Patent ID: 6502194
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: G06Q,G11B,H04L

Abstract:
A playback apparatus for receiving digital audio material from a network server and providing it to a home audio system for playback, the apparatus comprising:a user interface that receives commands from a user for selection of an audio composition from a network server, for initiating receipt of the digital audio material comprising portions of the selected audio composition, and for controlling playback of the received digital audio material, wherein the user interface includes a display that shows status of the playback; a memory that contains operating system instructions and that temporarily stores the digital audio material comprising portions of the selected audio composition, such that digital audio material comprising the complete selected audio composition is not available to the user from the memory; and a processor that executes the operating system instructions stored in the memory to perform apparatus functions in response to the user commands and to initiate the playback of received digital audio material.