Patent ID: 6823225
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: H04H

Abstract:
A system for distributing audio programs and information over the internet, said internet comprising a plurality of content servers with unique addresses, said content servers capable of serving audio data directly or indirectly to receiving client computers or appliances, said internet also comprising a plurality of receiving client computers or appliances adapted for connection to the internet, said system comprising:at least one additional server, said additional server having storage means for storing address information for the plurality of content servers, said additional server programmed to permit receiving client computers or appliances to select a content server, said additional server being programmed to negotiate transmission of audio data from the plurality of content servers to receiving client computers requesting such transmission; wherein the receiving client computer or appliance is programmed with software for communicating with the additional server and selecting a content server address from amongst the addresses stored in the additional server and thereafter receiving audio data from the selected content server; wherein the additional server additionally comprises means for identifying geographic data pertaining to the receiving client computer; means for storing geographically correlated audio content, where the geographically correlated audio content is correlated to the geographic data; and means for transmitting the geographically correlated audio data to the receiving client computer in place of a portion of the audio content transmitted by the selected content server.