(12) Unlted States Patent
`Wee]
`
`(10) Patent N0.2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`*Jul. 3, 2012
`
`US008214873B2
`
`(54) METHOD, SYSTEM, AND
`COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR
`EMPLOYINGA FIRST DEVICE T0 DIRECT A
`NETWORKED AUDIO DEVICE TO RENDER
`A PLAYLIST
`
`(75) Inventor: Martin Weel, Modjeska, CA (US)
`
`.
`.
`.
`.
`(73) Ass1gnee: Dryden Enterprlses, LLC, W1lmmgton,
`DE (Us)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC' 1540:’) by 0 days‘
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`C1 aimer
`'
`
`(21) APP1- NO-I 13/207,113
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 10, 2011
`
`(65)
`
`Us
`
`Prior Publication Data
`16’
`
`Related US. Application Data
`(63) Continuation of application No. 10/ 840,109, ?led on
`May 5’ 2004’ HOW Pat‘ NO‘ 8’028’323'
`(51) Int Cl
`(201 1 01)
`HOLIN /1 73
`725/141_725/133725/118709/219
`52 U 5 Cl
`_
`’
`’
`’
`(
`)
`_'
`'
`' """ "_'
`(58) Fleld of Classl?catlon Search ................ .. 709/223,
`709/203’ 231’ 206’ 204’ 219; 725/110’ 88’
`725/112’ 86> 134’ 141’ 118’ 133; 705/27;
`_
`?l f
`1
`3411811734; 700/94
`1_
`S
`ee app lcanon e or Comp ete Seam lstory'
`R f
`Ct d
`e erences l e
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,819,160 A 10/1998 Foladare et a1.
`5,852,610 A 12/1998 Olaniyan
`
`5,857,149 A
`2
`6,014,569 A
`63088345 A
`6,182,128 B1
`6,199,076 B1
`6,226,672 B1
`6,229,621 B1
`6,233,682 B1
`6,253,069 B 1
`6,349,329 B1
`6,473,792 B1
`6,502,194 B1
`
`,
`
`,
`
`6,701,355 B1
`6,711,622 B1
`6,741,869 B1
`6,793,142 B2
`6,823,225 B1
`6,925,489 B1
`
`1/1999 Suzuki
`howl? 9? a1~
`1,2000 Boatrtlm‘ilvltz
`7/2000 Logan et 31'
`1/2001 Kelkar et al.
`3/2001 Logan et al.
`5/2001 DeMamn 6? a1~
`5/2001 Kulakowsklet a1.
`5/2001 F 't h
`60001 Ngriliovitz
`2/2002 Mackintosh et a1.
`10/2002 Yavitz et a1.
`12/2002 Berman et a1.
`grosbytettali
`3/2004 Brandt et al.
`3/2004 Fuller et al'
`5/2004 Lehr
`9/2004 Yap
`11/2004 Sass
`8/2005 Curtin
`
`rosse e a.
`
`(Commued)
`
`Primary Examiner * Le H Luu
`Attorney, Agent, or Firmiwlthrow & TeITanOVa,
`PLLC
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method for playing music includes displaying a list of
`playlists names, selecting one of the displayed playlists
`names, sending at least one attribute of a playlist correspond
`ing to the selectedplaylist name to aplaylist server, receiving
`a playlist from the playlist server Wherein the received play
`list corresponds to the attributdS)’ Selecting at least one Song
`from the received playlist, sending information representa
`tive of the selected song to a content server, receiving the
`selected song from the content server, and playing the
`selected song(s). Requesting a playlist on the ?rst device
`based on attributes, sending the same attributes to a second
`device having the second device request the playlist and start
`playing.
`
`46 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`PLAYLIST SERVER]
`
`CONTENT SE RVER
`
`11
`
`/
`
`FIRST
`DEVICE
`
`SECOND
`DEVICE
`
`HOME
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 1
`
`

`

`US 8,214,873 B2
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2003/0225834 A1* 12/2003 Lee e161. .................... .. 709/204
`
`B1
`
`7,469,283 B2 12/2008 Eyaletal.
`7,472,353 B1
`12/2008 wolffet a1‘
`7,711,838 B1
`5/2010 Boulteretal‘
`7,783,722 B1
`8/2010 Rosenberg et a1‘
`7,797,272 B2
`9/2010 Picker et a1.
`7,840,691 B1
`11/2010 De Bonet et a1.
`7,856,485 B2 12/2010 Prageretal,
`7,870,088 B1
`1/2011 Chen et a1.
`7,904,579 B2
`3/2011 Janik e161.
`7,917,645 B2
`3/2011 Ikezoye e161.
`7,926,085 B2
`4/2011 Del Beccaro et a1.
`8,028,323 B2
`9/2011 W991
`8,045,952 B2 10/2011 Qureshey etal
`8,050,652 B2 11/2011 Qureshey etal-
`2002/0002039 A1
`1/2002 Quresheyetal.
`*
`2002/0007418 A1
`1/2002 Hegde e161. ................ .. 709/231
`2002/0072326 A1
`6/2002 Quresheyetal.
`2002/0194619 Al* 12/2002 Chang etal. ................ .. 725/134
`2003/0217102 Al* 11/2003 Jystad e161. ................ .. 709/203
`
`2222
`
`"
`
`348/734
`.. 725/86
`............... .. 705/59
`
`.esf’n """ "
`*
`6/2004 Hlgiglns et a1. ..
`2004/0119894 A1
`2004/0133914 Al* 7/2004 Smlth e161.
`2004/0205028 Al* 10/2004 Verosub 6t
`2004;0255340 A1 12/2004 Logan
`2005 0044561 A1
`2/2005 McDonald
`2005/0071881 Al* 3/2005 Deshpande ................... .. 725/88
`2005/0113946 A9* 5/2005 Janik ............................. .. 700/94
`2005/0240494 Al* 10/2005 Cue e161. ...................... .. 705/27
`2005/0251566 A1 11/2005 Weel
`2005/0262204 A1* 11/2005 Szeto e161. ................. .. 709/206
`2006/0218180 A1
`9/2006 Bodlaender et a1.
`2006/0294212 Al* 12/2006 Kikkawa e161. ............ .. 709/223
`2007/0088804 A1
`4/2007 Qureshey etal.
`2007/0089132 A1
`4,2007
`Qureshey et a1.
`2007/0089135 A1
`4/2007 Qureshey et a1.
`2007/0180063 A1
`8/2007
`h
`t 31
`Qures eye '
`
`22222222222 22* 2222:: 22212 ~
`
`*
`
`.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 0f 8
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`FIG. 1
`
`PLAYLIST SERVER]
`CONTENT SERVER
`
`19
`
`10
`
`16
`
`17
`
`11
`
`FIRST
`DEVICE
`
`< -------------- --> SECOND
`DEVICE
`
`HOME
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of8
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`FIG.
`
`13
`
`23
`
`DISPLAY
`
`KEYPAD
`
`22
`
`TRANSCEIVER
`
`b----_----------------------------
`
`5-’
`
`I
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of8
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`FIG. 3
`
`U 2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`DISPLAY A LIST OF PLAYLISTS ON A FIRST DEVICE
`I
`SELECT ONE OF THE DISPLAYED PLAYLISTS FROM
`THE FIRST DEVICE
`I
`SEND AT LEAST ONE ATTRIBUTE OF THE SELECTED
`PLAYLIST FROM THE FIRST DEVICE TO A PLAYLIST
`SERVER
`I
`RECEIVE A PLAYLIST THAT CORRESPONDS TO THE
`ATTRIBUTE(S) FROM THE PLAYLIST SERVER AT THE
`FIRST DEVICE
`I
`SELECT AT LEAST ONE SONG FROM THE RECEIVED
`PLAYLIST ON THE FIRST DEVICE
`I
`SEND INFORMATION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
`SELECTED SONG(S) FROM THE FIRST DEVICE TO A
`CONTENT SERVER
`I
`RECEIVE THE SELECTED SONG(S) FROM THE
`CONTENT SERVER AT THE FIRST DEVICE
`I
`PLAY THE SELECTED SONG(S) ON THE FIRST DEVICE
`
`0H J J J Jw
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of8
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`FIG. 4
`DISPLAY A LIST OF PLAYLISTS ON A FIRST DEVICE \
`+
`41
`SELECT ONE OF THE DISPLAYED PLAYLISTS FROM
`THE FIRST DEVICE
`
`x42
`
`SEND AT LEAST ONE ATTRIBUTE OF THE SELECTED
`PLAYLIST FROM THE FIRST DEVICE TO A PLAYLIST \
`SERVER
`43
`
`RECEIVE A PLAYLIST THAT CORRESPONDS TO THE
`ATTRIBUTE(S) FROM THE PLAYLIST SERVER AT THE x
`FIRST DEVICE
`44
`
`SELECT A SECOND DEVICE x
`+
`45
`
`SELECT AT LAST ONE SONG FROM THE RECEIVED
`PLAYLIST ON THE FIRST DEVICE TO BE PLAYED ON x
`THE SECOND DEVICE
`46
`
`SEND INFORMATION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
`SELECTED SONG(S) FROM THE FIRST DEVICE TO \
`THE SECOND DEVICE
`47
`
`SEND INFORMATION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
`SELECTED SONG(S) FROM THE SECOND DEVICE TO x
`A CONTENT SERVER
`48
`
`RECEIVE THE SELECTED SONG(S) FROM THE
`CONTENT SERVER AT THE SECOND DEVICE “49
`
`PLAY THE SELECTED SONG(S) ON THE SECOND
`DEVICE
`
`x
`50
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of8
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`FIG. 5
`
`USER WITH NEW DEVICE ENTERS AN AREA
`AND SEARCHES FOR OTHER DEVICES BY
`BROADCASTING ON THE NETWORK
`
`I
`
`OTHER DEVICES RETURN A LOCATION ID OF
`THE LOCATION FOR WHICH THEY ARE A
`PART
`
`I
`
`J
`
`USER SELECTS A LOCATION AND ENTERS
`THE PASSWORD FOR THAT LOCATION
`
`J 3
`
`ALL OF THE DEVICES IN THE REALM
`(LOCATION) SHOW UP ON USER'S DEVICE
`WHETHER LOCAL OR REMOTE
`
`I
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 7
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of8
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`PLAYLIST SERVER!
`CONTENT SERVER
`
`FIG. 6
`
`1O
`
`64
`
`\ 11
`
`WIRELESS
`ACCESS
`POINT
`
`12
`
`REMOTE
`CONTROL
`
`,63
`
`2 6
`
`BOX
`
`RENDERING
`DEVICE
`
`HOME
`
`61
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 7 of8
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`CONTENT SERVER
`
`FIG. 7
`
`10
`
`64
`
`\ 11
`
`WIRELESS
`ACCESS
`POINT
`
`12
`
`SET-TOP
`
`X. O" E
`
`RENDERING
`DEVICE
`
`REMOTE
`CONTROL
`
`61
`
`HOME
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 8 of8
`
`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`FIG. 8
`
`81
`
`CELL PHONE
`
`/ \
`//
`\\
`
`LAN
`
`PDA
`
`STEREO
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 10
`
`

`

`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`1
`METHOD, SYSTEM, AND
`COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR
`EMPLOYINGA FIRST DEVICE TO DIRECT A
`NETWORKED AUDIO DEVICE TO RENDER
`A PLAYLIST
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`The present application is a continuation of US. patent
`application Ser. No. 10/840,109, ?led May 5, 2004, now US.
`Pat. No. 8,028,323, entitled “PLAYLIST DOWNLOADING
`FOR DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK,” Which is
`hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
`
`2
`music is doWnloaded from the Internet or otherWise obtained
`(such as by trading With friends), as a data ?le. One popular
`example of such a data ?le is an MP3 ?le. MP3 is short for
`Moving Picture Experts Group 1, audio layer 3.
`Although music embodied in data ?les can be obtained
`legitimately, such as via such services like iTunes (a trade
`mark of Apple Computer, Inc.), the opportunity to doWnload
`or trade music data ?les for free has heretofore hampered this
`legitimate method of obtaining music.
`As such, although the prior art has recogniZed, to a limited
`extent, the problem of distributing music, the proposed solu
`tions have, to date, been ineffective in providing a satisfactory
`remedy. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method for
`distributing music that is convenient, does not involve the use
`of media, and Which provides for the payment of royalties.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to a method and
`system for playing music. The present invention relates more
`particularly to a digital entertainment netWork Wherein play
`lists are obtained by communicating attributes of the playlists
`to a playlist server and Wherein songs are obtained by com
`municating information representative of the songs to a con
`tent server.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Traditionally, music has been provided to listeners by
`either a broadcast method or a purchase method. According to
`the broadcast method, music is broadcast to listeners by such
`means as radio and cable systems. The oWners of the music
`are typically compensated by the broadcaster via either the
`American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
`(ASCAP) or Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI). These
`tWo agencies monitor the playing of music by broadcasters,
`collect royalties from the broadcasters, and distribute the
`royalties to the copyright oWners of the music.
`HoWever, according to the broadcast method the listener
`has little or no control over Which selections are played.
`Generally, a listener must tune in to a radio station or select a
`cable channel that plays the type of music that the listener
`enjoys With the expectation that songs that the listener enjoys
`Will occasionally be played. Too frequently, these songs are
`not played as often as the listener Would prefer.
`According to the purchase method, a listener purchases
`prerecorded music stored on media such as compact discs
`(CDs). The listener may then play the songs as many times as
`desired. Copyright oWners are paid royalties out of the pur
`chase price of the music.
`HoWever, the purchase method requires that a substantial
`price be paid for the music, at least in part because of the
`virtually unlimited use associated thereWith. Listeners appear
`to be becoming less Willing to pay the purchase price for such
`prerecorded music, particularly as alternative methods for
`obtaining music become more popular.
`The purchase method suffers from the additional disadvan
`tage of requiring that media containing the desired songs be
`utiliZed. Such media is someWhat bulky, particularly When a
`large number of selections are desired. In some instances, it
`may not be practical to carry all of the songs desired because
`of the volume and/or Weight of the media required. Such
`media is also undesirably subject to degradation due to use
`and mishandling. For example, scratches on a CD may inhibit
`its use.
`A neWer method of providing music to listeners is becom
`ing increasingly popular. It is this method of providing music
`that is apparently making listeners less Willing to pay the
`purchase price for music that is prerecorded on media.
`According to this neWer method of providing music, the
`
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`While the apparatus and method has or Will be described
`for the sake of grammatical ?uidity With functional explana
`tions, it is to be expressly understood that the claims, unless
`expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, are not to be con
`strued as necessarily limited in any Way by the construction of
`“means” or “steps” limitations, but are to be accorded the full
`scope of the meaning and equivalents of the de?nition pro
`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
`lents under 35 USC 112.
`The present invention speci?cally addresses and alleviates
`the above mentioned de?ciencies associated With the prior
`art. More particularly, according to one aspect the present
`invention comprises a method for playing music, Wherein the
`method comprises displaying a list of playlists names, select
`ing one of the displayed playlist names, sending at least one
`attribute of a playlist corresponding to the selected playlist
`name to a playlist server, receiving a playlist from the playlist
`server Wherein the received playlist corresponds to the
`attribute(s), selecting at least one song from the received
`playlist, sending information representative of the selected
`song(s) to a content server, receiving the selected song(s)
`from the content server and playing the selected song(s).
`According to one method of operation, the playlist names
`are displayed on a ?rst device, a playlist name is selected on
`the ?rst device, the attribute(s) are sent from the ?rst device,
`the playlist is received by the ?rst device, a song is selected
`from the ?rst device, and the song is played on the ?rst device.
`According to another method of operation, the playlist
`names are displayed on a ?rst device, a playlist name is
`selected on the ?rst device, the attribute(s) are sent from the
`?rst device, the playlist is received by the ?rst device, a song
`is selected from the ?rst device, and the song is played on a
`second device.
`The method of the present invention optionally comprises
`selecting the second device. In this instance, the playlist
`names are displayed on a ?rst device, the playlist name is
`selected on the ?rst device, the attribute(s) are sent from the
`?rst device, the playlist is received by the ?rst device, the song
`is selected from the ?rst device, and the song is played on the
`selected second device. Preferably, the second device is
`selected from the ?rst device.
`Preferably, the ?rst device comprises a handheld portable
`device. For example, the ?rst device may comprises a palm
`top computer, an MP3 player, or a remote control for a second
`device.
`Thus, the ?rst device may comprise a remote control for a
`second device Wherein the second device comprises a music
`rendering device. In this instance, songs are typically played
`upon the second device, although songs may also be played
`upon the ?rst device.
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 11
`
`

`

`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`3
`Preferably, selecting one of the displayed playlist names
`and selecting a song from the playlist are performed using a
`touchscreen. If a second device is selected from the ?rst
`device, the second device is also preferably selected using the
`touchscreen.
`Preferably, communicating attributes of a playlist to a play
`list server comprises communicating a name of a playlist to a
`playlist server. Communicating attributes of a playlist to a
`playlist server may comprise communicating to the playlist
`server at least one attribute such as a type of music listened to,
`at least one artist, at least one selection, at least one instru
`ment, at least one record company, a region, a country, a state,
`a city, a school, and/or an ethnicity. The playlist server may
`then either locate or make a playlist that conforms to the
`attribute(s) of the requested playlist.
`Sending at least one attribute of a playlist to a playlist
`server and receiving a playlist from the playlist server pref
`erably comprises communicating the attribute(s) and the
`playlist via a netWork, preferably a Wide area netWork such as
`the Internet.
`Selecting at least one song from the playlist optionally
`comprises selecting a plurality of songs from the playlist and
`playing the selected song(s) then comprises playing the plu
`rality of songs. The songs may be played in the order selected,
`in random order, or in any other desired order.
`According to one aspect of the present invention, playlist
`recommendations based upon listening habits of a listener are
`automatically provided to the listener. Alternatively, the play
`list recommendations may be based upon listening habits of
`another person. The playlist recommendations may comprise
`a list of currently popular songs Within a single genre that is of
`interest to the listener.
`Preferably, at least one parameter for a song that is being
`played on a second device can be adjusted from the ?rst
`device. The parameters may include volume, tone, and/or
`balance.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`method for playing music, Wherein the method comprises
`obtaining a playlist for a ?rst device via the Internet, selecting
`a song from the playlist, and using the ?rst device to cause a
`second device to play the selected song. The second device
`preferably obtains the song via the Internet.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`method for playing music, Wherein the method comprises
`displaying a list of playlist names on a ?rst device, selecting
`one of the displayed playlist names from the ?rst device,
`sending at least one attribute of a playlist corresponding to the
`selectedplaylist name from the ?rst device to a playlist server,
`receiving a playlist at the ?rst device from the playlist server
`Wherein the received playlist corresponds to the attribute(s),
`selecting at least one song from the playlist on the ?rst device,
`sending information representative of the selected song from
`the ?rst device to a content server, receiving the selected song
`at the ?rst device from the content server, and playing the
`selected song(s) on the ?rst device.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`method for playing music, Wherein the method comprises
`displaying a list of playlist names on a ?rst device, selecting
`one of the displayed playlist names from the ?rst device,
`sending at least one attribute of a playlist corresponding to the
`selectedplaylist name from the ?rst device to a playlist server,
`receiving at the ?rst device a playlist from the playlist server
`Wherein the received playlist corresponds to the attribute(s),
`selecting a second device, selecting at least one song from the
`playlist on the ?rst device, sending information representa
`tive of the selected song from the ?rst device to the second
`device, sending information representative of the selected
`song from the second device to a content server, receiving the
`selected song at the second device from the content server,
`and playing the selected song(s) on the second device.
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`4
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`device for playing music, Wherein the device comprises a
`display for displaying a list of playlist names and song names.
`The display is also for facilitating selection of playlists and
`songs. The device further comprises a netWork transceiver.
`As used herein, the term netWork transceiver includes any
`circuit or device that facilitates communication via a netWork.
`Examples of netWork transceivers include Ethernet netWork
`interface cards (N ICs) and circuits, as Well as Bluetooth and
`WiFi cards and circuits.
`The device is con?gured to facilitate displaying a list of
`playlist names on the display, selecting one of the displayed
`playlist names, sending at least one attribute of a playlist
`corresponding to the selected playlist name to a playlist server
`via the netWork transceiver, and receiving a playlist from the
`playlist server via the netWork transceiver. The received play
`list corresponds to the attribute(s) sent to the playlist server.
`The device is further con?gured to facilitate selecting at least
`one song from the playlist, sending information representa
`tive of the selected song to a content server, receiving the
`selected song from the content server, and playing the
`selected song(s).
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`device for playing music, Wherein the device comprises a
`netWork transceiver. The device is con?gured to facilitate
`receiving information representative of a song from another
`device, sending of the information representative of the song
`to a content server via the netWork transceiver, receiving of
`the song from the content server, and playing of the song.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`playlist server comprising a memory Within Which a plurality
`of playlists are stored and a netWork transceiver. The playlist
`server is con?gured to facilitate receiving at least one attribute
`of a playlist via the netWork transceiver, identifying a playlist
`based upon the attribute(s), and sending of the playlist to a
`device via the transceiver.
`Preferably, the playlist server is further con?gured to facili
`tate serving of content. Thus, the playlist server and the con
`tent server are effectively the same server. HoWever, as those
`skilled in the art Will appreciate, the playlist server and the
`content server may be tWo entirely different servers and may
`be located in diverse locations With respect to one another.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`method for providing music, Wherein the method comprises
`receiving at least one attribute of a selected playlist at a
`playlist server and transmitting a playlist that corresponds to
`the attributes from the playlist server to a ?rst device.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`system for playing music, Wherein the system comprises a
`?rst device con?gured to display names of playlists and
`names of songs and to facilitate selection of the playlists and
`songs, a playlist server con?gured to receive at least one
`attribute of a playlist from the ?rst device and to send a
`playlist corresponding to the received attribute(s) to the ?rst
`device, and a content server con?gured to receive information
`representative of at least one song from the ?rst device and to
`send corresponding songs to the ?rst device. The present
`invention further comprises at least one second device con
`?gured to send attributes of a playlist to the playlist server, to
`send information representative of songs to the content
`server, to receive a playlist from the playlist server, and to
`receive songs from the content server.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`method for playing music, Wherein the method comprises
`providing a ?rst device that repeatedly Wirelessly broadcasts
`a unique identi?cation thereof and a passWord, and moving
`the ?rst device into an area such that it can communicate
`Wirelessly With at least one second device that repeatedly
`Wirelessly broadcasts a unique identi?cation thereof and a
`passWord. The ?rst device displays names of the second
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 12
`
`

`

`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`5
`device(s) for Which the password is an authorized password
`for the ?rst device, such that the ?rst device can be used to
`select songs to be played on the second device(s). Each of the
`second devices displays the name of the ?rst device When the
`passWord of the ?rst device is an authoriZed passWord for the
`that second device, such that the second device can be used to
`select songs to be played on the ?rst device.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`system for playing music, Wherein the system comprises a
`playlist server in communication With the Internet Wherein
`the playlist server has a plurality of playlists stored thereon, a
`content server in communication With the Internet Wherein
`the content server has a plurality of songs stored thereon, a
`rendering device for playing songs, a set-top box in commu
`nication With the rendering device for facilitating communi
`cation of the songs from the content server to the rendering
`device via the Internet, and a remote control for controlling
`the set-top box.
`The remote control is con?gured to obtain a playlist from
`the playlist server, facilitate, selection of a song from the
`playlist, and control the set-top box so as to cause the set-top
`box to doWnload the song and cause the song to play on the
`rendering device.
`The remote control is preferably dockable to the set-top
`box. The remote control may be either in Wired or Wireless
`communication With the set-top box When docked thereto.
`The remote control is preferably in Wireless communication
`With the set-top box When the remote control is not docked
`thereto. The remote control can preferably be used to control
`the set-top box Whether the remote control is docked thereto
`or not.
`The remote control preferably comprises a display and a
`keypad for facilitating control of the set-top box and conse
`quently for facilitating control of the rendering device. The
`set-top box optionally comprises a display and a keypad for
`facilitating control thereof and consequently for facilitating
`control of the rendering device.
`According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a
`method for providing content, Wherein the method comprises
`selecting content from a remote control and providing the
`selected content to a media player via a netWork.
`These, as Well as other advantages of the present invention,
`Will be more apparent from the folloWing description and
`draWings. It is understood that changes in the speci?c struc
`ture shoWn and described may be made Within the scope of
`the claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The invention and its various embodiments can noW be
`better understood by turning to the folloWing detailed
`description of the preferred embodiments Which are pre
`sented as illustrated examples of the invention de?ned in the
`claims. It is expressly understood that the invention as de?ned
`by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodi
`ments described beloW.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram shoWing an exemplary embodi
`ment of the digital entertainment system of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram shoWing further detail of an
`exemplary ?rst device or remote control of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a How chart shoWing one Way of operating a
`digital entertainment system of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a How chart shoWing another Way of operating a
`digital entertainment system of the present invention;
`
`6
`FIG. 5 is a How chart shoWing operation of a discovery
`process Wherein devices of the present invention recogniZe
`one another;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram shoWing an exemplary embodi
`ment of the digital entertainment netWork of the present
`invention, Wherein a set-top box has a removable remote
`control disposed Within a cradle thereof;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram shoWing the digital entertainment
`netWork of FIG. 6, Wherein the set-top box has the removable
`remote control disposed out of the cradle thereof; and
`FIG. 8, is a block diagram shoWing the discovery process
`for both a local device and a remote device.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Many alterations and modi?cations may be made by those
`having ordinary skill in the art Without departing from the
`spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be under
`stood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only
`for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as
`limiting the invention as de?ned by the folloWing claims. For
`example, notWithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim
`are set forth beloW in a certain combination, it must be
`expressly understood that the invention includes other com
`binations of feWer, more or different elements, Which are
`disclosed herein even When not initially claimed in such com
`binations.
`The Words used in this speci?cation to describe the inven
`tion and its various embodiments are to be understood not
`only in the sense of their commonly de?ned meanings, but to
`include by special de?nition in this speci?cation structure,
`material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly de?ned
`meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context
`of this speci?cation as including more than one meaning, then
`its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all
`possible meanings supported by the speci?cation and by the
`Word itself.
`The de?nitions of the Words or elements of the folloWing
`claims therefore include not only the combination of ele
`ments Which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure,
`material or acts for performing substantially the same func
`tion in substantially the same Way to obtain substantially the
`same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an
`equivalent substitution of tWo or more elements may be made
`for any one of the elements in the claims beloW or that a single
`element may be substituted for tWo or more elements in a
`claim. Although elements may be described above as acting
`in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it
`is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from
`a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the
`combination and that the claimed combination may be
`directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombina
`tion.
`Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as
`vieWed by a person With ordinary skill in the art, noW knoWn
`or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equiva
`lently Within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious
`substitutions noW or later knoWn to one With ordinary skill in
`the art are de?ned to be Within the scope of the de?ned
`elements.
`The claims are thus to be understood to include What is
`speci?cally illustrated and described above, What is concep
`tionally equivalent, What can be obviously substituted and
`also What essentially incorporates the essential idea of the
`invention.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Yamaha Corporation of America Exhibit 1001 Page 13
`
`

`

`US 8,214,873 B2
`
`7
`Thus, the detailed description set forthbeloW in connection
`With the appended drawings is intended as a description of the
`presently preferred embodiments of the invention and is not
`intended to represent the only forms in Which the present
`invention may be constructed or utiliZed. The description sets
`forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing
`and operating the invention in connection With the illustrated
`embodiments. It is to be understood, hoWever, that the same
`or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different
`embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed Within
`the spirit of the invention.
`The digital entertainment netWork of the present invention
`is preferably a fully integrated plug and play technology
`platform that delivers secure anytime, anyWhere, on-demand
`multimedia content for digital home systems.
`The digital entertainment netWork provides e?icient and
`ubiquitous Wireless and Web-enabled control over digital
`home systems by enabling users to access and manage music
`content using a variety of control devices and by delivering
`such content to a Wide variety of different rendering devices.
`On-demand delivery of content, such as streaming music,
`is provided utiliZing such user-friendly features such as cus
`tomiZed playlists, collaboration, music management tools,
`and search capability.
`The present invention preferably provides a plug and play
`control point that has the softWare intelligence that forms the
`basis for a truly integrated e