Patent Publication Number: US-2005138069-A1

Title: Providing a playlist package of digitized entertainment files for storage and playback

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to digitized entertainment files. In particular the invention relates to a system and method for providing a user prescribed playlist package of digitized entertainment files.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      One of the fastest growing areas of communications technology is related to automobile network solutions. Although many vehicles on the road today have limited wireless communication functions, such as unlocking a door and setting or disabling a car alarm, new vehicles offer additional wireless communication systems that help personalize comfort settings, run maintenance and diagnostic functions, place telephone calls, access call-center information, update controller systems, determine vehicle location, assist in tracking vehicle after a theft of the vehicle and provide other vehicle-related services. Drivers can call telematics call centers to receive navigational, concierge, emergency, and location services, as well as other specialized help such as locating the geographical position of a stolen vehicle and honking the horn of a vehicle when it cannot be located in a large parking garage.  
      Portable entertainment has made evolutionary changes with the advent of digital technology. Music, movies, books, and many other types of media can be converted to digital format and stored for future playback. Portable CD players, portable DVD players and portable book readers allow playback of digitized entertainment files almost anywhere. Portable MP3 players can store and playback hours of digitized music files. These same technologies have been implemented in vehicles, which now come with built in CD players and DVD players.  
      If a vehicle owner desires to playback digitized entertainment files such as mp3 music files or avi movie files they must first burn those files on a CD or DVD. The CD or DVD is then played back in the vehicle&#39;s CD or DVD player. Control of music or movie selection and playback order is limited with playback systems installed in a vehicle or with portable playback systems. Many users are frustrated with the lack of effective control of the exact set of digitized entertainment files they would like to have available to them and the lack of effective navigation among the files. Users can skip forward and back among files and repeat various selections but direct access based on a specific title, artist, scene, or other parameter is not available without pre-programming the playback system.  
      It is desirable therefore, to provide a system and method for providing a user prescribed playlist package of digitized entertainment files, that overcomes the challenges and obstacles described above.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a method for providing a user prescribed playlist package of digitized entertainment files. A playlist package request is received at a call center. The playlist package is created based on the playlist package request. The playlist package comprises a plurality of digitized entertainment files and a playlist package information file. The playlist package is then sent to a digitzed entertainment file storage system.  
      Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer usable medium including computer program code for providing a user prescribed playlist package of digitized entertainment files. The computer program code receives playlist package request at a call center. The computer program code creates the playlist package based on the playlist package request. The playlist package comprises a plurality of digitized entertainment files and a playlist package information file. The computer program code then sends the playlist package to a digitzed entertainment file storage system.  
      Another aspect of the present invention provides means for providing a user prescribed playlist package of digitized entertainment files. The system comprises: means for receiving a playlist package request at a call center and means for creating the playlist package based on the playlist package request. The playlist package comprises a plurality of digitized entertainment files and a playlist package information file. The system further comprises means for sending the playlist package to a digitzed entertainment file storage system.  
      The aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system for providing a user prescribed playlist package of digitized entertainment files in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a method for creation and delivery of a playlist package of digitized entertainment files in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a method for playback of a playlist package of digitized entertainment files in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention; and  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic of one embodiment of a system for storage and playback of a playlist package of digitized entertainment files in accordance with the current invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system for providing a user prescribed playlist package of digitized entertainment files in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention at  100 . Playlist package provisioning system  100  includes a mobile vehicle  110 , a telematics unit  120  that functions as a playlist package storage system, one or more wireless carrier systems  140  or satellite carrier systems  141 , one or more communication networks  142 , and one or more call centers  180 . Mobile vehicle  110  is a vehicle such as a car or truck equipped with suitable hardware and software for transmitting and receiving voice and data communications.  
      In one embodiment of the invention, telematics unit  120  includes a digital signal processor (DSP)  122  connected to a wireless modem  124 , a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or GPS unit  126 , an in-vehicle memory  128 , a microphone  130 , one or more speakers  132 , an embedded or in-vehicle phone  134  or email access appliance  135  and includes a file system (not shown) for handling digitized entertainment files. DSP  122  is also referred to as a microcontroller, controller, host processor, or vehicle communications processor. GPS unit  126  provides longitude and latitude coordinates of the vehicle, as well as a time stamp and a date stamp. In-vehicle phone  134  is an analog, digital, dual-mode, dual-band, multi-mode or multi-band cellular phone.  
      Telematics unit  120  can store digitized entertainment files and other data files in in-vehicle memory  128 . Telematics unit  120  can set or reset calling-state indicators and can enable or disable various cellular-phone, telematics-unit functions and vehicle components when directed by program code running on DSP  122 . Telematics unit  120  can send and receive over-the-air messages using, for example, a pseudo-standard air-interface function or other proprietary and non-proprietary communication links.  
      DSP  122  executes various computer programs and computer program code that control programming and operational modes of electronic and mechanical systems within telematics unit  120 . DSP  122  controls communications between telematics unit  120 , wireless carrier system  140  or satellite carrier system  141  and call center  180 . A voice-recognition engine  119 , which can translate human voice input through microphone  130  to digital signals, is installed in telematics unit  120 . The interface to telematics unit  120  includes one or more buttons on the telematics unit, radio console, or associated keyboard or keypad. In another embodiment, the interface to telematics unit  120  includes other forms of preference and data entry including touch-screens, wired or wireless keypad remotes, or other wirelessly connected devices such as Bluetooth-enabled devices or 802.11-enabled devices.  
      DSP  122  controls, generates and accepts digital signals transmitted between telematics unit  120  and a vehicle communication bus  112  that is connected to various vehicle components  114  and sensors  116  in mobile vehicle  110 . DSP  122  can activate various programming and operation modes, as well as provide for data transfers. In one embodiment of the invention, signals from DSP  122  are translated into voice messages and sent out through speaker  132 . Generated voice messages include a command prompt, a prompt for information, a password prompt or a feedback messages verifying that a command has been executed or was not understood.  
      In one embodiment of the invention a playlist package of digitized entertainment files is created at call center  180  by call center advisor  185  based on a received playlist package request. Playlist package request is received at call center  180  from telematics unit  120 , user computer  150 , wireless or wired phone  160 , or handheld device  170  through communication network  142 . Call center advisor  185  sends the created playlist package to playlist package storage system or telematics unit  120  via communications network  142 . Received playlist package of digital entertainment files is stored in in-vehicle memory  128 . DSP  122  controls the transfer of the digitized entertainment files from the playlist package in vehicle memory  128  to digitized entertainment file playback system  129 . DSP  122  through voice recognition engine  119  responds to voice commands requesting a particular digitized entertainment file or some combination thereof for playback. Digitized entertainment file playback system  129  is an audio system or audio-visual system designed to provide decoding and playback of digitized entertainment files. In another embodiment of the invention, digitized entertainment file playback system  129  is integrated into the playlist package storage system or telematics unit  120 .  
      Mobile vehicle  110  via telematics unit  120  sends and receives radio transmissions from wireless carrier system  140 , or satellite carrier system  141 . Wireless carrier system  140 , or satellite carrier system  141  is any suitable system for transmitting a signal from mobile vehicle  110  to communication network  142 .  
      Communication network  142  includes services from mobile telephone switching offices, wireless networks, public-switched telephone networks (PSTN), and Internet protocol (IP) networks. Communication network  142  comprises a wired network, an optical network, a fiber network, another wireless network, or any combination thereof. Communication network  142  connects to mobile vehicle  110  via wireless carrier system  140 , or satellite carrier system  141 . Communication network  142  connects wireless carrier system  140  or satellite carrier system  141  to user computer  150 , wireless or wired phone  160 , handheld device  170 , such as a personal digital assistant, and call center  180 .  
      Communication network  142  can send and receive short messages according to established protocols such as IS-637 standards for short message service (SMS), IS-136 air-interface standards for SMS, and GSM 03.40 and 09.02 standards. In one embodiment of the invention, similar to paging, an SMS communication is posted along with an intended recipient, such as a communication device in mobile vehicle  110 .  
      Call center  180  is a location where many calls are received and serviced at the same time, or where many calls are sent at the same time. In one embodiment of the invention, the call center is a telematics call center, prescribing communications to and from telematics unit  120  in mobile vehicle  110 . In another embodiment, the call center  180  is a voice call center, providing verbal communications between a communication services advisor  185  in the call center  180  and a subscriber. In another embodiment, the call center  180  contains each of these functions.  
      Communication services advisor  185  is a real advisor or a virtual advisor. A real advisor is a human being in verbal communication with a user or subscriber. A virtual advisor is a synthesized voice interface responding to requests from user or subscriber. In one embodiment, virtual advisor includes one or more recorded messages. In another embodiment, virtual advisor generates voice messages using a text to speech synthesis engine (TTS). In another embodiment virtual advisor includes both recorded and TTS generated messages.  
      Call center  180  provides services to telematics unit  120 . Communication services advisor  185  provides one of a number of support services to a subscriber. One such service is processing a playlist package request. Playlist package requests are received at call center  180  via telephone or internet enabled interface. Communication service advisor  185  accepts the playlist package request and generates the playlist package before forwarding it to the appropriate playlist package storage system. Call center  180  can transmit data via data signal, such as a vehicle data upload (VDU), to telematics unit  120  in mobile vehicle  110  through wireless carrier system  140 , satellite carrier systems  141 , or communication network  142 .  
      Call center  180  can determine mobile identification numbers and telematics unit identifiers associated with a telematics unit access request, compare mobile identification numbers and telematics unit identifiers with a database of identifier records, and send calling-state messages to the telematics unit  120  based on the request and identification numbers.  
      In one embodiment of the invention, user  172  has a local provisioning system such as user computer  150  or handheld device  170 . Local provisioning system has a wireless modem to send data through wireless carrier system  140 , or satellite carrier system  141 , which connects to communication network  142 . In another embodiment, local provisioning system has a wired modem, which connects to communications network  142 . Data is received at call center  180 . Call Center  180  has any suitable hardware and software capable of providing web services to help transmit messages and data signals from local provisioning system, such as, user computer  150  or handheld device  170  to telematics unit  120  in mobile vehicle  110 . In another embodiment, user computer  150  or handheld device  170  has suitable hardware and software to connect to mobile vehicle  110  using a direct link to a mobile vehicle onboard data port.  
      In one embodiment, voice recognition software is installed in telematics unit  120  and is referred to as a voice recognition engine  119 . Voice recognition software is executed by DSP  122 . Pressing a button in vehicle  110  activates voice recognition engine  119 . Pressing the button sends a discrete signal that places the telematics unit in audio arbitration mode allowing it to respond to voice commands. In another embodiment of the invention, pressing a button in vehicle  110  initiates communication with call center advisor  185 .  
      In another embodiment of the invention, playlist package storage system is a portable entertainment system such as a CD player, MP3 player, or DVD player. The portable entertainment system has appropriate hardware and software to receive and manage a playlist package of digitized entertainment files. The portable entertainment system would include hardware and software to process and respond to voice commands.  
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a method for creation and delivery of a playlist package of digitized entertainment files in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention. The method for creation and delivery of a playlist package of digitized entertainment files at  200  begins (block  205 ) when the call center receives a playlist package request (block  210 ). The playlist package request comprises a list of digitized entertainment files that a user wishes to have available to them. Digitized entertainment files include, but are not limited to, music in .mp3 format, movies in .avi or mpeg format, and books in .rtf, .txt, or .doc format. The user can create this playlist package request in one of a number of ways. The user can use a call center web site to select the digitized entertainment files and submit the playlist package request. The user may also interact with a live or virtual advisor to select the digitized entertainment files and submit the playlist package request. In one embodiment of the invention, the user presses a button on a telematics unit to initiate communication with the advisor. In another embodiment, the user may contact an advisor using wireless phone or wired phone. In another embodiment the user may contact the advisor via electronic mail, or a web interface.  
      Once the playlist package request is received the call center will create the playlist package (block  220 ). The playlist package contains the requested digitized entertainment files, a playlist package information file that includes various data keys, such as artist data, title data, time data, scene data or other appropriate data keys, and a speech recognition grammar that is able to return speech recognition engine results corresponding to the data keys. The speech recognition grammar is a set of commands, including their format, which are recognized by the speech recognition engine. The speech recognition engine recognizes this grammar and converts the voice command into the appropriate digital signal to control the selection and playback of digitized entertainment files in the playlist package. The playlist package will be sent to the playlist package storage system when a retrieval signal is received at the call center (block  230 ). Until the retrieval signal is received the playlist package is stored at the call center. The retrieval signal is either a voice command requesting the delivery of the playlist package or a discrete signal generated when a button is pressed on the playlist package storage system. When the retrieval signal is received at the call center, a data connection is established with the playlist package storage system and the playlist package is sent to the playlist package storage system (block  240 ). The data connection can be a wireless connection, for example, a CDMA phone, or a hard-wired connection such as a DSL internet connection. Upon completion of the playlist package delivery the method ends (block  295 ).  
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a method for playback of a playlist package of digitized entertainment files in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention. The method for playback of a playlist package of digitized entertainment files at  300  begins (block  305 ) when the playlist package storage system receives a voice command to playback a specific digitized entertainment file or a set of files (block  310 ). The voice command is received at the playlist package storage system and converted to digital format (block  320 ). Possible voice commands include but are not limited to: a command to play all digitized entertainment files in sequential or random order; a command specifying a specific file or set of files based on a particular data key, such as all files by a particular artist; or a command specifying a generic navigation scheme, such as next, previous, skip, random shuffle, or intro only. The voice command matches either a portion of the data in the playlist package information file or no match is found (block  330 ).  
      If the voice command does not match a portion of the data in the information file, an error message is sent (block  340 ). The voice command is either resent or not resent (block  350 ). If the voice command is resent, the processing of the voice command is repeated (block  320 ). If the voice command is not resent the method ends (block  395 ).  
      If the voice command matches a portion of the data in the playlist package information file, the digitized entertainment file associated with matched data is delivered to a digitized entertainment file playback system (block  360 ) and the method ends (block  395 ).  
      In another embodiment of the invention, a visual display interface is provided for controlling playback of the digitized entertainment files in the playlist package. The visual display includes the listing of the available digitized entertainment files and a selection of navigation commands for controlling playback of the files. In another embodiment of the invention a button interface is provided for controlling playback of the digitized entertainment files in the playlist package. The button interface offers more limited playback control unless a full alpha-numeric keypad is provided for entering data keys.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic of one embodiment of a system for storage and playback of a playlist package of digitized entertainment files in accordance with the current invention at  400 . The playlist package storage system  410  comprises a memory  420  for storing a playlist package of digitized entertainment files and a file system  425  for managing the playlist package. The playlist package storage system  410  further comprises a communications module  430  such as a wireless phone, wireless modem, wired modem, or physical data port. The playlist package storage system  410  also comprises a speech recognition engine (ASR)  440  that supports dynamically updating a speech recognition grammar and a text to speech synthesizer (TTS)  450  that supports the voice interface by producing the speech used in dialogue with the user. The speech recognition engine process voice commands spoken by the user. Examples of voice commands are a command to retrieve the playlist package from the call center or a command to play a particular digitized entertainment file. The text to speech synthesizer  450  is not required if replaced by an interface consisting of pre-recorded, for example, .wav files that comprise the speech used in dialogue with the user. In another embodiment the playlist package storage system has a button interface  445 . A button press on the button interface sends a discrete signal that directs the playlist package storage system to execute a particular function. One such function is communication with the call center. Examples of other functions are delivery of the playlist package and playback of the playlist package. The playlist package storage system  410  further comprises an interface  460  for delivering the digitized entertainment files to the digitized entertainment file playback system  470 . The playlist package storage system has a digital signal processor (DSP)  455  that executes program code such as speech recognition software, text to speech synthesis software, communication software, and interface software. DSP  455  manages the storage and delivery of the playlist package through file system  425 . The digitized entertainment file playback system  470  comprises appropriate hardware and software for decoding and playing back the digitized entertainment files.  
      In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the digitized entertainment file playback system is integral to the playlist package storage system. In this alternate embodiment, the playlist package storage system provides all the functions of both units and allows for greater portability of the playlist package storage system. A user can receive, store, and playback a playlist package of digitized entertainment files using a single component. Speech recognition software comprising a speech recognition engine installed in the playback system allows voice control of a playback system where the playback system includes a microphone for receiving voice commands. The playback system must be capable of decoding each of the desired digitized entertainment file types, such as .mp3, .avi, mpeg, .pdf, or .rtf. A portable mp3 player, for example, can have the proper hardware software to receive a playlist package from a call center, to store the playlist package, and to control playback of digitized entertainment files having an mp3 format. In another example a telematics unit includes hardware and software for playback of files with an .mp3 format.  
      While embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.