111111
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`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007143939B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Henzerling
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,143,939 B2
`Dec. 5, 2006
`
`(54) WIRELESS MUSIC DEVICE AND METHOD
`THEREFOR
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: David P. Henzerling, Phoenix, AZ
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA
`(US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/741,208
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 19, 2000
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/0074413 Al
`
`Jun. 20, 2002
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06K 7100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................. 235/435; 707/3; 707/10
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................... 707/3,
`707/10; 235/435, 375, 492; 365/52
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,633,888 A *
`5,877,975 A *
`6,167,251 A *
`6,230,319 B1 *
`6,253,122 B1 *
`6,256,303 B1 *
`6,323,893 B1 *
`6,362,730 B1 *
`
`5/1997 Stewart ...................... 375/132
`3/1999 Jigour eta!. .................. 365/52
`12/2000 Segal eta!. ................. 455/406
`5/2001 Britt, Jr. eta!. .............. 717/11
`6/2001 Razavi et al ................... 70111
`7/2001 Drakoulis eta!. .......... 370/344
`11/2001 Tosaya .................... 348/14.08
`3/2002 Razavi et al ................ 340/438
`
`6,366,907 B1 *
`6,370,449 B1 *
`6,496,704 B1 *
`6,636,854 B1 *
`
`4/2002 Fanning et a!. .. ... ... .. ... ... 707/3
`4/2002 Razavi et a!. ............... 340/438
`12/2002 Yuan .......................... 455/466
`10/2003 Dutta eta!. ................... 707/10
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`"Using a Windows 95 peer-to-peer network" by AI Fasoldt, 1997
`(http:/ I aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/tec022397 .html). *
`"How to set up a Windows 95 & Windows 98 Peer to Peer
`Network-a step by step guide" published by Sait Roch Tree
`Technologies (http:/ /www.saintrochtree.com/zones/itl guides/ Jan. 1,
`2001-a/).*
`"Building a Windows 95 Peer to Peer network" published by
`Brother
`(http:/ /www.brother.com/european/networking/chapter3/
`chapter3_networking-peer-to-peer.html). *
`Results for "http:/ /www.brother.com/european/networking/chap(cid:173)
`ter3/chapter3_networking-peer-to-peer.html" dated using
`the
`Internet archive website http:/ /www.archive.org. *
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Ahshik Kim
`Assistant Examiner-Daniel A. Hess
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schwabe, Williamson &
`Wyatt, P.C.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the inven(cid:173)
`tion, a music player may receive a requested music file
`through a wireless communication. For example, the device
`may establish a peer-to-peer wireless communication path(s)
`with another device to initiate a request for a music file
`without a priori knowledge of whether the file is available to
`the another device. The device may then receive the music
`file from the remote device through a peer-to-peer wireless
`communication path(s).
`
`21 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
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`DEF0007853
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 5, 2006
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`Sheet 1 of 2
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`US 7,143,939 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 5, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 2
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`US 7,143,939 B2
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`US 7,143,939 B2
`
`1
`WIRELESS MUSIC DEVICE AND METHOD
`THEREFOR
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`In order to provide consumers with greater flexibility in
`the music that they listen to, for example, while in an
`automobile, devices have been developed that allow a user
`to store music files into memory that may be played back as
`the user desires. The typical device may include hard disk
`drives that may be removed to be programmed. The hard
`disk may be connected to a personal computer (PC) or a
`music system so that the music may be transferred from a
`compact disc to the hard disk drives. The hard disk drives
`may also be programmed with music files (e.g., MP3 files)
`that are downloaded from the internet.
`However, there are several drawbacks to music players
`that rely on hard disk drives to store music. To begin, the
`hard disk drives are expensive and may not be well suited for
`all applications. For example, if the music player is used in
`an automobile environmental conditions such as tempera(cid:173)
`ture and vibrations may affect the reliability and perfor(cid:173)
`mance of the disk drives. Also, the disk drives must be
`removed from the player (e.g., from the automobile) and
`hard wired to a personal computer if the music files are to be
`updated.
`Another alternative music system, allow a user to sub(cid:173)
`scribe to a music service that may provide music to a user
`through a satellite network. However, such systems do not
`allow the user to select the music to be played as the service, 30
`not the user, determines what music is to be played. Thus,
`there is a continuing need to provide music to a user.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The subject matter regarded as the invention is particu(cid:173)
`larly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding
`portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as
`to organization and method of operation, together with
`objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be under(cid:173)
`stood by reference to the following detailed description
`when read with the accompanying drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of a wireless
`network adapted to provide requested music files in accor-
`dance with embodiments of the present invention; and
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of a peer-to-peer
`network in accordance with an alternative embodiment of
`the present invention.
`It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
`illustration, elements illustrated in the figures have not
`necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimen(cid:173)
`sions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to
`other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appro(cid:173)
`priate, reference numerals have been repeated among the
`figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`2
`Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the
`following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the
`specification discussions utilizing terms such as "process(cid:173)
`ing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," or the like,
`refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or com(cid:173)
`puting system, or similar electronic computing device, that
`manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical,
`such as electronic, quantities within the computing system's
`registers and/or memories into other data similarly repre-
`10 sented as physical quantities within the computing system's
`memories, registers or other such information storage, trans(cid:173)
`mission or display devices.
`Embodiments of the present invention may include appa(cid:173)
`ratuses for performing the operations herein. This apparatus
`15 may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it
`may comprise a general purpose computing device selec(cid:173)
`tively activated or reconfigured by a program stored in the
`device. Such a program may be stored on a storage medium,
`such as, but is not limited to, any type of disk including
`20 floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical
`disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memo(cid:173)
`ries (RAMs), electrically programmable read-only memo(cid:173)
`ries (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable
`read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards,
`25 or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic
`instructions, and capable of being coupled to a system bus
`for a computing device.
`The processes and displays presented herein are not
`inherently related to any particular computing device or
`other apparatus. Various general purpose systems may be
`used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein,
`or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized
`apparatus to perform the desired method. The desired struc(cid:173)
`ture for a variety of these systems will appear from the
`35 description below. In addition, embodiments of the present
`invention are not described with reference to any particular
`programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety
`of programming languages may be used to implement the
`teachings of the invention as described herein.
`In the following description and claims, the terms
`"coupled" and "connected," along with their derivatives,
`may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not
`intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular
`embodiments, "connected" may be used to indicate that two
`or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact
`with each other. "Coupled" may mean that two or more
`elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. How(cid:173)
`ever, "coupled" may also mean that two or more elements
`are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still
`co-operate or interact with each other.
`Turning to FIG. 1, an embodiment 100 in accordance with
`the present invention is described. Embodiment 100 may
`comprise a music player 50 that may be portable (e.g. part
`55 of a cell phone, a two-way radio communication system, a
`one-way pager, a two-way pager, a personal communication
`system (PCS), a portable computer, or the like) or may be
`mounted in a mobile device such as an automobile. Although
`it should be understood that the scope and application of the
`60 present invention is in no way limited to these examples as
`the scope of the present invention is intended to include
`device that are not considered portable as well.
`Music player 50 may comprise a transceiver 51 that may
`be used to request and/or receive music files requested by a
`user. Although the scope of the present invention is not
`limited in this respect, transceiver 51 may include a trans-
`mitter and a receiver that may be used to wirelessly com-
`
`In the following detailed description, numerous specific
`details are set forth in order to provide a thorough under(cid:173)
`standing of the invention. However, it will be understood by
`those skilled in the art that the present invention may be
`practiced without these specific details. In other instances,
`well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits 65
`have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the
`present invention.
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`US 7,143,939 B2
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`3
`municate with a network. Alternatively, music player may
`only have a wireless transmitter or a wireless receiver.
`Music player 50 may use a variety of communication
`techniques to request or receive music files. Although the
`scope of the present invention is not limited in this respect,
`types of cellular radiotelephone communication systems
`intended to be within the scope of the present invention
`include, although not limited to, Code Division Multiple
`Access (CDMA) cellular radiotelephone communication
`systems, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
`cellular radiotelephone systems, North American Digital
`Cellular (NADC) cellular radiotelephone systems, Time
`Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Extended(cid:173)
`TDMA (E-TDMA) cellular radiotelephone systems, Blue(cid:173)
`tooth™ , third generation (3G) systems like Wide-band
`CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA-2000, and the like.
`If a user would like to hear some music that is not already
`stored within music player 50 (e.g., within memory 52),
`transceiver 51 may use a wireless communication protocol
`to request a music file stored on either a personal computer 20
`60, the internet 71, or another server 80. However, it should
`be understood that the scope of the present invention is not
`limited to the source of the requested music file. In alterna(cid:173)
`tive embodiments, the music file may come from a stereo
`system or from another music player that is part of a 25
`peer-to-peer system.
`As shown in FIG. 1, personal computer 60 may comprise
`a transceiver 67 that may be used to provide the requested
`music file to music player 50. Although the scope of the
`present invention is not limited in this respect, personal 30
`computer 60 may be a general processing computer used to
`execute user applications. Accordingly, personal computer
`60 may have the requested music file on its storage device
`(e.g. a hard drive, compact disk, etc.). However, personal
`computer 60 may also be a terminal or portal device that is 35
`connected to a network or the internet 71. In such an
`embodiment, personal computer 60 may access and retrieve
`the music file requested by music player 50.
`In yet another embodiment, a user may store selected
`music files on a database within the internet 71 or within a 40
`database on a server 80. This may be advantageous if music
`player 50 may have greater or faster accessibility to server
`80 rather than personal computer 60. Storing music files on
`server 80 may also be desirable if the music files are to be
`shared with other users or is the user is requesting the music 45
`file from a service that sells the music, although the scope of
`the present invention is not limited in this respect.
`A method in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention is now provided. A user of music player 50
`may request a music file that is not currently stored within
`memory 52. In this particular example, the user may make
`the request from an automobile. This request may be made
`directly to personal computer 60 or server 80, or to a service
`provider through a base station 85. Personal computer 60
`may then provide the requested music file through a wireless 55
`communication, such as WCDMA (indicated in FIG. 1 with
`an arrow 61). Music player 50 may receive the requested
`music file through the wireless communication and store the
`music file in memory 52. Although the scope of the present
`invention is not limited in this respect, memory 52 may
`comprise volatile memory, such as static random access
`memory (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), etc., or non(cid:173)
`volatile memory such as flash, EEPROM, etc. Once stored
`in memory 52, the user may play the music file at his leisure.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of the 65
`present invention. Instead of requesting music files from a
`computer, a server, or the internet, music player 50 may
`
`4
`receive a requested music file from other music players in a
`peer-to-peer network. For example, music players 50, and
`251-252 may be in different automobiles that are in com(cid:173)
`munication with other in a peer-to-peer network. Accord(cid:173)
`ingly, music player 50 may transmit a request for a music file
`to music player 251 (indicated in FIG. 2 with an arrow 90).
`If music player 251 does not have the requested song or file,
`it may transmit a request to music player 252 (arrow 91). If
`music player 252 has the requested song, it may then
`10 transmitted the requested music file to music player 50
`(arrow 92). It should be understood that the scope of the
`present invention is not limited by the number of music
`players that are in the peer-to-peer network, and not all of
`them need me mobile (e.g., within an automobile). In
`15 addition, the peer-to-peer network may also comprise all or
`some of the components shown in FIG. 1. For example, the
`peer-to-peer network may also include person computers,
`servers, base stations, or portals to the internet.
`While certain features of the invention have been illus(cid:173)
`trated and described herein, many modifications, substitu(cid:173)
`tions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those
`skilled in the art. For example, a user may request and
`receive more than one music file (e.g., all the songs on an
`album). It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended
`claims are intended to cover all such modifications and
`changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
`The invention claimed is:
`1. A method of loading a music player with a music file,
`comprising:
`establishing, with a transceiver associated with a first
`automobile on which the media player is disposed, a
`first wireless, peer-to-peer communication path with a
`first remote device to request a music file be provided
`to the music player, the request to provide being made
`without a priori knowledge of whether the music file
`resides on the first remote device; and
`receiving, with the transceiver associated with the first
`automobile, the requested music file from a second
`remote device, through a second peer-to-peer wireless
`communication path to the second remote device, the
`second remote device having the requested music file,
`and the second remote device being informed of the
`request by the first remote device, as a result of the first
`remote device not having the requested music file.
`2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the
`received music file into a non-volatile memory disposed at
`the first automobile.
`3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing of the
`received music file includes storing the requested music file
`50 in a flash memory array disposed at the first automobile.
`4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first remote device
`is disposed at a second automobile.
`5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second remote
`device is disposed at a third automobile.
`6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving com(cid:173)
`prises receiving at least a portion of the requested music file
`through a Bluetooth™ communication.
`7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving com(cid:173)
`prises receiving at least a portion of the requested music file
`60 through a cellular communication.
`8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless
`peer-to-peer communication paths are established on an
`ad-hoc basis between the transceiver and the remote devices.
`9. An apparatus comprising:
`a transceiver, or a transmitter and a receiver;
`a controller coupled to the transceiver or the transmitter
`and receiver to control the transceiver or transmitter to
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`US 7,143,939 B2
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`5
`establish a first peer-to-peer wireless communication
`path with a first remote device to transmit a request to
`the first remote device to provide for the apparatus a
`music file, the request to provide to be made to the first
`remote device without a priori knowledge of whether
`the music file is available from the first remote device,
`and to control the transceiver or receiver to establish a
`second peer-to-peer wireless communication path with
`a second remote device to receive from the second
`remote device the requested music file, the second 10
`remote device being informed of the request by the first
`remote device as a result of the first remote device not
`having the requested music file, whereas the second
`remote device has the requested music file; and
`a storage medium, coupled with the receiver or trans- 15
`ceiver, to store the requested music file received via the
`second peer-to-peer wireless communication path;
`wherein the transceiver or the transmitter and receiver, the
`controller, and the storage medium are adapted for
`disposition in a first automobile.
`10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein one or more of the
`transmitter, receiver or transceiver are adapted to operate in
`Bluetooth™ communication.
`11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the storage medium
`comprises flash memory.
`12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus
`further comprises a media player adapted to plays the
`requested music file.
`13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second
`remote devices are disposed at a second and a third auto- 30
`mobile, respectively.
`14. A method comprising:
`receiving at a device a request, from an automobile
`remotely disposed from the device via a transmitter
`associated with the automobile, to provide a media 35
`player disposed in the automobile a music file the
`request being received through a first wireless peer-to(cid:173)
`peer communication path, and transmitted from the
`automobile without a priori knowledge of whether the
`music file is available from the device; and
`forwarding the request to another device, also remotely
`disposed from the device, as a result of the device not
`having the requested music file, to attempt to have the
`
`40
`
`20
`
`25
`
`6
`other device to provide the requested music file to the
`media player through a second wireless peer-to-peer
`communication path, if the other device has the
`requested music file.
`15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmit(cid:173)
`ting the music file from the device to the media player of the
`automobile if the device has the requested music file.
`16. The method of claim 14, wherein the device is
`disposed in a second automobile.
`17. The method of claim 16, wherein the other device is
`disposed in a third automobile.
`18. The method of claim 14, wherein either the first or the
`second wireless peer-to-peer communication comprises
`Bluetooth™ communication.
`19. A system comprising:
`one or more omnidirectional antenna(s);
`a transceiver, or a transmitter and a receiver coupled to the
`antenna(s);
`a controller coupled to the transceiver or the transmitter
`and receiver, to control the transceiver or receiver to
`establish a first peer-to-peer wireless communication
`path with a remote transceiver disposed at a first
`automobile to receive a request to provide a music file
`to a media player disposed at the first automobile, the
`request being made from the remote transceiver with(cid:173)
`out a priori knowledge of whether the music file is
`available from the system, and to control the trans(cid:173)
`ceiver or transmitter to forward the request to another
`system to attempt to have the other system to provide
`the requested music file to the media player of the first
`automobile through a second wireless peer-to-peer
`communication path between the remote transceiver
`and the other system;
`wherein the antenna(s), the transceiver or the transmitter
`and receiver, and the controller are adapted for dispo(cid:173)
`sition in a second automobile.
`20. The system of claim 19, wherein one or more of the
`transceiver, transmitter or receiver are adapted to operate in
`Bluetooth™ communication.
`21. The system of claim 19, wherein the other system is
`disposed in a third automobile.
`
`* * * * *
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`: 7,143,939 B2
`PATENT NO.
`APPLICATION NO. : 09/741208
`DATED
`: December 5, 2006
`INVENTOR(S)
`:David P. Henzer1ing
`
`Page 1 of 1
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is
`hereby corrected as shown below:
`
`Figure 1
`Reference number "86" should be deleted.
`
`Column 4
`Line 33, " ... a music file ... " should read --... the music file ... --.
`
`Column 5
`Line 27, " ... to plays ... " should read --... to play ... --.
`Lines 36-37, " ... music file the request..." should read --... music file, the request...--.
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`Fourteenth Day of April, 2009
`
`JOHN DOLL
`Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
`
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