Abstract:
An intelligent radio apparatus that is adapted to receive Web radio broadcasts is disclosed. The Web Radio provides a user interface that is less like a computer program and more like a conventional radio, thus making the device easy to use. Rather than the complicated user interface found on Personal computers, the intelligent radio provides familiar radio-type user controls such as switches, a tuning knob, joysticks, cursor controls, voice activated controls, etc. The radio-type user controls allow the user to select a Web radio station and control other aspects of the operation of the intelligent radio in a manner that is more like a conventional radio and less like a computer program. The intelligent radio is configured to run the software needed to access the Internet and thus relieves the user of complicated software installation tasks such as installing and configuring an operating system and installing and configuring Internet access software. The intelligent radio also provides Internet telephony, voicemail, and voice-email capabilities.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PRIOR RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/096,703, filed Jun. 12, 1998, and titled “INTELLIGENT RADIO.” 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of reception of audio programming, and, more particularly, relates to the field of transmission and reception of streaming audio over a computer network such as the Internet.  
           [0004]    [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., RealAudio 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 area, 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 streaming 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 broadcasts provided on the Web.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Embodiments of the present invention solve these and other problems by providing an intelligent radio apparatus that is adapted to allow a user to receive Web radio broadcasts in a manner similar to the ease and low cost with which a user receives a regular radio broadcast. Embodiments of the intelligent radio also provide Internet telephony, voicemail, text-to-voice email, voice-to-text email, and voice activated commands. These features are provided in a simple, low-cost, easy-to-use device.  
           [0009]    A preferred embodiment of the intelligent radio apparatus relieves the user of the complicated tasks associated with installing and configuring computer software. The intelligent radio apparatus also preferably provides a user interface that is less like a computer program and more like a conventional radio, thus making the device easy to use. In a preferred embodiment, the user controls provided by the intelligent radio are so similar to the controls provided on a conventional AM radio or FM radio that a non-technical user can tune into Web radio broadcasts or AM/FM radio broadcasts with similar ease. When compared to a full-fledged computer, such as a laptop or desktop computer, the intelligent radio typically provides lower cost, smaller size, lower power consumption, less upkeep and maintenance, and more convenience.  
           [0010]    Various embodiments of the intelligent radio include user controls such as switches, a tuning knob, joysticks, cursor controls, remote controls, etc. The user controls allow the user to select a Web radio station and control other aspects of the operation of the intelligent radio. In some embodiments, the user controls are configured such that the intelligent radio operates more like a conventional radio and less like a computer program. For example, in one embodiment, the intelligent radio includes a tuning knob that allows the user to “tune” Web radio stations from a list of available Web radio stations. The user turns the tuning knob to move from one Web radio station in a manner similar to the way a user would use the tuning knob on a conventional radio to tune from one radio station to another. The intelligent radio provides each selection of Web radio broadcasts by categories such as, for example, language, content, subject matter, etc.  
           [0011]    The intelligent radio apparatus includes a visual display for providing information to a user, a network interface (e.g., a modem) for transmitting and receiving digital data over a communications network, and embedded software adapted to connect to the Web and to decode streaming audio. The communications network may be telephone lines, cable TV lines, satellite communication systems, etc.  
           [0012]    In an alternative embodiment, the intelligent radio apparatus also includes loudspeakers for playing the broadcasts. Other embodiments include a data storage device for storing software and audio files.  
           [0013]    In other embodiments, the intelligent radio apparatus is adapted to be installed in an automobile, boat, airplane, or other vehicle. In yet another embodiment, the intelligent radio apparatus is adapted to be a portable device much like a conventional transistor radio.  
           [0014]    In yet another embodiment, the intelligent radio is configured to work in connection with service routines running on a remote computer connected to a computer network. The remote computer may be an Internet site (e.g., a web site or ISP) that provides additional functionality to the intelligent radio. For example, the intelligent radio may include a microphone to allow voice-activated commands to be used for controlling the intelligent radio. Voice recognition software to interpret the voice commands may be provided in either the intelligent radio or in the remote computer. If the voice recognition software is located in the remote computer, then the intelligent radio digitizes the voice data and passes the digitized voice data to the remote computer. The remote computer converts the voice data into computer commands and passes the command to the intelligent computer. In some embodiments, service routines in the remote computer are used to offload other tasks as well, including, for example, formatting the display, searching the Internet for radio web sites, converting audio and other data from one format to another format, etc. Offloading tasks to the remote computer simplifies the intelligent radio and reduces the size and cost of the intelligent radio without sacrificing functionality. Moreover, the software in the remote site can be kept up-to-date at all times without updating the software in the intelligent radio.  
           [0015]    In yet another embodiment, the intelligent radio is configured to provide Internet telephone services to a user by connecting a telephone or telephone handset to the intelligent radio. An Internet telephone connection, that provides streaming audio, is established between the intelligent radio and a remote unit such as an intelligent radio, computer, or telephone system. When the user speaks into the handset, the user&#39;s voice is digitized and passed to the remote unit where it is converted to audio for the user of the remote unit. Likewise, the remote user&#39;s speech is digitized and passes as a stream of digital data to the intelligent radio where it is converted into audio and provided to a loudspeaker in the telephone handset. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0016]    The various novel features of the invention are illustrated in the figures listed below and described in the detailed description that follows.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tabletop intelligent radio apparatus.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the functional elements of the intelligent radio apparatus.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3A shows a default display that appears while a Web broadcast is being received.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3B shows a menu display that allows the user to select one of the command and setup displays shown in FIGS.  3 C- 3 E.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3C illustrates a select language display that allows a user to specify desired languages (e.g., English, French, etc.).  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3D illustrates a display that allows a user to select a type of program material (e.g., news, sports, weather, etc.).  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3E illustrates a display that allows a user to select various program broadcasts.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 illustrates a data-entry display that the intelligent radio apparatus uses to allow the user to input alphanumeric text.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a flowchart that illustrates operation of the intelligent radio apparatus.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6A illustrates the information management and data processing functions provided by a Web radio Web site (e.g., www.webradio.com) to produce a list of Web radio broadcast stations for the user.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6B illustrates a relationship between the Web radio Web site and other web sites that provide streaming audio programming.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tabletop intelligent radio tuner.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the functional elements of the intelligent radio tuner shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the functional elements of an embodiment of the intelligent radio that provides a remote playback capability.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the functional elements of an embodiment of the intelligent radio that provides a remote access capability. 
     
    
       [0032]    In the figures, the first digit of any three-digit number indicates the number of the figure in which the element first appears. For example, an element with the reference number  502  first appears in FIG. 5. Where four-digit reference numbers are used, the first two digits indicate the figure number.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]    One aspect of the present invention is an intelligent radio device that allows a user to receive digitized radio broadcasts over the World Wide Web (Web). The intelligent radio provides the hardware and software necessary to receive digitized radio from the Web without the need for a personal computer or other expensive equipment. The intelligent radio provides a display device, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) that allows the user to select a desired Web broadcast from a list of available Web broadcasts. The display also allows the user to select Web broadcasts in a particular language. The software, the user controls, and the display in the intelligent radio  100  are operably configured and connected such that a user can tune into a Web radio broadcast in a manner similar to the way a user would use the controls on a conventional radio to tune into an AM or FM radio station. Thus, the intelligent radio provides people who are not comfortable with computers, or who do not own or have access to a computer, an opportunity to listen to streaming audio information from the Internet.  
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the intelligent radio is a low-cost tabletop box that connects to an AC power line and a phone line. The device includes a display device, speakers, a control panel, a computer processor, a stored software program, and a modem. The intelligent radio uses the modem to establish a telephone connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The stored software program connects to a Web Radio home page, via the ISP, and downloads a list of Web radio station addresses. Alternatively, the user may enter a web address (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL)) to connect directly to a web page that provides audio broadcasts (instead of first connecting to the Web Radio home page). The user may use buttons on the control panel to scroll through the display and select a Web radio broadcast “station” for listening. When a station is selected, the stored software program connects to the station and begins to receive digitized audio data transmitted by the station. The intelligent radio converts the received data to analog audio and plays the audio on one or more loudspeakers.  
         [0035]    In an alternate embodiment, the intelligent radio is a tuner that connects to an audio system such as a component stereo system. The tuner provides an audio output to the audio system. The audio system provides amplifiers and loudspeakers. The tuner comprises an enclosure that connects to an AC power line, a network line, and the audio system. The network line may be any type of computer data connection, including, 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 tuner includes a display device, a control panel, a computer processor, a stored software program, and a modem. The intelligent radio uses the modem to establish a telephone connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The stored software program connects to a Web Radio home page, usually provided by the ISP, and downloads a list of Web radio stations. A user uses use buttons on the control panel (or remote control) to scroll through the display and select a Web radio broadcast “station” for listening. Alternatively, the user may use voice-activated commands to scroll through the display. When a station is selected, the stored software program connects to the station and begins to receive digitized audio data transmitted by the station. The intelligent radio converts the received data to analog audio, which is provided to the audio system.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a tabletop intelligent radio  100 . The intelligent radio  100  is mounted in an enclosure  101  and connects to household AC power through a power cord  104  and to a communications network by a network cable  102 . The network cable  102  may be a telephone line, a network cable, a cable TV cable, a connection to a wireless (e.g., satellite) unit, etc. For example, the communications network may use Iridium satellites developed by the Motorola Corp., Globalstar satellites developed by a consortium of European manufacturers which includes Aerospatiale and Alcatel, P21 satellites developed on a project financed by Imarsat, or the Odyssey satellite system developed by a TRW consortium associated with Teleglobe/Canada.  
         [0037]    User controls are mounted on the front of the enclosure  101  and include a combined on-off and volume control  110 , a command button  121 , a cursor control  116 , a select button  118 , a tuning control  114 , and a button bar  120 . The cursor control  116  provides up, down, left, and right movements of a cursor or other entity on a display device  112 . The button bar  120  provides buttons to select an audio source, including, for example, “AM” radio, “FM” radio, “Web” radio, “Cassette”, and “External” input. Also mounted on the front of the enclosure  101  is the display device  112 , which provides information to the user. An optional cassette player/recorder  130  provides the capability to play and record audio cassettes. The intelligent radio  100  also includes a left stereo speaker  106  and a right stereo speaker  108  that may be mounted in the enclosure  101  or in separate enclosures. A wireless remote  135  provides remote operation of the intelligent radio  100 . In some embodiments, a microphone is provided as well. An output from the microphone is provided to an analog-to-digital converter to convert the analog microphone signal into digital data. The microphone may be placed in the intelligent radio  100 , in the wireless remote  135 , or both.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the functional elements of the intelligent radio  100 . The intelligent radio  100  comprises a Central Processor Unit (CPU)  202  that is used to run the intelligent radio software. The CPU  202  is connected to a random access memory  204 , a data storage device  210 , and a modem  206 . The data storage device  210  may be any type of non-volatile data storage device, including, for example, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a CMOS memory with battery backup, etc. The data storage device  210  provides storage for software programs used by the intelligent radio  100 . The software stored on the data storage device  210  may be upgraded by downloading new software from the Web. The data storage device  210  may also provide storage for digitized audio material, such as recorded Web radio broadcasts, CD-Audio, etc. The modem  206  is connected to a communications network  230 , shown as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), by the network cable  102 . Although the communications network  230  is shown as a PSTN network, one skilled in the art will recognize that the network  230  may also be a cable television (CATV) network, a satellite network, or any other communications network. In one embodiment, the network  230  comprises both a Direct TV/PC satellite connection that provides information to the intelligent radio  100  at high speed (e.g., 400,000 bytes per second or more), and a PSTN network connection so the intelligent radio can upload information back to the ISP  232  (because many Direct TV/PC connections are only one-way). In yet another embodiment, the satellite network is a two-way satellite network that uses the satellite for both download and upload. In one embodiment, the satellite network uses the hidiumTM system developed, in part, by the Motorola Corp.  
         [0039]    Optionally, a telephone  229  is connected to a first port of a codec  260 . A second port of the codec  260  is provided to the CPU  202 . The codec provides digital-to-analog conversion and analog-to-digital conversion for the telephone  229 . The codec  260  also provides standard telephone interface signals, such as a ringing signal, to the telephone  229 , and telephone status conditions, such as receiver up or receiver down, to the CPU  202 . In some embodiments, the codec  260  and the modem  206  may be combined as a telephone modem. The telephone  229  may be connected even when the network  230  is not a telephone network.  
         [0040]    The modem  206  provides an interface between the CPU  202  and the communications network  230  and the operational characteristics of the modem  206  are determined by the type of communications network  230 . Thus, if the network  230  is a PSTN network, then a telephone modem is used; if the network  230  is a CATV network, then a cable modem is used, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the modem  206  is integral to the intelligent radio  100 . In other embodiments, the modem  206  is provided in a separate enclosure. An Internet Service Provider (ISP)  232  provides the user with a connection from the communications network  230  to the Web via the Internet  234 . Note that FIG. 2 shows functional elements, but not necessarily hardware configurations. Thus, for example, the modem  206  may be implemented in software on the CPU  202 . The CPU  202  may be a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The CPU  202  may comprise a single computer processor, or multiple computer processors. In one embodiment, the CPU  202  comprises two processors, a DSP and a general purpose microprocessor. In one embodiment, the modem  206  is provided in a plug-in module such that the intelligent radio can be configured for different types of computer networks by simply changing the modem plug-in to suit the type of network being used.  
         [0041]    The CPU  202  provides data to the display device  112 . The CPU  202  receives user inputs from the command button  121 , the tuning control  114 , the button bar  120 , the select button  118 , and the cursor control  116 . The CPU  202  provides digitized audio samples to an input of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)  220 . The analog audio output of the DAC  220  is provided to an amplifier  222 . In a preferred embodiment, the DAC  220  and the amplifier  222  are each two-channel devices, providing left and right stereo channels. A left channel output of the amplifier  222  is provided to the left channel speaker  106  and a right channel output of the amplifier  222  is provided to the right channel speaker  108 . The volume control  110  controls the gain of the amplifier  222 .  
         [0042]    As shown in the preferred embodiment in FIG. 2, the other optional audio sources such as the cassette device  130 , an AM tuner  240 , an FM tuner  242 , and an external input  244  also provide inputs to the amplifier  222 . Other optional audio sources may be provided, such as, for example, an audio CD, a DVD, a digital audio tape unit, etc. The CPU  202  controls the cassette device  130 , the AM tuner  240 , the FM tuner  242 , and other optional audio sources. A line output from the amplifier  222  may also be provided to a record input of the cassette device  130 .  
         [0043]    As described above, the button bar  120  is used to select one of the audio sources. When the button bar  120  is set to “AM,” the intelligent radio  100  operates in an AM radio mode. In the AM radio mode, an analog output from the AM tuner  240  is provided to the amplifier  222 . Also in the AM radio mode, the display device  112  displays the frequency of an AM station selected by the AM tuner  240 . The user may use the tuning control  114  to select a desired AM station. The AM mode is optional.  
         [0044]    An analog output from a microphone  250  is provided to an analog input of an analog-to-digital converter  252 . A digital output from the analog-to-digital converter  252  is provided to the CPU  202 . The microphone  250  and converter  252  allow for voice commands to control the intelligent radio. The microphone  250  and converter  252  are optional. In some embodiments, a microphone is also placed in a wireless remote so that voice commands can be provided from the wireless remote.  
         [0045]    When the button bar  120  is set to “FM,” the intelligent radio  100  operates in an FM radio mode. In the FM radio mode, the analog audio output from the FM tuner is provided to the amplifier  222 , and the display device  112  displays the frequency of the FM station selected by the FM tuner  242 . The FM mode is also optional.  
         [0046]    When the button bar  120  is set to “Cassette,” the intelligent radio  100  operates in a cassette playback mode. In the cassette playback mode, analog output from the cassette player is provided to the amplifier  222 , and the display device  112  displays information relating to the cassette playback. The cassette playback mode is also optional. The cassette device  130  may also optionally be configured to provide a record capability such that the cassette can be used to record audio information from any of the other modes. Thus, for example, the cassette can be used to record FM radio, AM radio, or Web radio broadcasts.  
         [0047]    When the button bar  120  is set to “Web,” the intelligent radio  100  operates in a Web Radio mode. In the Web Radio mode, the intelligent radio  100  uses the modem  206  to connect to the ISP  232 . The ISP  232  provides a list of available Web broadcasts, and access to the Internet  234 , so that the various Web broadcasts can be received by the intelligent radio  100 . In the Web Radio mode, the display device  112  is used to select a Web broadcast and to provide information about the selected Web broadcast.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 3A through 3E show various displays provided by the display device  112  while in the Web Radio mode. FIG. 3A shows a default display  300  that appears while a Web broadcast is being received. FIG. 3B shows a menu display that allows the user to select one of the command and setup displays shown in FIGS.  3 C- 3 E.  
         [0049]    The display  300 , shown in FIG. 3A, includes information about the Web broadcast including the type of broadcast (e.g., “Newscast”), the Web address (URL) of the source for the broadcast (e.g., http:://www/npr.org), a description of the broadcast (e.g., “National Public Radio  1997 ”), a broadcast format (e.g., “Streaming RealAudio”), etc.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 3B shows a menu display  320  that allows the user to access the various setup and control displays shown in FIGS.  3 D- 3 E. The user activates the menu display  320  by pressing the command button  121 . The display  320  provides a menu list  322  that lists the various other command displays. The list  322  may provide: a “Tune Station” command for activating a tune-station display  340 , shown in FIG. 3E; a “Select Language” command for activating a select-language display  310 , shown in FIG. 3C; and a “Select List” command for activating a select-list display  322 , shown in FIG. 3D. The list  322  may also provide commands to activate other displays (not shown) such as “Setup,” to initialize the intelligent radio, “Scan Stations,” to get a new list of Web broadcast stations from the ISP  232 , and “Define Station,” to manually define a Web broadcast station not listed by the ISP  232 . The list  322  may also provide commands to activate other displays such as “Set Clock,” and “Set Alarm,” to provide optional clock and alarm clock modes for the display device  112 .  
         [0051]    The display  320  also provides a scroll bar  321  to allow the user to scroll through the list  322  and select an item (command) from the list. Scrolling may be accomplished by using either the cursor control  116  or the tuning control  114 . The user uses the cursor control  116  or the tuning control  114  to highlight a desired menu item in the list  322 , and then the user presses the select button  118  to select the highlighted menu item.  
         [0052]    The select-language display  310 , shown in FIG. 3B, allows the user to elect to receive Web broadcasts in one or more selected languages. The display  310  provides a list of available languages  312  and a scroll bar  314  for scrolling through the list  312 . Each item in the list  312  corresponds to a language (e.g., English, French, etc.) and each item is provided with a checkbox  313 . If a checkbox  313  is checked, then the corresponding language is enabled. The display  310  also provides an OK button  315 , a Cancel button  316 , a Clear-All button  317 , and a Select-All button  318 . The Clear-All button  317  clears all of the checkboxes  313 , and the Select-All button  318  checks all of the checkboxes  313 . The user “presses” one of the buttons  315 - 318  by using the cursor control  116  to highlight a desired button and then pressing the select button  118  to “press” the highlighted button.  
         [0053]    The select-list display  330 , shown in FIG. 3D, allows the user to select a preferred type of program material (e.g., Sports, Weather, News, All, etc.). The display  330  includes a list  332  of program types and a scroll bar  331 . The user uses the cursor control  116  or the tuning control  114  to highlight a desired program type from the list  332 , and then the user presses the select button  118  to select the highlighted program type.  
         [0054]    The select-broadcast display  340 , shown in FIG. 3E, allows the user to select a Web broadcast. The display  330  includes a list  342  of the available Web broadcasts having the proper language (as selected in the select language display  310 ) and the desired program type (as selected in the select-list display  331 ). The user uses the cursor control  116  or the tuning control  114  to highlight a desired broadcast from the list  342 , and then the user presses the select button  118  to select the highlighted program type. Each item in the list  342  is provided with a checkbox  343 . If the checkbox  343  is checked, then the corresponding broadcast is a preferred (or “fast-tune”) broadcast. The user may scroll through the fast-tune broadcasts by using the tuning control  114  from the default display  300  shown in FIG. 3A, without having to activate the select-broadcast display  340 . This provides a convenient shortcut feature to allow the user to quickly tune to stations that the user regularly listens to.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 4 illustrates a data-entry display  450  that allows the user to input alphanumeric text (e.g., the telephone number of the ISP  232  or a URL). The display  450  includes a text prompt  451  to prompt the user for the desired data. The display also includes an on-screen keyboard  452 , a text display  453 , an OK button  454  and a Cancel button  455 . The user enters text by using the cursor control  118  to highlight a desired character on the on-screen keyboard  452  and then pressing the select button  118  to enter the highlighted character into the text display  453 . The OK button  454  and the Cancel button  455  are “pressed” in the same fashion.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 5 is a flowchart  500  that begins at a start block  501  and illustrates the Web Radio mode process. The process advances from the start block  501  to a decision block  502 , where the process checks a status flag to determine whether or not the intelligent radio software needs to be initialized (setup). If setup is needed, then the process advances to a process block  504 ; otherwise, the process jumps over the setup steps to a process block  514 . In the process block  504 , the process obtains a phone number for the desired ISP  232 . The phone number may be obtained from a default phone number stored in the intelligent radio software, or by prompting the user through the data-entry display  450 . Once the phone number has been obtained, the process advances to a process block  506 , where the modem  206  dials the telephone number and establishes a modem connection with the ISP  232 . Once the connection is established, the process advances to a process block  508  where the user establishes an account with the ISP  232 .  
         [0057]    In one embodiment, the user is prompted for a password that is stored on the data storage device  210  or entered using the data-entry display  450 . Establishing an account may include other actions, such as creating a usemname for the user, changing the phone number used to access the ISP  232 , and entering information about the user and the user&#39;s account. Once an account is established, the process advances to a process block  510  where a list of available Web radio broadcast stations is downloaded to the intelligent radio  100  from the ISP  232  and stored on the storage device  210 . Lists of available languages and program types are also downloaded and stored on the storage device  210 . Once the lists are downloaded, the process advances to a hang-up block  512  wherein the modem  206  terminates the network connection (e.g., hangs-up the phone). Upon hang-up, the setup process is complete, and the process advances to the process block  514 .  
         [0058]    In the process block  514 , the modem dials the ISP  232  and then advances to a process block  516  where the intelligent radio  100  logs on to the user&#39;s account at the ISP  232 . The hang-up, redial, and logon (blocks  512 ,  514 , and  516 , respectively) is desirable when using a PSTN, because the initial telephone call, placed in the block  506 , is typically a long-distance call or a toll-free (e.g., a 1-800) call. By contrast, the telephone call placed in the block  514  is typically a local call. When using a non-PSTN network (e.g., a cable modem, a satellite network, etc.) then the hang-up, redial, and logon (blocks  512 ,  514 , and  516 , respectively) is typically omitted.  
         [0059]    Once the user is logged on, the process advances to a process block  518  where the user selects (tunes) a Web radio broadcast station. Once a Web broadcast has been selected, the process advances to a process block  520  where the intelligent radio  100  receives the Web broadcast. The CPU  202  decodes and decompresses the received data as necessary and then sends the decompressed data to the DAC  220  where it is converted to an analog signal that is subsequently played on the speakers  106 ,  108 . The process remains in the process block  520  while the user listens to the Web broadcast.  
         [0060]    If the user tunes to a new Web broadcast station (e.g., by turning the tuning control  114  or by activating the select-broadcast display  340 ) then the process loops back to the process block  518 , selects the new station, and returns to the process block  520 .  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 6A illustrates the information management and data processing functions  600  provided by a Web Radio site  602  (e.g., www.webradio.com). Access to the Internet site  602  is made possible by the Internet access provided by the ISP  232 . The Internet site  602  provides a list of Web radio broadcast stations for the user and optionally other value-added services that enhance the operation of the intelligent radio  100 . For example, the Internet site  602  may provide a list of available program sources and streaming audio programming. The site  602  may also maintain user profile comprising a list of preferred Internet “broadcast stations”. The site  602  also provides special download capabilities such that the user can download information and software into the intelligent radio. The site  602  also provides upload capabilities such that the user can upload information, such as preferences, etc., from the intelligent radio  100  to the site  602 . For example, the site  602  can provide a customized list of stations for each user and voicemail capability. The site  602  may provide reformatting of streaming audio data into a format better suited for the intelligent radio.  
         [0062]    In one embodiment, the site  602  also provides Web telephone capabilities to the intelligent radio  100 , such that the user can use the intelligent radio as a telephone to talk to other users that are connected to the Internet. In one embodiment of the Web telephone, the codec  260  is used to digitize speech from a microphone in the handset of the telephone  229 . The digitized speech is sent over the network  230  to the ISP. The ISP forwards the digitized speech to a remote user. Similarly, the ISP provides digitized speech from the remote user to the intelligent radio. The intelligent radio uses the codec  260  to convert the digitized speech into analog signals that are played on the speakers  106  and  108  or a speaker in the handset of the telephone  229 .  
         [0063]    In yet another embodiment, the intelligent radio provides voice email in connection with the site  602 . To receive email, text-to-voice software in the site  602  is used to convert email text into digitized voice data as words spoken in the user&#39;s desired language. The digitized voice data is provided to the intelligent radio where it is converted to an analog signal and played on the speakers  106  and  108  or a speaker in the handset of the telephone  229 . To receive email, the user speaks into the microphone  250  or the microphone in the handset of the telephone  229  and the spoken words are converted into digitized speech by the intelligent radio. The intelligent radio sends the digitized speech to the site  602  where it is converted into email text and then emailed to the recipient. The software to convert speech to text and text to speech is provided in the site  602  in order to minimize the cost and complexity of the intelligent radio. Alternatively, the software to convert speech to text and text to speech is provided in the intelligent radio.  
         [0064]    In one embodiment, the site  602  also provides special formatting and markup protocols that are tailored to the intelligent radio display  112 . Most existing Internet sites are geared towards a computer or television and assume that a user has a large, high resolution, color monitor. Most existing Internet sites also assume that a user is accessing the site by using a Web browser such as Netscape Navigators or Microsoft Internet Explorer™. These browsers support high level protocols such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML). The display  112 , may be relatively smaller, and relatively less capable than a traditional computer monitor. In some embodiments, the display  112  does not necessarily need all of the capabilities and complexity of HTML and is thus better served by information that is formatted for the display  112  and that is expressed in a markup language that is suited to the needs of the intelligent radio  100 , without the overhead and complexity of HTML.  
         [0065]    When the user connects to the Internet site, information is passed along a first data stream to an account management block  604 . The block  604  provides account management functions relating to the user&#39;s account with the ISP  232 . The account management block passes data to a user preference block  606 , which retrieves user profile information and user preferences specified by the user. Information regarding the user preferences may be stored by the ISP  232 , or downloaded from the intelligent radio  100  as needed.  
         [0066]    Information is also passed from the process block  602  along a second data stream to a program management block  608 . The program management block  608  accesses a language variety database  610  to determine which languages are available, and a program variety database  612  to determine which types of programs are available. The program management block  608  also accesses program sources such as live broadcasts  620 , archived broadcasts  624 , stored music  626 , and other streaming audio sources  622 .  
         [0067]    User profile information from the user preference block  606  and program data from the program management block  608  are provided to a program list block  616 , which constructs a list of available Web programs (broadcasts) that fit the user&#39;s preferences. The list constructed in the block  616  is passed to the intelligent radio  100 .  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 6B shows the conceptual relationship between the site  602  and other Web sites that supply streaming audio information, such as a site  630 , a site  631 , and a site  632 . The Internet provides the ability to transfer data between any two of the sites  602 ,  630632 . The user connects, through the ISP  232 , to the site  602 . The site  602  provides links to the sites  630 - 632  through the programming lists provided by the site  602 . If the user selects a streaming audio program from one of the sites  630 - 632 , then the site  602  provides the necessary link to the selected site. In some embodiments, the site  602  provides the link information to the intelligent radio  100 , and the intelligent radio  100  makes a “direct” connection to the selected site. In other embodiments, the site  602  links to the selected site, receives the streaming audio data, reformats the data if desired, and then sends the streaming audio data to the intelligent radio  100 .  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an intelligent radio tuner  700 . The tuner  700  is mounted in an enclosure  701  and connects to household AC power through a power cord  104 , to a network through a network cable  102 , and to an audio system through an audio line  702 . User controls are mounted on the front of the enclosure  701  and include an on-off switch  704 , a command button  121 , a cursor control  116 , a select button  118 , and a tuning control  114 . The cursor control  116  provides up, down, left, and right movements of a cursor or other entity on a display device  112 . Also mounted on the front of the enclosure  701  is the display device  112 , which provides information to the user.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the functional elements of the intelligent radio configured as a tuner  700 . The tuner  700  comprises the Central Processor Unit (CPU)  202  that is used to run the intelligent radio software. The CPU  202  is connected to the random access memory  204 , the data storage device  210 , the modem  206 , and the codec  260 . The data storage device  210  may be any type of non-volatile data storage device, including, for example, a floppy disk drive, a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a CMOS memory with battery backup, etc. The modem  206  is connected to a communications network  230 , shown as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Although the communications network  230  is shown as a PSTN network, one skilled in the art will recognize that the network  230  may also be a cable television (CATV) network, a satellite network, or any other communications network. The modem  206  provides an interface between the CPU  202  and the communications network  230  and the operational characteristics of the modem  206  are determined by the type of communications network  203 . Thus, if the network  230  is a PSTN network, then a telephone modem is used; and if the network  230  is a CATV network, then a cable modem is used, etc. An Internet Service Provider (ISP)  232  provides the user with a connection from the network  230  to the Web via the Internet  234 .  
         [0071]    The CPU  202  provides data to the display device  112 . The CPU  202  receives user inputs from the command button  121 , the tuning control  114 , the select button  118 , and the cursor control  116 . The CPU  202  provides digitized audio samples to an input of a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC)  220 . The analog audio output of the DAC  220  is provided to the audio output  702 . In a preferred embodiment, the DAC  220  is a two-channel device, providing left and right stereo channels.  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the functional elements of an embodiment of an intelligent radio that provides for remote playback. FIG. 9 shows a base unit  900  that is connected to the communications network  230 . The base unit  900  receives streaming audio from the Web and transmits the audio information to a remote playback unit  902 .  
         [0073]    The base unit  900  is similar in most respects to the intelligent radio except that the amplifier  222 , the loudspeakers  106  and  108 , and the volume control  110  are not located in the base unit  900 , but rather are located in the remote playback unit  902 . In the base unit, the DAC  220 , the cassette device  130 , the AM tuner  240 , the FM tuner  242 , and the external input  244  are connected to a transmitter  904  rather than the amplifier  222 . The transmitter  904  provides a transmitted signal to a receiver  906  in the remote unit  902 . The receiver  906  provides an audio output to the amplifier  222 .  
         [0074]    The base unit  900  receives the streaming audio information from the Internet  234  and uses a transmission carrier to retransmit the audio information to one or more remote units  902 . The transmitter  904  and the receiver  906  may use any form of communication for the transmission carrier, including radio frequency communication, infrared communication, ultrasonic communication, etc. In one embodiment, the transmitter  904  may be a low power FM (Frequency Modulation) transmitter compatible with standard FM broadcast bands, such that the remote playback unit  902  can be a standard FM transistor radio or a stereo receiver. In yet another embodiment, the transmitter  904  may be a low power AM (Amplitude Modulation) transmitter compatible with standard AM broadcast bands, such that the remote playback unit  902  can be a standard AM transistor radio or a stereo receiver.  
         [0075]    In other embodiments, the base unit  900  may also include an amplifier  222 , loudspeakers  106  and  108 , and a volume control  110  such that the base unit  900  can provide both playback of the audio information and transmission of the audio information to the remote unit  902 .  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the functional elements of an embodiment of an intelligent radio that provides for remote access, comprising a base unit  1002  and an intelligent radio  1000 . The base unit  1002  comprises a transceiver  1012  coupled to a modem loll. The modem  1011  is connected to the communications network  230 . The modem  1011  receives data from the ISP and provides the data to the transceiver  1012 , which then transmits the data to a transceiver  1010  in the intelligent radio  1000 . The transceiver  1010  transmits data from the intelligent radio  1000  to the transceiver  1012 . The transceiver  1012  provides the data from the intelligent radio  1000  to the modem  1011 , which sends the data to the ISP  232 .  
         [0077]    The intelligent radio  1000  is similar in most respects to the intelligent radio  100  shown in FIG. 2, with the addition of the transceiver  1010 . A data input/output port of the transceiver  1010  is provided to the processor  202  and a Radio Frequency (RF) input/output port of the transceiver  1010  is provided to an antenna. Also, in the intelligent radio  1000 , the modem  206  is optional (because network communications are handled by the transceiver  1010  rather than the modem  206 ).  
         [0078]    The transceivers  1010  and  1012  use any suitable means for communication, including, for example, optical communication, radio communication, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the transceivers  1010  and  1012  are radio transceivers that use spread-spectrum communication techniques at a frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz. The combination of the base unit  1002  and the intelligent radio  1000  provides a capability similar to that provided by a cordless telephone. The base unit  1002  can be located near a network connection point (e.g., a telephone outlet), and the intelligent radio  1000  can be conveniently placed anywhere within the range of the base unit  1002 . The two-way communication link between the transceiver  1010  and the transceiver  1012  provides a cordless connection to the network  230 .  
         [0079]    Other Embodiments  
         [0080]    While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. The various user controls and buttons can be relocated, combined, reconfigured, etc. Most of the user controls and buttons can even be omitted entirely in favor of voice-activated commands. One skilled in the art will recognize that many of the various features, and capabilities described in connection with the intelligent radio  100 , are also applicable to other embodiments as well, including the embodiments described in connection with FIGS.  7 - 10 . One skilled in the art will also recognize that other embodiments are contemplated, including, for example, handheld intelligent radios, and intelligent radios for boats, cars, trucks, planes, and other vehicles, etc.  
         [0081]    One skilled in the art will recognize that these features, and thus the scope of the present invention, should be interpreted in light of the following claims and any equivalents thereto.