`Chang
`
`111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006757517B2
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,757,517 B2
`Jun.29,2004
`
`(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`COORDINATED MUSIC PLAYBACK IN
`WIRELESS AD-HOC NETWORKS
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Chin-chi Chang, F7-2, No. 71,
`Tung-An Street, Taipei (TW)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 622 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/853,728
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`May 10,2001
`
`( 65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/0168938 A1 Nov. 14, 2002
`
`Int. Cl? .................................................. H04H l/00
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................... 455/3.05; 455/3.06; 455/41.2;
`455/45; 455/186.1
`(58) Field of Search ................................ 455/186.1, 45,
`455/3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 3.09, 41.1, 41.2, 186.2,
`517-518, 66.1; 725/86.7; 709/718, 719,
`729
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,616,876 A
`
`4/1997 Cluts
`
`5,812,937 A * 9/1998 Takahisa et a!. ........... 455/66.1
`5,819,160 A * 10/1998 Foladare eta!. .............. 455!45
`6,014,569 A
`1!2000 Bottum
`6,490,432 B1 * 12/2002 Wegener et a!. ........... 455/3.05
`2002/0132616 A1 * 9/2002 Ross eta!. .................. 455/419
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Lee Nguyen
`Assistant Examiner-Tuan Tran
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention details a novel application of wireless
`networking and digital music technologies to achieve coor(cid:173)
`dinated and synchronized music playback among peer lis(cid:173)
`teners connected by wireless ad-hoc networks. Two or more
`listeners in local proximity allowed by short-range wireless
`transmission can participate and listen to the same song at
`the same time. Moreover, the present invention allows
`listeners in the transmission range to discover each other
`through profile matching. A high matching score may indi(cid:173)
`cate similar preference or taste to a certain music style
`thereby easily locating mutual interests, which would not
`have been possible.
`
`32 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`200'-/'
`
`Wireless transceiver listens to public channel
`and relays announcement message
`..[,
`
`2'-./'
`20
`
`Random access controller determines if
`announcement message come from a new,remote party
`
`2Q4,~
`
`No
`
`-
`206~
`
`Random access controller scans all the channels
`and randomly selects one not in use,
`then responds to remote party with its own message and
`selected channel number transmitted to public channel
`..[,
`
`208'-./'
`
`21 0'-./'
`
`212'-/'
`
`Profile of remote party is received and
`forwarded to profile storage and matching unit
`1],-
`
`If profile is a match,contoc\ and wait for
`confirmation from remote party
`
`1],-
`
`When confirmation is received,instruc\
`music playback unit tc start playing
`
`BHM 0022651
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`SONOS 1009 - Page 1
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`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun.29,2004
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`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 6,757,517 B2
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`music playback unit to start playing
`When confirmation is received,instruct
`
`~
`
`confirmation from remote party
`
`If profile is a match,contact and wait for
`
`~
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`212~
`
`210~
`
`forwarded to profile storage and matching unit
`
`Profile of remote party is received and
`
`208~
`
`.J;
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`selected channel number transmitted to public channel
`then responds to remote party with its own message and
`
`and randomly selects one not in use,
`
`Random access controller scans all the channels
`
`204~ No
`
`Yes
`
`~
`
`206
`
`announcement message came from a new ,remote party
`
`Random access con~roller determines if
`
`2
`02~
`
`-lt
`
`and relays announcement message
`
`Wireless transceiver listens to public channel
`
`200~
`
`SONOS 1009 - Page 3
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`
`
`FIG. 3
`
`playback unit to start playing
`
`If yes,responds with confirmation.lnstructs mUSIC
`
`31 o~
`
`~
`
`storage and matching unit to determine if it is a match
`
`Profile of remote party is relayed to profile
`
`308 ~
`
`l
`
`for confirmation from remote party
`
`Wireless transceiver listens to private channel
`
`3 06~
`
`l
`
`and forwards it to remote party through private channel
`Random access controller retrieves profile information
`
`30 4~
`
`l
`
`relays responding message to random access controller
`
`Wireless transceiver listens to public channel and
`
`30 2~
`
`l
`
`Announcement message is broadcast to public channel
`
`30 o~
`
`•
`rJl
`d •
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`SONOS 1009 - Page 4
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun.29,2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 6,757,517 B2
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`BHM 0022655
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`SONOS 1009 - Page 5
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`US 6,757,517 B2
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`1
`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
`COORDINATED MUSIC PLAYBACK IN
`WIRELESS AD-HOC NETWORKS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`1. Field of Invention
`The present invention relates to a method and an appa(cid:173)
`ratus for music playback. More particularly, the present
`invention relates to a method and an apparatus for coordi(cid:173)
`nated and synchronized music playback in local spatial
`proximity with wireless ad hoc networks.
`2. Description of Related Art
`Traditional portable musical entertainment, best exempli(cid:173)
`fied by Walkman and portable CD players, is usually con(cid:173)
`fined to individual listeners. In general, for a group of music
`listeners to share mutual music listening, the only way is to
`play music loudly to the open space. However, it might
`cause nuisances to other persons, who have no intention for
`listening, while the music is playing loudly. Therefore, it is
`advantageous for music sharers to confine mutual music
`sharing to only persons who intend to listen.
`With leaping advances in wireless networking and digital
`music technologies such as Bluetooth and MP3, portable
`musical entertainment can be shared and appreciated simul(cid:173)
`taneously by more than one person without playing music
`out loudly. Furthermore, music sharers can decide to appre(cid:173)
`ciate mutual musical entertainment simultaneously with
`only the chosen sharers.
`Prior art relating to music carrying radio lacks the mecha(cid:173)
`nisms and methods to achieve the aforementioned objective.
`For example, Bottum (U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,569) uses cellular
`communication systems to deliver asynchronous audio to
`subscribers. There is no mechanism to ensure synchronous 35
`audio reception and playback among the logged-on sub(cid:173)
`scribers. Cluts (U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,876) asks user to select
`songs from a collection to form a preferred song list. The
`computer server then analyzes this list to suggest more songs
`similar to user preference. There is no method to suggest 40
`how two or multiple users can match their mutual preference
`to music.
`
`2
`used respectively by at least two or more users. The
`playback/listening apparatus enhanced with profile match(cid:173)
`ing functionality comprises four key components: a wireless
`transceiver, a random access controller, a profile storage and
`5 matching unit, and a music playback unit. The playback/
`listening apparatus can operate in at least two modes,
`listening mode and advertising mode, for profile matching.
`These two modes constitute two basic and necessary func(cid:173)
`tionality.
`The method for coordinated and synchronized music
`playback in local spatial proximity with wireless ad hoc
`networks includes the following steps: establishing a wire(cid:173)
`less ad-hoc network between at least a first listening appa(cid:173)
`ratus used by the first user and a second listening apparatus
`used by the second user; sending a first message from the
`15 first apparatus to a public channel; scanning the public
`channel and receiving the first message to the second
`apparatus; responding to the first apparatus by sending a
`second message from the second apparatus to direct the first
`apparatus to a private channel; sending a first profile from
`20 the first apparatus to the private channel; performing match(cid:173)
`ing evaluation between the first profile and a second profile
`of the second apparatus in the second apparatus based on a
`specific criterion; sending the second profile to the first
`apparatus; performing matching evaluation between the
`25 second profile and the first profile in the first apparatus;
`selecting a song; synchronizing playing the song; scanning
`the public channel and receiving the first message to a third
`apparatus used by a third user over the wireless ad-hoc
`network; responding to the third apparatus by sending a third
`30 message from the first apparatus to direct the third apparatus
`to the private channel; and synchronizing playing the song
`in the apparatuses.
`The present invention relates to an apparatus for coordi-
`nated and synchronized music playback in local spatial
`proximity through wireless ad hoc networks. With the appa(cid:173)
`ratus of the present invention, peer listeners can share music
`listening without playing the music out loudly.
`The present invention allows listeners in the transmission
`range to discover one another through profile matching,
`thereby locating the music public based on matched profiles.
`The present invention therefore has potential applications in
`sociality, merchandising, or marketing.
`The invention and the attendant advantages thereof will
`be better understood by reference to the following detailed
`45 description when considered in connection with the accom(cid:173)
`panying figures.
`It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
`description and the following detailed description are
`exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation
`50 of the invention as claimed.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In view of the foregoing, it is an objective of the present
`invention to provide a method and an apparatus that use
`wireless ad-hoc networks to coordinate and synchronize
`song playback between two or more users who wish to share
`mutual music listening.
`The present invention details a novel application of wire(cid:173)
`less networking and digital music technologies to achieve
`coordinated and synchronized music playback among peer
`listeners connected by wireless ad-hoc networks. Two or
`more listeners in local proximity allowed by short-range 55
`wireless transmission can participate and listen to the same
`song at the same time. Moreover, the present invention
`allows listeners in the transmission range to discover each
`other through profile matching. A high matching score may
`indicate similar preference or taste to a certain music style 60
`thereby easily locating mutual interests, which would not
`have been possible.
`As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention
`provides a method and an apparatus for coordinated and
`synchronized music playback in local spatial proximity with 65
`wireless ad hoc networks. The playback/listening system
`includes at least two or more playback/listening apparatus
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The accompanying drawings are included to provide a
`further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated
`in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings
`illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with
`the description, serve to explain the principles of the inven(cid:173)
`tion. In the drawings,
`FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the four key components of
`an apparatus in a system according to one preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ment of this invention;
`FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the processing steps
`when the system is in the listening mode according to one
`preferred embodiment of this invention;
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the processing steps
`when the system is in the advertising mode according to one
`preferred embodiment of this invention.
`
`BHM 0022656
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`SONOS 1009 - Page 6
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`US 6,757,517 B2
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`3
`FIG. 4 is a functional diagram illustrating various com(cid:173)
`binations of matching and playback functions that the lis(cid:173)
`tening apparatus may choose to implement according to one
`preferred embodiment of this invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention provides a method for providing
`coordinated and synchronized music playback at the same
`time for two or more listeners in local proximity and a music 10
`playback/listening system for applying the aforementioned
`method.
`The aforementioned playback/listening system includes at
`least two or more playback/listening apparatus used respec(cid:173)
`tively by at least two or more users. The playback/listening
`apparatus can be simplified to have no profile matching
`capability or be further enhanced and enriched with profile
`matching capability. FIG. 1 illustrates four key components
`of the apparatus for the playback/listening system, compris(cid:173)
`ing a wireless transceiver (100), a random access controller
`(102), a profile storage and matching unit (104), and a music
`playback unit (106). The wireless transceiver (100) can be
`implemented by any short-range radio technology, such as
`but not limited to Bluetooth, 802.11, or DECT. The trans(cid:173)
`ceiver constantly listens to a pre-programmed public chan(cid:173)
`nel for new, remote parties. It can also connect to a remote
`party through an assigned private channel. The random
`access controller (102) instructs which channel the wireless
`transceiver should be sending or receiving messages. It also
`determines the frequency of advertising the presence of the
`apparatus to other remote parties. The profile storage and
`matching unit (104) stores the musical preference of the user
`as a local profile and performs matching between the local
`profile and a received profile from a remote party. For
`example, a profile can be as simple as a list of songs stored
`in the playback unit or even a whole record including music
`playing history. High matching scores thus generally indi(cid:173)
`cate similarity in music preference and taste between users.
`A nine-out-of-ten match between two song lists is consid(cid:173)
`ered strong matching. No intersection indicates low or no
`matching. The user can set up a criterion to decide whether
`the degree of matching is appropriate. Other possible match(cid:173)
`ing criteria include music style, release dates, singer,
`conductor, and song writers etc. The profile matching func(cid:173)
`tion can also be implemented by displaying the profile of the
`remote party on screen. Human user then reviews and
`decides to accept or reject through conventional selecting
`means, for example, pressing a button or a switch. The music
`playback unit (106) can be a digital device that stores and 50
`plays songs. The unit may be implemented based on but not
`limited to MP3, MIDI and other digital audio technologies.
`The enhanced playback/listening apparatus can operate in
`at least two or more modes for profile matching. One mode
`is named "listening mode" while another is named "adver(cid:173)
`tising mode". These two modes constitute two basic and
`necessary functionality.
`FIG. 2 illustrates the processing steps when the apparatus
`operates in the listening mode. In this mode, the wireless
`transceiver scans the public channel for newly joined remote
`parties, which send out announcements containing their
`signatures (200). Messages and announcements are digital
`data packets like Internet Protocol (IP) packets. Each appa(cid:173)
`ratus has a factory assigned unique signature. The announce(cid:173)
`ment message from a remote party is relayed to the random 65
`access controller, which examines the signature of the
`remote party (202). The random access controller keeps a
`
`4
`list of signatures from recently contacted but failed parties.
`Failed parties need not be contacted again. If the new
`signature is not in the list, the random access controller then
`instructs the wireless transceiver to scan for private channels
`5 not in use. The random access controller then selects one
`available private channel, and responds to the remote party
`with a new message containing the number of this channel
`(206). Future correspondence between the two parties will
`use the established private channel.
`Upon receiving the response to its announcement
`message, the remote party sends its profile through the
`private channel (208). The profile matching unit at the local
`apparatus (used by the local party) then performs matching
`evaluation. If it is a good match, the local apparatus sends its
`15 own profile to the remote party for verification and confir(cid:173)
`mation (210). The remote party performs its matching and if
`it agrees to proceed, sends out confirmation and selects a
`song that appears in both profiles to play. Both parties then
`synchronize and play the selected song at the same time
`20 (212). The aforementioned step can be referred as "local
`playback". However, if the selected song is present in only
`one party (i.e. either the local or the remote party), the
`selected song needs to be transmitted to another party in
`order to be played at the same time, thus referring as
`25 "radio-in playback" hereafter. It depends on the available
`bandwidth of the wireless, ad-hoc network to decide
`whether local playback or radio-in playback can be applied.
`In the listening mode, the system passively waits for new
`announcements. The above flow diagram applies equally to
`30 two party-linking as well as multi -party linking.
`For a more complicated scenario of the method with
`profile matching, a wireless ad-hoc network between at least
`a first listening apparatus in advertising mode and a second
`listening apparatus in listening mode is first established.
`35 After the first apparatus sends a signature to a public
`channel, the second apparatus scans the public channel and
`detect the signature of the first apparatus. The second
`apparatus then responds to the first apparatus by sending a
`message to direct the first apparatus to a private channel. The
`40 first apparatus sends its profile to the private channel.
`Afterwards, the second apparatus performs matching evalu(cid:173)
`ation between its own profile and the profile of the first
`apparatus in the second apparatus based on a specific
`criterion. If the criterion is met, the second apparatus sends
`45 its profile to the first apparatus. After the first apparatus
`performing matching evaluation between both profiles in the
`first apparatus, both apparatuses synchronize playing the
`song. The selected song can be played either in local
`playback or radio-in playback.
`Multiple parties can be joined together one at a time by
`responding to the announcement, which is described next.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the processing steps when the system
`operates in the advertising mode. In this mode, the local
`system actively seeks for profile-matched remote parties. It
`55 first sends out announcement with its own signature (300).
`The wireless transceiver then listens to the public channel
`for responses and relays the responses, one at a time, to the
`random access controller (302). For each response, the
`controller retrieves the local profile and forwards it to the
`60 remote party for profile matching (304). If the remote party
`responds with positive confirmation, the profile of the
`remote party is matched locally (308). A good match will
`then leads to the selection of a matched song for playback
`(310).
`When two or more devices (referred as the playback
`group) are participating in synchronized playback, a new
`apparatus (using by a new party) may join by responding to
`
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`20
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`35
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`5
`the announcement message from the advertising apparatus.
`The interactions between the new apparatus and the adver(cid:173)
`tising apparatus follow the same procedure illustrated in
`FIG. 3. There is one more step after (310). In this step, the
`advertising apparatus, which is participating in the playback, 5
`sends out a channel reset message to the newly joined
`device. The channel reset message contains the channel
`number shared by the playback group. The newly joined
`device then switches and listens to the shared channel
`number in order to synchronize its playback with the play- 10
`back group. At this point, the newly joined device is part of
`the playback group. A playback group may be formed by
`inviting new devices one at a time following the above
`procedure.
`It is noted that multi-party synchronized playback 15
`assumes that at least one song is available on all apparatuses
`or one device will actively transmit songs over the wireless
`channel. Enforcing the criterion can be easily imposed by
`the advertising device, which exchanges and stores profile
`information with others.
`Music playback can continue when the system operates in
`either mode, listening or advertising. It is up to the owner to
`decide what to do when a new match is found. The owner
`may elect to continue the current playback, or to start with
`a new song.
`It is noted that the method of this invention for interac(cid:173)
`tively playing music between multiple users can be summa(cid:173)
`rized as combinations according to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a
`functional diagram illustrating various combinations of
`matching and playback functions a listening apparatus may
`choose to implement. The simplest case of this invention is
`the combination of Al-Bl-Cl, as a playback/listening sys(cid:173)
`tem having two interactive listening apparatuses without
`profile matching and in local playback. This simple scenario
`is within the scope of the present invention.
`It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
`modifications and variations can be made to the structure of
`the present invention without departing from the scope or
`spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended
`that the present invention cover modifications and variations 40
`of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the
`following claims and their equivalents.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method for interactively playing music between
`multiple users, including at least a first user and a second 45
`user, comprising the steps of:
`establishing a wireless ad-hoc network between at least a
`first listening apparatus used by the first user and a
`second listening apparatus used by the second user;
`sending a first message from the first apparatus to a public 50
`channel;
`scanning the public channel and receiving the first mes(cid:173)
`sage to the second apparatus;
`responding to the first apparatus by sending a second 55
`message from the second apparatus to direct the first
`apparatus to a private channel;
`sending a first profile from the first apparatus to the
`private channel;
`performing matching evaluation between the first profile 60
`and a second profile of the second apparatus in the
`second apparatus based on a specific criterion, wherein
`only if the criterion is met, the second profile will be
`sent out;
`sending the second profile to the first apparatus;
`performing matching evaluation between the second pro(cid:173)
`file and the first profile in the first apparatus;
`
`6
`selecting a song from the first and the second profiles by
`the first apparatus; and
`synchronizing playing the song in the first and the second
`apparatuses.
`2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein after the
`step of synchronizing playing the song, the method can
`further include the following steps:
`scanning the public channel and receiving the first mes(cid:173)
`sage to a third apparatus used by a third user over the
`wireless ad-hoc network;
`responding to the third apparatus by sending a third
`message from the first apparatus to direct the third
`apparatus to the private channel; and
`synchronizing playing the song in the first, the second and
`the third apparatuses.
`3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of
`establishing the wireless ad-hoc network comprises per(cid:173)
`forming short-range radio technologies.
`4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of
`sending the first message from the first apparatus comprises
`sending a first signature of the first apparatus as identifica(cid:173)
`tion.
`5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of
`25 responding to the first apparatus by sending a second mes(cid:173)
`sage from the second apparatus comprises sending a second
`signature of the second apparatus as identification.
`6. A method for interactively playing music between
`multiple users, including at least a first user and a second
`30 user, comprising the steps of:
`establishing a wireless ad-hoc network between at least a
`first listening apparatus used by the first user and a
`second listening apparatus used by the second user;
`sending a first message from the first apparatus to a public
`channel;
`scanning the public channel and receiving the first mes(cid:173)
`sage to the second apparatus;
`responding to the first apparatus by sending a second
`message from the second apparatus to direct the first
`apparatus to a private channel;
`selecting a song; and
`synchronizing playing the song in the apparatuses.
`7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein after the
`step of responding to the first apparatus by sending a second
`message from the second apparatus, the method can further
`include the following steps:
`sending a first profile from the first apparatus to the
`private channel;
`performing matching evaluation between the first profile
`and a second profile of the second apparatus in the
`second apparatus based on a specific criterion, wherein
`only if the criterion is met, the second profile will be
`sent out;
`sending the second profile to the first apparatus;
`performing matching evaluation between the second pro(cid:173)
`file and the first profile in the first apparatus.
`8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein after the
`step of synchronizing playing the song, the method can
`further include the following steps:
`scanning the public channel and receiving the first mes(cid:173)
`sage to a third apparatus used by a third user over the
`wireless ad-hoc network;
`responding to the third apparatus by sending a third
`message from the first apparatus to direct the third
`apparatus to the private channel; and
`
`65
`
`BHM 0022658
`
`SONOS 1009 - Page 8
`
`
`
`US 6,757,517 B2
`
`15
`
`7
`synchronizing playing the song in the first, the second and
`the third apparatuses.
`9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein after the
`step of responding to the first apparatus by sending a second
`message from the second apparatus, the method can further 5
`include the following steps:
`sending a first profile from the first apparatus to the
`private channel;
`performing matching evaluation between the first profile
`and a second profile of the second apparatus in the 10
`second apparatus based on a specific criterion, wherein
`only if the criterion is met, the second profile will be
`sent out;
`sending the second profile to the first apparatus;
`performing matching evaluation between the second pro(cid:173)
`file and the first profile in the first apparatus;
`after synchronizing playing the song, scanning the public
`channel and receiving the first message to a third
`apparatus used by a third user over the wireless ad-hoc 20
`network;
`responding to the third apparatus by sending a third
`message from the first apparatus to direct the third
`apparatus to the private channel; and
`synchronizing playing the song in the first, the second and 25
`the third apparatuses.
`10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of
`establishing the wireless ad-hoc network comprises per(cid:173)
`forming short-range radio technologies.
`11. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of 30
`sending the first message from the first apparatus comprises
`sending a first signature of the first apparatus as identifica(cid:173)
`tion.
`12. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of
`responding to the first apparatus by sending a second mes(cid:173)
`sage from the second apparatus comprises sending a second
`signature of the second apparatus as identification.
`13. A method for interactively playing music between
`multiple users, including at least a first user and a second
`user, comprising the steps of:
`establishing a wireless ad-hoc network between at least a
`first listening apparatus used by the first user and a
`second listening apparatus used by the second user;
`exchanging a sequence of messages between the first 45
`apparatus and the second apparatus;
`selecting a song; and
`synchronizing playing the song in the apparatuses.
`14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step
`of exchanging a sequence of messages between the first
`apparatus and the second apparatus further comprises:
`sending a first message from the first apparatus to a public
`channel;
`scanning the public channel and receiving the first mes(cid:173)
`sage to the second apparatus; and
`responding to the first apparatus by sending a second
`message from the second apparatus to direct the first
`apparatus to a private channel.
`15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein after the 60
`step of responding to the first apparatus by sending a second
`message from the second apparatus, the method can further
`include the following steps:
`sending a first profile from the first apparatus to the
`private channel;
`performing matching evaluation between the first profile
`and a second profile of the second apparatus in the
`
`8
`second apparatus based on a specific criterion, wherein
`only if the criterion is met, the second profile will be
`sent out;
`sending the second profile to the first apparatus;
`performing matching evaluation between the second pro(cid:173)
`file and the first profile in the first apparatus.
`16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein after the
`step of responding to the first apparatus by sending a second
`message from the second apparatus, the method can further
`include the following steps:
`sending a first profile from the first apparatus to the
`private channel;
`performing matching evaluation between the first profile
`and a second profile of the second apparatus in the
`second apparatus based on a specific criterion, wherein
`only if the criterion is met, the second profile will be
`sent out;
`sending the second profile to the first apparatus;
`performing matching evaluation between the second pro(cid:173)
`file and the first profile in the first apparatus;
`after synchronizing playing the song, scanning the public
`channel and receiving the first message to a third
`apparatus used by a third user over the wireless ad-hoc
`network;
`responding to the third apparatus by sending a third
`message from the first apparatus to direct the third
`apparatus to the private channel; and
`synchronizing playing the song in the first, the second and
`the third apparatuses.
`17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step
`of sending the first message from the first apparatus com(cid:173)
`prises sending a first signature of the first apparatus as
`identification.
`18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step
`35 of responding to the first apparatus hy sending a second
`message from the second apparatus comprises sending a
`second signature of the second apparatus as identification.
`19. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein after the
`step of synchronizing playing the song, the method can
`40 further include the following steps:
`scanning the public channel and receiving the first mes(cid:173)
`sage to a third apparatus used by a third user over the
`wireless ad-hoc network;
`responding to the third apparatus by sending a third
`message from the first apparatus to direct the third
`apparatus to the private channel; and
`synchronizing playing the song in the first, the second and
`the third apparatuses.
`20. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step
`of establishing the wireless ad-hoc network comprises per(cid:173)
`forming short-range radio technologies.
`21. An interactive multi -party linking music listening
`system comprising at least two listening apparatuses com-
`55 municating over a wireless ad-hoc network, wherein one of
`th
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