainment, commercial, advertisements,
`instructional,
`and educational programming.
`Audio may originate as, and/or be provided as, an analog
`or digital format, compressed or uncompressed, by a human
`voice or synthesized, naturally occurring, instrumental, or
`humanly, created, edited, or otherwise produced, and/or any
`combination thereof. The audio may be provided by a local
`source, e.g., storage, media, memory, device, CD, DVD-
`Audio, magnetic disk; by a remote source, e.g.,
`radio
`broadcast, FM station, or “transmission”; and/or any com-
`bination thereof. A transmission may be provided by a
`private or public, broadcast or pointcast, wired or non-wired
`means and/or capability; and may utilize one or a hybrid
`combination of, for example, fiber optic cable, coaxial cable,
`twisted copper wire, cellular, radio, and/or satellite based
`technologies, systems, and infrastructures. In the broadest
`sense, a transmission also comprises the utilization of, for
`example, the US. Postal Service to deliver a CD.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`The term “user” as used herein is meant to include and be
`
`interchangeable with the term “player” (when referring to a
`person), and is to be understood in the general sense of a
`person that may be utilizing, playing, and/or listening to
`audio.
`
`The term “music preferences” refers, principally,
`although not exclusively, to a preference or preferences for
`audio which is musical in character, such as songs which
`may be played from a CD or listened to from an FM radio
`broadcast.
`
`The term “information preferences” refers, principally,
`although not exclusively, to a preference or preferences for
`audio which is informational in character, such as the audio
`that is produced by an AM radio broadcast between the
`playing of songs, including, for example, information relat-
`ing to the song being played, and/or news, weather, and
`traffic reports, jokes, quotes, inspirational or motivational
`messages, advertisements, and programming of a non-
`musical nature.
`
`The term “schedule preferences” refers to a time based
`preference or preferences, such as when certain audio,
`music, and/or information is to be played.
`The term “technical preferences” refers to a preference or
`preferences for, for example, the relative volume and play-
`back speed of the different categories of information, and the
`voice to be utilized in the synthesizing of information.
`The term “radio-on-demand” refers to audio played for a
`user and that is responsive to at least the user’s music and
`information preferences. Radio-on-demand enables,
`for
`example, a user to enjoy the playing of songs selected from
`a CD album synergistically interleaved with a playing of
`synthesized real-time stock quotes for the user’s stock
`portfolio. Radio-on-demand is not specific to any particular
`local and/or remote sources of audio.
`The term “audio library” refers to a plurality of audio
`items. An audio library may contain the data, information, or
`content required to make audible the audio item (“physical
`audio item”) and/or a link, pointer, address, or location to the
`data, information, or content required to make audible the
`audio item (“virtual audio item”). An audio library can
`comprise a plurality of audio items from a single source or
`from a plurality of local and remote sources. An audio
`library of a user can comprise, consist of, and/or be obtained
`from, for example,: i) selected audio items from a single
`optical memory, device, and/or disc such as a DVD;
`ii)
`selected audio items from a collection of CDs and DVDs; iii)
`audio items obtained, from a variety of local and remote
`sources and stored in, for example, the hard disk of a PC; iv)
`URLs of specific audio items retrievable from one or a
`plurality of web sites; and/or v) audio items downloaded
`from, captured, or otherwise obtained from, a broadcasted
`signal such as a transmission from an FM station or satellite.
`Where not clearly and unambiguously inconsistent with
`the specific context, the above terms as defined above and as
`they may be more broadly defined below are to be given the
`broadest possible interpretation and not be limited in scope
`by any example. While a particular feature may be detailed
`with respect to a specified example or application,
`it is
`intended that the teachings herein be applied broadly and
`harmoniously across the many possible uses.
`Accordingly,
`it
`is an object
`to communicate a user’s
`information preferences to an information provider; receive,
`from the information provider, informational items that are
`responsive to the user’s information preferences; interleave
`and sequence, for the user, a playing of the received infor-
`mational items with a playing of a plurality of musical items
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`US 6,192,340 B1
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`3
`included in an audio library of the user; and play, for the user
`and responsive to the interleaving and sequencing,
`the
`received informational items within a playing of the plural-
`ity of musical items.
`items
`to integrate informational
`It
`is also an object
`obtained from a radio broadcast with a playing of musical
`items obtained from a user’s audio library.
`It is also an object to incorporate a playing of audios
`obtained from a source other than the user’s audio library,
`that are responsive to the user’s music preferences, and that
`may be added, by the user, to the user’s audio library.
`It is also an object that an addition of an audio to a user’s
`audio library be at no expense to the user, for a fee, or for
`such other consideration as may be required by a provider.
`Such consideration including,
`for example,
`the verified
`apparent listening or actual rejection of a targeted advertise-
`ment.
`
`It is also an object to suspend a playing of information that
`would otherwise be responsive to a user’s information
`preferences.
`It is also an object that the radio-on-demand be immedi-
`ately responsive to a user activating a play control corre-
`sponding to a specific information preference.
`It is also an object to combine musical audio content with
`informational audio content and/or atmospherically audio
`content to provide a multi-layered audio.
`It is also an object to prepare a transcript of each radio-
`on-demand session which may be utilized to replay the
`session, to edit the session and/or playlist, and/or utilized in
`a word processor for purposes which may not be related to
`the playing of audio, e.g., research on a topic.
`It is also an object to provide radio-on-demand that also
`integrates a contemporaneous playing of user selected
`broadcasted programs.
`It is also an object to integrate radio-on-demand with a
`receipt of a communication unrelated to the radio-on-
`demand.
`
`Further, notwithstanding, the title and general focus of the
`disclosure, it is also a particular object of the inventions to
`enable the downloading of audio and/or information respon-
`sive to a user’s information preferences from a remote
`source and in due course to a portable device for subsequent
`playing.
`for
`these and other objects are enabled by,
`Briefly,
`example, an apparatus capable of, and a method of, playing
`audio,
`the apparatus comprising communicating,
`processing, and playing means for, and the method com-
`prising the steps of: communicating a user’s information
`preferences to an information provider; receiving, from the
`information provider, informational items that are respon-
`sive to the user’s information references; interleaving and
`sequencing, for the user, a playing of the received informa-
`tional items with a playing of a plurality of musical items
`included in an audio library of the user; and playing, for the
`user and responsive to the interleaving and sequencing, the
`received informational items within a playing of the plural-
`ity of musical items; and wherein the playing comprises a
`voice synthesizing of an at least one of informational item;
`wherein the playing is responsive to a schedule preferences
`of the user; wherein a verified apparent listening of a playing
`of an informational item is associated with a credit; and/or
`wherein a user’s reception of a communication unrelated to
`the informational items is integrated within a playing of
`musical items.
`
`These and other features, advantages, and objects, are
`apparent in the context of the detailed description, accom-
`panying drawings, and appended claims, that follow.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a Multimedia Player
`capable of radio-on-demand;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a portable Multimedia
`Player capable of radio-on-demand;
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of a remote control device for a
`
`Multimedia Player;
`FIG. 4 is a diagram of an integrated communications
`network;
`FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrations of a graphical user interface
`to enable a user to establish preferences;
`FIG. 7 is a flow chart detailing the steps of playing
`radio-on-demand;
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart detailing the steps of playing
`radio-on-demand and of verifying and crediting an apparent
`listening of audio/info item;
`FIG. 9 is a flow chart detailing the steps of retrieving
`audio/info from a provider; and
`FIG. 10 is a flow chart detailing the steps of integrating a
`radio-on-demand session with a reception of a communica-
`tion unrelated to the radio-on-demand session.
`
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart detailing the steps of the down-
`loading of audio and/or information responsive to a user’s
`information preferences from a remote source and in due
`course to a portable device for subsequent playing.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`i)
`The following are incorporated by reference herein:
`US. Pat. No. 5,434,678, titled “Seamless Transmission Of
`Non-Sequential Video Segments” and US. Pat. No. 5,684,
`918, titled “System For Integrating Video And Communi-
`cations” issued to Abecassis; ii) the capabilities, features,
`objects, and teachings of the “MusicMatch Jukebox” per-
`sonal jukebox software program version 4.2 published by
`MusicMatch, Inc. and which was available during Sep. 28,
`1999 at http://www.musicmatch.com, and related materials;
`the “REALPLAYER G2” and “REAIJUKEBOX” software
`
`programs published by RealNetworks, Inc. and which were
`available during Oct. 6, 1999 at http://www.real.com, and
`related materials; iii) the capabilities, features, objects, and
`teachings of Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc.’s RIO 500
`portable digital audio player; iv) US. patents: US. Pat. No.
`4,788,675 titled “Music Delivery System”; US. Pat. No.
`5,524,051 titled “Method And System For Audio Informa-
`tion Dissemination Using Various Modes Of Transmission”;
`US. Pat. No. 5,539,635 titled “Radio Station Program
`Identifier And Distribution System”; US. Pat. No. 5,557,
`541 titled “Apparatus For Distributing Subscription And
`On-Demand Audio Programming”; US. Pat. No. 5,675,575
`titled “Method And Apparatus For Communicating Different
`Types Of Data In A Data Stream”; US. Pat. No. 5,742,893
`titled “Music-Playing System For A Motor Vehicle”; and
`US. Pat. No. 5,809,246 Titled “Selection And Retrieval Of
`Music FromADigital Database”; v) US. Pat. No. 5,299,125
`titled “Natural Language Processing System And Method
`For Parsing A Plurality Of Input Symbol Sequences Into
`Syntactically Or Pragmatically Correct Word Messages”;
`US. Pat. No. 5,781,886 titled “Voice Response Apparatus;
`and US. Pat. No. 5,940,797 titled “Speech Synthesis
`Method Utilizing Auxiliary Information, Medium Recorded
`Thereon The Method And Apparatus Utilizing The
`Method”; and vi) US. Pat. No. 5,231,661 titled “Television
`Viewing Control Device And Method”.
`Apparatuses for integrating audio items from an audio
`library of a user with information that is responsive to the
`
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`US 6,192,340 B1
`
`5
`user’s information preferences include, for example, multi-
`media multi-source players (“Multimedia Players”). A Mul-
`timedia Player can comprise, for example, synergistic com-
`binations of the functions, capabilities, and components
`found in consumer electronic systems including a DVD
`player (e.g. PIONEER’s DVL-909 DVD/LD Player), a
`game system (e.g. SONY’s PLAYSTATION II), a net surf-
`board (e.g. PHILIPS MAGNAVOX INTERNET TV
`TERMINAL), a direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) receiver
`(e.g. SONY’s SAS-AD3 DIGITAL SATELLITE SYSTEM),
`a multimedia computing device (e.g. GATEWAY’s DESTI-
`NATION DIGITAL MEDIA COMPUTER); a nonlinear
`editing system (e.g. AVID’s MEDIA COMPOSER 9000); a
`set-top box capable of retrieving video-on-demand services
`from a remote video services provider (e.g. SCIENTIFIC-
`ATLANTA’s EXPLORER 2000 digital set-top); and a digi-
`tal audio player (e.g., the RIO 500 portable digital audio
`player); and the teachings of which are incorporated by
`reference herein.
`
`Various configurations of Multimedia Players permit a
`user to obtain audio, videos, multimedia, and/or other con-
`tent from storage means or sources within the Multimedia
`Player, sources locally accessible, and/or from remote
`sources.
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fully featured Multi-
`media Player 100 comprising the following primary mod-
`ules and subsystems: i) random access multi-disc module
`(e.g. a multi-disc DVD read/write drive) 101; ii) communi-
`cations module 102; iii) fixed storage subsystem 103; iv)
`removable storage subsystem 104; v) compact portable
`storage subsystem 105; vi) external video/audio input/output
`support module 106; vii) multi-user modules 107; and viii)
`multi-services modules 108.
`
`The random access multi-disc module 101 refers to any
`nonvolatile memory storage device principally utilized to
`randomly read/write and store significant quantities of infor-
`mation on a laser readable disc, preferably a multi-session
`rewritable disc.
`
`In MP3 format a song averages approximately 2—3 MB,
`thus a single sided, double layered DVD could store
`approximately 3,000 songs. Even with higher audio quality
`requirements, forthcoming optical technology will provide
`discs with the potential to store even larger audio libraries.
`Thus a single laser readable disc could store a user’s entire
`audio library. Similarly, hard disk drives with over 10 GB
`are now available at mass market price points, and thus they
`could also store a typical user’s entire audio library.
`The communications module 102 may be as simple as a
`modem card or device, or as sophisticated as may be
`required by a direct fiber optic access to a remote audio and
`communication services provider. The communications
`module may support a plurality and variety of cabling
`connections such as fiber optic cable, coaxial cable, and
`twisted pair copper wire, and the cabling required to access
`a variety of networks. Additionally,
`the communications
`module may support a plurality of broadcasts and pointcast
`audio and information delivery systems. In this fashion by
`merely depressing the appropriate keys in a remote control
`device a user can easily switch between off the air trans-
`missions and on-line services. A Multimedia Player may be
`connected to a local receiving means such as an indoor
`antenna, an outdoor antenna, or an existing system, such as
`the electrical system, that may serve as an antenna.
`The fixed storage subsystem 103 refers to any nonvolatile
`memory storage device principally utilized to randomly
`read/write and store significant quantities of information. An
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`example of a fixed storage subsystem is a magnetic disk
`drive commonly found in a personal computer.
`The removable storage subsystem 104 refers to any
`nonvolatile memory storage device that utilizes removable
`media. Examples of removable media for these storage
`subsystems are personal computer floppy disks, micro disks,
`tapes, and removable hard disks. The random access multi-
`disc module 101 is another example of a removable storage
`subsystem.
`The compact portable storage subsystem 105 and user
`access media 144 is principally distinguished from a remov-
`able storage subsystem 104 by the size of the media and the
`greater variety of memory storage technologies that are
`generally implemented. However, removable storage media,
`such as for example a micro disk, are also considered user
`access media 144. With present
`technology, user access
`media is available in dimensions similar to conventional
`
`credit cards. Examples of other removable storage media
`and user access media are laser read/write cards, in which at
`least one surface of the card permits a laser to read/write
`information; electronic cards, in which the information is
`stored in electronic components; solid-state memory prod-
`ucts such as CompactFlash, SmartMedia, SanDisk (SD)
`Memory, Memory Stick; magnetic cards embodying mag-
`netic storage technology, of which a credit card is an
`example, electronic cartridges commonly utilized in elec-
`tronic video game systems, smart cards, and PCMCIA cards.
`Clearly, a variety of memory devices are available utiliz-
`ing technologies and combinations of technologies to suit
`particular performance requirements. The above classifica-
`tions of the memory devices are directed at bringing atten-
`tion to functional capabilities of a Multimedia Player rather
`than to a particular technology. The classifications are not
`intended to restrict a subsystem to a particular classification,
`limit
`the selection of subsystems which may be
`implemented, or to limit
`the function of the particular
`subsystem implemented.
`It is intended that a full featured Multimedia Player “play”
`a variety of laser readable discs, such as, DVD-Video,
`DVD-ROM, DVD-Audio, CDs, photo CDs, in a conven-
`tional manner. The wide range of video/data discs that may
`be accommodated and the various configurations are dia-
`grammatically emphasized in FIG. 1 as the five stacked
`circles and the five circles inside the representation of the
`video/data disc unit 101.
`
`The external video/audio input/output support module
`106 supports video/audio/data transmission to the primary
`audio/video display system comprising, for example, a
`monitor/television, stereo system, and keyboard/voice
`recognition-response unit. Additionally,
`the input/output
`module supports video/audio input from local sources such
`as for example VCR’s, cameras, and videophones. The
`construction of the external support module follows the
`conventional practices of consumer electronic products as
`for example: DVD players, VCRs, and personal computers.
`Multi-user modules 107 principally support separate con-
`trolled independent access by a plurality of users of the
`Multimedia Player’s resources. The construction of multi-
`user modules following established networking technolo-
`gies.
`In a preferred embodiment, instead of utilizing one of the
`Windows, Unix, and/or Linux operating systems, the Mul-
`timedia Player can incorporate a small footprint multi-user
`multi-tasking real-time operating system with a streamlined
`user interface patterned after,
`for example,
`the simpler
`interface of a DBS receiver. A multi-layer approach to the
`
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`US 6,192,340 B1
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`7
`functionality/complexity of such functions as surfing the net;
`contact management and email, DVD/Internet hybrid
`games, applications and services; video editing; multimedia
`and word processing; and portfolio management and
`banking, are made available at a streamlined level
`that
`provides functionality required by most users at a markedly
`reduced level of complexity. The interface of the cited Web
`TV is an example.
`Multi-services modules 108 provide a host of services,
`such as for example residential security, and appliance
`operation management. The operation of the module being
`principally a software application running under the oper-
`ating system implemented. The construction of the particu-
`lar multi-service module being responsive to the particular
`application.
`The Multimedia Player further comprises computing ele-
`ments and audio/video processing elements readily found in
`multimedia devices and video electronic systems such as,
`for example, and not
`limitation, microprocessor 111,
`memory units 112, video processor or digital signal proces-
`sor 113, video, audio, and data buffers 114, and nonvolatile
`memory 115.
`The video audio module or board 106 and the processor
`113 comprise compression-decompression technologies to
`both retrieve and decompress, and compress and transmit.
`The compression technologies may include hardware,
`firmware, software, or any combination of these. One or a
`plurality of existing and forthcoming video compression
`methods may be implemented such as: Motion-JPEG,
`MPEG 1, MPEG 2, Fractals, and Wavelets. It should be
`appreciated that as more media becomes available in a
`digitally compressed format from a variety of sources, for
`example, DBS, DVD, digital camcorders, resident compres-
`sion capability becomes less necessary.
`A Multimedia Player’s control programs that manage the
`Multimedia Player’s resources, and the retrieval and pro-
`cessing of data and informatio