(54)
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Safi Qureshey, Santa Ana, CA (US);
`Daniel D. Sheppard, Brea, CA (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON 8; BEAR LLP
`620 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE
`SIXTEENTH FIDOR
`NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660 (US)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`09,805,470
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 12, 2001
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(63)
`
`Continuation-in-part of application No. 09,tD96,703,
`filed on Jun. 12, 1998. Non-provisional of provisional
`application No. 60;‘24-6,842, filed on Nov. 8, 21000.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`(53)
`
`Int. Cl.’
`US. Cl.
`
`H05K 111110
`455,844; 455t"186.1; 455.-’188.1
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0002039 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jan. 3, 2002
`Qureshey et al.
`
`U3 2002000203 9A1
`
`NETWORK-ENABLED AUDIO DEVICE
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A network-enabled audio device that provides a display
`device that allows the user to select playlists of music much
`like a jukebox is disclosed. The user can compose playlists
`from disk files, CD’s, Internet streaming audio broadcasts,
`online music sites, and other audio sources. The user can
`also select a desired Web broadcast from a list of available
`Web broadcasts. In addition, the user can play standard
`audio CD’s and MP3 encoded CD’s and have access to local
`AMIFM stations. Further, the software, the user controls,
`and the display in the network-enabled audio device are
`operably configured and connected such that the user can
`listen to playlists that include CD’s and other audio sources
`just as the user would choose a playlist in a jukebox. The
`user accesses a server site via a PC and the Internet. From
`the server site, the user obtains a list of the devices in his or
`her Internet Personal Audio Network (IPAN) and what songs
`are on those devices. The IPAN includes an IPAN server, an
`IPAN client, and [PAN software stored on the network-
`enabled audio device. Thus,
`the networkenabled audio
`device provides people who are or are not comfortable with
`computers a way of taking music from various sources and
`putting it
`into one place for listening pleasure.
`In one
`embodiment, the Personal Computer (PC) is used to com-
`pose the playlists, but the user is able to listen to playlists
`and other audio sources without using the PC.
`
`APPLE 1005
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`Patent Application Publication
`
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`US 2002/0002039 A1
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`Jan. 3, 2002 Sheet 41 of 49
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`42
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`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 3, 2002 Sheet 42 of 49
`
`US 2002/0002039 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 3, 2002 Sheet 43 of 49
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`US 2002/0002039 A1
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`
`US 2002/0002039 A1
`
`Jan. 3, 2002
`
`NETWORK-ENABLED AUDIO DEVICE
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`[0001] This present application is a continuation in part of
`application Ser. No. 09;U96,703, filed Jun. 12, 1998. This
`application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application
`Ser No. 60,046,842, filed Nov. 8, 2000. The disclosures of
`these previous applications are hereby incorporated by ref-
`erence.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002]
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0003] The present invention relates to the field of audio
`file transfers and, more particularly, relates to the field of
`management and distribution of audio files over a computer
`network such as the Internet.
`
`[0004]
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`
`[0005] The Internet is a worldwide array of interconnected
`computers and information servers that allow anyone with a
`computer and access to the Internet to get information about
`virtually any subject 24 hours a day. For the average
`consumer, an Internet Service Provider
`(ISP) provides
`access to the Internet. ISPs such as CompuServe, Prodigy,
`and America On-Line, currently link over ten million users
`to the Internet. Users typically connect to the ISP by using
`standard telephone lines and a telephone modem. Cable
`modems that allow a user to connect to the ISP over cable
`television lines, and satellite connections to the Internet, are
`also available.
`
`[0006] The Internet provides a wealth of information from
`stock reports to headline news. One of the newer services
`provided on the Internet is a streaming audio (e.g., RealAu-
`dio and MPEG audio) service. Streaming audio services are
`often provided in connection with the World Wide Web
`(Web) and thus are often called Web radio broadcasts. With
`streaming audio, a user with a Personal Computer (PC), a
`sound card, and the necessary software can listen to audio
`programs from anywhere in the world. For example, Radio
`Prague provides daily Internet broadcasts from the Czech
`Republic. Listeners in the U.S. can listen to these Web radio
`broadcasts either in real time, or stored for later replay. Thus,
`unlike more traditional radio broadcasts where the listener
`must be within a reception a_rea,Web radio broadcasts can be
`heard anywhere, so long as the listener has a connection to
`the Internet and the necessary computer hardware and
`software.
`
`[0007] Unfortunately, even with the ever-decreasing cost
`of personal computers, the hardware and software needed to
`listen to a Web radio broadcast is beyond the financial means
`of many people. Even for those that can afford a personal
`computer, listening to a Web radio broadcast ties up the
`computer so that the user cannot use it for other purposes.
`Moreover, the use of a personal computer to receive stream-
`ing audio (e.g., Web radio broadcasts) requires a certain
`amount of computer literacy on the part of the user. The user
`must be able to install the Web Radio software, configure the
`Web Radio software to communicate with the ISP, and find
`the various Web radio broadcasm provided on the Web.
`
`In addition to listening to Web radio broadcasts,
`[0008]
`users may wish to listen to audio files. With a group of PC’s
`
`in a home and in a network, users can download songs from
`one PC to another or upload songs from one PC to another.
`However, users cannot play a song on one PC by using the
`controls of another PC. In addition, the users must purchase
`multiple PC’s, which can be costly. Further, the user must be
`able to install the network connection and the appropriate
`software. Moreover, even if the user can afiord to purchase
`multiple PC’s and imstall the proper connection, the user
`would have difficulty playing music in addition to perform-
`ing other tasks on the PC. For example,
`the Web radio
`broadcast may be interrupted. Also, a skip over parts of a
`song may result if the user is using a word processing
`program at the same time as listening to music.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0009] The present invention solves these and other prob-
`lems by providing a network-enabled audio device for
`listening to a variety of audio sources with substantially
`equal convenience. The network-enabled audio device has a
`visual display for providing audio source choices to a user.
`The visual display also provides functions for managing
`audio sources. User control buttons allow a user to choose
`an audio source to listen to. The menu buttons allow the user
`to choose functions for managing the audio sources. In one
`embodiment, there is also tuner circuitry for receiving radio
`frequency signals from radio broadcast stations.
`In one
`embodiment, a CD player allows the user to listen to CD’s.
`In one embodiment, the network-enabled audio device also
`has one or more audio amplifiers and one or more loud-
`speakers operably connected to said audio amplifiers. In one
`embodiment, a modem is used for transmitting and receiving
`digital data over a communications network. One embodi-
`ment includes a data storage device.
`
`[0010] A first software module is stored on the data
`storage device, and the software module is configured to
`decode compressed audio files into a playable (e.g. uncom-
`pressed) format. A second software module is also stored on
`the data storage device. The second software module is
`configured to use the modem to connect to an Internet
`service provider to receive assignments of playlists from a
`third software module. The playlists include references to
`audio from a variety of audio sources. The assignments
`provide infonznation about the location of other web sites
`containing the audio sources. The second software module is
`configured to subsequently connect
`through an Internet
`service provider to web sites to download audio files.
`
`[0011] A third software module is also stored on the data
`storage device. The third software module is configured to
`use the modem to connect to an Internet sewice provider to
`receive digitized audio broadcasts from the lntemet service
`provider. The module is further configured to provide a
`select-broadcast display to allow the user to selectably
`connect a program broadcast to the input of one or more
`audio amplifiers either from a local AM or FM radio station
`or from the world wide Web so that, to the user, reception of
`a broadcast form the World Wide Web is no more compli-
`cated than listening to a local PM or AM radio station.
`
`[0012] One aspect of the present invention is a network-
`enabled audio device that allows a user to store files, to play
`standard audio CD’s. to play MP3 encoded CDs, to record
`songs from CD’s, to receive digitized radio broadcasts over
`the World Wide Web (Web), and to receive assignments of
`
`51
`
`51
`
`

`
`US 2002/0002039 A1
`
`Jan. 3, 2002
`
`from other network-enabled audio
`playlists of songs
`devices. The network-enabled audio device provides the
`hardware and software to perform those functions without
`the need for expensive equipment. Optionally, a Local Area
`Network can be configured in place of, or in addition to, the
`Internet connection to facilitate assignments of playlists and
`other features. Without an Internet connection or other
`network connection, the network-enabled audio device can
`play standard audio CD ’s, can play MP3 encoded CD’s, and
`can record CD’s.
`
`[0013] The network-enabled audio device provides a dis-
`play device, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that
`allows the user to select playlists of music much like a
`jukebox. The user can compose playlists from disk files,
`CD’s, Internet streaming audio broadcasm, online music
`sites, and other audio sources. In one embodiment, the user
`can also compose playlists from links to AMIFM broadcasts.
`The user can also select a desired Web broadcast from a list
`of available Web broadcasts. In addition, the user can play
`standard audio CD’s and MP3 encoded CD’s and have
`access to local AIWFM statiom. Further, the software, the
`user controls, and the display in the network-enabled audio
`device are operably configured and connected such that the
`user can listen to playlists that include CD’s and other audio
`sources just as the user would choose a playlist in ajukebox.
`Thus, the network-enabled audio device provides people
`who are or are not comfortable with computers a way of
`taking music from various sources and putting it into one
`place for listening pleasure. In one embodiment, the Per-
`sonal Computer (PC) is used to compose the playlists, but
`the user is able to listen to playlists and other audio sources
`without using the PC.
`
`In one embodiment, the network-enabled audio
`[0014]
`device is a low-cost tabletop box that connects to an AC
`power line and optionally to a phone line or to a local area
`network connection such as Ethernet. The device includes a
`display device, speakers, a control panel, a computer pro-
`cessor, stored software, a modem, an AM/“FM tuner, and a
`CD player. Optionally,
`the device can include multiple
`computer processors or support computer processors. The
`user accesses the server site via a PC and the Internet. From
`the server site, the user obtains a list of the devices in his or
`her Internet Personal Audio Network (IPAN) and what songs
`are on those devices. The [PAN includes an IPAN server, an
`IPAN client, and IPAN software stored on the network-
`enabled audio device. In one embodiment, the IPAN client
`includes a standard web browser, an IPAN plug-in to the
`standard web browser, and an IPAN active tray software
`module. In one embodiment, any standard web browser may
`be used, but the IPAN client includes the IPAN plug-in and
`the IPAN active tray software module.
`
`[0015] The IPAN client and the IPAN server store the
`name of the song and the associated Uniform Resource
`Locator (URL). The user can list multiple devices as being
`part of his or her IPAN. At a default time, such as for
`example 2 a.m., each device establishes a connection to an
`Internet Service Provider (ISP). The stored software module
`in each device connects to the server site home page, via the
`ISP, and inquires whether any songs or playlists have been
`assigned to the device. The user can bypam the default time
`for accessing the server and access the server by manually
`pressing one of the buttons.
`
`the network-enabled audio
`In one embodiment,
`[0016]
`device has no disk for data storage space. Rather, a local area
`network (LAN) connection to a PC or other network-
`enabled audio device allows the use of disk space on another
`device. In one embodiment,
`the network-enabled audio
`device comprises speakers, an AC power line, and a network
`line. A home PC is connected to the network-enabled audio
`device through the network line. The network connection
`can be a Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HPNA)
`network connection so that
`the connection may done
`through existing phone lines in a home. Optionally,
`the
`network connection can be an Ethernet connection. Multiple
`network-enabled audio devices can be connected to each
`other and ultimately to the PC through the network line.
`
`the network-enabled audio
`In one embodiment,
`[0017]
`device does not have any storage space other than memory.
`This embodiment provides for a low-cost system that can
`play songs from playlists stored on the IPAN Manager or on
`the PC’s storage space without having to store the audio files
`locally.
`
`[0018] Another aspect of the present invention is a net-
`work-enabled component audio device system for listening
`to a variety of audio sources with substantially equal con-
`venience. A visual display provides audio source choices to
`a user. The visual display also provides menu choices for
`managing audio sources to the user. The user control buttons
`allow the user to choose an audio source to listen to. The
`menu buttons allow the user to choose functions for man-
`aging the audio sources. The network-enabled component
`audio device has a CD player for listening to compact discs.
`A modem is used for transmitting and receiving digital data
`over a communications network. In one embodiment, a data
`storage device is provided.
`
`[0019] A first software module is configured to decode
`compressed audio files. The second software module is
`stored on the data storage device. Asecond software module
`is configured to use the modem to connect to an Internet
`service provider to receive assignments of playlists from the
`second software module. The playlists include tittles of
`audio from a variety of audio sources. The assignments
`provide infomtlation about the location of other web sites
`containing the audio sources. The software module is con-
`figured to connect through the ISP to the web sites to
`download the audio files.
`
`the network-enabled audio
`In one embodiment,
`[0020]
`device is a component hardware device for an audio system.
`The network-enabled audio device provides an audio output
`to the audio system. The audio system provides amplifiers
`and loudspeakers. The network-enabled audio device
`includes an enclosure that connects to an AC power line, a
`network line, and the audio system. The network line is a
`computer data connection, such as, for example, a telephone
`line, a cable line, an Ethernet line, a Token-Ring line, a
`twisted pair line, an infrared link, a radio frequency link, an
`IEEE-1394 Firewire line, etc. The network-enabled audio
`device includes a display device, a control panel, at least one
`computer processor,
`a stored software module, and a
`modern.
`In one embodiment,
`the network-enabled audio
`device connects to the IPAN server site.
`
`[0021] Another aspect of the present invention is a method
`for assigning playlists of music from one electronic device
`to another. First, a network connection is used for transmit-
`
`52
`
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`

`
`US 2002/0002039 A1
`
`Jan. 3, 2002
`
`ting and receiving digital data over a communication net-
`work to an Internet service provider. Next,
`the process
`provides a first software module to manage playlists of
`songs. The software module allows a user to compose
`playlists from a variety of audio sources. The software
`module allows a user to assign a playlist from a first device
`to a second device. Next, the process checks the second
`device's data storage space for songs listed on the assigned
`playlist. Next, the process aocemes a server site to obtain
`locations of the web sites the first device downloaded its
`
`audio files from. The process then provides a second soft-
`ware module to connect to various web sites to download
`remaining songs needed for the playlist. The second soft-
`ware module connects if songs needed to form the playlist
`are not stored on the second device’s data storage space.
`Finally, the process uploads files to the server from the first
`device and downloads files the second device if the second
`software module is unable to download a file from said web
`site.
`
`[0022] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0023] The various novel features of the invention are
`illustrated in the figures listed below and described in the
`detailed description that follows.
`
`[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of
`a tabletop intelligent radio apparatus.
`
`[0025] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the functional ele-
`ments of the intelligent radio apparatus.
`
`[0026] FIG. 3A shows a default display that appears while
`a Web broadcast is being received.
`
`[0027] FIG. 3B shows a menu display that allows the user
`to select one of the command and setup displays shown in
`FIGS. 3C-BE.
`
`[0028] FIG. 3C illustrates a select language display that
`allows a user to specify desired languages (e.g., English,
`Fren