Abstract:
A system and method are disclosed for wireless sharing of audio sounds among a plurality of users with access to a dedicated, shared signal. A user of the present invention can communicate his or her audio sounds to other users, who can receive the audio sounds wirelessly and choose to rebroadcast them. As such, an audio sound sharing network can be readily established at any time and place among participants in the network.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly to wireless communication of audio among devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many prior art media devices can receive radio broadcasts from such sources such as FM, AM or satellite broadcasts. With respect to headphones, wireless headphones receive music from media devices via a variety of methods, such as infra-red transmission, 25 mhz radio or 2.4 ghz radio transmission technologies such as Bluetooth. 
         [0003]    Media devices can transfer media files such as music and/or video files wirelessly between other similar media devices via similar methods as described above. The transferring of such files is usually from one storage medium to another. 
         [0004]    Despite the advantages of the foregoing, wired headphones and/or earbuds suffer from limitations. Some such systems allow one user to share the music experience by passing one wired headphone or earbud to a third party. This shared experience, however, does not allow the third party to experience the full stereo experience of the music. Headphone adapter jacks exist for two wired headphones to be connected to the same media device but this also requires both users to be tethered close to the same media device. 
         [0005]    Shared music by transfer of media files from one storage medium to other storage medium often infringe upon third party intellectual property rights. 
         [0006]    Prior art wireless headphones do not allow users to share music from the same media device such as an MP3 player. Wireless headphones are also limited to the range of the wireless transmitter and users using wireless headphones cannot be too far from the source. Also, general transmission techniques such as Bluetooth are generally accessible to anyone having the capability to receive that data. 
         [0007]    In view of the foregoing, a system and method are disclosed for wireless sharing of audio sounds among a plurality of users. A user of the present invention can communicate his or her audio sounds to other users, who can receive the audio sounds with the same invention. As such, an audio sound sharing network can be easily established at any time and any place. Potential advantages of the present invention include allowing users to share music wirelessly and in stereo, and further avoiding any potential infringement of third party intellectual property rights through the transfer of audio source files. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A digital audio player is presented which features wireless stereo communication to other devices within the network. The device or system of devices incorporates components to transmit and receive audio sounds wirelessly (including by radio, Bluetooth or infra-red technologies) by: (a) having a transmitter/receiver built in (e.g., a wireless transmitter/receiver built into a portable computing device or a digital media player); (b) having an intermediary device that is used to implement the transmission/reception (e.g., a “dongle” transmitter/reception, or a transmitter/receiving station); (c) having the intermediary device that is used to implement the transmission/reception built into the headphones (wired or wireless); or (d) using a similar device or devices to implement the transmission/reception. The audio signal can be selectively rebroadcast to other users. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of a person sharing audio in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic view of a plurality of persons sharing audio from a single source in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate other embodiments of the invention in which a plurality of rebroadcasts occur. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which a plurality of broadcasts occur, and in which differing audio signals may be communicated among the various devices. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    As set forth above, embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for wirelessly sharing an audio experience among a plurality of users. The system contemplates a plurality of devices, any one of which is able to transmit to one or more other device. This allows one or more user of a device to receive the appropriate audio sounds from the transmitting device, thereby creating an audio sound sharing network. Alternatively, the users of any of the receiving devices can also opt to set their device to transmit while aforementioned users of the transmitting devices can also opt to set their devices receive. 
         [0016]    Dedicated and Broadcast Use 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the user of a device  1  can opt to only transmit a dedicated signal from  1  to another device  2 ; in this instance, device  2  will be the only receiving device for  1 .  2  decodes the signal from  1  to provide the user of  2  with the appropriate/desired audio sounds. As used herein, the term “dedicated” is used to refer to a closed network, whereby only users of that network may have ready access to the decoding and/or decrypting technology to access the communicated signals. A “closed network” can refer to a network that employs proprietary technology that is not directly interoperable with other standards-based networks, or that adds an additional layer of encoding onto standards-based networks. A “closed network” also encompasses a private network that can only be used by authenticated or authorized devices; e.g., outsider use may be prohibited and enforced through cryptographic means. A closed network is thus distinct from an open network such as Bluetooth, whereby any device that is Bluetooth-enabled may (in the absence of proprietary encoding or encryption) receive and process that signal. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a user of device  1  can opt to set  1  to broadcast. As such, enabled third parties in the range of transmission of  1 , such as the user of a device  3  and potentially others, can opt to set their respective devices to receive from  1 , or on a channel on which  1  is set to transmit.  3  and others can now decode the signal from  1  to provide the user of  3  and others with the appropriate/desired audio sounds. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the user of  1  can also opt to set  1  to receive from other transmitting devices (e.g.,  4 ) belonging to other users. 
         [0020]    Rebroadcasting 
         [0021]    The system and method of the present invention can also be used in the context of re-broadcasting. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , with the user can set  11  on broadcast, the user of  12  which is receiving the audio sounds can opt to set  12  to receive the audio sounds from  11  and to simultaneously re-broadcast the same audio sounds to other users&#39; devices (e.g.,  13 ,  14 , etc.). Rebroadcasting may be undertaken before or after decoding the signal; if the latter, the signal will be encoded prior to being retransmitted. The encoding may be the same as, or in some applications different from, the original encoding. 
         [0022]    Rebroadcast thus allows user of  13  who is out of the range of  11  but in the range of the re-broadcast of  12  to receive the appropriate audio signals from  11 , via  12 . 
         [0023]    Likewise, if the user of  13  opts to set  13  to re-broadcast, the user of  14 , who is out of the range of the broadcast of  11  and the re-broadcast of  12 , can opt to set  14  to receive the appropriate audio sounds from  14  via  12  and  13 . 
         [0024]    For all the applications above, the users of  12 ,  13  and  14  can also set their respective devices to receive the appropriate audio signals which are being re-broadcasted. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention that enables use with the simultaneous reception and transmission/broadcast of different audio sounds. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the user of  21  sets  21  to transmit or broadcast a certain audio signal  25 . 
         [0026]    The user of  22  can set his device to receive the transmission/broadcast of AS  1  from  21 . The user of  22  can simultaneously opt to set  22  to transmit or broadcast a different audio sound  26  on a different channel which can be received by users of  23 ,  24 , etc, provided that they have set their respective devices to receive the transmission or broadcast of  26  on that channel from the user of  22 . 
         [0027]    This invention also enables use in multi-channel transmission or broadcast (simultaneous or otherwise). With multiple users transmitting in a limited range, the implementation of the wireless transmission may be made in dedicated channels which users may opt to receive either: 
         [0028]    i. automatically via hunting and/or frequency hopping; or 
         [0029]    ii. manually by tuning to specific frequencies denoted by: 
         [0030]    a. discrete channels denoted by numbers (e.g., Channel 1, Channel 2, etc); 
         [0031]    b. discrete channels denoted with colors (e.g., Red, Green, Blue); or 
         [0032]    c. other methods consistent with those known to persons of skill in the art. 
         [0033]    In order to identify the mode in which a device is operating (either transmitting, broadcasting, re-broadcasting or receiving), the user of a device can opt to set either cues on his device or cues to be displayed/received on third parties&#39; device to allow third parties to identify the mode in which a device is operating. The cues could take various forms or combination of forms such as: 
         [0034]    a. visual cues, including text, colored indicators or lights, which will indicate the various modes in which the device is operating; and 
         [0035]    b. sound cues which will indicate the various modes in which the device is operating. Such sounds can either be heard audibly or through use of the device). 
         [0036]    (e.g.,  21  is set to broadcast.  21  flashes a blue light which users of other Devices ( 22 ,  23 , etc.) can see and then opt to set  22 ,  23 , etc. to receive  21 &#39;s broadcast.) 
         [0037]    The foregoing discussion focuses principally on the sharing of music and other audio. It is understood, however, that other applications will also be useful. For example, the application could be used in a gaming environment, in which it is desired that a number of players share a similar audio experience. For example, all such members may be sharing a communications “channel” in the virtual environment. In addition, the present invention could be advantageously applied in the areas of education and training. 
         [0038]    As noted above, while the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.