Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7949707?dq=6,205,432
Timestamp: 2014-09-02 12:03:42
Document Index: 738145272

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 10', 'Application No. 2001', 'Application No. 2001', 'Application No. 2002', 'Application No. 00942821', 'Application No. 00942821', 'Application No. 2001', 'Application No. 2001', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 00942821', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 2001', 'Application No. 2001']

Patent US7949707 - Internet radio receiver with linear tuning interface - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA system for supplying streaming media or other media sources to clients, said system providing for selection of internet based audio content providers based on arbitrarily assigned numbers that function as proxies for the URL or IP address of the audio content providers....http://www.google.com/patents/US7949707?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7949707 - Internet radio receiver with linear tuning interfaceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7949707 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/180,287Publication dateMay 24, 2011Filing dateJul 12, 2005Priority dateJun 16, 1999Also published asUS6920479, US20020073171, US20060067304Publication number11180287, 180287, US 7949707 B2, US 7949707B2, US-B2-7949707, US7949707 B2, US7949707B2InventorsIan E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas, Scott Smith, Mary McCannOriginal AssigneeMosi Media, LlcExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (42), Non-Patent Citations (25), Classifications (19), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetInternet radio receiver with linear tuning interfaceUS 7949707 B2Abstract A system for supplying streaming media or other media sources to clients, said system providing for selection of internet based audio content providers based on arbitrarily assigned numbers that function as proxies for the URL or IP address of the audio content providers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently, radiobroadcasters have begun transmitting their audio content over the internet, allowing consumers to listen to radio stations received over the internet and played through computer speakers. For a home user to receive radio station �netcasts� over the internet, the user must have a personal computer, an internet account, browser software such as Internet Explorer� or Netscape Navigator�, an audio processing software �plug-in� capable of processing audio information, and a radio simile graphical interface. The browser software must be purchased and/or downloaded from any one of various browser software companies, such as America Online, Microsoft, or Netscape. The audio processing software must be purchased and downloaded from other companies (Apple Computer's QuickTime� software, RealPlayer's RealAudio�, and Microsoft's Windows Media Player software are examples). Radio simile graphical interface software must be purchased and downloaded from yet another company (Digiband Radio and MacTuner are examples of radio simile interface software). None of the browsers are compatible with all the audio processing software, and none of the audio processing software is compatible with all the radio simile graphical interface software. A typical end user must be extremely lucky to install all the necessary components with proper cross compatibility. The end result, if it can be achieved, is the ability to access a web site sponsored by one of the software suppliers, review a database of radio station web sites maintained by the software suppliers, and link to the radio station web site from the database.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 shows a stand-alone embodiment internet radio. The radio box 1 is provided as a shell for housing all the components used by the user. The box includes a control panel 2, a speaker 3, a power cord 4 (though the device may be battery powered, if desired) and a telephone jack or ethernet jack 5 and associated internet connection line 6 (which may be a telephone cord, Ethernet cable or other line). On the control panel, a volume selector 7 which can be manipulated to increase and decrease volume (the volume selector is provided in the form of a rotating knob, but may be provided in various other forms). Band selector 8 is provided to allow a user to select amongst AM radio, FM radio stations and other radio frequency bands or �virtual bands� (IR A and IR B) that the system ascribes to internet only audio sources (the ascription of virtual bands to net-only audio sources may be done arbitrarily within the system, or may be done through consensus amongst net-only netcasters). The band selector may be provided in the form of a rotary knob, scroll pushbutton, multiple pushbuttons or other configurations. A �frequency selector� or tuning knob 9 is provided to allow a user to select netcasters by selecting a frequency designation, much as a user would use a tuning selector on a radio or receiver, or by selecting from net stations organized as a linear list. The tuning knob can be provided in the form of a rotary knob, scroll pushbutton, a scan pushbutton, multiple pushbuttons or other configurations. The radio box also includes at least one display 10 for indicating current user selections. If an old fashion radio display is desired, the displays may be incorporated into the selector knobs/control panel structure, for example a pointer on the band selector combined with written labels on the underlying panels, as shown. If a modern electronic interface is desired (which will also easier accommodate use of net-only bands and emergent bands created after construction of the radio box), the display is preferably a digital display (shown in FIG. 2) which can display a readout of the frequency band, frequency or frequency proxy, geographic area selected by the user, and perhaps also display the volume, balance and tone as adjusted by the user. A setup control button 11 may be provided to permit the user to direct the internet radio to run through a set-up procedure to determine needed internet connection information such as local access telephone number, user name and password, and local ISP protocols. Alternatively, the setup may initiate an automatic configuration using a DHCP protocol or the like. Finally, an on/off switch 12 is provided to turn the device on and off.
On the internet side, as shown in FIG. 2, the internet components with which the internet radio interacts are illustrated. The radio must connect to the internet through a host, such as-an internet service provider (ISP) 26. The ISP serves to connect many internet users to the internet, and passes all the data between the internet radio and the various websites. Audio content netcaster website homepages 27 (of which there are currently thousands) transmit or stream audio information, upon request, to many internet users simultaneously. The audio files are provided through an audio file server 28 �behind� the homepage, with a separate URL. At the audio file servers, audio data is stored in a digital stream format for communication through the internet. The audio data is provided through streaming audio software that provides the audio data to users requesting a connection to the audio data stream. Various search engine websites 29 exist on the web, and may be accessed to search for audio content websites. A system management website 30 provides management services to the community of internet radio users, such as maintenance of a content provider database, audio file servers associated with content providers, management of advertising content interjection or pre-rolls, firmware/software updates, and initial configuration management.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the tuning process wherein the user is switching from a first audio content netcaster to a second audio content netcaster. The internet radio 1 is in communication with audio file server CIBL in Canada via the internet. Server CIBL is streaming audio data to the internet radio for outputting through the radio's speakers. On the internet radio's display 10 is the readout �123� or some other readout indicating that the current selected station number is 123. On the control panel, the band selector can be in the virtual band position. The user then wishes to switch to station BBC. The user manipulates the tuning knob, seek button or preset buttons until the display reads �124.� When the knob is on number 124, the stored audio stream for the BBC headlines is served from the system management server (netradiostation) server while the system negotiates a connection with the BBC �live� audio stream feed. As the stored audio stream draws to a close, the connection to the live BBC feed is initiated.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the tuning process wherein the user is switching from an audio content netcaster to an AM/FM radio station. The internet radio 1 is in communication with audio file server CIBL via the internet. Server CIBL is streaming audio data to the internet radio for outputting through the radio's speakers. On the internet radio's display 10 is the readout �123� or some other readout indicating that the current selected station number is 123. On the control panel, the band selector can be in the virtual band position. The user then wishes to switch to FM radio station 102 KIIS. The user manipulates the tuning knob, seek button or preset buttons until the display reads �102.� The user also manipulates the band selector 8 to the FM position. Upon selection of station number 102, the internet radio simply tunes to the frequency 102 MHz and begins to output the radio broadcast. The internet radio ceases output of the audio stream from server CIBL at any point between the user selecting station number 102 and output of the FM radio broadcast.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the tuning process wherein the user is switching from an audio content netcaster to no station. The internet radio 1 is in communication with audio file server CIBL. Server CIBL is streaming audio data to the internet radio for outputting through the radio's speakers. On the internet radio's display 10 is the readout �123�, or some other readout indicating that the current selected station number is 123. On the control panel, the band selector can be in the virtual band position. The user then wishes to switch to station number 128. Station number 128 does not designate any audio sources. The user manipulates the tuning knob, seek button or preset buttons until the display reads �128.� The internet radio determines that station number 128 is not being used to designate any audio sources. Upon such determination, the internet radio can output a stored pre-roll, static noise or any other audio clip. The internet radio ceases outputting the audio stream from server CIBL at any point between the user selecting station number 127 and output of the audio clip.
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