Patent Publication Number: US-2011055701-A1

Title: Electronic device and method for playing internet radio

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and methods, and particularly to an electronic device and a method for playing internet radio. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Now, many radio stations broadcast on the internet. In order to listen to desired radio station, a user may have to search for the radio station by keying in different terms to a network search engine, such as Google, Baidu, and so on, this is very time-consuming. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device communicating with an internet radio station via a network, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the electronic device of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method for the electronic device of  FIG. 2  for playing contents of internet radio stations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be appreciated that modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an electronic device  10 , in accordance with an embodiment, communicating with a plurality of internet radio stations  20  (only one shown in  FIGS. 1-2 ) via a network  30 . In one embodiment, the electronic device  10  may be a digital photo frame, for example. The internet radio station  20  can broadcast one or more radio channels via the network  30 . The network  30  may be the Internet, for example. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the electronic device  10  communicating with the internet radio station  20 . The electronic device  10  includes a configuration module  11 , a graphical user interface (GUI) module  13 , an application programming interface (API) module  15 , a downloading module  17 , and an analyzing module  19 . 
     The configuration module  11  is capable of setting search conditions for searching internet radio stations  20  on the network  30 . In one embodiment, the search conditions include locations and types. The locations may be, for example, United States, China, Japan, or other countries. The types may be, for example, economy, literature, etc. 
     The GUI module  13  is capable of displaying the search conditions. The GUI module  13  can be used to select the locations and the types. 
     The API module  15  is capable of sending search commands containing the search conditions to the downloading module  17 . 
     The searching module  17  is capable of searching the network for the internet radio stations  20  according to the search conditions, and creating a list of available stations to the electronic device  10  after receiving the download commands. The list of stations includes, but not limited to, names of the internet radio hosts  20 . In one embodiment, the contents may be audio contents, video contents, etc., for example. 
     The GUI module  13  is further capable of displaying the list downloaded by the downloading module  17 . 
     The analyzing module  19  is capable of determining sort conditions, and sorting the list according to the sort conditions. The sort conditions are displayed in the GUI module  13 . In one embodiment, the sort conditions may be by popularity and name, for example. In the GUI module  13 , the popularity and the name can be selected to filter the list of the internet radio stations  20 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of a method for playing contents of a internet radio station, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     In block S 10 , the search conditions are selected through the GUI module  13 . For example, the country “China” and the genre “economy” are both selected. 
     In block S 11 , the API module  15  sends a download command with the selected search conditions to the downloading module  17 . 
     In block S 12 , the downloading module  17  searches internet radio stations  20  in the network  30  according to the sort conditions, and downloads a list of the internet radio stations  20  when found to the electronic device  10 . 
     In block S 13 , the list of the internet radio stations  20  is displayed in the GUI module  13 . 
     In block S 14 , the sort conditions are selected in the GUI module  13 , so as to sort the list by the analyzing module  19 . For example, either the sort condition “popularity” or “name” is selected, the list will be reordered under the sort condition “popularity” or “name”. 
     In block S 15 , one internet radio station  20  is selected in the list. 
     In block S 16 , the API module  15  sends a download command with the one internet radio station  20  to the downloading module  17 . 
     In block S 15 , the downloading module  17  downloads contents of the internet radio stations  20  when found. 
     In block S 17 , the GUI module  13  plays the content of the internet radio stations  20 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 
     It is also to be understood that the above description and the claims drawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certain steps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps.